My Own Private Whiteface

January 24, 2012 in Resort Review, Ski News

Have you ever wished you had your own private ski resort?

Who hasn’t?

For one glorious morning recently, I had my wish. And it wasn’t just any resort: it was Whiteface, site of not one, but TWO Olympic games, and the ski resort with the highest vertical in the eastern US (3,400 feet).

Whiteface

Let me explain: Last week I was at Whiteface for a New England Ski Media Day. The New York Olympic Regional Development Authority, of which Whiteface is a part, invited members of the ski press (that’s me! :) ) to show us what’s new at the mountain this year.

For those of you who are unfamilair with Whiteface, let me tell you a bit about it. I went there last year and absolutely fell in love. It’s located in Wilmington, NY, just 8 miles from beautiful (and I do mean beautiful) Lake Placid. Rather than going into the whole thing again, you can read my post here.

The trouble started with the weather. The day of the event was windy. Not just a little bit windy, but great, big howling gusts that knocked the power out throughout the greater Lake Placid area. This meant — you guessed it — none of the the lifts were running.

A snowcat. Not the one we went on, but a good example.

Did this stop the Whiteface crew? No. They transported us up to the summit via snow cat. Mind you, the mountain is completely closed. So there we were: A total of seven people at the top of Whiteface, all by our lonesomes.

I know cat skiing is common enough out west, but trust me, this does not happen at Whiteface. And to ski the mountain with no one else on it at all — truly  a unique experience. I felt exhilarated. Privileged. And incredibly lucky.

Fortunately, the wind had died down a bit, so the trip down was fine. No, it was better than fine. It was A+. After all, this was my own private ski resort. I just might let them have the World Cup there some time ;)

Okay, so aside from a fantastic ski experience involving a snow cat, what did I learn while I was there? A couple things well worth noting:

They gave us a tour of their Kids Kampus, a section of the mountain that’s a dedicated beginners’ area. I don’t have little kids, so my experience with this is pretty limited. But trust me, if I did have small children, this would be a great place for them to learn. The whole area is set apart from the rest of the mountain, so you don’t get high speed skiers and boarders racing through on their way down the mountain.  The lodge is lovely, featuring day care, a special kid-friendly dining area, ski school check in, rentals for all ages, and accessible parking. The beginning ski area features several gently sloping trails that meander around large stands of trees, for added interest. If you drop off your kids — for either lessons or daycare — they give you a beeper so they can get in touch with you quickly if needed. Which I think is a great idea.

Kids Kampus Lodge

 

The second thing of note I is that they’ve completely upgraded their rental fleet  to Rossignol Experience rockered skis. Remember how shaped skis completely transformed the market a while ago? I think we’re heading the same way with rocker. The raised tip reduces the area that the ski engages with the snow, so you’re able to get on edge and turn a lot faster. It also keeps the ski from diving in powder, so float is improved, too. The end result is better stability, a better ride, and a whole lot of fun for a great learning experience.

So do yourself a favor. Visit Whiteface. I know it’s my private mountain, but on the day you show up, I just might open it to the public. You’ll have to go and find out.

 

 

 

 

 

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WOOO HOOOO! I DID IT!

January 17, 2012 in Gear Review, Ski News

I must have. Broken the curse,  I mean.

It’s obvious — last week I wrote about the severe snow deficit we’re facing throughout the country, and then, look what happens: it snows like crazy in the Midwest and New England,  and the forecast looks good in Colorado, Tahoe, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest.

Behold! All bow before the power of The Ski Diva!

Yeah, right. :)

Regardless, I’m more than a little pleased that winter has decided to finally make an appearance. And just in time for Martin Luther King Weekend, when ski areas rely on big crowds to rake in the dough. I mean, as  much as I hate skiing in crowds and won’t go out over holidays and weekends, ski resorts depend on attracting loads of people  to keep the lifts running. (If you skied then, my undying gratitude.)

So what did I do last Thursday, during the first round of decent snowfall, here in the Green Mountain State?

