sibhusky

Define cheap. Also, there is a TON of cheap real estate in eastern Montana. Just not close to ski areas. In the immediate vicinity of where I am, the land was going for $10,000 an acre about five years ago. We felt we overpaid for this particular hunk at $15,000 an acre. Now within a block of us they are asking $40,000 and more an acre. And that was last year, haven't looked lately. www.nmar.com has listings of real estate in NW MT. .... Starting looking and it is now $60-80,000 an acre. This is close to me, within a mile. http://www.nmar.com:8080/idx/propertyDetail.jsp?sesid=256141 http://www.nmar.com:8080/idx/propertyDetail.jsp?sesid=256142 You can go closer to the ski area and pay more or further and pay less. Atomic should look at The Homestead at Whitefish, Iron Horse, Whitefish Hills, and some other gated communities for his land.

I checked out the work at the pipe again today. I don't think they are going to be ready for this event, based on what I saw. I saw the freestyle coach a bit after that and he said they might have to cancel that part of the competition. I took pictures, but no point in posting them, you'll all agree they can't be ready for a comp on Friday at this rate. I think the problem is today we suddenly hit a warm spell and they can't make snow.

An update on this. They are finally blowing snow on the superpipe, I keep meaning to take pictues. It's pretty confusing, though, as they are blowing snow not only INTO the pipe but every which way in the whole surrounding vicinity, not just adjacent to the pipe, so I don't know what that's all about. They are also digging snow up, too, for some reason. Anyway, I assume all the activity is about this announcement: "Northern Division Big Fish Freeze Style Feb 24, 25 & 26. Three days of Northern Division freestyle teams competing in the air and on the moguls. This is a USSA sanctioned event. A USSA competitor membership is required. Registration is at the info center." Unfortunately, I think I am working all of those days, so won't be able to take any pictures of that, but maybe they'll post some on the web site.

Yeah, I've often been told that it means my core isn't warm enough. Totally disproved that yesterday, although the feet weren't at the UNSKIABLE stage after one chair ride, so maybe that's what they would have been if I hadn't been so warm everywhere else. This AM it's minus 8 at the house. Yesterday at this time it was 7 degrees. I am postponing the trip up there an hour or so. I put hard wax on my skis last night, tho, so I need to test that out.

Well, the last race was canceled due to high winds. First my garage doors were frozen shut, it took a half an hour to get them open, then when I got to the ski area, it was negative 18 at the summit, winds 15 to 25 mph, which apparently means negative 48 wind chill. I got "paid" for gatekeeping even though I just sat in the Summit House waiting for news on if the race was going to be run. I took a few runs, but even though my body was really warm, it wasn't helping the old feet. Had on two layers of long underwear on legs, four layers on top, full ski outfit, PLUS Eddie Bauer down jacket rated to negative 50, PLUS course worker poncho, plus helmet, mittens and wristies with warmer things in them, neoprene face mask, knit face mask over that, fanny flap. Was plenty warm except for my feet, which were popsicles after one chair ride. Began to fear it was too cold for my plastic boots, which are old, to survive, plus the wax I used a few days back was totally wrong...could point the skis down hill and not go very fast even after several runs. So, came home and will make nice fire in fireplace. Temperature had dropped four degrees since I left in the AM.

Pics from Womens' Downhill on Feb. 12. Megan McJames and Jessica Dakers getting air off of Launch Pad.

Spencer has pelvis, back injuries and concussionAssociated Press KALISPELL, Mont. -- U.S. ski team member Dane Spencer was seriously injured Tuesday in a fall at Big Mountain. Spencer, 28, of from Boise, Idaho, was competing in the Doug and Rollie Smith Downhill Race when he fell after a jump. Spencer was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center's intensive care unit, and was listed in serious condition. A hospital nursing supervisor said Spencer had pelvis and back injuries and also had a concussion. The accident happened on a section of the Ursa Major downhill course called the "Launch Pad," where racers are airborne for 115 feet or more, Big Mountain spokesman Brian Schott told the Daily Inter Lake. "He fell on landing," Schott said. Spencer tumbled and slid about 200 yards before stopping, apparently unconscious. "The visibility was good and the light was good," Schott said. "There were no weather issues going on when the accident occurred." Spencer placed in the top 30 in every World Cup giant slalom race last year, finished seventh in the 2005 world championships and raced in the 2002 Olympics. In March 2001, 1984 Olympic downhill winner Bill Johnson sustained serious head injuries after crashing in a downhill race on Big Mountain's Ursa Major course, sliding into netting and course barriers. Johnson had emergency treatment on the mountain and then brain surgery in Kalispell.

So, it sounds like you are at least 20, but might even be in your forties. Your age will impact what is available to you in the way of competition. I'd recommend starting out with NASTAR, it's easiest. Once you know what you are doing, there are other venues, but if you didn't race as a kid, you'll look like a geek showing up without any idea of what you are doing at some of the other race situations. NASTAR is more casual, even easier to get into than your local "beer league". There are adult race camps, but let's make sure what your level of ability is. Can you pretty much handle all the terrain in the Poconos with ease? They don't want they guy who has only skied 5 to 8 days a year in those camps. If you're fairly comfortable on most of the Pocono runs, you're probably fine. Most of the race camps for adults are up in New England or out west, and there are even some at the summer ski areas. Not necessary. The ability to ski fast needs to be secondary to technique. Any bozo can go fast....just point them down the hill and hope no one is coming. Speed should only be the goal of an accomplished skier, otherwise you are looking to be part of a negligence lawsuit. Too many people think that fast equals good. It doesn't. Sure gates are a pain. I don't race myself because I don't like having to turn at a certain point as much as turning where I feel like it. BUT, gates make you a better skier. Gates teach control. And racing is all about control. By the way, downhill has gates. They are spread further apart, but since you are moving WAY faster, they are coming at you just like a GS gate would be. Racers start out with SL and GS years before they do SG and DH. In fact, many never do DH. DH is not casual racing. To hold a DH event, or even a SG event, is a major undertaking. The safety and prep levels maintained by the mountain are HUGE. Even speed training without having an event usually involves training before the mountain opens to the public. Our mountain provides this to their racers before speed events. But the kids get there two hours before the mountain opens. And I guarantee you not one of them gets to train SG or DH before they've demonstrated their abilities in SL and GS. NASTAR racing is your first step, so you realize your limits. The courses are easy, many mountains barely having enough offset of the gates that you have to do anything other than tuck the course (some do, I know, but many don't). Once you've realized there is a lot you need to learn, then call around and ask about what is available for older skiers. Make sure that the group will actually do gates as part of the training. I know I took some Masters lessons at CB one year and none of the group wanted to do gates, so we didn't do gates. After you learn what it is you don't know, then is soon enough to think about the beer leagues and ASRA or USSA Masters.

