I got an update from my sister who lives out in Colorado, 15+ inches of snow and it's still coming down. The update left me feeling a bit funny as I'm not sure how I would react to 15+ inches of snow right now. See it would be exciting, but it would likely cause me to do stupid things- like want to go ski powder in the woods. That decision would likely result in badly damaged skis, and more to the point- a badly damaged Sven, kinda like what happened to me in CO last spring- giving rise to my daughters favorite saying- "How's your buttocks today Daddy"- said with a very strange British accent.
But more to the point it would be such a tease. I'd want to put the bikes away, forget about the Porky Gulch Classic, and focus solely on skiing. The danger there is that if you start thinking about skiing too early it can lead to November frustration and even worse- April burnout! I like to have the season build into itself so that my skiing jones can get filled right as it reaches its peak.
Of course I say all of this knowing full well that in about three weeks I'll have a major itch to ski. Especially when we go ski shopping for the kids in a couple weeks.
In the mean time I'll stick with riding and racing my bike.
As a side note- I'm looking for topics for this winters columns and blog posts- so if you've got an idea send it my way!
Sven
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Just Missed Us
Snow. I heard the word on the news, they said, "a chance of snow." That's all I needed to hear. I envisioned waking up to a couple inches of snow blanketing the athletic fields of Bridgton Academy (the nations only all male, PG (postgraduate) school- a little plug since it is also the place I call home, literally)and being able to grab my XC skis and sneaking out for a tour of the soccer and football fields. Alas the snow didn't fly- instead we woke up to cold October rain. Oh well, it just means the snowmaking ponds are all being topped off and ready for the season!
I would be remiss to not mention that a screaming season pass deal expires at midnight tonight. I won't say who- just click to find out.
In other news I got an email from Cranmore that they have installed 80 new fan guns. That's a lot of snowmaking power. Which will require a great deal of water, so I assume they were pleased with the fact it was raining this morning.
I'm getting into the ski mood, although I'm still in a cycling mindset, and will remain that way until at least Porky Gulch Classic has come and gone. Again you'll have to click to figure it out.
Then we'll go into the scramble mode of getting all of our gear and clothing figured out. Both daughters are in need of new skis and boots, and as luck would have it there don't seem to be good hand-me-down options in our house this year- hopefully next year. Add to that that my oldest has gotten into tele skiing and skate skiing as well- and soon she'll have as many pair of skis as K or I. I wonder how many kilos of wax I'll go through on a ski prep night. It's starting to feel like I'm prepping a rental fleet each wax night. Maybe this is the year I install a TV in the garage- hmmm, maybe onto something with that.
It's not just the hardgoods (sorry for the industry lingo, I can't get away from my ski shop roots) but also the softgoods (there I go again)- the gloves and pants, hats and goggles, the socks and baselayers- argh. I'm pretty sure I'm due for a whole new "outfit" (someone shoot me know for using that word in conjunction with myself). When I fell out in Colorado skiing while visiting with my sister at Eldora and broke my ass I also tore a hole in my favorite ski pants. Favorite because they fit and had been free (a pair of Mammut sample pants- thanks Ian!)- and now Ian doesn't work for Mammut anymore (I guess he could get me a shotgun at his new gig- hmmm) and I don't know anyone in the softgoods world that I have any good blackmail on- so I may have to go to a store, and pause while I gulp, buy them at retail. Of course if I do that I can then make sure I get a jacket and pant that somewhat go together, maybe I can even get a helmet and goggles to match! If Shawn White can have his own "clothing collection" I can get excited about gear that somewhat looks like it all came from the same decade (if I could only find that Club-A jacket and those sweet purple SOS pants I had).
Enough out of me, all my hot air is likely contributing to global warming, or climate change or whatever we are calling it these days.
Think snow.
Sven
I would be remiss to not mention that a screaming season pass deal expires at midnight tonight. I won't say who- just click to find out.
In other news I got an email from Cranmore that they have installed 80 new fan guns. That's a lot of snowmaking power. Which will require a great deal of water, so I assume they were pleased with the fact it was raining this morning.
I'm getting into the ski mood, although I'm still in a cycling mindset, and will remain that way until at least Porky Gulch Classic has come and gone. Again you'll have to click to figure it out.
Then we'll go into the scramble mode of getting all of our gear and clothing figured out. Both daughters are in need of new skis and boots, and as luck would have it there don't seem to be good hand-me-down options in our house this year- hopefully next year. Add to that that my oldest has gotten into tele skiing and skate skiing as well- and soon she'll have as many pair of skis as K or I. I wonder how many kilos of wax I'll go through on a ski prep night. It's starting to feel like I'm prepping a rental fleet each wax night. Maybe this is the year I install a TV in the garage- hmmm, maybe onto something with that.
It's not just the hardgoods (sorry for the industry lingo, I can't get away from my ski shop roots) but also the softgoods (there I go again)- the gloves and pants, hats and goggles, the socks and baselayers- argh. I'm pretty sure I'm due for a whole new "outfit" (someone shoot me know for using that word in conjunction with myself). When I fell out in Colorado skiing while visiting with my sister at Eldora and broke my ass I also tore a hole in my favorite ski pants. Favorite because they fit and had been free (a pair of Mammut sample pants- thanks Ian!)- and now Ian doesn't work for Mammut anymore (I guess he could get me a shotgun at his new gig- hmmm) and I don't know anyone in the softgoods world that I have any good blackmail on- so I may have to go to a store, and pause while I gulp, buy them at retail. Of course if I do that I can then make sure I get a jacket and pant that somewhat go together, maybe I can even get a helmet and goggles to match! If Shawn White can have his own "clothing collection" I can get excited about gear that somewhat looks like it all came from the same decade (if I could only find that Club-A jacket and those sweet purple SOS pants I had).
Enough out of me, all my hot air is likely contributing to global warming, or climate change or whatever we are calling it these days.
Think snow.
Sven
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Great Season Pass Deal
If you are like me and have this pesky thing called work chewing up the vast majority of your daylight hours, yet find that skiing just on the weekends isn't quite satisfying your skiing needs- then check this season pass deal out from Shawnee Peak.
Shawnee Peak has most of their mountain lit up, so you're not skiing on only a couple of trails. They do a nice job grooming in the later afternoon so the mountain is in good shape for night skiing. Plus they are only about an hour from Portland or 25 minutes from North Conway.
It's the mountain I grew up skiing at so I have a soft spot for it, but even it that weren't the case I'd still say it's a hill you don't want to miss.
I do think this pass deal does run out in about a week, so if you're interested don't delay!
Time to go prep skis.
Sven
Shawnee Peak has most of their mountain lit up, so you're not skiing on only a couple of trails. They do a nice job grooming in the later afternoon so the mountain is in good shape for night skiing. Plus they are only about an hour from Portland or 25 minutes from North Conway.
It's the mountain I grew up skiing at so I have a soft spot for it, but even it that weren't the case I'd still say it's a hill you don't want to miss.
I do think this pass deal does run out in about a week, so if you're interested don't delay!
Time to go prep skis.
Sven
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