Ski

Jeez, a few years ago KMart had to pay out $5million because a low end intermediate tried a back flip on "an unexpected obstacle" and broke his neck. And the most expensive (and prohibitive) aspect of ski areas holding races is the cost of two layers of expensive netting that keeps people from hitting trees. Wonder what Craig would say to an off-piste Chinese downhill at CB?

Ha, I started a Lounge thread 'cause I didn't think to check for a thread in Conditions...the snow band was pretty decent just south of Honesdale. I let the flakes build up on my windshield until I couldn't see

Not that it matters, but that was from 'Montage'...I remember the Blue race you're talking about, but I don't think I ever beat you on your hill.

(i'm gonna go hide, now)

Ha, my Thursday nights are a beer league and we're proud as hell of it. Hell, we may even turn it into a vodka league.

As long as it doesn't interfere with your Thursday night committment I'll add things as I think of them...usually questions people have asked at one time or another... **Helmets are often mandatory by ski area rules. **If you want to try a slalom course, or attend a slalom training, you'll get the most out of the day if you invest in a set of pole guards, which are about $35. I prefer a full guard, as opposed to half guard, since it absorbs 100% of the impact. As you improve and start cutting off gates, then drop the $75 on a pair of shin guards. **Do you need a speed suit? Will you feel out of place without one? Well, about 95% of ASRA racers will be sporting a speed suit (a fair percentage will be proudly jammed into them over beer guts, while others have owned the same one for so many years that we all know the color of their long johns). The typical ASRA racer is a white collar adult who looks at the big picture and sees a new racer as a benefit to the growth of the ASRA race circuit. In other words, any sense of feeling out of place is in your own head. Now, if you tie a veteran and you're in a jacket and he/she is in a speed suit, you may be told you never need to buy a suit ... My advice is to be more concerned about your technique and worry about a $300+ race suit when you know you're addicted to gates. Layer enough that you can drop your jacket at the start house. **If you know you'll be attending more than one race, seriously consider the ASRA membership. It's cheap and pays for itself pretty quickly by giving an extra discount off each race. Plus, it supports the fund for all the gates you'll be smashing to pieces. **Who do you compete against? Well, the Zen answer is that you'll be competing with yourself on a long journey of self-improvement. Less than Zen, there is a competition for overall female and overall male. Then, you also compete for medals in your age class (ie Men 40-44), with the top three racers in each class getting a gold, silver, bronze medal. The ASRA honchos are making some changes this season, so check the website for the tweaks. **When are the awards? About 90 minutes after the race, everyone gathers---usually at the resort bar---for medal presentations and some snazzy door prizes. **Do you need race skis? Nope. If you are hitting a slalom, you aren't gonna be happy on 185's, but any short turn radius ski that's a manageable length is fine. Giant Slalom is known as the closest thing to recreational ski turns, so just make sure you have a decent tune and some fresh wax and you're good to go.

Anyone looking for a friendly racing atmosphere with lots of fellow racers happy to give tips should consider trying out an ASRA race this season. The schedule is still in the works, but there are usually races from Sugarbush all the way down to Roundtop. The courses are more challenging than NASTAR (some race days have included a slalom event, or are a stand alone slalom), but nowhere near the over-the-top set that you might find at a Masters race. Generally, the biggest hurdle for wannabe new racers is just that they aren't sure what to expect, so they blow off giving it a try. So here's how simple it is: 1. Check the schedule at ASRA Website 2. Stop by the sign-up desk on the morning of the race BEFORE you buy a lift ticket (racers get a great discount) 3. Tell either Mel or AJ you're new and they'll hook you up with any of a dozen friendly racers who will be more than happy to inspect the course with you and explain the start structure. Do it once and you pretty much know all there is to know...you're only job is to keep getting faster. And anyone can feel free to PM me here at PASR (although I'm temporarily retired from ASRA to gatekeep for my little one). Here's the fall email to all racers: Hi ASRA racers. It's almost November and openers isn

Oh, no, nothing nefarious...I just mean that after working on my own race skis for the last few years and skiing them, which gives you a kind of feedback that is perfect---as opposed to trying to explain to a tech what you need done differently---I've grown way to picky to accept what a guy using a machine could ever do. A little tweak to the edge near the tail for holding the end of a turn on ice to just extra buffing with a super soft horsehair brush after using the nylon. I just sorta shake my head when someone brags about a $30,000 machine and how great it is. It's the same difference to me as using the "expensive" hot wax pressure hose at the car wash as opposed to manually waxing and buffing your own car. Shops don't necessarily spend big bucks to turn out great tunes; they spend big bucks to turn out of decent tunes, no matter the name of the person running it. Oh, and I wish I'd been tuning both our girls skis.

Hey, Nick, are they taking pass pics yet?

