How many divas...

[playoutside]

Don't worry that isn't the opening line to a really trite joke.

This is a really great virtual community that seems to be adding new members by the hour. With all the threads and posts here I feel as though I know some of you already, but for most it's just the virtual you. So I got to wondering how many in our virtual world know each other in the real world. What I'm wondering is the following:

1. In the real world did you know any SkiDivas before you joined the site? How many?
2. Have you met any Divas in the real world since you joined? Where did you meet?
3. What is the largest group of Divas that you have been with in one place in the real world? Where was it and when?
4. How many real world friends have you convinced to join the community?


Here's my story:
1. Didn't know any when I joined
2. Met SueNJ on a car ride to Belleayre; think I recognize 2 others from WAA several seasons ago
3. Just 2 of us at Belleayre
4. None yet, but I'm skiing with a group of potential SkiDivas all weekend -- as far as I know none of them are SkiDivas yet.

 

[ski diva]

Good questions!

Hope you don't mind, playoutside, but I moved this to the Miscellaneous forum.

Here are my answers:

1) I knew a few over the internet from EpicSki: Snowhot, Tcarey, Teachski, thatsagirl, & Bonni. And I knew Philpug this way, too, who directed me to Lola and Lil. In real life, I knew Snobunny (she's my daughter), moose and skidivasbff (though they didn't join til much later and hardly ever participate).

2) Wow. A good list here. It's always a thrill for me to meet a Diva! Since I started the forum, I've met Quiver Queen, SnowHot, Thatsagirl, Liquidfeet, Happy Feet, Lola, Lil, Tcarey, Nannymin, MargaritaMarcia, Skigirl, Cnewbound, abc, ski now work later, Bonni, Batgirl, Marigee, Pequenita, and Sprite. I've meet them at a few Diva Days and ESA events, and Pequenita and Marigee came to one of my husband's book signings. Liquidfeet and QQ came to Okemo to ski with me. Lil & SNWL I first met for lunch one day (though not together. And I've since skied with them both). And since tcarey and cnewbound instruct at Okemo, I was bound to meet them, sooner or later.

3) The largest group, I think, was at the ESA Stowe meeting this past fall -- I think 8 or 9 may have shown up, but not all at the same time. There were 7 all together at the Diva Day we had at Okemo in March. Let's see if we can top that at Solitude!

4) The reason I started this forum was that I didn't have any girlfriends who skied. So initially convincing people I knew to join was a challenge. I ended up emailing those I mentioned in my first answer, to get them to sign up. Now I talk about the forum to anyone I talk to about skiing. Gotta spread the Diva Gospel!

Incidentally, I LOVE meeting new Divas. Anyone who comes to south central Vermont, PLEASE drop me a PM to see if we can meet up. And come to Solitude so we can have the biggest group of Divas EVER.

 

[Kimmyt]

1. I didn't know any before joining.
2. Nope, never met anyone off the site. There's always mention of meeting someone somewhere but I am notoriously shy of meeting other people off the internet (I have made some really great friends in the past this way but recently haven't been too social). Also I have to admit that I feel a bit, well not intimidated, but I think I'm pretty young for someone on here so I feel like if I were to meet someone they would be like 'man look at this puppy here, what is she, still in high school?' so it's also a bit of self-consciousness too.
3. Never met with any Divas, see above.
4. I've mentioned the forum to alot of folks, not sure if anyone reads it, I'm pretty much the most internet-addicted of most of my friends anyway.

K.

 

[num]

1. Nope, I didn't know any before joining.
2. I've met three: SnowHot, Volklgirl and Skiwright, on the hill at Crystal Mt in Michigan.
3. That day, there were 4 of us.
4. None, cuz I don't have any skiing friends outside of the ski diva/epic community.

 

[num]

Also I have to admit that I feel a bit, well not intimidated, but I think I'm pretty young for someone on here so I feel like if I were to meet someone they would be like 'man look at this puppy here, what is she, still in high school?' so it's also a bit of self-consciousness too.

