Ski Diva: The Blog for Women Who Ski

Moving Day.......

2010-05-31T09:11:00.005-04:00

.......to a new blog address, with a brand new format.

From now on, you can find my blog at http://theskidiva.wordpress.com.

You'll be redirected momentarily.

Thanks for reading!

Memorial Day, ski style

2010-05-24T19:25:00.001-04:00

Most people celebrate Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer. Swimming, boating, picnics, you get the picture.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

But let's not lose sight of the holiday's original intent: to commemorate those who lost their lives fighting for our country. Those like the men of the Tenth Mountain Division, who served in combat for only four months during World War II, yet who suffered the highest casualty rate of any US division in the Mediterranean.

Started as an experiment to train soldiers to fight in the most difficult, mountainous terrain in Europe, the Tenth trained at Camp Hale, Colorado, 17 miles north of Leadville. The camp, which lay at 9,300 feet, had four trails and the longest T-Bar in the country. Troops were taught to ski, snowshoe, and climb with packs and rifles as well as survive in the most brutal winter conditions. They lived in the mountains for weeks at a time, working in altitudes up to 13,500 feet, in five to six feet of snow and in temperatures that dropped to 20 degrees below zero at night.

All this well before the advent of today's technical fabrics.

After training for two years, the Tenth participated in a series of actions that played a vital role in the liberation of northern Italy. The Division breached the supposedly impregnable Gothic Line in the Apennines and secured the Po River Valley. By the time the Germans surrendered in May 1945, 992 ski troopers had lost their lives and 4,000 were wounded.

After the war, veterans of the Tenth became the backbone of the postwar American ski boom. Monty Atwater, for example, went to Alta, Utah, where he established the first explosive avalanche control system. Friedl Pfeifer designed Aspen Mountain, started Aspen's ski school, and ran the first racing circuit. And Pete Seibert became a member of the 1948 Olympic team and founded Vail.

The sacrifices and contributions of the men of the Tenth can not be denied. So on this Memorial Day, while you're swimming and picnicing and welcoming in the summer season, take a minute to salute the Tenth, along with the many other veterans of our Armed Forces. Remember, they fought for you.

And have a safe and happy Memorial Day.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Make Way for SkiDUCKs!

2010-05-18T06:16:00.004-04:00

I'm one of the lucky ones. My Dad started me skiing as a kid. The result was a lifelong passion that's influenced everything from where I live today to how I make my living.

I don't know where I'd be without it.

But for many kids, skiing is as remote as, say, a trip to the moon. And while skiing may not affect everyone as profoundly as it did me, exposure to the sport does have its benefits. It's a way to enjoy the outdoors in the winter, connect with mountains, and stay physically fit. Plus it's just plain fun.

Enter SkiDUCK, a new national non-profit volunteer-based organization that stands for Skiing and snowboarding for Disabled and Underprivileged Children and older Kids. An outreach program that involves establishing partnerships between ski resorts and youth organizations, SkiDUCK is dedicated to exposing kids to the joys of the skiing and/or snowboarding experience.

I recently spoke with Clint Lunde, self proclaimed ski addict and the organization's excecutive director and founder:

Q: What inspired you to create SkiDUCK?
A: I'd left a company and decided to intentionally force myself through a “pseudo mid-life crisis” during my new career search. Fortunately, I was at a point in my life that I was ready for a period of self-reflection and deep soul searching. As part of that process, I kept asking questions like: What is my purpose? How can I make more of a difference? How can I better use my passion and skills for a greater good? If money weren’t an issue, what would I be doing? And, rather than focusing on a job or career, how can I turn my passion into a life-long vocation? SkiDUCK was the ultimate answer to all those questions. It combines my personal passion for skiing and the mountains with helping others in need and sharing the sport that I love.

Q: When did SkiDUCK launch?
A: August 12, 2009. I'd been contemplating creating an organization to introduce skiing and snowboarding to disadvantaged children. I'd done research online and discovered that unlike other sports, like basketball, baseball, football, and golf, there were almost no programs to help introduce underprivileged children to winter mountain sports. I remember sitting on the deck on a beautiful sunny day in August when I finally made the decision to go for it. Once I committed mentally, I had an immediate surge of energy and sense of purpose; like “YES!! This is what I want to do for the rest of my life!”

Almost everyone I consulted told me it would be impossible to create a brand new organization and get the non-profit status approved and everything else required in place before the end of the ski season. That was the wrong thing to tell me. I’ll admit there were a lot of 16 hour work days, but we received our IRS 501(c)3 non-profit approval October 7. Then we began promoting the concept, coordinating with Youth Service clubs and ski resorts, and developing our programs. It took a while, but our insurance policy went into effect February 1, 2010, and we were on the slopes with our first group of about 30 kids the following weekend, February 7!

Q: Why do you think it's important to expose disadvantaged or challenged kids to skiing?
A: Just giving them the chance to experience the sheer joy and exhilaration of skiing and snowboarding are reason enough for me. I’ve taught many kids to ski, and I know first-hand how much fun it is for them. But more importantly, as many of us have experienced, the mountains and outdoors -- and more specifically for some, skiing and snowboarding -- have the power to change people’s lives. Seriously. Some hardly recognize it, since they can only ride for a few weekends a season and then go back to their usual weekday grind. But for others, the mountains become a retreat – where they can rejuvenate their mind, body and soul. More than any other sport or recreation, skiing and snowboarding combine the beauty, peace and serenity of the mountains with the rush of excitement and exhaustion of pushing yourself to your physical limits. I’m so excited to present this new world to kids who otherwise may never have discovered it. And let’s face it, if you don’t learn to ski or snowboard as a child… you’re not very likely to endure the long learning curve necessary to really fall in love with it as an adult.

Q: What are SkiDUCK’s goals?
A: The primary goal of SkiDUCK is quite simple: to introduce skiing and snowboarding to as many disadvantaged children as possible -- those who otherwise may never have a chance to get up to the mountains. Besides being a fun and healthy activity for kids, we know there will be many other benefits as well: like developing movement and coordination skills, enhancing interpersonal skills and positive relationships, building a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence, the list could go on and on. But for now, those are all additional benefits, not specific goals of the organization. However, as we grow and mature over time, I fully expect we’ll incorporate other goals to have a much deeper and more significant impact in at least some of these kids’ lives.

Q: How does SkiDUCK work to accomplish this goal? I understand it's a collaborative effort. Can you explain how this works?
A: Absolutely. Our motto is to “Partner, Partner, Partner”. The success of SkiDUCK is based upon the foundation of collaboration with both youth service organizations and participating ski resorts. Our model is primarily as a facilitator to connect existing organizations each already doing what they do best. For example, our partnering ski resorts’ ski and snowboard schools are already teaching kids to ski and snowboard. And our partnering youth service organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, are already serving underprivileged and at-risk children in many ways. But they can’t afford to buy lift tickets, rentals and lessons. Oh, did I mention yet that these are all completely free for the kids and youth clubs? It’s important to point out that the ski resorts are providing free lift tickets, rentals and lessons for the kids. So along with a wonderful group of volunteers, SkiDUCK brings these organizations together to provide opportunities these children may never otherwise have. And if they want, they can come back several times a season and year after year, all the way through high school! Pretty cool, huh? There’s a really good 2-minute video on our website (www.SkiDUCK.org) that shows a typical SkiDUCK day and how this partnership works.

Q: Where does SkiDUCK operate? How many resorts and kids are involved?
A: We launched SkiDUCK in the Lake Tahoe area our first season, as there are quite a few resorts within relatively close distance to small, medium, and large cities -- Reno, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Rather than expanding too quickly, we wanted to stay focused and build a really solid model before reaching out to other ski communities. We held events at four resorts -- Squaw Valley, Kirkwood, Tahoe Donner and Sugar Bowl -- and from our start in February through April, we took nearly 130 kids up for their first-ever day of skiing or snowboarding. Some kids made two or three trips, for a total of over 200 days on the slopes! We’re pretty happy with that, given the short timeframe left in the season. If all goes well, we could potentially bring 10 times as many kids up next year, in our first “full” season. Each of the four resorts has asked us to come back next season and also increased the number of events and free lift tickets/lessons offered. I also expect that we’ll add at least a few more resorts in Lake Tahoe as well as branch out to a few other areas/states. Although, not too quickly; we still want to focus on quality versus quantity and make sure that we’re creating sustainable programs that will succeed in the long-run.

Q: What's the response been so far?
A: The response has been fantastic; from the resorts, from the youth service clubs and especially from the kids and their families. A letter we received from one of the parents says it better than I ever could:

Dear SkiDUCK,

I just wanted to thank everyone that was involved in the trip to Squaw Valley. When my kids came home they were so happy. They said that "they came home from the top of the world". They told me the sun was shining and the snow was so amazing. I asked them what was the best part of their trip? They said that it was the people that they were surrounded by. Especially the instructors and volunteers. That took me by surprise; that they went to one of the most beautiful places in the world and that was what they said they liked best. A tribute to everyone.

I was born here in Reno and have never been skiing or snowboarding. I think that to give kids a memory that they can take with them their whole life is so awesome. I think that the organization SKIDUCK is the best! I want to wish everyone the best and thanks again for making kids and parents so happy!

Yours,

Thomas Kuykendall

Q: What's the future hold for SkiDUCK?
A: I know I’m wearing rose-colored glasses at times when looking to the future of SkiDUCK. But in my mind's eye, I foresee programs either founded or partially funded by SkiDUCK at literally hundreds of ski resorts across the entire country, serving thousands of underprivileged and minority children every year! I envision a national network of local community chapters providing opportunities to children who may never otherwise be exposed to the beauty and life-changing force of the mountains. Eventually, we’ll grow beyond U.S. borders to other mountain countries around the world. And I’m certain that someday a child who first stepped into bindings through a SkiDUCK program will also step onto an Olympic, Paralympic, World Cup, or X Games Gold medal podium.

But setting all the grand designs aside, the truest measure of SkiDUCK’s success will be years from now when someone who first fell in love with skiing or snowboarding through SkiDUCK takes their own son or daughter to the mountain for their first day on the slopes. That’s the dream that still chokes me up.

To find out more about SkDUCK or to make a donation, visit their website at Skiduck.org.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

A conversation with Olympian Sarah Schleper

2010-05-12T14:45:00.003-04:00

Competing in one Winter Olympics is pretty big stuff. But Sarah Schleper, member of the US Ski Team, has competed in not just one, or two, or even three Olympic games. Vancouver was her fourth Winter Olympics. And that's not all. She was also the only mom on the US Ski Team in Vancouver, and the only one born in the 1970's.

