Frequently Asked Questions About Chester Bowl Improvement Club (CBIC) Ski Lottery
1. What is the Ski lottery all about?
The Ski Lottery is a night for parents to find out information about the CBIC ski program including program hours, ski packages, and lift pass prices. The primary benefit to attending this meeting is the ability to reserve a time (over the next few weeks) for your family members to be individually fitted for ski rental equipment at Chester Bowl Ski Hill. Another advantage to attending the lottery night is the ability to sign up for volunteer opportunities such as: snow making, trail clean up weekends, silent auction fundraiser, etc.
2. Should I bring my entire family to the lottery?
No. Please only send one or two parents/guardians to the lottery.
3. What happens at the lottery?
When you first walk into the room you will write your name on a piece of paper and place it in one of two lottery boxes at the end of the check-in table. The first box is for CBIC members and those returning families that took part in the ski program last year and completed their volunteer hours. The second box is for those that did not participate in the ski program last year or did not complete their volunteer hours.
After everyone has “checked-in” and put their name (piece of paper) in one of the two lottery boxes; everyone will have a chance to sign up for volunteer opportunities and then sit down and be given a general overview of the CBIC ski program by the CBIC administrators. After about a 25 minute program overview the lottery will begin. CBIC staff will first draw and call out names from the first box. When that box is empty; CBIC staff will draw names from the other box.
When a person’s name is called during the lottery process they will walk to front of the room, get back the slip of paper with their name on it, and get into line for reservation of a ski equipment fitting day at one of the two tables on the way out of the gym.
At the reservation table you will sign up for as many spots as you have family members that want ski rental equipment. For example if you want to rent equipment for three members of your family you will sign up for three open spots on a fitting night sometime in the next few weeks. When you find times that are available on the reservation sheets and that work with your family’s schedule then you will reserve those spots. A CBIC volunteer will write your name down for the number of spots that you need and hand you a written date and time reminder for when your family members that wants rental equipment should come to the Chester Bowl chalet to be outfitted for equipment.
4. How long does the lottery program last?
Most people are able to get their rental equipment reservations and leave in about an hour. However, the last names that get drawn have had to wait sometimes as long as 90 minutes (from the very beginning time of the program) to 2 hours to get their ski rental reservations. Plan for entire lottery process to take around 2 hours.
5. Do CBIC members and returning participants from the prior year that completed their volunteer hours get priority over new participants that want to sign up for the ski program?
Yes, CBIC members and returning program participants that completed their volunteer hours (a small number of volunteer hours are required of each CBIC family) from the previous year do get priority during the lottery. Their names will be drawn from the first box and then those potential new members will be drawn after the returning members have secured their spots for ski rental fittings.
6. Do I have to pay for anything the night of the lottery?
No. This is only an information session and the ability to reserve your families spot for ski rental fittings.
7. Am I guaranteed to be able to get rental equipment for my family if I show up for the lottery?
No, unfortunately we have no way of knowing how many people will request rental equipment this year. That’s why we have a lottery. However, over the past three years every person that had attended the lottery night was able to outfit their families with CBIC ski rental equipment. Again, we are NOT able to guarantee that we will have enough equipment for everyone that shows up the night of the lottery, but your chances are greatly increased over a person that doesn’t show up.
8. I have a friend going to the lottery can they just sign up for me and my family?
No, individuals that show up for the lottery can only reserve spots for their family members that live in their household. Special exceptions may be made in advance by calling Chester Bowl. A common exception is for military families who have one parent on active duty serving in another country etc.
9. If I miss the ski lottery night is there a possibility that my family could still get ski rental equipment from the CBIC?
Yes, there is a chance. The CBIC will continue to rent out equipment until it runs out of equipment. If you miss the ski lottery, you may call CBIC at (218) 724-9832 or email ski@chesterbowl.org to be added to an open ski fitting if available.
10. Are there daily rentals of ski equipment?
No, the CBIC ski program only offers season rentals for ski equipment packages.
11. Do I have to purchase a season pass at Chester Bowl in order to get ski equipment?
Yes, each person that rents CBIC ski equipment must have a season pass to Chester Bowl. Daily ski passes are available at the chalet for skiers with their own equipment.
12. Does a Chester Bowl ski pass get you access to other ski areas in the vicinity?
Yes, to a degree. If you show your season pass to Chester Bowl at Spirit Mountain and possibly at Mont Du Lac ski areas (at this time Mont Du Lac has yet to confirm), they will give you a single day pass for that area. They will “hole punch” your Chester Bowl pass so that you are only able to do this once per season at each site.
13. Can we use the ski equipment at other ski hills as well as at Chester Bowl?
Yes. We ask that you use Chester Bowl equipment primarily at Chester Bowl but participants are allowed to use the equipment at other ski mountains as well.
