Ski1027

Bear Creek just lost my business in March by turning more trails into a parks.

The best place to get race stock equipment is from Race Stock Sports in VT (www.racestocksports.com). You can place your order with them and they can send it to your house and get them custom fitted down here somewhere. PJ, the owner, used to be a boot tech on the world cup, so he knows what the hell he's talking about. The prices are usally are usally very reasonable.

Congrats to the Lehigh Ski Team on continuing the winning tradition! Good luck at Regionals. Gotta love the MC 1:00 starts, which usually ended being a 2:00 start most of the time, races were never run well there. We used to sit on the deck and have beer or two before the race on those days. I see the x-walk patrol is still out in force. Our #1 guy almost got arrested for crossing the street before the crossing guard gave him the okay to go.

I'm glad to see my alma mater Lehigh is still winning races, keep it up! I know the team didn't lose a league race the four years before I raced, the three while I was there (2000-2002), and almost certian they haven't lost since I've left (I think the winning streak might go back further than that too). I'm also jealous, we had to do ALL our regular season races at Mountain Creek and only skied on Saturdays. That got very boring. Where are regionals this year?

To steal a quote from Billy Madison... "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

Firstly, I have every right to call you out when you use immature words like fa***tt, that is offensive to many and should not be used lightly, perhaps you should not let your emotions get the best of you. I don't know you and would never claim to, but I would expect a response like that from someone much younger. But that is also your right, just as it is mine to think that was immature. I would expect more from someone who coached kids. I was joking about Phil and I think what he is doing is amzing considering many racers much younger than him could not make the transition to the smaller shape skis on the WC. Good for him! I am familiar with old school Pro Racing. I remember going up to see them race Vermont when I was a kid. It was also pretty much the only ski racing on TV at the time, other than the Olympics. I had a ton of fun ski racing and is why I continue to do it. College racing was more about having fun with my teammates, skiing as fast as we could, and drinking some beer . I don't regret a thing, other than going to a ski academy instead of my local high school. By the way, can you remember the BIGGEST CHOKE in sports history. I'll give you a clue, think back to October of 2004.

I heard that Phil Mahre was out at the bars before his races at Mammoth. Ski, those are some immature words for someone who's in his 40's with children.

What is the plan as far as the next trails to be opened? I see that there hasn

I love how people think Bode is the first and only person to have gone out and drank the night before a race. European racers have always had a party mentality. Look at what Alberto Tomba did, and he was notorious for running up huge bar tabs in every town a WC race was held. While at a ski camp in VT while in college a former US Ski Team member who was our coach made sure we knew the rules for the night before ski races... DH - No drinking and a lot of sex SG - A little drinking and some sex GS - Moderate drinking and oral sex SL - Huge drinking and no sex at all And about Bode being washed up. Are you kidding me. The difference with him is, he goes 110% each run and doesn't care if he crashes because he want's to ski his best each run, no matter what place that puts him in. He also doesn't give a shit what the media and people who know nothing about him care what he thinks. I applaud Bode and root for him every run.

BC-Mark, any word on the snowmaking situation on Timberline and the status of the NASTAR Pacesetting in a couple weeks?

Every ski area in the U.S. and Europe have considered the week between Christmas and New Years a holiday for as long as holiday rates have been around. This is common knowledge to most people. MLK day and President's week are also considered holidays, so don't try to ski before 4:00pm on those days. I'm sure the situation could have been handeld better by the Bear Creek staff, but they had every right to tell you to either leave or by a ticket. Think about it, why would they lose their job because you didn't know the rules, which are clearly stated on the website and when you buy the pass. Did you not look at the times you could ski when buying the pass? There is a new generation out there who are skiing and riding, but are not taking the time to learn the rules, and yes, there are rules. They are called, "Skiers/Boarders Etiquette." These rules have been around for years and are simple, common sense rules to make everyone's experience better. Those learning to ski and board should be made aware of these rules and take them seriously. Is it that difficult to stop on the side of the trail, instead of the middle, where everyone else is skiing? Is it that difficult to look up the hill before beginning down, to see if someone is coming down and you don't cut them off? I'm not saying you and your friends don't know or use these rules, but it made me think about how less enjoyable skiing has been since people do whatever they want and don't take the time to think about the others on the mountain.