A Colorado native, Sarah started with Ski Club Vail at age 11 and made her World Cup debut just five years later. In between, she won five Junior Olympics gold medals and was the Whistler Cup slalom champ in 1994. She also won a Junior Worlds silver medal and a World Cup race, and is a four-time US slalom champion. Skiing magazine dubbed her as "the great blonde hope ... part Rasta, part Harpo, part Medusa, all Sarah."

I recently asked this remarkable skier some questions:

Q: What's your life been like since the Olympics?
A: Life is life. I keep on living, being a mother, a wife, and a ski racer. I finished out the World Cup season over in Garmisch, and the US Nationals at Lake Placid, New York. When Vail closed for the season, my family and I headed south for our favorite pastime, surfing. I would be in the water all day if it wasn't for giving my husband a chance to surf while Lasse [her son] and I build castles in the sand.

Q: What was the Olympic experience like for you? Did you do as well as you expected?
A: All four of my Olympic experiences have been some of the most memorable competitions of my life. I always go to the Olympics gunning to win a medal, and for this I maintain a focus that is determined and blinded to a lot of the commotion surrounding an event as big as the Olympics. I enjoyed the Whistler venue and being at a mountain comparable to Vail in skiable acreage. The entertainment in Whistler was unbelievable. Junior Gong, one of my favorites, played a free concert that I saw with my brothers and my pa.

As for the races, I was disappointed in my second run in the GS. I put myself in a great position to attack for a medal after the first run. I just didn't let it run on the second run, which happened on the following day, because the weather was foggy and the visibility was zero. In the slalom, I opened my chin with a gate on my way down my first run. I think this actually relaxed any anxiety I had for the race. My face hurt and I had to concentrate on getting it patched. I made a super fast first run. In the course report for the second run, it was radioed up the hill that there was a hole on this hairpin on the last pitch. I really blew it because I hesitated going into that hole and just lost all my speed and moved from what could have been a medal position to 17th place. Of course, we always dream of gold medals and if we didn't we wouldn't be going to the lengths to train hard and go faster everyday. I tasted my dream, and I can live with the experience of racing as a mother, and being proud of myself for undertaking a comeback, with my family always a fast first ahead of my agenda to be number one.

Q: What was your favorite Olympic moment?
A: Team processing with teammates Hailey [Duke] and Megan [McJames]. The three of us have really become close. Sharing the experience with them was incredible -- from team processing through the opening ceremonies, training, and races; in fact, all the way to the White House. It was great to share this part of my life with some great people.

Q: You let out this sort of roar when you come out of the gate. Can you explain how that started and why you do it?
A: It's the inherent nature of a lioness about to attack, and when I race my lioness comes out to play. It started a long time ago. At times I have felt too reserved to actually do it, but in the end if you can let out a roar before you go it releases the tension of the race and allows for a fluid mentality going through the gates.

Q: I know you were the only one on the team born in the 70's. What was it like being the "old lady" of the team? Are challenges different for you now than when you were younger?
A: I wouldn't go as far to say I am an old lady. Sure, I've been around that block a few times, but I am as young as they get, really. Age is a number and my age comes from the seventies, but in reality I am infinite and I just like to go fast. My teammates are my closest friends and I hope I can help create a team that can charge in Europe. I am proud to be teammates with Lindsey Vonn who has achieved the unachievable. I have seen her grow from an innocent 7 year old little racergirl into a very well spoken champion and that has been an experience that changes lives; not only her's but those around her, including inspiring teammates and anotehr generation of racers. I hope I have also inspired kids to go fast and maybe some mothers, as well.

Q: What are the challenges of being a ski racer and a mom? How do you balance the two?
A: Thanks be to fate, my husband has been the key to our balance. Both Federico [her husband] and Lasse come on the road. We base out of Innsbruck, Austria, in the winter and live the circus lifestyle. Parenting has come very natural to both my husband and me. We are so proud of our son, and he is the most important part of our lives in every way. It's hard to get going and get to the gym and things like that, but I have always had a strong will. When I set my mind to something I go at it with all my heart until it's done. Being a mother has made me a stronger athlete in the end, the balance of life.

Q: You've had an incredible career. What would you say has been the highlight so far and why?
A: Highlights and lowlights, as long as we spread the light and share our insight.

Q: Have you started your son skiing yet? Any advice for moms getting their kids started?
A: My brother, Hunter, had Lasse in ski boots and outside Buzz's [her dad's shop in Vail] on skis at 14 months. He's had over 30 days of skiing this winter, both with reins and in between my and my husband's legs. We never push him to ski. If he wants to go in after one run, we take him in. And when he wants to stay out, we let him rip. I found when we ski with other kids he's inspired to ski by himself. He loves being with kids so he wants to ski in ski school. I told him he has to be able to stop by himself before he can start ski school. He practices stopping in his shoes. I used the reins, but in the end I found it easier just to have him in between my legs and then when we hit catwalks or places where he can go by himself, I can let go but just stay around him to catch him.

Q: How do you keep in shape during the off season? What' s your favorite activity?

A: I would surf every day, every hour, if I could. It's my passion and I have a love affair with the ocean. I also like riding mountain bikes, water skiing, dirt bikes, swimming, basketball, weightlifting, runnning, doing quickness excersises, circuits, core every morning before I ski, volleyball. I love it all. I am very competitive and very focused.

Q: How would you compare surfing to skiing?

A: My skiing is very jealous of the piece of my heart I give to surfing. They are both spiritual. Being outside with nature and being a piece of the bigger planet and universe has me captivated for life.

Q: What's next for you?
A: I won't be sure if I'm going to continue as a ski racer until later in the summer. I gave this last year everything I had and I am still decompressing and thinking about where I want to be in ten years. I feel I could go on to Sochi, but I want my body to agree.

Q: For the gear heads out there: what do you ski on, when you're not racing? And when you are?

A: I race on 158 Rossignol Slaloms and 182 Rossignol GS skis. I like the S7's for deep powder days, and S5's for an all mountain day. I love running my GS skis for cruising Vail.

Q: You have this amazing hair. Do you do anything special to keep it that way?

A: Au natural, I guess. I never brush it. and I like it when it's a little frizzy.

I also asked Sarah to complete the following thoughts:

My favorite guilty pleasure is: dancing.
If I wasn't a ski racer, I'd be: lost.
My favorite after ski meal is: Pasta when in Italy. knoedel when in Austria, my pa's elk stew when I am at home.
Don't ask me to: stop.

Don't worry, Sarah -- we won't!

If you'd like to find out more about Sarah, be sure to visit her website here.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Here's to you, ski moms......

2010-05-04T15:57:00.000-04:00

For all you do, ski moms, for all your unwavering love, devotion, and support -- we salute you!

And to my own mom, who doesn't ski and never did, here's to you, too. Thanks for supporting my skiing when I was growing up, and for continuing to support it -- without ever asking 'why' -- now that I'm an adult.

Happy Mother's Day!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

How many jackets does a Ski Diva need?

2010-04-30T17:29:00.001-04:00

There's no right or wrong answer. The number of jackets you need is a simple math problem: take the number you want and divide it by the amount you can afford. Then consider the conditions under which you want it for. Brutal cold? High winds? Spring skiing?

A lot to think about, huh?

There's a jacket out there for every situation. The key is to find the one(s) that suit you best. And with all the end of season sales going on now, there's no better time to go shopping.

Right now I have three ski jackets. Well, five if you throw in the two liners I can wear alone or as layers. And I think I'm covered in every situation.

Let me explain:

First, I have an unlined shell. A Cloudveil RPK. This is a pricey jacket, but I got it at half price at TJ Maxx, so it was a great deal. Nonetheless, even at full price it's a terrific buy. Why? Basically, because it's pretty much bombproof. Water resistant, wind proof, great alone for spring skiing, and when the temperature plummets, I can layer it with a down liner and be good to go.

Jacket #2: For above 15 degees or so, I have a Mountain Hardwear Steep Jacket. When I first tried it on, I thought it wasn't heavy enough to be warm. Well, like about so many things, I was wrong. Even though it's lightweight, it's insulated with something Mountain Hardware calls ThermoMicro insulation, which does the job nicely. It also features Conduit laminate (the company's version of Goretex), pit zips, 20K of water- and wind-resistance, and a zip off hood. I even love the color.

Jacket #3: Another Cloudveil. This is the Down patrol and it is W-A-R-M. I wear this when it's brutal out there -- in the single digits and below -- and it's great. It has 650-fill goose down. windproof, pit zips. I love to ski, but I get cold easily. This does it for me. Again, another sale find.

To round things off, I have two liners that I can wear under any one of these, but which I typically wear under Cloudveil RPK. One is a Northface Thunder Jacket, which is extremely lightweight and WARM, thanks to 800-fill down, and the other is an EMS liner with 120g of Primaloft insulation.

On TheSkiDiva.com, we have a discussion going on called "Are you a jacket slut?" Some people have way more jackets than I do, some have fewer. I'm not sure I've reached jacket slut-dom yet, but I can try. After all, who knows what I'll find on the clearance rack.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Allison Gannet, revisited.

2010-04-22T12:06:00.000-04:00

It seems to me that a great way to celebrate Earth Day is to re-publish an interview I had in September, 2008, with Allison Gannett. In addition to being a world champion Free Skier, a ski film star, a ski designer, and a master instructor, Alison has dedicated herself to championing environmental causes, tirelessly working to make our planet a better place. She's worked on the environment with Al Gore, started the Save Our Snow Foundation and The Office For Resource Efficiency, teaches environmental awareness with the Global Cooling Tour, and been named one of the Green All Stars by Outside Magazine.

Alison is also member of TheSkiDiva.com forum for women skiers, and she kindly consented to answer some questions for us.

Q: Many athletes are involved in supporting various causes, and I know you’re extremely involved in the environmental movement. Tell me what led you to become so active in this. When and how did you begin? Was there some sort of epiphany?

A: I have been involved in the environmental movement since childhood and especially college. I was an environmentalist, and worked on consulting for global warming for the last 20 years. My professional freeskiing career came afterwards. I did have an epiphany to blend my two careers when I injured both my knees at the X Games. I realized then that the ski industry was pretty shallow, and that I was just a number. I needed more, so I sought sponsors that cared about doing good for the planet, and that had ideals like my own. Everyone said I was crazy, but it turned out to be the best desicion I ever made. Seems like if you follow your heart and not the masses, things work out better!

Q: As part of this, I hear you’ve built a straw house in Crested Butte. Why did you build it? What were you trying to demonstrate or accomplish? How is it different from living in a conventional house, and is it something you see as really taking off?