I hauled out my Atomic Century skis for the very first time. Okay, I’ll admit it. I did something very, very bad — and uncharacteristic, for me. I got these skis without benefit of demoing (phew, confession is good for the soul). This is something I always advise against, but I went ahead and did it anyway. I figured if I didn’t like them, I could always turn around and sell them.

Well, that ain’t gonna happen.

These babies rock. First, just give them a gander:

Way cool, right?

First, let me tell you about me: I’m an advanced eastern skier, 5’1″ (and a half!), 110 lbs.

And let me tell you about them:

Length: 166
Dimensions: 128.5-100-100.5
Turning Radius: 18

The Atomic Century has an early rise tip with traditional camber in the middle. This allows it to float in the powder, while giving you the edge control you’ll need in the hard pack. This is really good in the east, where you can encounter all sorts of conditions on the same day — everything from deep snow to bare ice. The day I’m talking about here had loads of nice powder, but the wind had scoured all the snow off the top of the mountain, leaving behind, as they say, “dust on crust.” No matter: the Atomic Century handled it all quite happily. I found them poppy, light, stable, and willing to go, go, go, no matter where I took them: fresh tracks, cut up crud, and yes, even ice. Pretty cool looking, too.

Though my go-to skis (Volkl Tierras) are 156, I went 10 mm longer with these — alllllllllllll the way up to 166, which is longer than any ski I’ve owned in many, many years. Why? The early rise decreases the point of contact with the snow. And in powder, you want a longer length for greater stability, anyway. I have to say I had no problem at all.

So now we have the snow. I have the skis. Keep it coming, Ullr. I’m ready!

 

 

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Where’s winter?

January 10, 2012 in Ski News

What is it they say: “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.”

If only we could.

It’s no news to anyone that this winter has been dreadful for skiers. I have proof. Take a look at this map of the Western snowpack this winter vs. the snowpack last winter:

And check out how far below average the snowfall is here in Vermont:

Here’s some other scary stuff: Temperatures reached record highs in 268 places on January 5. As of January 6, just 16 percent of the U.S. had snow on the ground.  Midland, Texas, has had more snow so far this winter (19.5″) than Burlington, VT (15″). And for the first time since the late 1800s, Tahoe had no snow in December.

So this isn’t just me being cranky. It’s real. And for people like me who wait all spring, summer, and fall to click into our bindings, it’s more than a little frustrating.

So why is this happening? Is it global warming at work? Did someone forget to make a sacrifice to Ullr, the god of snow? Did I put my snow tires on too early? And more importantly, will it snow if I take them off?

To be sure, all of these are possibilities. Still, for those of us who were terribly spoiled by the epic snow we had last season, none of them are very satisfactory.

From what I understand, meteorologists are puzzled, too. Jim Cantorre of The Weather Channel says it’s a self perpetuating cycle. The lack of snowpack contributes to the warm temperatures. “Without a refrigerator to cool the airmasses that are coming down, they moderate very quickly,” he said  in a recent report on NBC Nightly News, “and we wind up with a lot of record highs.”

According to Weather Underground, part of the problem is the Arctic Oscillation, an atmospheric pattern of the northern latitudes that’s hard to predict more than two weeks in advance. Angela Fritz, an atmospheric scientist with WU, says that winter conditions in the upper tier of US states are often determined by the strengthening of pressure systems around the Arctic. When pressure systems are weak, cold air that’s normally trapped flows southward, resulting in extreme winter conditions for the US and Western Europe.While that was the case for the past two winters, Arctic high pressure systems this year are “allowing the cold air to get trapped up north,” she said. “Last year, the refrigerator door was left open. This year, the refrigerator door was left closed.”

All I know is that I want some snow. And if it takes dancing naked around a bonfire, sacrificing a sheep or a ram, or even yes, removing our snow tires, most of us skiers are prepared to do it.

Are you listening, Ullr?

Depiction of Ullr, the God of Snow.

 

 

 

 

 

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A conversation with Donna Weinbrecht

January 3, 2012 in Interview, Ski News

Donna Weinbrecht

 

Like anyone else, Donna Weinbrecht, Olympic gold medalist, needs new furniture now and then.

