Ski

I was talking to the race director this evening about scheduling an ASRA race at Sno and he told me that they had been planning to really hit all slopes to showcase the mountain for the USSA J1/2 race (that's 'Dude's race) that was supposed to be today, but postponed until Feb. What we thought looked like a race finish shack at the bottom of Smoke is exactly that. There will be a permanent race venue on Smoke (not that gates will always be set, but the start/finish gear will be there for organized races), which is freaking awesome. Not only does it take training off of Boomer, but Smoke is 1000x better than the Switch NASTAR course...and Smoke is pretty much a waste of time without gates.

Just three PASR's hit the Twood ASRA today, above the shores of the windswept whitecaps of Lake Wallenpaupack...we ran a GS through some heavy snow squalls and 45mph winds. The temp for the 10am start was 16 degrees. The course was terrific---hardpack and deep enough that the gates all held through lots of impacts. We didn't even need a second run reset...just a quick slip and it was ready for racing. My oldest had to run first, which wasn't ideal because of the death cookies, but her last racing was three seasons ago in Maine and she's pretty used to brutal conditions. It was an awesome day for me because it was the first ever non-NASTAR race I've ever been in with her. She finished fourth among 14 women; I was more than happy finishing 9th among 27 men. I took some pics with a cheap digital camera...this is her during run one making a turn I wish I could make: Here's a pic of us on the ultra-mega-slow Twood double: And here's Metzy doing some exercises, sporting his 1st Place age-class medal: During the post-race awards, Metzy won a box of European chocolates that he said he'd use to try and finally get laid (by a girl!); my daughter won a cool ASRA t-shirt; and, I won a four pack of beer (which my daughter traded her t-shirt with me for). ASRA is a great organization, with lots of great people. Everyone is welcome to come race with us, whether they are former pros or absolute rookies. Check out the website for more info at: http://www.skiracer.com ASRA returns to Tanglwood tomorrow for another GS; registration is 8am to 8:45am, with first run at 10am. Then back up to Sugarbush for a SG, GS, and SL next week.

We missed you today, ass clown.

Val d'Isere: Dalcin, 2 Canadians pull upset in DH Saturday, 20 January 2007 VAL D'ISERE, France

Thanks mods... A question: since 1st Grade Teacher has made good on his threat to continue to post results in headers, should all race fans THAT ARE PAYING FOR SAME DAY COVERAGE avoid PASR on weekends?

We'll be there both days. (Maybe ski1027 will make an appearance, rather than just telling girls he raced in college ) Updated: 5PM, Jan 18, 2007 Jan 20/21 ASRA Southern Openers at Tanglwood, PA - ARE ON!!!!!! We have GS set for Saturday, and either GS or SL for Sunday. The reason for the indecision on Sunday is that it depends upon that day's snow conditions - so, bring both pairs. It's been quite a wait for the snow (or cold temps) so we will try to get some training in after the races- again, depending upon the conditions. Reg from 8:00 to 8:45, race start at 10, ASRA time. See you there! Feb 4th - Utah trip and reschedule of cancelled races - Roundtop or Spring Mountain. Feb 9th - SG at Windham, confirmed - HOWEVER, we will move this to Feb 16 if possible, in the hope that there will be a little more snow coverage - also works better, location wise, for the Belleayre races on the 17th and 18th. We should know for sure by this Friday. Feb 24/25 - Spring Mountain or Roundtop

Great day, today! The sno was grippy and WL and Cannonball were open...I had my first crash of the season today on WL's compression...and of course it was in front of a bunch of SH's from PASR They also continue 24 hr snowmaking on the upper mountain, despite marginal temps. And Mainline was open, although they had two cats grooming and setting rails. When the new lift is installed and the new runs are cut, there will be no place like Sno...and apparently clear cutting slopes is no sweat for them, since they've already added about 10 acres to Spike. And there's a new building that sure looks a lot like a finish house on Smoke... And for Nick and Sno: you guys shoulda been racers instead of jibbers...

You are a fucking retard, 1st Grade. There's no way you are an actual teacher...I know from experience that even a 6 yr old would know not to post a result in a header. What does it take for you to not do shit like this?

I bet Sno will be equally good Mon and Tues...great temps and they seem to be on a mission to get everything open. Give me a shout if you're going to be there Monday; I have a game to shoot Tuesday night...gotta pay some bills.

Hey, Track...I'm already there...I have a college soph who is taking a semester off to hang with me through next month. Ty's friend is also one of the kids on my soccer team and I promised to teach her to ski this year. I was just a little overwhelmed because I haven't taught skiing much over the last few years, but I've been stuck with as many as 10 kids in a class. And it isn't so much the skiing part that's hard: it's the getting the gear on and off part, right down to having to remove four earings at the last minute. I'm pretty amazed how few kids ski or board in this area. I mean, we're in the Northern Poconos, surrounded my nice little ski hills, and Ty's the only kid in the first grade that skis or boards. I don't know what's with these parents. Thanks for the input---we are signing her up for a lesson or two, once she's gotten down a few more skills. I don't want her folks just paying for a babysitter on the bunny hill.