I feel you on this one, here and on epic. To be 20 years younger than much of the group can be intimidating, and I'm new to skiing so that adds another layer to the onion.

I've gotta say that skiing keeps you young, and it seems as though many the 50+ divas are just as goofy as a 20 year old, for better or worse :D and there isn't a more supportive group around. Though it seems that a good few younger divas have joined up recently, too.

 

[Jilly]

1. Didn't know anyone before I joined
2. SkiMave just this week. Spoke on the phone with SkiDiva
3. Just the 2 of us at Tremblant - Tuesday. There will be more days
4. None, they just want to lurck!

 

[Pequenita]

I feel you on this one, here and on epic. To be 20 years younger than much of the group can be intimidating, and I'm new to skiing so that adds another layer to the onion.

I've gotta say that skiing keeps you young, and it seems as though many the 50+ divas are just as goofy as a 20 year old, for better or worse :D and there isn't a more supportive group around. Though it seems that a good few younger divas have joined up recently, too.

I have this fear that I come off as a weirdo on the boards, and that if not for the SLC contingent of Divas (who sound like they can really shred, by the way) I will be the youngest skier at among us at Solitude. Oh well.

I've only met SkiDiva and Marigee, as mentioned above.

 

[Marigee]

1. I didn't know any one before I joined.
2. I met Ski Diva and Pequenita at Mr. Ski Diva's book signing, I skied with Sheena at 7 springs in PA and skied with Thatsagirl at Crested Butte.
3. I have convinced 2 friends to join - but neither has posted yet. I am working on getting some of the women I work with at Whitetail to join.

I am really looking forward to meeting lots of Divas at Solitude!

 

[ski diva]

I have this fear that I come off as a weirdo on the boards, and that if not for the SLC contingent of Divas (who sound like they can really shred, by the way) I will be the youngest skier at among us at Solitude. Oh well.

I've only met SkiDiva and Marigee, as mentioned above.

Believe me, I'd much rather be one of the youngest than where I am, one of the oldest! Sounds pretty good on this end.

And there's NO WAY you come off as a weirdo, P. You are way cool.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I've gotta say that skiing keeps you young, and it seems as though many the 50+ divas are just as goofy as a 20 year old, for better or worse :D and there isn't a more supportive group around.

SEEMS as though? No, make that: :ROTF:
Seriously, though, skiing is our "glue!" Age and ability are secondary to our great love for this sport and our great need to communicate with other women in whatever way possible.

And, thanks to Grand Poobah Ski Diva, here we are.

I, too, have a severe shortage of women skiers in my circle. Dear DH, who cries at chick flicks ( ), asks me daily "What's new with the Divas?"

Hope to meet some of you SOON

 

[SueNJ]

1. I didn't know any Ski Divas in the real world prior to joining.
2. I've met one so far--playoutside--when she, my SO, and I drove up to Belleayre to ski. We're actually in the same local ski club, and when we met the day we carpooled to Belleayre (and had a blast skiing together, too!), playoutside said she suspected I was SueNJ from the Ski Divas. Smart Diva! I must say that this is the first online community I've belonged to where I really, truly feel motivated to meet the other members.
3. That would be 2, at Belleayre.
4. None so far. I don't really have any real-world female friends who ski.

 

[ski now work later]

I too, suffered from the lack of ski friends syndrome, and mostly skied alone the past 3 seasons, except for one male buddy that was great company last season but whose work schedule doesn't mesh with my days off this season. I found SkiDiva last February looking for info. about correct ski length, and have started meeting Divas since! I met SkiDiva herself for lunch in November and then skied with her on my first day out in early December. I met SnowHot, NannyMin, abc, Lola, and MargaritaMarcia at ESA Stowe (though I didn't get to ski with any of them :( ). Hope I didn't forget anyone on that list.... I also met some really nice Bears that weekend.