Sib, you just have no idea how much I regret not knowing then what I know now...I get pretty bummed when I think how I let Kat down with some tuning tricks I should have learned back then, especially since I'd been a hack racer for years already.

Heheheheh...

Sno Mountain officially looks like a waterpark right now, albeit a muddy one. The lazy river is in and just waiting for some backfilling.

Goddamnit Timeless

Mount Snow is a great place if you are a local and can ski during the week. I spent three years mostly alone on the NF. But it's the exact same experience as Hunter on weekends. Rude-ass mo fo's from NYC who get off on stiffing instructors and waitresses because "the tickets are so expensive". I used to overhear that all the time at the end of a lesson: "Why should I tip when it's so goddamn expensive here?" I probably love Sno's NF because it reminds me of a mini Mt. Snow NF...

Hey, Yuki, why not just post some prices with OBO's? I know I might be interested, as well as some others, but why the dance? The shorts are $99 new, $49 like new, will you take $20, plus $5 shipping?

Yeah, but Platekill was even worse. It was cold the night before, so they went all balls out and blew several feet of snow, then the temps hit the mid 50's as a warm front rolled through at daybreak. The ruts were more than a foot deep, which made for some spectacular ejections if you went for it, or some spectacularly slow times if you skied around them.

Well, women go first, followed by under 21 guys, then oldest to youngest... Courses break down for a number of reasons, as you know, with warm temps and new snow being the worst conditions. A few years ago, I raced at Blue which drew over 100 people and I went off about 75th and the course was perfect because it was cold hardpack. The early race at Twood (probably the first weekend in January) is always great and there's usually less than 50 racers. It's not on the schedule yet, but I talked to John Foy, the head ASRA honcho, a couple of days ago and he'll be posting dates for Twood soon. Twood's headwall is actually a good race run and it's cool that you see every turn of every racer, whether you'r on the lift or in the corral. The Elk race will be fun and should hold up on Slalom if it's good weather. I still can't figure out what happened at Belleayre. It was cold as hell, but blue ice by my turn. I was just happy to finish. A course may peak about 15-20 racers in, which is why it's so hard to win a WC technical race. With reverse 30 and everyone on the same line, ruts can be ridiculous by the time the first run leader pushes out on the World Cup. But ASRA racers don't run the same lines and courses are usually just fine until class 5 men (I'm class 4 ).... So, IMO, Bob, check the calendar for any races you might be interested in, then just watch the weather forecast. If it's cold and dry, then go for it. But one warning: BE ON TIME FOR SIGNING UP or prepare for the Wrath of Mel. And don't forget to turn in your bib or be prepared to wear it as a diaper during awards. All in all, I've met more great friends at ASRA races than anywhere else. While there may be some hardcore friendly competition among the rabbits or clubs, most racers are just happy to improve from week to week and LOVE to share tips.

Who cares?

It would be my pleasure to help you into semi-retirement... 4 bdr. 2.5 bath home < $129,000 3 cords wood = $375 Sno Family Pass = $1200 avg. teacher's salary = $55,000/yr Eh, those are all the numbers you really need to know...

There are more than 100 houses in my community for sale. Cheap! And there's new mini golf! Poc's new digs?

Aw, man, Poc, can I break the news to your wife? Please?

Winter, it's only considered going off topic when requests are made for 'Kitten to show her b**bies. I'm not trying to be funny----it's true. And, btw, she won't do it, except in Blue's parking lot.

Yep, I have your's all folded nicely just waitin' for ya. As a matter of fact, I have everyone's all folded and waiting...I've been hoping to hand deliver when I run into people, as opposed to mailing them. Any chance you're hitting Belleayre for the opening?

Ha, I actually know which one your daughter is because my daughter, Tylea, was behind her in line for NASTAR when the devo team was in the start house. Steph had offered for us to cut the line but Ty just wanted to take it all in by being next to all those big kids. And your's was pretty much the least big of the big kids. You know what ranks among the coolest things ever? My oldest had come home from college and raced an ASRA with me...after all the years of gatekeeping and being a driver, I got to inspect with her and then share course reports.

Both girls have gone out of their way to be really encouraging to my little one who's been hanging around the NASTAR course for four years, just waiting to be old enough for the devo team. As a long time soccer coach, I especially appreciate the little things that they've done to make her really excited about this season. She's always the tiniest kid and she gets overwhelmed pretty easily, so she takes to kids like them. I'm racing Thursday's with Artie, Chris, Andrea, and CJ...a few of us who were just independent last year combined with them because the rest of their team wasn't showing up and Jim H. was enjoying winning too much I'm really psyched about Thursday's because I have to be at Sno every Sat/Sun for my little one, so I can't do ASRA's for a few seasons. BTW, is the NASTAR course being moved?