This is incorrect. Junior racing goes up to age 19. After that you are an adult and you can either ski as an adult or a master. Perhaps what you meant is most of the mountain teams in PA only take up to age 17. But Siblet is a USSA racer and she is 18. She will still be a junior and skiing next year for our team (I think...who knows with teens...) Some of the mountains here take racers even older. A girl who graduated from Montana State is currently skiing for Big Sky.

Well, after injuring myself trying to get to the downhills at our NorAms, I had to go to work. I would have called in, because of the pain, but my bosses are away and I knew I'd never get a co-worker to cover for me. Am I glad I did. Around 2 or so, in walks a girl with a jacket full of sponsor's patches. She looked like a ski racer and frankly I thought I knew who it was. I asked if all the races were done for the day and she said yes. Then I asked how she did and she said she did pretty good, not elaborating. Then I asked did SHE win? and she turned around saying yes and I said, "Aren't you Jonna Mendes?" She was thrilled to be recognized. We talked about the race of course, and a bit about Siblet's racing and naturally talked about the vintage ski memorabilia we sell in the store. She was really really easy and relaxed, nice girl. In case you don't follow racing, she's been on the US Ski Team for 10 years, a past (not current) Olympian, DH points in the single digits. Anyway, quite a thrill for me. Naturally, I called Siblet as soon as Jonna left. Siblet had been in the store saying bye to mom before taking off back to college...just 15 minutes before Jonna came in.

I will work Mon, Tues, and Wed, which will be one downhill and two mens' SG's. Unfortunately can't take pictures when you're gatekeeping.

Slideshow of parts of women's SG I wish I could figure out how to make this flip pictures faster. Anyone who can help, let me know. Remember to hit F11 first. Then click on the Play button.

Here is a course map:

I gotta wonder if any of you know what an oxymoron is, with these answers. Examples: military intelligence, jumbo shrimp, dark light, etc.

Don't know if they've fixed this or not, but they used to have a ladies room with kid-height toilets. Add to that a door that was practically touching (okay, maybe six inches) the toilets. Now put a woman in ski boots there, trying to lower herself without leaning forward and hitting her head on the door. There are also some at my new mountain like this. I'm no good at the limbo either.

Starting tomorrow.

Well they get a lot of air going over Russ's Street and since it's Corkscrew, it squiggles. This is the section where Bill Johnson was injured years ago.

I've added to that link with some more pictures of Hellroaring Basin and a trip down Gray's Golf Course into the trees. First image is of Hellroaring Basin as seen from the top of Ptarmigan Bowl. Then we take a trip down Slingshot before we take the Gray's Golf Course descent, which has the REALLY FAT snowghosts on it and ends up in a lot of trees. http://www.siberianrescue.com/other/Feb2006 New pictures start with Image 12.

I thought you'd all be interested in the preparations going on for the NorAms starting tomorrow. There will be two Super G's for the men, two for the ladies, and two downhills for each as well. Due to the fact that downhills involve training runs, our mountain will be partially closed for the next 8 days minimum. Extensive prepartion is necessary to run speed events at this level as the racers typically reach speeds of 70 or so MPH. Race prep netting started going up weeks ago, and due to the constant powder dumps, they've had to work extra hard to harden the course. At these speeds, we don't want ruts and moguls. The race course gets to be like standing on a marble floor that is slanted. Enjoy, and as always, hit your F11 key before starting. NorAm Prep

But is Jere a female or a male? And what should I tell the guy about him/her as an instructor?

Sounds like a familiar last name? Team dad or team mom?

On another board they are asking about the names of some good instructors at CB. I told the guy to come here, but with the carrying on, I am not surprised he didn't pose his question on this board. Does anyone have any input on a good ski instructor for an adult?

I think both of them are trolls. Maybe even the same troll.

It does sound like a good opportunity to shave points because I am expecting that they won't ski their hardest. But we just had an interesting weekend here. The first day, the best (by a wide margin) skier finished back in the 20-somethingth place. So, the race penalty went up. That made us unhappy. But the next day she finished 1st and so I thought since Siblet finished higher that her points would be better. Wrong. Whereas when a top five girl's points are taken out of the penalty calculation it influences the penalty by no more than 20%, when she finishes where she is supposed to, it influences the RACE points by 100%. So, even though Siblet finished 3 places higher the second day and the penalty was lower the second day, she finished further back from the winner in terms of seconds than the day before. End result was that she got worse points on the second day. So, assuming the Ski Team guys ski the way they should be, it may or not be helpful to have them there.

Siblet would rather ski and so would I. Not everyone wants to be someone's groupie, begging for an autograph or whatever.