As an intermediate skier, I'm definately a little self-conscious about skiing with some of the advanced skiers and feeling like I'm holding them back in terms of speed and terrain, so I'm a little shy about Diva gatherings thus far. That said, I'm working hard on my basic skills to I when my speed gets back to where it was at the end of last season, I have the skills to ski better and safer in a variety of terrain. The great Northeast conditions which have included 3 deep pow days out of the 9 that I've skied so far, the lessons I've been taking, and my upcoming trip to Big Sky should get me where I want to be this season. I keep reminding myself that it's only my 4th season skiing and that I'm 48 years old and I can't expect to ski like a 30 year old who has skied all her life (though Tuesday is my first private freestyle lesson :p ).

Hope to meet more of you Divas as the season progresses. I will be skiing Okemo or Stratton most Tuesdays this Winter, so feel free to PM me if you want to meet for a run or two.

 

[Swamp Dog]

I have yet to meet anyone from here although I did speak briefly on the phone with Robyn yesterday

I have no problem with meeting "strangers" from an internet forum, been doing it with triahtlon people for many years now. It's great how a common bond like skiing (or triathlon) and the internet can open so many doors that would otherwise have remained closed.

I am really looking forward to skiing with Diva this winter

 

[persee]

So for me it's none thusfar. And I know of 3 women who have skied and who claim to want to ski again in real life, but no luck getting them to actually go. 2 of them would actually rather be on the beach - beach and my fair skin just don't go together.

As for meeting people from internet groups IRL I'm mixed on it. I've met a fair number of people off an internet forum I'm a part of, however most of them were already known IRL by other people who I knew IRL. Only once or twice did I do a complete cold-turkey meet. Now that I'm older than I was then I'm a lot more cautious about such meetings as I am far more conscious of the bad things that could happen. Not that I think there's anything to be worried about from any divas here, but there's that nagging worry on any such meeting. The closest I've done recently has been doing sale of some golf and ski equipment over Craigslist, both of which were good experiences. So I suppose I should just loosen up and go for it to meet some of y'all someplace in the Boston area. However this will most likely have to wait until I'm re-employed.

The other akwardness would be meeting to ski. I'd be soooooo self conscious. I mean I really think I'm a decent level 7 skier... but I'm sure I'd get anxious when I knew someone was watching me and make a fool of myself. And I know that this probably won't change no matter what level skier I eventually get to be.
The reason I know this is from singing. I'm still extremely shy about singing in front of people I know. I'm always worried they'll think I suck, or that I will in fact suck, despite the fact that I've had a professional voice coach tell me I'm good enough to go sing professionally. This still doesn't help my nerves. Probably the strangest thing about this is I've pondered going to try out for "Pops Search" (those in the Boston area know this as the competition to get to sing at the Pops 4th of July concert on the esplanade). And I don't think this would bother me even half as much since I'd be singing for complete strangers, being judged by complete strangers. So if they said I sucked I wouldn't have the same emotional investment and would just shrug it off.

So any ladies in the south of Boston area maybe we'll have do to a meetup sometime when I have some free cash for coffee/icecream. And yeah, despite the fact that I'm going to be 33 in the spring you'll have to remember to look for someone who still sometimes gets carded to buy beer!

 

[Swamp Dog]

So any ladies in the south of Boston area maybe we'll have do to a meetup sometime when I have some free cash for coffee/icecream. And yeah, despite the fact that I'm going to be 33 in the spring you'll have to remember to look for someone who still sometimes gets carded to buy beer!

just how far 'south of boston' are you? I'm on the Cape, but venture 'across the bridge' once in a while. One of these days we could meet for lunch/coffee, decide who's the serial killer, and then go skiing

I have a friend who's 36 and still gets carded. Not only was she carded the last time we went out, but the waiter quizzed her on her license info! She just about blew a gasket over that one!

I'd kiss the next person that carded me.....