Tag Archive for: brian head

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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My Ski/Family Balance

It dumped in Utah a few days ago, and I decided not to go skiing.

It was a choice between playing in the snow with pre-school/pre-ski grandkids and deep powder. Being with grandkids won out. Granted, the weekend’s revelry left me a bit under the weather, and the wind and flat light were convenient excuses. In the past, fresh powder trumped (almost) every other draw for my attention. It was gravitational, pulling me to its seductive pleasures. But grandchildren are a more powerful force, and sledding with them on a small hill in a city park was a special joy. I’ve had many great powder days in my skiing career and hope to have many more. Being in the snow with grandchildren I only see from time to time is more precious than powder. Both experiences are ephemeral. Despite climate trends, the snow should continue to come. Small children, on the other hand, grow. Maybe, one day, if health continues and all is well, we’ll be able to ski powder together.

The Bleak Future of Winter Sports

Watching the Olympic Games is a peek into the future of winter sports. According to an article in the January 27 issue of The Economist, the popularity of skiing — declining in Western countries — is shifting to Asia. In China, the number of skiers and boarders is increasing 20% a year and 500 new resorts are expected to be built ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Accompanying the article is an excellent video explaining the history of modern skiing and projecting the future of the sport. Climate change is having a big effect. 

Odd But (Apparently) True

The disappearance February 7 of a skier at Whiteface Mountain at Lake Placid in New York’s Adirondack Mountains resulted in a massive but unproductive search involving multiple government agencies and ski patrols. Constantinos “Danny” Filippidis surfaced in Sacramento almost a week later wearing his ski outfit, helmet and goggles. It was reported that he was returning to Lake Placid to meet with the police.

New Hampshire

Cranmore Mountain will host its annual Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Weekend, March 9-11. Races on

Hannes Schneider

intermediate terrain will be held for several age categories. Past racers have ranged in age from 4 to 95. Hannes Schneider was an Austrian mountain soldier in WWI; his son, Herbert, was a member of the 10th Mountain Division in World War II. The Meister Cup pays tribute to American mountain soldiers with a special military race, in which active duty soldiers of the 10th and the Army Mountain Warfare School participate. The weekend features a welcome reception and buffet, opening ceremony, ice carving contest, silent auction, a wear-your-own vintage skiwear show, awards ceremony, and ski history presentation. A Torchlight Parade is scheduled that Friday.

Quebec

Mont Tremblant‘s Super Demo Days, Saturday March 3 is its final of the season. Next season’s skis, boards and accessories will be available. The resort’s SnowSchool hosts a variety of family-friendly programs March 3- 11. Click on SnowSchool (above) for details.

Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham Mountain Resort will offer numerous on-mountain activities during Quebec Spring Break. Notably, Mont-Sainte-Anne’s Fulllmoon Descent, March 2, when participants of all ages don headlamps and ski. Stoneham’s activities include a playground, make-up  stand, arts and crafts, campfires, BBQs, winter survival workshops, and, March 6–9, pony rides for the kiddies.

Visit Happy Parents Package for special lodging deals with free tickets for kids as old as 17.

Utah

Presidents’ Day Weekend delivered the goods in Utah. 48 hour totals range from 23″ at Snowbird to 22″ at Brian Head, the state’s most southern resort.

Vermont 

Bromley will hold its Vertical Challenge, March 11. Skiers and boarders compete for medals. The Vertical Challenge is a northeast ski area favorite with participating resorts creating a festival atmosphere.

 

apres cocktails
Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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What are Your Favorite Apres Ski Cocktails?

“It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues,” Abraham Lincoln

In case you’ve been in Siberia or solitary, you may have noticed the return of the cocktail. Search “Skier’s Cocktails,” and you’ll find a variety of hot toddies, Irish Coffees and Mulled Wines. Some spike hot chocolate with whiskey, brandy, or peppermint schnapps. There’s even a fancy Crème Brulee Martini (Vanilla vodka mixed with Frangelico and Cointreau, shaken and served in a chilled cocktail glass with a crushed-graham-cracker rim.)