A: I've always been determined to walk the talk, so building my home was a natural place to show what is possible. Showing is always better than preaching. I built it in 1997, and it was the first straw bale home in a National Historic district - in Crested Butte, Colorado. I designed it and general contracted it. I wanted to show that being green doesn't have to cost more or look weird. That you can have your cake and eat it too - a beautiful non-toxic home, with super energy efficiency and insulation, built with local materials, and solar electric, solar hot water, and passive solar heating, also.

Q: Tell me about your Global Cooling Tour. What does it involve, where have you been, and where are you going? Does it take up a lot of your time?

A: I started my official Global Cooling Tour two years ago. My aim is to educate the world on solutions to global warming, but doing it with exciting images and movies from my crazy adventures around the world. I work with individuals, businesses, events, communities, trade shows, and governments, teaching my four-step CROP framework for solutions to climate change. I work to show solutions, such as my Ford Escape SUV, converted to a plug-in hybrid vehicle that gets 100 miles per gallon, and the first SUV in the world powered also by solar power. I do many presentations around the US and all over the world.

Q: What led you to choose freeskiing over other types of skiing? What skill sets do you find most valuable for it?

A: I was a bad ski racer as a kid, and also a mountaineer, so both gave me great technical skills. Many years later, I was discovered by Warren Miller's film crew, and that is how my ski career started. I never could stay inside the gates racing, so it was a natural fit to express myself more freely.

Q: I’ve seen videos of you skiing down some incredibly hairy stuff in Alaska. Can you tell me what goes through your head when you’re doing something like that?

A: The really hairy stuff takes some work, but I think my mountaineering background really enabled me to adjust to Alaska uber steeps easier than most. I could read terrain really well, and knew crevasse rescue and avalanche safety, and I was comforable being alone on top of a remote peak. It still is one of the craziest rushes in the world, but like anything, if you are prepared, it comes naturally. It still is weird having terrain so steep that you can't see your next turn, with all the snow pouring down around you, and literal free-fall between turns. I also loved showing the boys that women can really rip just as hard as the men!

Q: Is there a particular run or place that really scared the stuffing out of you? If so, what was it and why?

A: I would get the most scared when the people I was filming with did not have avalanche training or big mountain skills, which was pretty much all the time. You are only as safe as your crew to save you if things go wrong, and that drove me nuts filming the sick stuff. When the avalanche conditions would get creepy, I'd get a sick feeling and I learned that it meant to pull the plug and hop a plane home. Lots of bad stuff usually went down when I left. But I also had some close calls with avalanches, and almost complete burials, when I wasn't paying attention to my gut, knowledge and intuition.

Q: I know you’re involved with Head skis. What do you like about them, and what do you ski on?

A: I am on the Head Women's team - there are 14 of us, each from a different country around the world, and we get together to design the Head skis, inside and out. I don't think there is another company in the world that actually has skis designed for women, by women, and I love that. I like that they are easy to ski, yet fun, and the graphics are really cool. I usually ski on the Head Sweet One, which a fat skis that rips on the groomers, and of course is fantastic in powder and crud. Fat skis make me a hero skier, and will do the same for any woman wanting to expand her horizons. We are working on a super fat ski called the Head Bitchy One, and I can't wait!! It will be 110mm under the foot, but can also ski groomers amazingly well.

Q: What clinics will you be doing this year? When and where?

A: Right now I'm doing the Head Rippin Chix Steeps Camp on Feb 14-15 in Crested Butte. It is open to women who tele or alpine ski black runs and goes up from there in seven levels. I sell out every year, and it was chosen as one of the three best camps in the country. I have special guest champion freeskier instructors, like Wendy Fisher, Carrie Jo Cheroff, Jill Sickles Matlock, and Susan Medville. I'll be working on several other camps also - check www.alisongannett.com for more info.

Q: Between your skiing and your environmental work, you've accomplished so much. What’s next?

A: Well, saving our ecosystems such as our snow and water is a tough job, because it never ends. This year I had some great honors, such as training Al Gore's staff, and being selected as a Green All-Star next to Leonardo DiCaprio and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but the planet is in dire circumstances. My goal is to bring the message of solutions to climate change to Hollywood and the world, working to brand my four-step CROP solutions framework so that people are not so confused in what to do to make a difference. My athletics such as skiing and biking give my life real balance, as my enviro job can be pretty depressing. We are also launching a film on my adventures to document glacial recession in Pakistan this year, and that will be fun going to the big film festivals, while also getting the solutions message out there. I'm also working on educating politicians on solutions, because Washington seems pretty clueless on climate change. I also want to have some fun, by teaching more Rippin Chix camps. And I also work hard to prepare my life for what I predict will be a tough future - rising oil prices, more extreme weather, decreasing food availability, overpopulation, etc. I am working everyday to make my own life more sustainable.

Don't forget to CROP your life! remember my four east steps to greening your life:
C - calculate your carbonfootprint - www.carbonfootprint.com
R - Reduce your carbonfootprint - eat organic - Clif Bar, and local when possible, support companies making a difference such Patagonia, Osprey, and Smartwool, get an energy audit on your house by contacting your electric company, inflate your tires, take your roofrack off and by a high mileage vehicle.
O - Offset your carbonfootprint - www.carbonfootprint.com
P- Finally, after you have reduced your footprint, produce your own power with wind, solar, etc.

Q: What's your idea of the perfect ski day?

A: A remote hut in the woods, deep powder, tons of great food, my boyfriend, friends, or family.

Q: What's your favorite apres-ski meal?

A: I have to say that pizza is my favorite apres meal, but I love chocolate chip cookies, also.

To find out more about Alison Gannett, visit her web site at www.alisonganett.com

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

I'm done.

2010-04-03T07:50:00.000-04:00

My ski season is over.

Even though they're still getting loads of snow out West, it's time for me to dress my skis in their summer coats.

I know, it's sad.

We didn't have the best season here in the East. My first ski day wasn't until December 7, and my last, April 1 (no foolin'!). I've had years when I started in mid-November and skied til the middle of April, so this year is shorter on both ends. But temps are soaring into the seventies, there are rocks and bare spots on the trails, the snow is receding like a senior citizen's gum line.

Still, I shouldn't complain. I know with 63 ski days, I've skied more than a lot of people this year. And even though the snow may not have been the best, I've had a great season. Here are some of the highlights:

New skis! It was a Volkl sort of year. I got two pair: the Volkl Tierras and the Volkl Auras, and seriously, I love them both. The Tierras ride ice like they're on rails, yet can still bust through crud and several inches of powder like nobody's business. Easy to turn, great energy, just plain fun. The Auras, well, what can I say. A 94 waist so you can take them in the pow, yet it's still a great all around ski.
A trip to Schweitzer in northern Idaho. A terrific area that's not on a lot of eastern skiers' radar. I spent 4 days there at the end of January, and I definitely intend to go back.
Diva Week in Tahoe. Why haven't I been here before? Tahoe is incredible: phenomenal terrain, great snow, loads of ski areas within a (relatively) short driving distance. We managed to hit Squaw, Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl, and Northstar. And skiing with the women from TheSkiDiva.com during our annual gathering was icing on the cake. A trip to remember.
The first ever TheSkiDiva.com clinic. We teamed up with NASTC, the North American Ski Training Center, for three days of instruction in Tahoe. NASTC is one of the world's premier ski clinic organizations, and it's easy to see why. The caliber of their coaches is second to none.
The release of DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY. Yep, I wrote a book. It's ski mystery, published by Minotaur, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, and it came out in January. In the words of Tasha Alexander, author of TEARS OF PEARL and A FATAL WALTZ: "DOUBLE BLACK is the literary equivalent of a perfect powder day: small town Vermont, characters who feel like old friends, and enough suspense to make closing the book before you've finished nothing short of impossible."

For my friends who are still skiing out West, take a run for me. I hate having to hang up the skis. Trouble is, how I beat this next year?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

SIA Demo Days.

2010-03-27T07:54:00.000-04:00

This post is somewhat delayed. I actually tried all these skis back in February at the Snowsports Industry Demo Day at Stratton, Vermont, and then, well, I got busy skiing, living, etc., and neglected to post. My apologies.

The SIA Industry Demo Days is a fantastic event. Equipment manufacturers come together to display their gear for next season. And retailers and people from the press (that’s me!) get to try them out.

Unfortunately, I only got to attend for one day. A monster snow storm made driving to Stratton impossible for day #2. So sadly, there were a lot of skis that I wasn't able to try. A clear case of too many skis, not enough time.

SO. Here's my reaction to a few of the skis that I had the privilege of trying. Not all of them are new for next season, but they were new to me, so I guess that counts.

Salomon Diamond: This is the female version of the Tornado, and the highest end women's ski that Salomon has to offer. It's designed by Wendy Fisher, former Olympic skier and member of the US Ski Team. I found it very stable and easy to turn; a versatile ski that can take you all over the mountain.

Volkl Kenja: This is similar to the Aura but with an 88 waist, making it more of an All Mountain Ski. Unlike the Aura, the Kenja features the Biologic profile. This means that the tail is a bit more tapered so it can snap out of the turns more easily. This ski does it all – it skis the ice like it’s on rails, and it'll bust through powder, too. If you're looking for a ski that can take you everywhere, the Kenja will do it.

Dynastar Active: Even though the Active isn't new, I thought I’d try it, anyway. An intermediate ski with a 70 waist, the Active features Autodrive-W technology to concentrate pressure over the tips for better turn initiation, and under the foot for maximum edgehold. A definite recommend for an intermediate skier. It's lightweight, easy to turn, quick, and fun.

Blizzard Viva Magnum 7.6 and 8.1: Blizzard has a great line-up of women’s skis: the Blizzard Magnum 7.4, 7.6, and the 8.1. I skied the 7.6 last year and took it out again because, well, I could. I'm not sorry I did. The 7.6 is a fantastic ski. Blizzard hasn’t changed this at all from last year, which in this case, is a very good thing. The 7.6 will everywhere, do anything you want. However, they did change the 8.1; they removed some of the metal from it to make it a little less stiff. Nonetheless, it’s still a strong, expert level ski with terrific energy. Highly recommend.

Nordica Infinite: This was one my favs of the day. The Infinite replaces the Nordica Victory. It’s a little wider underfoot and has a new profile. I found this ski extremely energetic with great rebound, yet very stable, too. The Infinite is a little wider underfoot than the Victory and features a more modern sidecut profile.

Nordica Nemesis: These are great on powder, ice, crap, you name it. It's a terrific great all mountain ski. If I didn't have the Auras already (not that I'm unhappy with them), I'd get this in a heartbeat.