I reached her recently at her home in New Jersey, where she was waiting for a new couch.

New Jersey? Yes. Donna lives in The Garden State, home of The Boss, Frank Sinatra, Tony Soprano, and years ago, even me. “It’s my home in the off season,” she said. “My fiancé is a musician and needs to be in and out of New York, so it’s convenient.”

Makes sense. And it all sounds so ordinary. But there’s nothing ordinary about Donna Weinbrecht’s life.

Winner of the first freestyle gold medal in the Winter Olympics, in 1992,  Donna has seven national titles and 46 World Cup wins, and is a member of both the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. She’s also listed as one of the Ski Channel’s Top 50 Olympians of All Time.

Donna will be leading Killington’s Women’s Weekends, two weekend clinics scheduled at the resort this season. I asked her a few questions about her career and the upcoming clinic.

Q: So how’d you start skiing?
A: My parents fell in love with it when they were adults. My father bought land in Killington in 1979 and built our house in 1980, so skiing became a family sport. We were weekend warriors. We’d get in the car on Fridays and drive up 4-1/2 hours to go skiing.

Q: What attracted you to the moguls? And how’d you learn?
A:  I don’t remember ever being taught how to ski. I loved figure skating, and some of those skills, like good balance, carried over to skiing. I think sometimes people are just born with ability. I see it in my nieces and nephews. Some of them have that gene and pick things up quickly.

I learned to ski in the 70s, when hot-dog skiing was booming. I’d see these photographs in the ski magazines of the hot-doggers smiling and having fun, so I gravitated to that.

Q: Freestyle can be tough on your knees. How are yours holding up?
A: After I won my medal I had a bad ski injury, so I missed the ’93 season. I was practicing a new jump during a fall camp in Breckenridge.  I was a little pitched forward in the air, and when I landed my leg hyperextended. It was a contusion of the tibia plateau, plus I messed up my ACL, meniscus, medial ligament, and I had a fracture, too.  That was tough, because my comeback was in 1994, another Olympic year. Despite that, I had a great comeback,  I won the overall World Cup, so I jumped right back in.  My training was a little hesitant, but that was it.

Q: Do you have one win that really stands out for you?
A: I have 46 world cup wins, so it’d be hard to say. But the Olympics were like a childhood dream come true. I never felt more perfect as a person that whole season. There was pressure, but I always had the feeling of being centered.  I was on Cloud Nine.  It was incredible.

Q: So when did you retire from competition?
A: I stopped competing after ’98. I took two years off, but they left the door open for me, so I went for it in 2002. I came very close to making my fourth Olympics. It was fine that I didn’t; I was psyched that I went for it.  The team was fantastic. There was so much talent that we could have had an Olympic team within the Olympic team.

Since then I’ve been doing all sorts of things: a lot of events, alumni work for the US Ski Team,  and Powdergirls, a fundraiser for the ski team that’s held in Aspen.

Q: Tell me about Killington’s Women’s Weekend Clinic.
A: I coached at the Killington Mountain School in 2008, and I had all these mothers saying they wanted to ski with me. So I talked to the people at Killington, and we put together a nice fun package for a ladies’ weekend. There’ll be two sessions, one in January and one in February. Each will have a maximum  of 30 people. We’ll be working with Killington’s snow director and some of the elite instructors at the resort. We’ll split in groups according to levels, intermediate to experts, and we’ll work on whatever anyone needs – everything from moguls and the shape of turns to the way to carry your poles, pole plants, flat training, and so on,  I’m self taught, so I have very organic methods.

Q: What’s the most important advice you can give people who want to master the bumps?
A: That’s tough. There’s so much going on.  In moguls, you’re absorbing, you have to look ahead, you have to make sure you’re not being pushed into the back seat.  They always say that if you have a bad habit, it’s going to be pronounced in moguls. You need to work on your balance, use your vision, and work on your pole plants and the cadence of your turns. Practice in the flats, where you have to do some turns to fall into a nice line.

