I should have checked the avalanche report...

I too dismissed this movie when it first came out as another Top Gun "Formula Flick". Upon repeated viewings though it really is endearing in a weird sort of way.
For starters, as somebody who learned how to ski at Mt. Brighton, it was great to see the Michigan footage and the numerous references to Detroit throughout the movie. As an aside, someone should have told the actors how to properly pronounce "Mackinac" though.
The ski footage is outstanding, especially the scene where TJ is being chased out of bounds by the Ski Patrol.
There was surprisingly good dialogue throughout the movie and some memorable one-liners that my ski buddies and I still quote ("try not to kill him too").
Finola Hughes looks great and her slope-side pad is to die for.
My only gripe is Dexter's unrealistic two-week descent into drug running and the decision to kill him off. He was a more entertaining character than TJ Burke and should have been given a better story arc.

I'm proud to say it is one of my guilty pleasures