K2: News flash -- ALL the K2 skis for 2011 are rockered. This means the skis bend up a bit fore and aft of the binding. The result is supposed to be better performance in powder and a smoother ride in crud. The Lotta Luv is included it this. I've been hearing a lot about the Lottas from the women on TheSkiDiva.com, though I didn't have a chance to give them a try. These are definitely on my list, though.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The end is near.

2010-03-21T10:29:00.001-04:00

I'm afraid it's just about that time. Ski season is definitely winding down here in Vermont. Bare patches are starting to appear on the slopes, and conditions are gloopy by noon. Yesterday I saw flowers blooming outside my favorite bookstore, Northshire Books in Manchester, VT (where, BTW, you can still order signed copies of my book, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY. Just go here.). And the snow has nearly disappeared from my front yard.

So it's just about time to address the question: what do you do with your skis during the off season? Do you put them in your garage? Stow them under the bed? Hide them in the attic?

To keep your skis in the best possible conditions, there are a few measures you should take when you put them away for the season:

Clean your bases to remove any old, hard wax, make sure they're completely dry, and then cover them with a heavy coat of wax so they don't dry out over the summer. If you don't want to do it yourself, find a ski shop that will do it for you.
Avoid storing them in any environment that experiences temperature extremes and moisture, like an attic, basement, or garage. Instead, put them some place where the temperature is fairly constant.
Separate your skis, but don't lay them flat. And this is very important: Do not bind them closed with the camber compressed.
Be sure they are not in contact with a concrete floor because there can be a reaction between the chemicals in concrete and the aluminum in skis.
Lock the heel of the binding in the up position and lower the release setting to the lowest setting. This will take the tension off the springs in the binding and allow it to recover from the stress of a season's use.
Store your boots with the buckles closed. Plastic has a memory, so this is important to help them retain their original shape.
Make sure your boots are completely dry, then stuff them with paper towels. This will prevent mice or spiders from using them as a summer home.

Even after I've put my skis away, I'll still be thinking about skiing all summer. If you're a woman, you can join the rest of us ski addicts who talk about skiing all year long at TheSkiDiva.com.

On the Edge.

2010-03-15T10:28:00.000-04:00

There are a few women in ski racing who become household names: Andrea Mead Lawrence, Picabo Street, Suzy Chaffee, and more recently, Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Vonn.

But if you're an American, you may have missed someone else who really stands out:

Nancy Greene.

In Canada, Nancy Greene is a pretty big deal. With good reason, too. Nancy won Gold and Silver medals at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France, and overall World Cup titles in '67 and '68. Her total of 13 World Cup victories is still a Canadian record, and she's won 17 Canadian championship titles in all disciplines. Since retiring from racing shortly after the Olympics, Nancy has been instrumental in promoting ski tourism in Canada, and in 1999 was named Canadian Athlete of the Century.

Not bad, right?

Not bad at all.

I just finished watching a very interesting documentary called "Nancy Greene, On the Edge." The movie traces her racing career and has a lot of terrific old footage (how did they race on those long, skinny skis and leather lace up boots?), along with some fascinating interviews with Nancy and her coaches, family, and teammates.

For me, the best thing about the movie was the way it showed Nancy not just as a racer, but as a human being, as well. Her competitive drive, her concerns, her spirit are well documented, giving us a more rounded picture of a person who's more than just an athlete. It was also an interesting portal onto a different era. Seeing how she raced on that equipment is pretty incredible. But more than that -- after she won the Gold, the City of Vancouver gave her a ticker tape parade. Children were given a holiday from school. I can't imagine this happening today. Times have definitely changed.

Nancy was also one of the first Olympic athletes to capitalize on her Olympic medals. This is pretty standard stuff now, but groundbreaking when she did it back in the late '60's. The movie addressed this and showed how she grew into the businesswoman she is today.

There's no question that Nancy was, and continues to be, an inspiration to skiers everywhere -- more particularly, to women skiers. You might want to check out "On The Edge." If you're not a Nancy Greene fan, I think you'll become one.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

NASTC clinic, revisited.

2010-03-10T20:36:00.001-05:00

I know I've been out of touch for a while.

Well, there's a very good reason. I was in Tahoe, skiing with members of TheSkiDiva.com during our annual Diva Week, and attending the first ever TheSkiDiva/NASTC clinic.

All I can say is WOW. Meeting members of the forum that I've only had the chance to communicate with online was an absolute delight. These are athletic, empowered women who love skiing as much as I do, and who aren't afraid to get out there and kick some skiing ass. If you're a woman who loves to ski and you're not a member of TheSkiDiva.com, I strongly encourage you to join.

I also have to announce the beginning of a new love affair. Yes, this Vermont skier absolutely fell head over heels with Tahoe. So much to ski, such terrific terrain. We managed to hit Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl, Northstar, and Squaw, each one incredible in its own special way. I'd have loved to have skied Homewood, Heavenly, and Kirkwood, too, but those will have to wait for another trip. And I WILL be back.

And the clinic was everything I hoped it would be. We spent three half days with instructors from the North American Ski Training Center, a first rate ski clinic headquartered in Truckee, CA. Run by Chris and Jenny Fellows, NASTC has a reputation as one of the world's foremost ski clinics. We worked in small groups of four or five skiers per instructor, tackling one task at a time, each run building on the one before it. We were even fortunate enough to get a huge dump during our day at Squaw (mid-thigh, people!), which our instructors took as an opportunity to turn into a powder skiing lesson.

Here are pix from this amazing trip:

This was truly an incredible experience. Hope you can join us next year!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Love Winter, Hate The Oil Sands.

2010-02-17T13:39:00.001-05:00

Like anyone who loves to ski, I love winter. So imagine a world where there's no cold weather. Where it's become too warm to snow. Where we're not able -- perish the thought -- to ski!

So imagine if there was something we could do about it.

There is.

The Sierra Club recently launched a campaign called Love Winter, Hate The Oil Sands, to halt the drilling for oil sands in Canada. Oil sand production emits three times the pollution of conventional oil and requires clear cutting ancient forests, wasting and polluting water, and leaving behind massive toxic lakes. By accelerating climate change, the oil sands threaten to bring more drought, receding glaciers, and early snowmelt to the planet, creating a bleak future for sports like skiing and snowboarding.

The industry has proposed expanding into the US via a sprawling network of pipelines and refineries that would crisscross Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota and Illinois, in many cases using substandard pipe and threatening drinking water and farmland.

The oil sands project is being opposed by many top winter athletes, such as Alison Gannett, world champion freeskier and founder of the Save Our Snow Foundation. I'm not in her league, but I'm against it, too. If you want to join me in taking action against the oil sands, you can go here to sign a petition to President Obama.

For more information about oil sands, go here. Or for more about Love Winter, Hate The Oil Sands, go here.

Let's all do what we can to save a sport, and a season, we love.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Gear Review: Opedix S1 Ski & Snowboard Tight

2010-02-12T17:52:00.002-05:00

I have a number of friends who suffer from knee problems, so I know the damper it can put on a good ski day. Some of them try to get by with ace bandages or braces, but these can be bulky and difficult to fit comfortably under base layers.

Enter Opedix S1 ski and snowboard tights. In full disclosure, Opedix's PR firm sent me a pair to review. I can't say I'm necessarily the best choice to do this. As of now (knock wood), I don't have any knee problems. But I do find the concept and technology behind the Opedix products quite intriguing. So I figured I'd give it a go.

First, some background: Opedix developed the S1 was in conjunction with the Steadman Hawkins Foundation, a world renowned orthopedic clinic in Vail, Colorado. According to the company, the tights feature a patent pending anchor and sling design to provide support to the outside of the knee. This, they say, promotes proper alignment, which can lead to less strain and fatigue.

You can see the sling design as soon as you pull them out of the package. There's a circular fabric cup that centers on the knee -- sort of like a bull's eye. Slip them on, and you can feel the support right away. I think the idea is to distribute the stress around your knee, to keep it away the knee, itself. The tights are also quite snug fitting, with a "four way compressive fit" that the company says keeps your muscles fresher longer.

So I took these tights skiing. Even though they're fairly thick, I supplemented them with another base layer. I'm always cold, and the wind chill was well below zero today. I'm sure the tights would be fine out west where it's usually warmer. But it can be brutal here in New England.

How did the tights perform? They're extremely well made, very comfortable, and quite supportive. You can feel the compressive fit against your muscles right away. But their strong suit is definitely knee support. I don't know if they'd eliminate the need, say, for an ace bandage or a brace -- I think that would depend on your individual situation -- but for moderate support, I think they do a good job. Did it make my muscles feel fresher longer? That I honestly can't say. But I'm sure it couldn't hurt.

The S1 tights aren't cheap, retailing for $190. But if it helps you ski longer, I'm sure it's worth every penny. That's a decision you have to make, yourself.

BTW, Opedix is offering a 15% discount if you use the promotional code "skistrongerdiva." Go here.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Why you can't order a copy of DOUBLE BLACK on Amazon. And where you can get one, instead.

2010-02-02T16:34:00.002-05:00

It figures. My debut novel, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, comes out on January 5, and the publishing world goes insane.

Here's what's happening:

Amazon and Macmillan have disagreed over e-book pricing strategies, and Amazon has suspended the sale of all Macmillan titles — electronic and hardcopy versions alike — as a result. This includes books published by Henry Holt; Picador; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; and my publisher, St. Martin's Press.

That doesn't mean you can't get a copy at your favorite bookstore or other online sites, like BarnesandNoble.com or Indiebound. Better yet, you can order a signed copy through my favorite bookstore, Northshire Books in Manchester, VT.

I still have a few author events lined up, too, so stop by to buy a book, or just to say hi:

Friday, February 5, 3PM
The Book Nook, Ludlow, VT

Saturday, February 6, 3-6PM
Aspen East Ski Shop, Killington, VT

Saturday, February 13, 4PM
Passholders Party, Mount Snow Resort
West Dover, VT

Friday, February 19, 7PM
Phoenix Books, Essex, VT

Saturday, February 20, 11AM-1PM
Spruce Peak Ski Shop, Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe, VT

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Back from Schweitzer

2010-01-31T16:12:00.001-05:00

Yep, I'm back from four days in north Idaho. Not the easiest place to get to from Vermont, but definitely well worth it.

If you haven't heard of Schweitzer, you're not alone. A lot of people haven't. I'd mention to someone where I was going, and they'd give me a blank look and say, "Where??"