-Q: What do you look for in a mogul ski?
A: An all mountain ski is better than a carving ski. I ski on the Chickadee, an all-mountain ski from Ramp, a new online ski company. The main thing is you don’t want anything that’s too wide or too stiff, because a lot of times you’re driving your tips into the  moguls and you don’t want them to push you into the back seat.  As for length, I started my career with I think it was 195, ended with 169. I also use shorter poles in moguls. If you start getting really good and you have those early plants on the backside or the tops of the moguls, you don’t want to have to lift a longer pole. You want to be able to swing out and have it connect.

Q: What do you prefer: machine-made or naturally made bumps?
A. I prefer natural. But machine-made can be a lot of fun, too. It’s all good.

Q:  If you weren’t a professional skier, what would you be?
A:  After high school, I went to art school, but my art school folded so I moved up to Vermont and worked at a small restaurant near Killington, The Pasta Pot. I made nationals in ’86 and then the following year I thought if I didn’t make the team I’d go back to art school. In ’87 I made the team — they took just one mogul skier out of the east coast  My rookie year was 1988 and everything fell into place, and I’ve never looked back.

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In which I am totally star struck.

December 27, 2011 in Ski News

Imagine how you’d feel if you were 13 years old and Justin Beiber walked into the room.

That was me about a week ago. Because last Wednesday something comparable happened that made me get all goose-bumpy and tongue tied.  I skied with two Olympic legends: Picabo Street and Donna Weinbrecht.

In case you need a reminder about who they are, here’s a refresher:

Donna Weinbrecht won the first freestyle gold medal  at the Winter Olympics, in 1992. She’s won seven national titles, has 46 World Cup wins, and is a member of both the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. She’s also listed as one of the Ski Channel’s Top 50 Olympians of All Time .

Picabo Street  won gold medals in Super G at the 1998 Winter Olympics and downhill at the 1996 World Championships, as well as three other Olympic and World Championship medals. She also won World Cup downhill season titles in 1995 and 1996, the first American woman to do so, and has a total of 9 World Cup downhill race wins. In 2004, Picabo was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame.

So can you blame me for being excited? I don’t mean to sound creepy about this; it’s just that I don’t fall over skiers of this caliber every day of the week.

Make no mistake: Picabo and Donna did not come to my little corner of Vermont just to ski with me. I’m not that delusional. They came to participate in a media event at Killington to promote the resort’s specialized education programs. Donna will be heading up two women’s weekend clinics at the resort. And Picabo, well, she was just there for extra star power.

Yes, I actually did ski with them. In  hindsight. I was so rattled that I’m sure everything I said was incredibly stupid. But both Donna and Picabo were extremely friendly and gracious. Picabo even said she liked my helmet, and took the time to give me some pointers (if you’re reading this, thanks, Pic! I’m working on it!).

Truly, a once in a lifetime experience.

If you’re interested in Killington’s new Women’s Program, here’s a link. And if you decide to sign up, say hi to Donna for me.

Me with my new BFF, Donna Weinbrecht (and she's holding a TheSkiDiva sticker!)

 

 

 

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Great Expectations.

December 20, 2011 in Ski News

Sad, but true: For some people, the most wonderful time of the year just isn’t all that wonderful.

Sometimes it’s a matter of expectations. All around us, we’re bombarded with images of the way the holidays are supposed to be: sort of like a Norman Rockwell painting crossed with a Hallmark card and a Walton Family TV special. There’s no way real life can possibly measure up.

This is especially true with a holiday ski trip. For months, you’ve been waiting to take the fam on the slopes. You can see it now: the snow glistening as it slowly drifts down, the kids gaily laughing as they execute perfect turns, the conditions Warren Miller perfect, and of course, the empty, uncrowded slopes. Apres ski, you sit around a roaring fire, hot chocolate in hand,  bowls of popcorn at the ready. The kids never whine or complain. Nothing and no one gets lost.

I hate to burst your bubble, but chances are, this ain’t gonna happen.

