Whitecap Mountains Resort, WI, Adds 5 New Runs to Trail Map – Including the Steepest Run in the Midwest?

The west and northeast are home to some of the most well-known ski resorts in the United States. The country is home to almost 500 ski resorts ranging from smaller-independently-owned resorts to larger, more corporate-oriented mountains. The Midwest of the U.S. does not usually get much attention regarding having big-name mountains in the ski world. However, it is home to many great ski resorts that boast an old-school vibe and a die-hard fan base.

Whitecap Mountains Resort in Wisconsin is one of those smaller midwest resorts with a great snowpack and somewhere you can feel at home. It is one of the few resorts in the country that does not rely heavily on snowmaking due to its proximity to Lake Superior, averaging 200 inches of snow annually. It has recently made some additions to the mountain, and according to some locals, one of the new runs could be the steepest in the Midwest.

• Related: The Steepest Ski Run in the U.S.

Shannon Larson is a member of the Facebook group Skiers and Snowboarders of the Midwest, and he had a chance to check out the new trails. One of the new trails, Djevel, will be rated a double black diamond, although it has not been surveyed for its exact vertical or pitch. Larson and a group of people checked out the new trails and terrain this past weekend. “It will absolutely be the steepest run in the state of Wisconsin,” said Larson. Djevel is the Norwegian spelling of devil and will not be a groomed run. Larson said it was one of the burliest trails he had ever seen in the state.

David Dziuban is the sole owner of Whitecap Mountains and has a lot of experience in the ski industry. He first started working in the industry as a snowmaker after high school. Regarding the exact numbers of Djevel’s vertical or pitch, Dziuban said, “It’s wicked steep.” Dziuban is originally from Chicago and was skiing in 1976. He once heard a lift attendant say the best part about his job was that he could ski for free. “That single sentence changed my life, and that’s why I’m sitting here today,” said Dziuban.

Keeping Whitecap a family-oriented resort and affordable for guests is a priority for Dziuban. Skiing has always been an expensive sport to get involved in, and with lift tickets elsewhere approaching $300 a day, it is essential to keep prices affordable to Dziuban. He said the resort will even pick up guests at the airport and take them back to the airport after they are done visiting Whitecap.

“Whitecap is a place where you can go out on the mountain and run into three generations of families skiing together,” said Dziuban. The ski culture in the Midwest may be something that skiers have never experienced before, but Dziuban said it is something everyone should experience. The devotion skiers have to their home hills in the Midwest and their passion for skiing is something he has never seen.

Future developments at the mountain will be a new subdivision for ski-in and ski-out rentals for guests to stay at. Whitecap Mountains also added approximately 20 acres of new trails and glade skiing for this upcoming season. Although Whitecap gets abundant snow yearly, it also installed a new pump to improve its snowmaking capacity. The mountain also added a new groomer this off-season and has plans for future growth and development.

Dziban said that on his first trip to Whitecap Mountains, he was sitting in the parking lot and looking around the resort, knowing he had found his home. He said it has been an honor to meet the people and the families and hear their stories since he has been there. Adding new terrain and runs to the mountain will certainly make guests happy. If the run, Djevel, is as steep as it is supposed to be, Whitecap Mountains Resort should be on anyone’s list if they are skiing in the Midwest this season.

For more information, visit Whitecap Mountains’ website.