But that's not a bad thing. Because this way, it remains a nicely kept, kind of off-the-beaten track secret. At 2,900 acres, Schweitzer is definitely not hiding (compare that to 632 acres for my local mountain, Okemo). And there's plenty to keep you busy. You like trees? There are tons. You like steep? You got it. Moguls? Got them, too. And the view? Incredible. From the front side, you look out over Lake Pend Orielle (pronounced Pond Oray):

Here's the view from the Outback, or the back side of the mountain, where there's a ton of great skiing, too:

Schweitzer averages 300 inches of snow, and it's way down this year. Still, there was a lot of snow and zero ice. And with temps in the low 30's, no wind, and BLUE skies (I understand that's very unusual there. But it's unusual in Vermont, too), it was especially pleasant skiing weather.

Is it needless to say I had a great time? Well, I'll say it, anyway. I had a great time. I give it two ski poles up.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Heading to Schweitzer.

2010-01-24T08:28:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty excited. Tomorrow I'm traveling to Schweitzer for a few days of skiing.

"Schweitzer?" I hear you say. "Where's that?"

Schweitzer's in Northern Idaho, and though it's not as well known or as big as say, Vail or Whistler, it has plenty to offer. Schweitzer has 2,900 skiable acres (in comparison, my home mountain, Okemo in Vermont, has 632), a vertical drop of 2,400 feet, and an average annual snowfall of 300 inches. And though it hasn't had the recent big dumps of Tahoe or Jackson Hole, I have good friends who live there, so I'll still have a good time.

Hey, it isn't always only about the skiing. (Did I just say that????)

Getting there won't be easy. First we have to drive 3 hours to the airport in Boston, then fly from Boston to Spokane via Denver, and then drive another couple hours once we land. Tomorrow looks like a long day.

But today is for getting ready. Which means I have to figure out A) which skis to bring, B) which clothes to pack, and C) how to stow it all.

One thing is easy: I always carry my boots on board. I mean, I could always rent skis if they don't arrive, but boots? I don't think so. I'll stow a day's worth of ski clothes with my boots, as well, so I'll be sure to have something to ski in, no matter what. And I'll put all this in my Transpack, a backpack boot carrier, which is pretty easy to handle and fits easily in the plane's overhead compartment.

Next, skis. I'm still in a quandary about which ones to bring. A trip out west usually requires bringing wider skis, like my Volkl Auras (94 waist). On the other hand, Schweitzer hasn't had a lot of new snow and it doesn't look like there's much in the forecast. So I'm thinking of bringing my Volkl Tierras, instead (78 waist).

No matter which skis I choose, they'll be packed in my Sportube, a hardshell ski bag that provides a good measure of protection. Plus it has wheels, which makes it easy to roll through the airport.

Now on to everything else. Two pair baselayers (yes, I'll do laundry when I'm out there), two fleeces, a pair of goggles, my helmet, Hotronics boot warmers (my feet are always cold), my camera, two apres ski outfits, two fleeces, and assorted socks, toiletries, hairdryer, etc. All this goes in a suitcase I'll check with Southwest. And hope for the best.

Of course, I have to bring my computer. That comes onboard with me. No, I can't go unplugged.

Here's something interesting. Look at all the electronic crap, er, I mean wiring I have to bring along. Sheesh! Kind of makes you long for an earlier time, doesn't it?

So enough thinking about packing. It's time to do it.

Catch you later.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Tick tock, tick tock.

2010-01-14T06:41:00.001-05:00

It'll be here before you know it: TheSkiDiva/NASTC clinic!

For the first time, TheSkiDiva is partnering with the North American Ski Training Center (NASTC) for a great women's clinic in beautiful Lake Tahoe, California. NASTC is an incredible operation. Headed by Chris and Jenny Fellows and headquartered in Tahoe, their instructors are members of the PSIA Demo Team and/or the LUNA Ladies Team, an elite team of women instructors sponsored by LUNA Whole Nutrition for Women and NASTC. The clinics will take place during the mornings of March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd -- you'l have the afternoons to practice and explore. We'll spend one day at Squaw, one day at Alpine Meadows, and one day at Sugar Bowl. Group sizes will be kept small and the instruction will be top notch.

Truly, this is something not to be missed.

The cost: $790. This includes 3 half-days of instruction, three days of lift tickets at the clinic locales (one at Squaw, one at Alpine Meadows, and one at Sugar Bowl), and one group dinner. Lodging packages are available at The Cedar House Sport Hotel.

Interested? And who wouldn't be! Contact NASTC at ski@skinastc.com for more details.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

It's Launch Day for DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY

2010-01-05T05:55:00.003-05:00

Yes, I'm excited. Can you blame me? As of today, it's on the shelves and ready to roll!

For those of you who don't know, DOUBLE BLACK is my debut novel. It's a ski mystery that features a young woman who moves to a Vermont ski town to become a ski bum. She doesn't have any money so she ends up sleeping in her car, until one day she stumbles across a ring of master keys for the area's vacation condos. Since the condos are unoccupied most of the time, she reasons, why not put them to good use? So she starts going from condo to condo, spending one night here, one night there, until late one night she opens a door and discovers -- a dead body. And that's where the book takes off.

I'll be making author appearances at some book stores, ski shops, and ski resorts. If one of these is near you, how about stopping in to say hi?

January 8, 7:00 PM
Mystery on Main Street
Brattleboro, VT

January 9, 7:00 PM
Northshire Bookstore
Manchester, VT

January 23, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Okemo Mountain Resort, Jackson Gore Inn lobby
Ludlow, VT

January 29, 7:00 PM
Auntie's Bookstore
Spokane, WA

February 5, 3:00 PM
The Book Nook
Ludlow, VT

February 6, 3:00-6:00 PM
Aspen East Ski Shop
Killington, VT

February 13, 4:00 PM
Mount Snow Resort
Dover, VT

February 19, 7:00 PM
Phoenix Books
Essex, VT

February 20, Time TBA
Spruce Peak Sports, Stowe Mt. Resort
Stowe, VT

If you can't make it and want a signed copy, you can order one from my favorite bookstore, Northshire Books in Manchester Center, VT. When you order, just put in the Comments section that you want an autographed copy.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Reflections on Snow

2009-12-31T06:24:00.005-05:00

As 2009 winds down to a close, I thought I'd end it with a poem by my friend, Cathy Quaglia, owner of Aspen East, a terrific ski shop in nearby Killington, VT. I love the peace and imagery of it. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Reflections on Snow

Snow's origin, not so obvious

as glancing in a mirror

catching your image in a puddle

or standing at the edge of a lake.

Snow possesses more depth and magic

falling flakes slowly pile up

like minutes and months and miles

nature's glistening white story.

Each unique shape, a cold ornament

artfully decorates the forests

roofs, hillsides, brooks all transform

into one resting blanket of silence.

Sun warms and combines invisible crystals

rising moon provides a vast night light

wind pattens the landscape

and the elements play their game.

Past child imagines and excites in the wonder

creates and plays out an adventure

now skillful gliding curves renew the freedom

as we soar over varied frozen surfaces.

Drifting thoughts suggest balance found

in snow's purity, truth and promise

reveal meanings in winter's bright gift

ever grateful for mountain life.

-- Cathy Quaglia

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

In the negative.

2009-12-27T07:15:00.013-05:00

Ever had negative thoughts while skiing? Times when you're less than confident or when you beat yourself up for not skiing as well as you think you should?

You're not alone.

This was the subject of a thread on TheSkiDiva.com, and I thought I'd share a few of the ways our members have of dealing with this:

Pump up the jams, baby: Listen to music. It'll distract you from feeling nervous or uneasy. If you don't have an iPod, sing!
Take a break, do something different: It might help you break the cycle.
Reassess: Figure out what's causing the negativity. If it's the cold, go in and warm up. If it's the people you're skiing with, head off by yourself for a while. In short, think of a positive way to change the situation.
Remember that it's not a competition. You're not in the Olympics. You don't have to be the best one out there. Just be yourself.
Repeat positive affirmations. Give yourself a pat on the back for the things you can do, rather than beat yourself up for the things you can't.
Pack it in for the day. It's okay to quit. There's always another day.
Take a lesson. Improving your skills is a good way to set yourself up for future success. And make it easy for yourself to learn. Don't try to learn to ski bumps when they're icy hard, or learn to ski crud when it's like a coral reef out there.
Find a comfortable run and hang out there for a while. You don't have to ski the most challenging stuff all the time. It's okay to relax and back it down.
Adjust your expectations: Realize you can't be an expert skier in a day or even a week. Set realistic goals for yourself, and work to achieve them.
Visualize: Envision that you can do it, and picture how it should be done. Getting the right way set in your mind's eye can do wonders.
Don't try to control the things that you can't: The weather is not up to you. Neither is the grooming or the light or a million other things. Accept what is and only change what you can.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The reviews are in....

2009-12-22T06:16:00.003-05:00

And so far, so good.

I'm talking about reviews for my debut novel, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, coming January 5 from Minotaur Books.

Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say:

For all its fluffy powder and Green Mountain gemütlich, Vermont's Spruce Peak has a decidedly sinister side in Clinch's easy, breezy debut. Bostonian Stacey Curtis, a grad student turned ski bum, quickly discovers that when she finds a dead man with “the jagged oily chain from a chain saw yanked tight around his neck.” Though she has headed for the hills in hopes of lessening the drama in her life (think cheating fiancé), spunky Stacey's amateur sleuthing efforts send her schussing into fresh intrigue, danger, and just maybe romance with hunky ski patroller/trust funder Chip Walsh. Clinch, a Vermont resident who runs a popular Web site for women who ski (www.TheSkiDiva.com), clearly knows—and loves—the terrain, conjuring the kind of bewitching winter wonderland and endearing New England characters that will leave readers antsy for a return visit.

There are more, too. About.com recently ran a review that partly said this (for the full review, go here):

You'll love Double Black if you ever ski bummed awhile, you'll love it more if you only wished you did. Wendy Clinch gives us the personality of a small ski town and all the personalities that live there and that the mountains draw there, and the subtle animosity of ski town locals to the flatlanders that they can't make a living without. Clinch presents neat crispy skiing times on bluebird powder days and full moon nights that will have you tuning skis even if it's summer.

And there was a feature about DOUBLE BLACK that ran in this past Sunday's issue of The Rutland Herald/Barre Times Argus. You can see it here.

Hard for me to believe the book will be out in just a couple weeks, though it's already available for pre-order at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and IndieBound.com.

And if you're looking for an autographed copy, you can order it from my favorite bookstore, Northshire Books in Manchester Center, VT. When you order, just note in the Comments field that you want a signed copy.