Nonetheless, a ski trip doesn’t have to be perfect to be great. It’s simply a matter of adjusting your expectations. Be flexible and roll with the punches. And follow a few handy tips. Things will go a lot better if you do.

• Prepare for the worst: Sorry, I don’t mean to start out sounding negative, but a little advance planning can go a long way in saving you a ton of aggravation. If you’re flying, bring your boots and a change of ski clothes in your carry-on. If you’re driving, do yourself a favor and invest in a GPS; it’ll help prevent the dreaded “where do I turn” arguements. When you’re on the slopes, establish a meet up place in case you get separated. Put ID information in the kids’ helmets or jackets. Give everyone a few bucks so they can at least get a hot chocolate if they get cold. Bring extra mittens, neck warmers, goggles, hand and foot warmers. Believe me, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

• Be flexible: Don’t be so rigid that you’ll be horribly disappointed if things don’t go exactly as planned. If conditions are lousy, come up with alternative activities: a nature walk, seeing a movie, browsing the ski shops, going out for a nice lunch, enjoying the hot tub or pool. All these offer their own kinds of fun.

• Expect it to be busy. It’s the holidays. You’re not the only ones off. Yes, there will be lift lines. Yes, it will be crowded. Know this before you go and take it in stride. Smile at people. Be nice to the employees who are working to make your stay enjoyable. Things will go a lot smoother if you do.

• Try a small, local area. If you have a problem with crowds, scale down and go to a smaller, local resort. You’ll spend lot less, encounter fewer crowds, and the kids will probably be just as happy.

• Take turns. While one of you goes to conquer the black diamonds, let the other stay in the lodge with the kids, or take them on the appropriate slopes. You’ll get the gnarly skiing you want, without feeling deprived.

• Put the kids in ski school. Let them learn from the pros. It’ll free up some time for you to ski by yourself, and it’ll make them better skiers, too. Don’t teach them yourself. There’s far too much baggage associated with that, and you’ll all have a better time.

• Enjoy the little things. An hour spent bonding over a cup of hot chocolate can sometimes be even more fun than an hour on the slopes. Take in the view. Tell each other stories. It’ll be fun.

• Laugh. Make jokes. Tease one another. Try not the let the little things drive you nuts. Remember, sometimes the biggest screw-ups make the best memories.

Remember, you chose to vacation with these people because you love them. So if tempers run high, if people get on your nerves, take a step back. Breathe. Maybe go off on your own for a few minutes. Adjust your expectations and simply expect to have a great time, no matter what happens.

And have a happy holiday.

 

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Dear Santa,

December 13, 2011 in Ski News

Please forgive me. I know, it’s terrible that I only write you once a year, but I hate to be a bother when you’re on vacation. I’m sure you’re plenty pooped after the Christmas rush. I mean, visiting millions of homes in just a matter of hours can’t be easy. And  supervising all those elves — talk about labor problems! I picture you spending the rest of the year lounging on the beach, just you and Mrs. Claus, perhaps reading a book and drinking a frosty Margherita with an orange slice perched on the rim.

Anyway, now that Christmas is coming, I know you’re back on the job. So I thought I’d give you a hand with some gift ideas for all the good little Ski Divas out there. I’m sure many of them have already put in requests for  skis, boots, helmets, jackets, and so on. But there are other things Ski Divas might like, too. So here are some ideas:

* Lift Tickets: Leaving one or two in the stocking will make a Diva very, very happy. I know you’re probably too busy to go to the ticket window yourself, so if you can’t spare an elf to do the job for you, you can always buy on line at the resort’s web site. Or you can buy from a discount site like Liftopia.com or Lifttickets.com.

• A women’s ski clinic: I’ve listed a bunch in my last post, so take your pick. Why not help her improve her skiing? There’s a clinic for every ability, so pick the one that best suits her ability and geography.

• Bling: Ski Divas aren’t immune to a little bit of sparkle, and I know just the thing. TheSkiDiva earrings and necklace, made of sterling silver and handcrafted right here in Vermont. You can order them here.

