Saying Goodbye to 2009 and Hello to 2010

Can I just say I hope 2010 is similar to 2009 in terms of snowpack? I was looking back through my notes from last year and I see a number of quality powder days last season. Looking at the radar I am hoping we'll see our first big powder day of 2010 in just a couple of days. Time will tell.

It amazes me that the first decade of the new millennium is now over. With that said can we still call it the "new" millennium? Whatever we call it it has been a good time to be a skier. Equipment has progressed in amazing ways in the last ten years. Ski areas have opened up their terrain and even helped to cut new glade runs in the last decade. Terrain parks have become the norm and kids are catching the kid of air that only the top freestyle skiers were getting a decade ago. Snowmaking and grooming have improved and we have gotten spoiled with the conditions we enjoy. When was the last time you saw REAL ice? You know the kind- the blue ice. It's rare and usually the result of a blown snowmaking line.

Today we update our Facebook pages between runs. Shoot high def video with cameras attached to our helmets. Helmets are on just about everyone. We ski with more music in our pockets than most DJ's carried around in their cars 10 years ago. We take calls while on the lift and check email while we are in the base lodge. For some they've been able to make the ski area their "home" office and can be just as productive as their office bound workmates who spend more time watching Hulu at work than actually getting anything done.

It's been a good ten years, and the next ten- well let's just hope that they kick off with a good storm.

Now get out and ski.


Sven

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays!

Don't forget to make time to ski.

cheers,

sven

Tipping for a ski tune

I miss my days working in the back shop of a ski or bike shop. Working on gear, making it work better or in some cases just trying to make it work. Fixing skis that the owner thought might be in need of burial. It's a good feeling to get somebodies gear in working condition again.

I always enjoyed the look of pure joy when someone came back to get the diagnosis, fearful that it was time to buy a new pair of skis to replace that favorite pair, only to learn that their sticks were ready for another day out on the hill or on the trail. They would gladly settle the bill and be on their way, ready for adventure. In those cases it was not uncommon for the customer to return with a gift, usually in the form of a six pack of micro brew that would then be shared by the crew working the repair shop.

It always amazed me how much I appreciated this gesture, and how it would often translate into me doing freebies for that customer, who was now a friend of the shop. It wasn't that they went out and spent money on us, it was the fact that they appreciated what we did and went out of their way to pick a little something up for us to show that appreciation.

Gone are my days in the back shop, at least for now, but now I'm on the other end dropping off my gear for a little love from the guys running the grinder. With that I am now the one picking up the beer to say thank you, and I do it with a smile knowing what it means to those guys and gals.

With that, I need to pick up a 6 pack of Pigs Ear and swing by to pick up my skis, as tomorrow is a ski day.

Sven

My ski season is about to begin

I'm ready to go make my first turns of the season. Well almost. I've got to get my skis over to the shop for some grinder love. With the last turn I made being the one that ended with a broken back last spring in Colorado I'm obviously anxious to get things going in the right direction. Ugh, just thinking of that gives me the shivers. But this season is going to be an exciting one as the girls have really progressed and are both pumped to get out on the hill.

I'm most excited to get out and ski with K this winter as she has been my best skiing partner, but for the last 11 years we've been slowed down a bit- with just a couple of trips out west to get a chance to really open it up for complete days. Now we'll be able to ski pretty full on with the girls and not be limited to just the easiest terrain.

It's interesting, as this season approaches I'm starting to think more and more about locking my heel down again. For the past few seasons I've been dedicated to skiing tele 98% of the time. Getting on alpine skis for a couple of photo shoots and a day of testing- but all my free skiing has been on pins (funny term considering I've NEVER skied with a pinned tele binding). What I'm considering is a pair of AT boots and mounting up something like a Line Prophet 100 with a Marker Duke. I think I would enjoy that- but time will tell.

In fact to make matters more interesting I had a snowboarding dream last night- hmmm. I haven't ridden a snowboard in a few years- but this year might be the year to go out and do some riding.

Ahhhh, I love ski season- and it is here.

Smile when you turn as turns make you smile.

