Tag Archive for: Mountain High

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Many Readers Have Requested A Fabric Patch.

It’s a good idea, and we’d like to make it available. The question is what to put on the patch. We’ve explored the vintage image of the skier that appears on the SeniorsSkiing.com sticker. Unfortunately, patch production technology makes him indecipherable. Whatever we do, we plan to include the SeniorsSkiing.com logo. You may have some ideas for a slogan. We envision something small and rectangular, so it can’t have a lot of words. A few ideas from this end include: Ski Forever; Skiing Makes You Younger, and Ski More. Live Longer. If you have a preference among these or can suggest additional statements, please email jon@seniorsskiing.com. If it gets used, we’ll send some form of SWAG you, hopefuly, will find useful. Thank you!!!!

CALIFORNIA

Mountain High, Southern California’s closest (to LA) winter resort, opened this week with top-to bottom greens and blues. The first 100 skiers received free gloves. Seniors 70+ ski free at Mountain High.

COLORADO

Colorado Ski Country USA resorts will be hosting a variety of Holiday events from Santa encounters (virtually all areas), to caroling (Aspen Snowmass), Ugly Sweater Contest (Eldora), torchlight parades (Aspen, Copper, Crested Butte, Monarch, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Steamboat, Telluride), and any number of tree lighting ceremonies and gourmet feasts). Check resort websites for more details and reservation info. One standout event will take place this Saturday at Crested Butte, which hopes to break the World Record for the largest number of skiers in Santa costumes. Participants must be decked out in a full Santa suit and will be eligible for $25 lift tickets.

MONTANA

Lookout Pass, on the Idaho/Montana border, has opened almost 50% of its terrain. Between natural and man-made, the top has 27″ and the bottom 12″.

UTAH

Ski Utah’s email states 18″ to Start the Week ,yet looking at accumulations at the seven open resorts, the maximum new snow is 7″ (Snowbird). Other open Utah resorts are Alta, Brian Head, Brighton, Deer Valley, Park City, Snowbasin, Snowbird, and Solitude.

If you’re in the vicinity of southern Utah’s terrific Brian Head resort this Saturday the ULLR Festival is the annual juggling, comedy and circus ritual to celebrate the arrival of the Norse Snow God. Festivities start at 1:00PM; ULLR’s entrance is scheduled for 5:45PM.

VERMONT

Old school, Mad River Glen is kicking off its Preserve Our Paradise fundraising campaign with a goal of $6.5 million. Monies will be used to improve snowmaking and replace the Birdland lift, among other things.

Areas across the Green Mountain State are celebrating the holidays with Santa visits, torchlight parades, wine and beer tasting events, gourmet dinners, etc. Check websites for details.

Jay Peak skiers never had it so good. This video from last season’s mega-dump is proof that all things are possible.

OTHER

The Nov. 27 edition of The New Yorker magazine has a feature article on 22-year old American skier Mikaela Shiffrin. Writer Nick Paumgarten has done a fine job. It’s required reading for anyone preparing for the February Winter Games in South Korea.

Thank you, Patagonia, for taking a position on important environmental and land use issues. This week, following the White House’s expected announcement that Southern Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments would be dramatically reduced, Patagonia emailed information under the title, The President Stole Your Land. The accompanying message reads: “In an illegal move, the president just reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monuments. This is the largest elimination of protected land in American history.” For many, these vast areas are merely an idea. To get a sense of what Bears Ears (close to the Arizona border) look like, click here.

Cute knit hats for the grandkids at https://cirquemtn.com/product-category/kids/kids-headwear/

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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CALIFORNIA

January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, when many resorts offer special “learn to ski or snowboard” programs. Among them is Mountain High where guests can purchase a two-for-one midweek, non-holiday Half-Day First Timer Package with lesson, rentals and a lower-mountain lift ticket.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows to host the Elite FIS Astle Memorial January 17-20, 2017. The FIS tech series honors of Bryce Astle, one of two U.S. Ski Team members who died in an avalanche in 2015. Nearly 100 men and 100 women will compete in two days of Giant Slalom and two days of Slalom on the same course as the women’s Audi FIS World Cup event to be held at Squaw Valley in March.

COLORADO

January 15 -22 is Gay Ski Week in Aspen with an abundance of parties and entertainment.

UTAH

Two time Olympian Ted Ligety announced that back surgery would sideline him from this season’s World Cup. He expects to race at the 2018 South Korean Olympic Games.

Proceeds from the Snowbird’s Snowcat Skiing for Nature program benefit two local environmentally focused non-profits. Morning guided half-day tours run from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include breakfast, pre-public, guided skiing in Mineral Basin, lift ticket, and backcountry snowcat skiing in upper American Fork Canyon. $395/person Visit: http://www.snowbird.com/mountain-school/guides/catskiing/

VERMONT

Jay Peak Resort was named among Best Ski areas by Liftopia’s 2016-17 Best in Snow Awards. Voters identified Jay Peak Resort’s “tremendous amount of back country” with “New England-style skiing at its best including tight, twisty runs and challenging glade skiing that is far enough from the coast and gets tons of snow.”

OTHER

Patrick McCloskey is a frequent SeniorsSkiing.com contributor. A PSIA Alpine Level III instructor, he has been teaching skiing for 40 years. A Q&A with Patrick appears in PSIA-AASI’s Member Spotlight.

Thinning Down the Billfold — Almost every skier I know stuffs too many cards and documents into the wallet. It’s unnecessary, unwieldy, and often unsightly! The clever people at Allett designed a line of ultra-slim wallets for skiing, travel, and everyday use. They’re great looking and reasonably priced. A terrific way to slim down. At retail and online.

Don’t Cramp Your Style — Pickle Juice is a product designed to stop muscle cramps. It was developed with football in mind but is extremely relevant to older skiers. A lot of us cramp up a bit too often. Pickle Juice is delish and available at retail and online.

SheJumps is a non-profit dedicated to increasing women’s and girls’ participation in outdoor activities. The group creates “Get the Girls Out!” events, Outdoor Education, Youth Initiatives and grassroots recreational gatherings — some of them on snow. The SheJumps community comprises females of all backgrounds and ages who help one another reach their highest potential through outdoor adventures and education.