TheSkiDiva necklace.

 

• Books. Conveniently enough, I’ve written two ski mysteries that are perfect for reading apres-ski, curled up by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa: DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, and FADE TO WHITE. Both feature Stacey Curtis, a young woman who moves from Boston to a small Vermont ski town and becomes embroiled in intrigue and (gasp!) murder. Oh, and she skis a lot, too. For more info, go here.

• Fun Diva Stuff: If your elves can’t provide things with TheSkiDiva.com on them, I know where you can get them: TheSkiDiva store. There are mugs, hoodies, T-shirts, all sorts of stuff that Divas can use and wear to show their Diva pride.

TheSkiDiva Mug

 

Stocking stuffers: Hand and toe warmers, lip balm, sunblock, ski straps, energy bars, glove liners, ski locks, all the little things everyone tosses in their ski bag for a day on the slopes.

So there you  have it, Santa. Things that all the Divas can enjoy. Me? What do I want? Oh, how nice of you to ask. Snow! And lots of it! And while you’re at it, throw in an injury-free season. And if you, personally, can’t deliver either of these, then please put in a good word with The Man Upstairs. I’m sure you have some pull.

Happy Holidays,

Ski Diva

 

 

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Women’s Ski Clinics: The List.

December 6, 2011 in Ski News

In my last post I talked about why women’s clinics make sense for a lot of women. (If you missed it, go here.) So if you’ve decided that this is the way you want to go — but don’t know where to go — fear not. As promised, here’s a list of some of the clinics being offered this season. A simple click will take you to the corresponding web site:

Know of any others?  Post your comment here. I’d hate to leave them out.

 

 

 

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Why A Women’s Clinic?

November 29, 2011 in Ski News

A valid question. I mean,  why bother? Why not just take a co-ed clinic? Is there really any difference between learning with  just women and learning in a mixed group?

For some women,the answer is no. But for others, it’s a definite yes. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. That said, there’s no denying that men and women have different learning styles. Research shows that women are more supportive and men more competitive in a learning situation. And this carries over to the ski hill, too.

What’s so great about women’s clinics? To find out, I went right to the mother lode of women’s ski information: TheSkiDiva.com forum. Here’s a sampling of what these women had to say:

• I went on an almost all-male skier weekend, which was one of the least nurturing ski experiences I’d ever had. I think it’s Michelle Parker who in this year’s Warren Miller flick says something like, You never get home from the mountain and say, ‘I shouldn’t have gone out today.’ I think some days there are. I got home from the mountain, felt completely deflated, and registered for the women’s clinic because I knew I didn’t suck and wanted to see whether an all-women environment would be different. I went back to the mountain where I felt demoralized. The best parts were that it was a multiday clinic and there were only 3 other women in my group, all close in skill level and goals. I think it was possible to refine us to this group because there were 60 skiers total. I got a confidence boost when I realized what level group I skied in. It was great hearing another woman in my group say that she was scared of something, and then when I saw her ski something, I knew that I could, too. For what it’s worth, I have skied with guys (2 guys and me) who’ve admitted to saying they’re nervous of something, and for me, that’s comforting; it’s like we’re in this together.

• I go every year to at least one of the women’s clinics they have at my local resort. They are fun and it’s great to learn some new tips and have a blast skiing with other women. I like them because they are just a supportive group of skiers and each one of us encourages everyone throughout the lesson – something I certainly don’t get in other types of lessons.

• I have taken both co-ed and women only clinics. I prefer the women only because I too feel that with other women the atmosphere is supportive and not so competitive. Every time I have been in a co-ed class, there has been one guy who thinks he knows more than the instructor. Then the whole goal of the class changes to be a competition between the two and I get lost. In co-ed classes I have been subjected to feedback from a guy in the class when I prefer to get my feedback from the instructor. The pace in a women only clinic meets my needs too. We stop for bathroom breaks as needed and to get warm if it’s really cold. Other women share what they think I am doing well not what I am doing poorly. They encourage me to take steps outside my comfort zone but do not slam me if I should choose not to take that step. And, I laugh more on the lifts.

