General Membership FAQs
Q: I want to join Blackhawk as a new member, what do I need to do?
A: First, create an account. You can create an account at any time prior to purchasing your membership. We recommend that you create your account days in advance of the opening of New Membership availability in September. Go to Membership and then My Account. This will take you to a new website, which is the Blackhawk registration platform. On the left-hand side of the page, you will see Account and below that Create Account. Click on Create Account and follow the instructions on how to create a new account. You must completely fill in all fields, especially the names of your dependents. If you do not fill in dependent names, you will not be able to register them for lessons or competitive teams.
Q: When can I join?
A: Our 12-month memberships (Full Access, including alpine skiing, or Limited Access, including xc skiing/biking) start in September and run until the following September. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for updates on the date new annual membership will be available. If you purchase a membership after September, it will still expire in the following September. Our summer mountain biking/hiking memberships are sold from April 1 to March 31 each year. Our winter fat biking/snowshoe memberships are available from November to March.
Q: Can I buy a one-day pass?
A: No, to use the facilities at Blackhawk you must purchase a membership. We are a 501c3 non-profit educational organization with a mission to promote outdoor recreational activities and competitive sports for children and families. As a private organization, we depend upon our memberships and donations to support our educational programs and trail development. Our summer memberships are available at these rates: Family ($90), Individual ($45), Student ($25) (April 1-March 31). If you are not sure that you want to join, come out to the East Trailhead to check out the trails and talk with members who are riding. If you like what you see (and most people do!), you can join on your smartphone at: https://blackhawk.skiclubpro.com/user
Q: Do I need to provide my own equipment?
A: Yes, you will need to bring your own ski/snowboard/biking equipment, as we do not provide rentals. If your children participate in our Nordic, Biathlon, and Ski Jumping youth programs, they may be eligible to borrow equipment. Please see the Program FAQs below for more details.
Q: Can I bring guests?
A: No, Blackhawk is a member-only hill, and only the individual(s) on your membership may participate in activities at Blackhawk.
Q: Are there membership limits at Blackhawk?
A: There are no membership limits at this time. In the past, Blackhawk has had membership limits for the annual full-family (I.e., alpine skiing) memberships. There is a possibility that limits could return in the future for this membership category.
Q: Should I have a Blackhawk membership card, parking pass, or is there an ID number I should have available?
A: Please hang your Blackhawk parking pass on your car's front mirror and be prepared to provide Ambassadors with your member username and email.
Program FAQs
Q: If we buy a membership, will our children be guaranteed a lesson spot?
A. Not necessarily. Our lesson programs (Ski Jumping, Alpine Ski School, Nordic Kids, and Youth Mountain biking) are very popular with our members! For Alpine ski school, it may be challenging to get a group lesson spot without priority registration. Nordic Kids is becoming similar. Mountain biking does not have a priority registration process. Priority registration is assigned to those members who have been Limited or Full Access members the previous year. These memberships must be purchased during the previous year’s ski season (October-March). Priority membership is not granted to mtn bike/hike memberships. Wait lists are used after spots are filled. Families will be contacted in the order in which they appear on the wait list. Some programs grant priority to those families who have an instructor in the family who is teaching lessons.
Q: Are lessons an extra cost on top of my membership?
A: Yes. All lessons and competitive teams have an additional cost.
Q: Do I have to be a member for my kids to take lessons?
A: Yes. Alpine lessons require a Full Access Membership and Nordic lessons require a Limited Access Membership.
Q: How old do my kids need to be to take lessons?
A: Children must be at least 5 years old to participate in group Alpine Lessons. Private lessons can accommodate younger children. Parent-tot lessons are available for cross country skiing for children under 5. Children must be 6 years old to take a mountain bike lesson.
Q: Can I rent equipment for my kids?
A: Blackhawk does not provide equipment, with the following exceptions for youth teams and programs: Cross country ski rentals are available for Nordic Kids lessons, youth biathlon lessons, and middle school and high school cross country race teams. Specialized ski jumping skis are available for ski jumping team members. Biathlon rifles are available for biathlon team members.
Winter Fat Bike FAQs
Q: What is a “fat bike?”
A: A fat bike has larger tires that are able to ride on snow without making ruts. Tires are at least 3.8 inches wide, more often 4 to 5 inches wide.
Q: When does the “winter” biking season begin?
A: The fat biking season at Blackhawk runs from November 1 – March 31.
Q: Can I use my regular mountain bike during the winter season?
A: You may use your regular mountain bike during the winter, but only when there is no snow on the ground. Once the trails have packed snow, you must use a “fat bike” that has wider tires.
Q: What does “freeze-thaw cycle” mean?
A: The weather in November causes a “freeze-thaw” situation, where the trails freeze at night, but thaw during the day, as the temperature goes above freezing. This leads to muddy trails are dangerous to ride, and easy to damage. For more information, check out: http://www.combomtb.com/blog/2014/12/5/freezethaw-cycles-explained
Q: What is the best time of day to ride trails:
A: It is best to ride trails when the temperatures are below freezing, and even better if the temperatures are below 28 degrees.
Q: Does Blackhawk groom the fat bike trails?
A: Yes, volunteers use a specially made groomer, called a “Snow Dog” to groom the trails.
Q: What trails can I ride on at Blackhawk?
A: A fat bike winter bike map is available at: https://www.blackhawkskiclub.org/news/winter-fat-bike-trail-map
Q: Can I walk on the fat bike trails in the winter?
A: Unfortunately, walking on the fat bike trails creates holes where your boots sink into the snow. If you want to walk on the trails, please use snowshoes, so that your feet do not ruin the trails.
Q: What trails are open during the winter?
A: The following trails will be open during the winter:
· Creek Trail
· East Connector
· Gully Flow Trail (new)
· Howling Wolff
· Roller Coaster
· Springs Trail
· Twist and Shout
· West Connector
· Ziggy Up
Q: Why are some trails are closed during the winter?
A: To avoid conflicts with alpine and Nordic skiing, some trails are closed once the ski trails are groomed. The following trails will be closed during the winter:
· Gully Climb
· Pines Trails
· Switchbacks
· Ziggy Down
Q: Can I ride on the ski trails?
A: No. Riding is not permitted on any alpine (downhill) ski trails. Riding is not permitted on cross country ski trails, except at a few places where the fat bike trails cross the ski trails. These crossing are marked with sign, advising bikers to yield to skiers.
Q: Where can I learn more about fat biking?
A: There are many excellent websites that describe fat biking. A few include: https://bendtrails.org/tips-for-riding-in-snow/ https://gearjunkie.com/fat-bike-basics-tips-winter-snow
*Please post any questions that you have about Blackhawk on our Facebook page or email us at info@blackhawkskiclub.org, and we will continue to update this list.