I used to do lots of skiing feature pictures when I worked for a newspaper in Massachusetts...I did a feature story on blind skiing, a photo essay on a guy that skied with one leg, and a bunch of goofy pics---mostly at Mt. Tom and Mount Snow. Now I work for a company that just does sports photos, but I take every weekend off during winter to ski. All my ASRA races are weekends, so I just don't shoot skiing. I'd much rather ski than make money. That's the tough thing about working at a ski area, too---your work schedule usually has you working instead of skiing. I've sometimes considered a gig like the 'Montage' photographer, Anthony Fabrikant, had...just constantly shooting pics of skiers/boarders and selling them online. But I'd constantly be jealous of everyone skiing.

You're a smart kid, TP4... Shadows: yeah, especially since I didn't crop that pic. I was sending the pics from tonight to the girl's mom and forgot to crop it before posting it here. Maybe it's one of the reasons there's always so many security guards at the bottom of the stairs...

See ya then... Hey, TP4, would you hook up with a smokin hot chick that was into the Klan?

I guess we're shooting for 1, or so. We'll be chillin' down below, though. The NF was calling pretty loudly as I was driving away...I have races Sat and Sun and haven't been on a diamond yet this year.

Nah, Schif, we don't roll over for trendy shit. I've been wearing the same bell bottom jeans since 1968 and found myself suddenly cool again a few years ago. And, hey, you shoulda seen the look on Jeffy's face when I wore slalom goggles to a Booter NASTAR last year---slalom goggles are almost as narrow as sunglasses. Jeffy wouldn't freeski with me after the races... (I'm actually kidding about the jeans...) Back to my gin bottle.

Jeez, you guys are tough...I just meant taking two 6 yr old girls. It was Ty's friend's first time ever---and Ty kept trying to show off and disappearing. At one point I asked Sno if he'd seen her.

I absolutely dare anyone to do this: Now I'm going to go sit in a dark room with a bottle of gin.

Yeah, where both you guys can post about your now inferior SNOmaking.

Dr. D's stuff blows away Swix and Toko, for both quality and price. For non-racing, I'd go with his universal hydrocarbon: http://www.racewax.com/servlet/the-Ski-%26...-Wax/Categories Or get the warm stuff, since we're global warming so fast... BTW, in case you missed it, he's a local PA guy that's been doing it for a long time and has had his stuff tested by some great racers (uh, and me, too).

Ride. For the same reason TV ratings even in Europe suck for live ski racing---why watch them when you can be out skiing yourself?

Hey, thanks Sno! Just because you said that, I just had to go up for a few runs. I like when things are really messed up...makes it sort of an adventure. Anyway, I packed up Ty and we headed over a little after 6pm. It was about 15 degrees and it seemed like every gun on the mountain was on, including all the one's under Iron Horse. It was amazing to see the firepower Sno now has. It was a freaking blizzard! And they do have a good mix of the HDK's that make snow at higher temps. One is right outside the ski check and some more are at the top of Iron Horse. Whistler was the only run open, as Sno said, and you had to hike back up the hill, since everything else was roped. The snow was awesome, but too many guns hit you head-on. Windchills were around zero and it was hard to see, but we had a blast. I can see where it would be a drag for high speed runs, but it was cool for just tooling around. Great freaking night in spite of the insane conditions!

You're welcome! Is it the first season, season two through five, or the credits? Hey, something to sing in the Hobacks! Seasons 1 There's a place you've got to go for learning all you want to know about the facts of life the facts of life. When books are what you're there about and looks are what you care about the time is right, to learn the facts of life. When the world never seems to be living up to your dreams it's time you started finding out what everything is all about When the boys you used to hate you date, I guess you best investigate the facts of life you gotta get'em right the facts of life, the facts of life, the facts of life Seasons 2-5 You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life. There's a time you got to go and show You're growin' now you know about The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life. When the world never seems to be livin up to your dreams And suddenly you're finding out the Facts of Life are all about you, you. It takes a lot to get 'em right When you're learning the Facts of Life. (learning the Facts of Life) Learning the Facts of Life (learning the Facts of Life) Learning the Facts of Life. End Credits You'll avoid a lot of damages an enjoy the fun of managing the facts of life; they shed a lot of light If you hear them from your brother, better clear them with your mother better get them right, call her late at night You got the future in the palm of your hands all you gotta do to get you through is understand you think you rather do without, you will never make without the truth the facts of life is all about you

That's the best way to get things changed---once things f*ck up for the boss, then they'll see the problem isn't just with the lifties...but they'll still do everything they can to hang onto the system. I saw a tv news clip with one of the ticket sales girls saying how amazing it was...

Nice try