Before bed, following a day in the cold, I enjoy a combination of bourbon, honey, and chamomile tea. After a day of spring skiing, I favor pilsner and lemonade on the rocks.

Do you have a favorite mixed après ski drink? If so, send the recipe and its name. We’ll give each a try and, assuming the taster(s) recover, make it part of a SeniorsSkiing.com après ski drink guide. When submitting, let us know if you want your name included with your drink. We’ll do our best to provide proper credit.

While on the subject, the call for ski jokes is still open. We received a handful, but need more to publish a collection.

Send jokes and cocktail recipes to jon@seniorsskiing.com.

In closing, here’s W C. Fields on one of his favorite subjects: “If I had my life to live over, I’d live over a saloon.” 

R.I.P. Warren Miller

Warren Miller died Wednesday at his home on Orcas Island. He produced 500+ adventure sports films in his lifetime, narrating many in person on annual tours. As a kid in Troy, N.Y. I looked forward to his visit to the R.P.I. Field House, which filled to capacity with skiers whose laughing, hooting, and hollering added to the joyous presentations.  He was 93.

California

Mammoth Mountain is targeting entrepreneurial gig workers by providing work space and lift privileges at four resorts for $99 a month. The workspace is called The Fort, a satellite of the same type facility on L.A.

Colorado

The big SnowShow ski trade exposition in Denver is underway. It is the first time Snowsports Industries Association (SIA) and Outdoor Retailers (OR) have joined forces.

Crested Butte and other Western resorts are experiencing lower bookings, the direct result of poor snow conditions.

Japan

Twelve people, including eight soldiers, skiing on the slopes of a volcano near a hot spring resort in central Japan were injured earlier in the week by flying rocks from a sudden eruption. One soldier died.

Utah

Snow (finally) arrived. Alta got 24″, Brian Head, 21″, Snowbird, 21″ All other areas got from 15″ to 8″.

Vermont

Killington, Pico, and Tesla have joined forces to provide charging 45 electric vehicle charging stations.

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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historic7_

Congratulations!!  Two SeniorsSkiing.com Advisory Council members have been named to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame:

Gretchen Besser “…for her unprecedented career as a ski patroller and first aid instructor… and her impact as an historian, international liaison and visionary in the world of skiing…”

Bernie Weichsel “As an advocate and creator of an organized freestyle competition circuit. His innovative SKI USA worldwide promotions continue to bring thousands of international skiers to U.S. slopes and his consumer ski and snowboard expos attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.”

CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows got 15 inches and was planning to open this week. Last season delivered 41 feet. The resort has a new lift-accessed guided backcountry skiing/boarding operation.

Sequoia National Park hosts its annual Trek to the Tree event on December 11. Visitors walk to The General Grant Tree, designated as the Nation’s Christmas Tree. Since 1925, Trek to the Tree has honored the Armed Forces.

CANADA

Whistler Blackcomb opened this week with almost three feet of coverage. More expected over coming days.

COLORADO

Purgatory opened last week, just got 17″.

Wolf Creek opened Thanksgiving Day, with 16″ of new.

Telluride received 11″.

Copper Mountain opened with two feet of base and fresh.

Arapahoe Basin and Loveland are open. Each just received 7″.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Bretton Woods has opened for its 43rd season.

UTAH

Ski Utah reports that high elevation Brian Head, in the south of the state, received 15” this week. Any Utah resort receiving a foot or more is designated as a Monster Dump on Ski Utah’s outstanding website.

Deer Valley Resort was named United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Award. The resort has received the title for four consecutive years.

Other

VinniBag
 protects and insulates anything that might break or leak, including wine & spirit bottles. The reusable travel bag uses inflatable air chambers and stores flat, rolled or folded when not in use. A terrific and unusual gift at $28 ($25@ for two or more).

Gripforce is a dual-purpose boot that, with the flip of a switch, transforms a boot into an ice cleat in less than a second. Developers say It is as safe to wear on glistening ice as it is on hardwood floor.

Patagonia is donating 100% of its Black Friday store and online sales to grassroots environmental groups.