Happy reading!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Bailing on a ski day (or how to avoid frostbite).

2009-12-17T12:46:00.002-05:00

Have you ever bailed on a ski day?

I did this morning. I heard it was going to be cold, so I bundled up and felt pretty good as I headed out. Even though the thermometer in the car read 5°F, I've skied in worse. But the closer I got to the mountain (I only live 7 miles away) the windier it seemed to get. And when I got out of the car, the wind was blowing so hard I could hardly make it up to the lodge. Still, I did it, carrying my skis, wondering just how quickly it takes to develop facial frostbite in what seemed to be 40 mph gusts at frigid temps.

Suffice it to say that until the friend I was meeting walked in, I was the only one there. The lifts were down -- at least for the moment, the winds were whipping like mad, and needle-like particles of snow were blowing in pain-inducing sheets. We could only imagine how bad it must be at the top. A wind chill of -30° at least. We bailed.

I think if I'd driven, say, three hours to get there for my one and only ski day of the week, I might have had second thoughts. But the beauty of living so close to the mountain, having a season pass, and the ability to ski during the week makes bailing a whole lot easier. It's just not worth the risk of frostbite.

Which brings me to something important: what is frostbite and how do you know if you have it? I found this online at a site called Outdoorplaces.com, and thought it'd be worth posting here:

Frostbite is a medical condition that can happen to anyone. In the most basic terms frostbite is when the skin and/or the tissue under the skin freezes and causes cell damage. This is caused by exposure to cold, either through the air or through a chemical exposure, like to dry ice (frozen CO2) or highly compressed gasses. Under extreme conditions frostbite can occur in seconds. The elderly, young children, people with circulator disorders, and people from tropical climates have a higher risk factor of getting frostbite. People who have had previous cold injuries are also particularly at risk of getting injuries again in the same places.

Frostbite comes in three levels of severity or degrees.

First degree, also called frost nip: Most people who live in very cold climates or do a lot of outdoor activity in the winter have had first degree frostbite (just as most people have had a first degree burn when they get sunburn). Frost nip presents itself as numbed skin that has turned white in color. The skin may feel stiff to the touch, but the tissue under is still warm and soft. There is very little chance of blistering, infection or permanent scarring as long as it is treated properly.

Second degree, superficial frostbite: Superficial frostbite is a serious medical condition that needs to be treated by a trained medical professional. The skin will be white or blue and will feel hard and frozen. The tissue underneath is still undamaged. Blistering is likely which is why medical treatment should be sought out. Proper treatment is critical to prevent severe or permanent injuries.

Third degree, deep frostbite: The skin is white, blotchy and/or blue. The tissue underneath is hard and cold to the touch. This is a life threatening injury. Deep frostbite needs to be treated by a trained medical professional. The tissue underneath has been damaged, in severe cases amputation may be the final recourse to prevent severe infection. Blistering will happen. Proper medical treatment in a medical facility with personnel trained to deal with severe frostbite injuries is required to aid in the prevention of severe or permanent injury.

Just what does frostbite do to the tissues? When you are exposed to cold with the extremities including your feet, hands, nose, ears, and face being at the highest risk, the blood vessels constrict. This is a natural reaction to prevent body heat loss and hypothermia. With a loss of warming blood flow (or in extreme cases where blood flow can not compete with the extreme cold) the fluid within your cells and tissues start to freeze forming ice crystals. These ice crystals take up more room within the cells then when in a fluid state, and cause the cells to rupture. Also, sudden warming can cause the cells to rupture. This is why large blisters can form when there is superficial or severe frostbite.

Frostbite can occur in as little as thirty-seconds in extreme conditions, and even faster in the case of chemical injuries (which we won't cover here). Factors like wind chill, alcohol consumption, altitude, getting wet or being damp and how long you are exposed to the cold all impact how quickly and how severe frostbite can be. Long term exposure to moderate cold with wet boots can cause a more serious injury than a short-term exposure to severe cold with inadequate boots in the case of your feet. It is a complex equation that needs to be weighed careful when being outdoors in the cold

There's no shame in cutting a ski day short or giving it up altogether. I hate to miss any day on the slopes. But given the real danger from frostbite today, I think I did the right thing. It takes a lot for me to bag a ski day, but this definitely would not have been pleasant.

And of course, there's always tomorrow.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Ski Review: Volkl Tierra

2009-12-13T06:44:00.000-05:00

I've spent two days on this ski now to give myself plenty of time to see how I liked it, and my verdict is in:

It's a great ski.

Why? It can do it all. It rides the ice like it's on rails. It has a huge shovel so it can go in the chop, the crud, and in several inches of pow without a hitch. It's stable, steady, but with great energy. And it has a huge sidecut, so it turns like nobody's business.

The dimensions: 129-78-99. I have it in the 156. I'm an advanced skier, 110 lbs, 5'1".

The Tierra has Volkl's new Bio-Logic system which they say puts a female skier in a more neutral stance. According to the rep I spoke with a while ago, traditional bindings have the heels jacked up. When you combine that with the higher ramp angle you typically find in a woman’s boots, you end up being tipped too far forward. To combat this, Volkl has raised the toe in the binding. The result is better balance of the hamstring and glutes and more efficient muscle use. They’ve also tapered the tail angle so it releases more readily at the end of a turn. The tip is a bit wider, and they gave the ski a more consistent flex pattern.

To be honest, I'd be hard put to evaluate the difference between the old and new Volkl technology, unless I skied the two back to back. What I will say is that I had no problem with it. I felt comfortable, in balance, and in control.

The ski is fun, fun, fun. What could be better than that?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Rad Boob!

2009-12-07T14:56:00.000-05:00

No, I'm not calling you a name or commenting on your appearance.

"Rad Boob" refers to a calendar put together by a group of kick-ass women skiers to raise money for breast cancer. Organized by skiers Sarah Frood, third place finisher in 2008's Overall Canadian Freeskiing Tour and the Lake Louise Freeski Competition, and Tessa Treadway, third place finisher in 2008's Canadian Freeski Tour, the calendar features top women skiers in some amazing action shots, along with personal stories of how breast cancer has affected their lives. It's a calendar that everyone -- Ski Divas and non-Ski Divas alike -- will want to own. And with the holiday season approaching, it makes a great gift, too!

Here, Sarah gives us some background on this remarkable calendar.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the calendar? How and why did you decide to do this?

A: It seems like everyone has a breast cancer story, whether it’s personal, a friend, a mother, an aunt; it affects so many people. My mother had breast cancer about two years ago and is still going strong as a survivor, but it was a terrifying experience for my family.

We had a group of girlfriends that would ski together at Kicking Horse a couple of seasons ago. We were all wearing pink one day for a promo video we were filming and we randomly came up with the idea. It took a couple of seasons of talking about it, but last year we finally went into action. The support we’ve received from our friends and families has been amazing!

Q: The women in the calendar are incredible. How did you select them? And how'd you go about getting the pictures?

A: The women in the calendar are all friends or women we’ve met through skiing. The ski community is pretty small out West so it was easy for us to think of twelve girlfriends that rip! They were all excited to be a part of the project as soon as we mentioned it. We basically sent out an email to everyone asking if they would be willing to donate photos from their ski season for the calendar. We started collecting photos February of last season and it’s been ongoing since then. It’s definitely been a learning process. Luckily the photographers were happy to donate their photos to our project and we didn’t have to organize any photo shoots. We have photos from Jordan Manley, Dave Mossop, Re Wikstrom and so many more! Holly Walker put hours and hours into the design of the calendar (she’s Ms. December too!) and she did an amazing job.

Q: How are people finding out about the calendar? What's response been like?

A: Most people are learning about it through radboob.com. We’ve been trying to spread the word through a lot of social networking. We’re trying to encourage blogs to write about us and forums like TheSkiDiva have really helped us out. So thank you for all of your support! Also, I bring it up in every conversation I have. I’ll throw in a “…speaking of….have you heard about the rad boob club calendar?” We’ve had some articles written about us on Doglotion.com, Biglines.com, and some local newspapers as well.

Q: How did you choose "Rad Boob" as the name?

A: The name "Rad Boob" actually came from a group of female skiers in Golden, BC. We used to ski with a group of guys called the Rad Dude Club who wouldn’t allow girls to join, so we started our own! We basically just ski around together and have fun.

Q: Where's the money you raise going? Do you have a specific goal?

A: We’re aiming to raise $10,000 for Rethink Breast Cancer. Here’s a short description about them from their website:

“A charity helping young people who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer through innovative breast cancer education, research and support programs. Rethink is a national volunteer-driven registered charity. We are thinking differently about how to beat breast cancer.”

We chose to donate the money raised to Rethink because we felt like it would be an effective use of the funds. They support some exciting research in the field, but they also encourage prevention and awareness. They were also very supportive of our project and gave us a lot of advice along the way. As skiers we all lead fairly healthy lifestyles and it was important for us to support an organization that would have similar values.

Q: Is this a one time only thing, or is it something you plan to do every year? Also, I see on your website that you're planning to travel around to raise awareness of breast cancer. What do you plan to do, and where?

A: We’re not sure if we’ll do it again next year. I think we want to get through this year, make sure we sell all our calendars and raise a big chunk of money for Rethink and then go from there. It’s been a lot of work, very rewarding but we’re not ready to think about next years project until this one is done!

As for travel plans, these are our confirmed dates:

Sat Dec. 19 Kicking Horse
Sun Dec. 20 Lake Louise
Thur Jan. 7 Whistler "Deep Winter Photo Challenge"
Sat Jan. 9 Revelstoke

We’ll also be selling the calendars at various stores throughout Whistler and Vancouver and Squamish, such as:

Surefoot in Whistler
The Zephyr Café in Squamish
Steed Cycles in North Vancouver

And more to come!

Q: Are you planning any other fundraising events?

A: Nothing as of yet, but we’ll keep you posted!

Q: Do you and Tessa coach or instruct anywhere?

A: Yes, we both coach for Girls Day Out. It’s a really fun weekend. I recommend it to all women out there! We’ve both done some big mountain ski competitions, as well. Tessa skis for Carrera, Faction and Peak Performance and coaches for Extremely Canadian in Whistler. I’m getting support from Rossignol and Smith and am still searching for that “perfect job."

# # #

To order your own copy of the Rad Boob calendar or to see these amazing pictures -- after which you'll definitely want to order this calendar -- go to radboob.com.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

And so it begins.

2009-11-23T07:05:00.004-05:00

Even though my book, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, isn't coming out til January 5, reviews are starting to pop up.

So I thought I'd share them here.