Sven

Holcombe/Milliken Family Contribute Key Land Parcel to Jackson Ski Touring Foundation

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation

153 Main St., PO Box 216, Jackson, NH 03846 (603) 383-9355

Contacts: Ellen Chandler (603) 867-8707; Thom Perkins (603) 383-9355


Jackson, N.H., December 7, 2009 – The second and third generations of a family that has been skiing the trails of Carter Notch for nearly a century have donated a large and significant parcel of land to the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation. The descendants of the late Waldo and Ruth Holcombe honored the couple by deeding 68 acres at the trailhead to the Wildcat Valley Trail to the Foundation to preserve it for trails and trail access by skiers and snowshoers.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Waldo and Ruth’s son Arthur Holcombe said, “Our family is pleased to turn over the ownership of this land in Carter Notch to the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation because we believe the Foundation is in the best position to maintain the interests of x-c skiers and other recreation and preservation enthusiasts for years to come.”

His nephew Peter Milliken reiterated the point adding, “We think that our own family’s future recreation prospects are best served by having Jackson Ski Touring own the property, because it ensures that it stays intact and open for recreation, the way it was when my grandparents first acquired it.”

The Holcombe/Milliken property is “doubly safe,” for future generations because in addition to the transfer of its ownership to the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation, there is also a previously-established easement with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) that requires it to remain essentially undeveloped.

New recreational opportunities made possible by the Holcombe/Milliken donation will be popular with local skiers and those who visit Jackson from across New England, the U.S., and internationally.

“The donation by the Holcombe and Milliken families of this tract of land in Carter Notch gives us the confidence to invest resources in an entirely new section of our trail network,” explains Jackson XC Executive Director Thom Perkins. “We are hoping to work with the family to provide an historic warming cabin along with the new trails and vistas, making this high elevation old New England farm setting one more reason for x-c skiers to visit and return to Jackson.”

In the future, this 68-acre parcel will be the site for distinctive (and separate) snowshoe and x-c trails that will offer outstanding views and access to early and late season snow.

The Holcombe/Milliken gift is one of several significant contributions received by Jackson Ski Touring Foundation recently. Last year the Foundation received a donation of a parcel of land from Rick Copeland for a trailhead on the Woodchuck Fields Trail and several deeded trail easements, which in combination with the addition of the Holcombe/Milliken parcel at the end of Carter Notch Road guarantee continued access to a huge variety of distinct experiences within the JSTF trail network.

A complete map of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation’s 150 kilometer trail network is available at www.JacksonXC.org or by calling (603) 383-9355.

Picked up our passes

Last night we made the trip over the Shawnee Peak to pick up our passes for the year. It is always an exciting time to get your picture taken knowing that that little piece of plastic is your ticket to a winter of fun. Of course the odd part was it was 55 degrees outside, at night, on December 3rd. Hmmm we might have to work on that.

But back to the passes. I started thinking about all the places I've had a seasons pass, I'll try to do this in order:

Pleasant Mountain
Sunday River
Chamonix (gotta love connections)
Stowe
Sugarbush
Trapp Family Lodge
Catamount
Great Glen Trails
Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring
Cranmore
Attitash
ASC (Attitash/Sunday River/Sugarloaf/Killington/Steamboat/Canyons)
Shawnee Peak

I think that's it for season passes. But each of those places has a very special place in my heart as any time you have a seasons pass you feel a connection to the area. It feels like it's "yours" for the winter. You can come and go and not worry about did you ski enough that day to "pay" for the pass. At the same time you can ski all day and by the end the lifties all know your name.

Now that I have my pass in hand I am getting very excited for the season. I'm very tempted to head over to Sunday River or Bretton Woods and get in a few turns as they have been lucky with the weather and in Sunday River's case- busted their butt to offer up some early season skiing despite the cold temps. The River has been open since October!

On the Nordic side, I'll need to look out my window and see white before the bug bites me, although I can only hold my criss-cross gear at arms length for so long before I will jump in the car and go find snow.

So here is to hoping for cooler temps and a fantastic season!

Sven

Cold Temps Where Art Thou?

Looking at the temps over the next few days- warm. It is December correct?

hmmmmm,

sven

Frozen Ground

I don't have an official overnight low to report, but on my walk to the office this morning the ground had the tell tale bumpiness of a good frost last night- that is good news!

Want to get really excited for the season? Check out this trailer from Greg Stumps upcoming movie The Legend of Aahhhs- hopefully out next fall.

cheers,

sven


P.S.- I saw this when I was researching gift ideas for a ski column, thought it was a cool way to give somebody a few days out on the hill. Also a good way to buy some skiing for yourself later in the season!