• I opted for the women-only because it was the only clinic offered in my area (SoCal)! It turned out to be really fantastic. One of my instructors in Utah was very focused on the difference in the center of gravity between men and women, so the main reason I went to the clinic the first time was to hear more on that subject. The best thing about them – I’ve done two – was meeting new ski buddies. I met two wonderful ladies that I’ve stayed in touch with though we haven’t been able to coordinate skiing again yet. There really wasn’t anything I disliked, other than I wished more folks were signed up. I agree with the other posters – there is a relaxed vibe, we have a great time, we can kvetch about skiing at “that time of the month”, etc etc. Plus the clinic organizer makes the most awesome goodie bags EVER. She sent me one while I was recovering from breast cancer surgery (she is also a survivor) that blew me away. Again, that made-a-new-friend thing…love it.

• I took a women’s clinic out of curiosity. Women do have different issues than men….our center of mass is lower, we often can have alignment issues because of our wider hips, etc. I was having trouble getting forward on my skis and it was hindering me on tougher terrain. My instructor was able to get me skiing much better in a short amount of time. She had an intuitive sense of things I was struggling with. The two days I spent with her were priceless. I also got to meet a lot of great women skiers. I also got recruited for the ski school, began working last year, and am returning this year and will be taking my Level 1 exam. Because of a women’s clinic, I got offered a fun part-time job, I made some new friends, and I now can take ski clinics several times a week to improve my skills. I’ve learned a lot, but I’ve also realized there is so much more to learn!

You can read more comments about women’s clinics here. Suffice it to say that the women on TheSkiDiva.com almost universally give them a big thumbs up.

In my next post, I’ll list some of the clinics that are out there. One of them might be just right for you.

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Thank you, Skiing!

November 22, 2011 in General skiing, Ski News

 

 

So it’s Thanksgiving Week, the time we all spend battling traffic, eating like pigs, and then hitting the stores to engage in a money-spending orgy we’ll be paying off for months ahead.

I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Well, sort of. Because even though we do all those things — to one extent or another — we also spend time giving thanks for the many blessings we have in our lives. Which is really the point of the holiday, after all.

And what’s one of the things we give thanks for, boys and girls?

Skiing, of course.

So I thought I’d devote this week’s post to why I’m thankful for skiing.

Hang onto your ski poles. Here we go:

1) Skiing makes me excited about winter. Seriously. If it weren’t for skiing, I’d probably  spend the winter burrowed beneath a blanket, wishing for warmer weather. Thanks to skiing, I’m positively giddy about the winter months. It’s the best season Mother Nature dishes out, and I wish it were a heck of a lot longer.

2) Skiing keeps me physically fit during the winter, and gives me something to stay fit for during the off season. To be honest, I’d probably work out anyway. But it’s a good motivator.

3) Skiing is one of the main reasons I ditched my old life back in Pennsylvania and moved to the beautiful state of Vermont, which I love dearly and with all my heart.  It’s a move I’ve never regretted, not even in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. I <3 Vermont.

4) It’s broadened my horizons considerably. Thanks to skiing (and TheSkiDiva.com) I’ve made tons of new friends and traveled to places I’d never have gone to otherwise.

5) It’s made me appreciate certain advancements in technology. Chairlifts, snowmaking, technical clothing, shaped skis — all the things that make skiing both easier and more readily accessible to everyone out there.

6) It’s given me a new fondness for soup, chili, and hot chocolate. Essentially anything hot. There’s nothing like a bowl of hot soup/chili when you come in from sub-zero temps and a howling wind. Yum.

7) It’s made me appreciate snow tires and four wheel drive, necessities for living here in the Green Mountain State. Both have saved my bacon more than once.

Of course, skiing isn’t the only thing I’m grateful for. Friends, family, health, the list goes on and on. So this Thanksgiving, count your blessings. Turn your thoughts to the good things in life. Draw your loved ones close, eat a good meal, and give thanks for whatever you hold dear.

I wish you all a happy holiday.

 

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