From Publisher's Weekly:

For all its fluffy powder and Green Mountain gemütlich, Vermont's Spruce Peak has a decidedly sinister side in Clinch's easy, breezy debut. Bostonian Stacey Curtis, a grad student turned ski bum, quickly discovers that when she finds a dead man with "the jagged oily chain from a chain saw yanked tight around his neck." Though she has headed for the hills in hopes of lessening the drama in her life (think cheating fiancé), spunky Stacey's amateur sleuthing efforts send her schussing into fresh intrigue, danger, and just maybe romance with hunky ski patroller/trust funder Chip Walsh. Clinch, a Vermont resident who runs a popular Web site for women who ski (www.TheSkiDiva.com ), clearly knows-and loves-the terrain, conjuring the kind of bewitching winter wonderland and endearing New England characters that will leave readers antsy for a return visit. (Jan.)

And from Romantic Times, which gave it FOUR STARS:

This first in the new Ski Diva mystery series set in the Green Mountains of Vermont features a smart and sassy lead character with a fun sense of humor and appealing supporting characters. Clinch captures your attention from the start and never lets go with a plot that must be similar to traveling down a slick slalom course with all its twists and turns. This is a wonderfully entertaining way to spend a chilly winter evening.

The book's already available for pre-orders at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Indiebound.com. So you can actually order it now.

I can hardly believe there's just over a month til it's on the shelves. It seems so long ago that I actually wrote it (the summer of '08), that I almost forget what it's about. Maybe you should read it and tell me? ; )

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Walking to save our snow.

2009-11-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

Anyone who loves to ski knows we'd be lost without our most essential element: Snow. And though many of us are aware of the dangers of global warming, not many of us actually get out there and do something about it.

That's not the case with Alison Gannett, a World Champion Extreme Freeskier and a true champion of environmental efforts.

Founder of the Save Our Snow Foundation, Alison has trained individuals, businesses, and governments all over the world -- including Al Gore's Climate Project team -- on solutions to climate change. She was recently named "Ski Hero of the Year," and Outside magazine named her "A Green All-Star," next to Leonardo DiCaprio and Arnold Schwarzenegger. (By the way, I interviewed Alison way back in September, 2008. You can see it here.)

Not content to rest on her laurels, Alison is at it again. To raise awareness and bring media attention to global warming, Alison is planning to walk over 200 miles towards the United Nation's Climate Change Conference, or Cop15, which will be held next month in Copenhagen, Denmark. The century's most important conference of its type, Cop15 will hopefully result in agreements to replace those reached at the conference in Kyoto, Japan in 1997. Throughout her walk, Alison will be carrying her skis on her back to bring ski and snow awareness to the urban landscape.

Saving our snow goes way beyond just preserving the sport we love. Snow and ice together provide almost half of the world's drinking water and irrigation for food cultivation. It's an effort all of us should get behind.

For more information and to contribute to her efforts, go here.

Oh, and just for some skiing stoke -- and more about Alison -- check this out:

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Let The Women Jump

2009-11-12T11:32:00.002-05:00

Way back in December, 2006 (wow, has this blog been around that long?), I posted about the International Olympic Committee's refusal to include women's ski jumping in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Ski jumping is the only Olympic sport that doesn't allow women to compete. In fact, influential IOC member and FIS President Gian Franco Kasper told National Public Radio that ski jumping "seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view."

Pretty amazing, isn't it? And this is 2010 we're talking about -- not 1910.

The IOC has all sorts of reasons for its decision. So in the grand tradition of that TV show Mythbusters -- and borrowing heavily from the Let The Women Jump website, I thought I'd explode a few of them here.

Myth: There are not enough women ski jumping for it to be included in the Olympic Winter Games.

Fact: Over 130 women from 16 nations are registered as international competitors with the International Ski Federation (FIS). Hundreds more compete in their own countries at the national and club levels.

Myth: Women are not good enough to compete at the World Cup level.

Fact: The FIS Continental Cup format is used for the elite level of women's international competition. In 2004 organizers from ski jumping nations chose to forgo asking the FIS for a Women's World Cup tour in order to reduce production costs and facilitate growth in the sport.

Myth: Women's ski jumping is not developed enough. There is not enough "universality."

Fact: 16 Nations (AUT, CAN, CZE, FIN, FRA, GER, ITA, JAP, NED, NOR, POL, RUS,SLO, SWE, SUI, & USA) have women registered as international competitors with the FIS. This season’s Continental Cup tour will include 25 events hosted by 8 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Myth: Only a few women athletes can jump respectably.

Fact: 35 different athletes from 9 nations have placed within the top 10 in FIS Continental Cup competition during the past two seasons. The depth of field parallels the men's tour.

Myth: There must be two World Championship competitions held before an event can be included in the Olympics.

Fact: This criterion has had exceptions made to it in the past. The most notable being the inclusion of the women's marathon event in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics after a single World Championship in 1983. The first Women's Ski Jumping World Championship will be held in Liberec, Czech Republic in 2009. By 2010 there will have been four World Junior Championships.

Myth: There is not room on the 2010 program to include the women jumpers.

Fact: Currently there are six men's ski jumping medal events (three ski jumping and three Nordic Combined) planned over six days. A single women's event could bescheduled on available days.

Myth: The cost of including a women's event on the 2010 program would be prohibitive.

Fact: Women ski jump on the identical jumps that the Men use. The venue would not be required to be modified in any way.

There's a petition about this over on the Let The Women Jump website, and I encourage everyone who reads this to sign it. Even if it's too late to get this included in the '10 games, maybe if enough of us speak out, we can hope for 2014. As they say, better late than never.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

So much for "best of" lists.

2009-11-09T18:17:00.006-05:00

Outside magazine just came out with its top 16 ski areas. SKI magazine lists its top 50 every year . And Skiing has its own top ten.

Number one? For Outside, it's Alta. For SKI, Deer Valley. For Skiing, Whistler/Blackcomb.

They're all great ski areas. But the fact that each magazine has a different resort in its top slot clearly demonstrates: It's all a matter of opinion.

I don't know about you, but I don't pay much attention to resort ratings. The whole thing is so subjective, simply because what's good for one person may not be good for another. Everyone has different priorities. For example, you may love Okemo, VT. But for someone who wants to nail the chutes at Jackson Hole, for example, Okemo isn't going to cut it.

It really depends on where you are with your skiing and what you're looking for. My advice? Get the best match, and you'll be a happy skier.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

My quiver for the new season.

2009-11-03T21:37:00.001-05:00

I'm entering the new ski season filled with excitement.

That's nothing unusual. I'm always excited for ski season to begin.

But I'm especially excited because I have two new pairs of skis this year: a pair of Volkl Auras and a pair of Tierras, also from Volkl. And I'm keeping my trusty old Fischer Vision 73's, too. I can't bear to let them go.

So here's a quick review of what my quiver looks like this season, so you can recognize me on the mountain:

The Aura has been receiving a lot of love from the women on TheSkiDiva.com, and SKI and Skiing magazines seem to like it, too. Similar to the Mantra but 20% lighter, the Aura features a sandwich construction and measures 130/94/113. It has a reputation for terrific edging on the hardpack, but its wide waist makes it great for the powder, too. I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun on this one!

And for my next ski.....

the Volkl Tierra, which features the company's new Bio-Logic Technology. Volkl's raised the toe in the binding, which they say puts a female skier in a more neutral stance. They claim it improves the balance of the hamstring and glutes to result in more efficient muscle use. They’ve also tapered the tail angle so it releases more readily at the end of a turn. The tip is a bit wider, and they gave the ski a more consistent flex pattern. The Tierra's dimensions: 129/78/99

And here's ski #3....

My Fischer Vision 73's. I've had these skis since 2007, and they've served me well. They're fun, lively, snappy, happy -- just tons of fun for carving, making short turns. They're great on soft snow, plowing through ice cookies, and hold a terrific edge. A great East Coast ski. Love 'em. They're 118/73/105.

So that's where I stand, on the brink of the '09/'10 season. Now if only I could get out on these babies!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

You are not alone.

2009-10-28T13:23:00.005-04:00

One of the most common questions we get over at TheSkiDiva.com has to do with which ski to buy.

It's a good question. The type of ski you select, in my mind, is as personal as the type of jeans you wear or the toothpaste you like. Everyone has different preferences. What I like to ski on, you might hate, and vice versa. Mix that up with different abilities, the types of conditions you ski, and the amount of money you have to spend, and you could end up jabbering to yourself in a corner.

But there are some things you can do to decide which ski you might want to choose, before you plunk down the big bucks:

1) Talk to people. Talk to people who you know ski the way you do under similar conditions, and see what they like. No, they're not experts, but it's a starting point.

2) Talk to the equipment experts in your ski shop. Don't lie about how you ski or what you're looking for. You won't do yourself any favors if you do.

3) Visit the websites and read the reviews. Okay, these are not exactly objective. But they will let you know if a ski is for beginners or experts and something about its technical specifications: construction, dimensions, etc. All this is valuable information.

And 4) If at all possible, demo. I can not stress how important it is to try before you buy. It may cost a few bucks, but some shops will subtract the cost of the demo from the purchase price, if you decide to make a purchase.

Of course, we always welcome conversation about selecting skis on TheSkiDiva.com, but this advice can go a long way in making your task a little easier.

One final thing: If you don't get the ski of your dreams, don't sweat it. Sell it and try again.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

K2 Race for the Cure

2009-10-18T19:08:00.007-04:00

If you're like me, you ski because it's fun, it's great exercise, and it's a wonderful way to enjoy being outdoors in the winter.

But now there's another reason: to help facilitate a cure for breast cancer. Because on December 12, K2 Skis is sponsoring the K2 Pink Chase, where teams of three women each will compete at Keystone Resort, Colorado, to see who can ski the most vertical.

Sure, there are prizes. And sure, it's fun. But it's also a great way to help beat a disease that kills thousands of women every year. In 2009 alone, more than 190,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. These are our mothers, our sisters, our friends, and our daughters. And it could easily be you or me. Because even though great strides are being made all the time, it's pretty clear that we still have a long way to go.

Some of the women on TheSkiDiva.com are forming their own team. I'm very proud of them. They'll be raising money for the cause, and I hope you'll be kind enough to donate. I'll post more about that, as info becomes available.

Kudos to K2 for organizing this event. And kudos to all the great women who'll be participating. Even though I can't be with you physically, I'll be with you in spirit.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Allow me to toot my own horn.

2009-10-11T14:15:00.006-04:00

Yep, it's an advance reader copy of my book, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, coming out January 5 from Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

What's an advance reader copy? It's a copy of the book that's sent to the sales force and reviewers, to promote the book before actual publication. Yes, there are typos. And yes, it's in soft cover, even though the book will actually be coming out in hard back.

