Ski

After all this crap, a couple of days of snowmaking will make it seem like freaking Vail.

Almost forgot...this is PA Cup #3 and #4 weekend at Seven Springs. Both are slalom races for the J1/2's. Their webcams show some pretty decent coverage---probably better than Eastern PA. Still waitin' to hear from the 'Dude...

Then I'm in.

Hey, it would only take one bubonic plague pandemic! I want a preferred parking spot, though, and I DON'T mean handicapped.

While lots of places are mud and foot-wide connectors, Montage made it through the worst mid-winter stretch of all time. My boys even drilled into the mud to set NASTAR gates today and ran a double session. Just as the rain came today, the temp started to dip, so we'll have made to to snowmaking weather. And word is that they plan on blasting away at every opportunity. It also goes to show that skier traffic has a lot to do with how snow coverage holds up.

It's psychological warfare, Metz. He's screwing with your head and you're letting him. To quote a great moment in cinematic history: "Lighten up, Francis." And on the bright side, according to http://www.spaceweather.com , today there are 764 known potentially hazardous asteroids for Earth. So ya never know!

If warmth is a consideration, then they have a version called CW-X Insulator Expert Tights. They are roughly the same price as the "Pro" version and about $15 more than the "Expert" version. The non-insulated tights aren't terribly warm...they are another layer and wick moisture away, but you can feel the breeze, so to speak. For under a race suit, I'm happy with non-insulated; everyone else should probably go with the "Insulator". I'd wear a second layer over the CW-X and under my ski pants for sure, if it's really cold. But that doesn't seem to be an issue this winter...yet.

Yep, I'll be at Blue for sure. It's the best weekend of ASRA: MC for a GS and SL, then down to Blue. Drills? Well, Doug, I may want to get you to rely a little more on your uphill ski as you initiate your turns, so I'd probably have you take a few runs on one ski....then, of course, switch feet. I really like javelin turns for keeping your body squared. When you are making a right turn, for instance, and your left ski is the downhill ski, lift your right ski off the snow and point it downhill, over your left. Keep your shoulders square down the fall line. I really can't say much specific about your skiing, since I only ever see you from behind as you disappear into the distance. I'd need you to ski toward me a few times...then I'd be happy to make any suggestions.

The best turns always win the race, Doug. Basic wax on all-mountain ski and just dropping your jacket...it's still about the turns and the line you ski. I see lots of kids with their heads all screwed up by parents throwing eight different skis at them. Not sure if it still stands, but the younger junior racers were only allowed to use one set of skis for all events for that very reason.

Metz is a builder---maybe a hammer would work?

Heck, Zonked, if you threw some beach pics up on myspace you'd probably never have to buy another lift ticket. Not that I'd ever recommend doing it I'm just sayin'.... Maybe one

And it's always some skeevy dude. Shame it isn't some chick dressed like Vampirella out being an idiot. Or Cat Woman.

And who says a Penn State education doesn't pay off?

http://race-werks.com/product.php?prod_num=27536202 Remember the support you had from getting taped? These are amazing. It's like your muscles never get tired. ***

Pacesetters are usually a race coach. Their job for NASTAR is to lay down a good fast time making their best effort. Now, they aren't using fluoro and often have already spent hours on their skis during the day, so they aren't 100%. But they are still competitive people. And to have recreational racers beat them handily? A friend of mine runs a NASTAR course and I sometimes beat him. When that happens, he'll drop his jacket, stretch, then smoke my time.

If you happened to ride the Iron Horse last night, MS, did you notice the race course? They actually drilled into the mud to set five of the corporate race gates. Ty and I just did laps down Highball (she had to do 20 runs to earn a Gameboy Advance)...no rocks and decent coverage... But today's rain? Jeez.

Ha, no he beat the pacesetter by almost 2 sec. Pacesetters hate when that happens.

Well, heck, I'll send you my XMas list instead of Santa. The Spyder Tarantula's are awesome pants...it's also nice to have shorts for training days, as well as when it's warm. You get the feeling of freedom and you still stay a little warmer. For under your race suit, I HIGHLY recommend CW-X tights. They give great muscle support for your legs, plus they let your suit slip on easily. They are about $80 for the bottoms, but are very rugged.

Doug Doug was .03 behind the pacesetter! WTF???? You tied the Jackson Hole pacestter, then come back here and let some race coach beat you by .03 seconds? And Metzy was just .73 back... And Mike knocked FOUR seconds off his time from the week before! Jeff just did the same old crap we expect. You guys are must be juiced.

I'd also recommend a GS suit over DH, Metz...they have some extra padding protection from gates. Not a deal breaker, though, if you don't want to spend the extra $. But.....do your ski pants zip off? If not, you need new ski pants that have the zippers up the outside of the legs. It's the only way to remove them with boots on and there's no time to remove boots in the start area.

XL. And don't be worried about it being too long, since you can bunch it at your shins comfortably.

Hey, Metz, lots of shops carry a few early in the season, but it's hit and miss. The Loft always has a few, but they are usually mediums. Nothing to do but call around. Keep in mind that most adult men end up in either XL or XXL. BTW, reliableracing.com has a great selection and ships UPS Ground from NY State. I almost always get stuff in two or three days.

Also: Europa Cup FIS University NCAA USCSA (US Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Assoc.) While Europa Cup is the "minor league" of the World Cup, some collegiate racing in America is considered just as competitive. Some colleges recruit and give full scholarships to young European kids coming out of their own national academies. US colleges are also sometimes a refuge for skiers kicked off their national team, or otherwsie demoted, and is their chance to win their way back. You compared SAT scores, eh?

Oh, I get it. Er, no I don't don't. What happened Freek?

I thought it was spring already. Good movie, though. Imagine how cool it would be to be able to kill yourself and then wake up fine. We could all huck 245ft cliffs.