I'm pretty excited. This is my first novel, and seeing it in book form is pretty amazing to me. Even though I've been down this road before with my husband's first book (FINN, Random House, 2007), it's a little different when it happens to you.

Here's a quick synopsis, straight from the book jacket:

In DOUBLE BLACK, Boston’s twenty-something Stacey Curtis ditches her cheating fiance and heads for a Vermont ski town. She’s looking for the life she’s always dreamed about, but she stumbles instead into financial intrigue, bitter family warfare, and murder. Populated with quirky characters, loaded with New England atmosphere, and starring a young woman with nerve, spunk, and a sense of humor about it all, DOUBLE BLACK is an exciting run down some treacherous mountain trails.

I had a lot of fun writing DOUBLE BLACK, and I think you'll enjoy reading it, too. And in less than three months time, you can!!!! But who's counting......

BTW, for more about the book, check out my web site at wendyclinch.com.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Have you ever cat skied?

2009-10-05T20:55:00.003-04:00

No, this has nothing to do with kitty cats on skis, with their whiskers blowing in the wind and their tails streaming behind them. (Though I'm sure that would be a sight to see!)

I'm referring instead to being transported up a mountain by a vehicle known as a "snow cat," then skiing down through fluffy pillows of powder. And yes, it's done by people, not cats.

I haven't done this yet, though I've always wanted to. From what I hear, it's an experience not to be missed!

Catskiing works a lot better for me than heli-skiing. I have a real fear of going up (but more especially, of coming down) in a helicopter. Cats never leave the ground; a definite plus, in my book.

A number of resorts offer catskiing. Monarch, Powder, and Copper, to name a few. One operation I've heard great feedback about is Powder Cowgirls, a three-day, all women's catskiing tour that operates on the Western slope of the Lizard Range of the Rockies, in SE British Columbia. I've heard that the Lizards have amazingly deep, dry snow, as well as fantastic terrain and tree skiing. Nothing wrong with that! Plus Powder Cowgirls sends along a Level 4 CSIA instructor to give you powder skiing tips (which as an east cost skier, I could definitely use!). They also provide lodging, meals, even powder skis, if you need them. I'm Diva enough -- and old enough, I guess -- to prefer a little of the creature comforts in life, and Powder Cowgirls looks like the mix of comfort and kick-ass skiing that appeals to me.*

Is catskiing for you, and does it mesh with your ski ability? My understanding is that there are catskiing operations for a wide range of abilities, from intermediate on up. A conversation with a tour operator can give you a better idea of whether or not your ability jives with what they have to offer.

There's a thread about catskiing going on now at TheSkiDiva.com. If you're a woman who's a member, log in to talk about it. And if you're not a member, register so you can.

*Full disclosure: Power Cowgirls advertises on TheSkiDiva.com. But that doesn't mean I don't really think it's cool!

Great deals. No kidding.

2009-09-26T16:10:00.015-04:00

Getting the kids interested in skiing is a win-win situation. It gets them out into the fresh air and involved in a sport they can enjoy throughout their lives, and it gives you an excuse to be out there, too ("But honey, the kids have to ski this weekend!").

To keep costs down, a number of state ski organizations are offering some pretty killer deals. Take a look:

New York: Fourth Grade Ski and Ride Passport. For $19. a booklet, you get three lift tickets to each of 35 resorts. There's a Learn to Ski Passport, too, which offers one free beginner lesson and 20% off a second. Go to 44Free.com

Colorado: Fifth & Sixth Grade Passports.: Fifth graders get three free days at each of the 21 participating resorts. Sixth graders get four days at each resort for $99. Go to coloradoski.com

Michigan: Cold is Cool Ski & Ride Passport: Fourth graders get three free lift tickets to each of 22 participating resorts. Go to goskimichigan.com

Utah: The Fifth Grade Passport offers three free ticket at each of the state's 13 ski reosrts. The Sixth Grade Snowpass gets one free day at each. Go to skiutah.com.

Vermont: Fifth Grade Passport offers three passes to each of the state's 21 resorts. Go to skivermont.com

New Hampshire: Fourth Grade Earn Your Turns Program. Fourth grade students must research some aspect of the history of skiing in New Hampshire, and summarize the information in a report to their teacher. If the teacher finds it satisfactory, the student gets a book that gives him one free lift pass to each of the state's 37 resorts. Go to skinh.com.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

What you need to know about NASTC.

2009-09-21T14:58:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago I announced the first ever TheSkiDiva/NASTC clinic, which will place March 1-3, 2010, at Lake Tahoe.

I am so excited about this! NASTC, or the North American Ski Training Center, is one of the best clinic organizations out there. And it is going to be a real blast skiing and learning with the fantastic women from TheSkiDiva.com.

To give you a better idea of what NASTC is all about, I recently spoke with Jenny Fellows, who heads NASTC with her husband, Chris.

Q: What is NASTC, and what makes it different from any other ski clinic?

A: NASTC is an independent ski school with a proven unique philosphy and methodology towards ski improvement. NASTC offers full immersion, multi-day ski improvement programs at some of the best mountains in the world. NASTC ensures that your ski training experience is rewarding both physically and spiritually. Our goal is for you to have the best time on and off the snow.

Q: Tell me about the history of NASTC. How and when did it get started? Do you have a particular philosophy for the clinic?

A: My husband, Chris, and I started NASTC in 1994 to offer the general public a "ski academy" alternative to the quick-fix, one hour or half-day lesson. NASTC was modeled in part on the European ski school model for instructors, the Austrian Bundessportheim, which Chris had been chosen to attend for a season in 1989. We wanted people to have the chance to truly improve, to bring their skiing up a full level. Or, if they had "plateaued," to get off that intermediate or advanced plateau and up into the next realm of skiing. We felt, and still feel, that one only improves at a sport via a total immersion, multi-day approach where you have the chance to breakdown old movement patterns and rebuild with new ones. We also feel that by following and learning from the best pros in the ski business, your skiing will improve much faster and more permanently. The name we chose for our school, NASTC, or the North American Ski Training Center, contains the original vision of a home base, a "training center." We even had lodge plans drawn up by an architect friend. But we quickly saw that our clients wanted to go to different resorts, not be stuck at just one. So we now offer 28 clinics at 18 resorts in Tahoe, the US, and worldwide.

Q: Tell me something about your staff. What does it take to be a NASTC instructor?

A: Our staff is comprised of some of the top instructors in the United States. Our trainers are all Examiners and National and Regional Demo Team members, who have gone through a rigorous certification process and made a career of helping skiers like you have a better time on the snow. We handpick our instructors based on their excellence as skiers and coaches and their ability to create a fun and welcoming environment.

Q: How do you envision TheSkiDiva clinic? Levels, group sizes, skills taught?

A: We envision TheSkiDiva Clinic as a really good opportunity for women to come and improve their skiing, and also as a really good time with lots of laughter and smiles! Our NASTC Women's Team is excited to work with such an enthusiastic and passionate group of women. We will likely have several groups of different levels. Skiers will be grouped according to their skiing level and goals for the clinic. Each group will have about 7-8 skiers and will have their own focus based on the needs and goals of the group. The clinics begin with a short orientation where we split into groups and discuss our goals for the clinic. We head out to the snow and take a couple of warm up runs and make sure that everyone is in the right group. We ski all the way up to lunch. After that, you can head back outside for more free skiing and practice. We also take footage of everyone skiing, and your trainer reviews your footage with you. After the video review sessions we generally have a short tech talk on a topic that enhances your performance and knowledge of the sport. Typically the whole group gets together and goes out to dinner at one of the many wonderful local restaurants.

# # #

This is truly something not to be missed. The cost for the clinic is $790., which includes three half days of instruction, three days of lift passes, and one group dinner. Lodging packages are available at the Cedar House Sport Hotel.

And get this: if you register by November 1, you'll get 5% off!

To sign up or for more information, go to the NASTC web site or email NASTC at ski@skiNASTC.com.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

To buy or not to buy?

2009-09-17T15:45:00.001-04:00

That, indeed, is the question.

Last season I vowed I'd buy nothing. Nadda. Zip. No new ski equipment at all.

Yeah, right.

Aside from skis, I bought all new everything: gloves, boots, poles, jackets (2 of these, actually), ski pants, base layers. You get the picture.

It's really shameful. But the deals were just too good. I just couldn't pass them up.

This year I vowed the same. After all, after last season, what else could I possibly need? Except I blew it already. During my visit to the outlets at Freeport, Maine (home of LL Bean), I succumbed. I ended up with a North Face Thunder Jacket (but it was just what I was looking for! And at such a good price!) and a classic ski sweater (perfect for book signings!).

Did I need these things? No. But skiing is my weakness, and need had nothing to do with it.

Anyway, my intention when I started this post was to direct you to a listing of the many ski swaps you can find this time of year; excellent sources for gear that's either used or just left over from last year. Follow this link to a thread over at TheSkiDiva.

And happy shopping. Like me, you may find a deal that's just too good to pass up.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

40 miles and 7 lighthouses.

2009-09-12T16:25:00.003-04:00

That was the theme this morning, when my husband, Jon, and I did the Maine Lighthouse Ride, a fundraiser for the Eastern Trails Alliance in Portland, Maine. We came to Portland from Vermont especially to do this scenic ride.

Well, that and to eat lobster rolls, of course.

It really was a lot of fun. The coastline of Maine is beautiful. The ride took us along the shore, where we could see the islands of Casco Bay and enjoy the boats and ships going in and out of the harbor.

About 300 people registered for the ride, some for 100 miles, some for 62, some for 40, and some for 25. We opted for 40, and for me, it was enough.

Here are a few of the lighthouses we saw:

What does this have to do with skiing? Well, if skiing starts in the middle of November -- and hopefully, it will -- it's important to concentrate on getting in shape. And biking is a great way to do it.

This was a great day.

Now excuse me -- it's time for more lobster roll!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Is three too many?

2009-08-31T19:15:00.001-04:00

Websites, that is. Because yes, I have another one.

But before you call me narcissistic, hear me out. I can explain!

First I started this blog so I could spout off about all sorts of things. Well, mostly about skiing. Then I started TheSkiDiva.com, so women who love to ski could talk to one another about anything ski-related.

But then I wrote a mystery: DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY. It's coming out from Minotaur Books on January 5, and yes, I needed a website for that, too.

The site is WendyClinch.com, and if you visit, you'll find all sorts of stuff about the book. Which -- surprise of surprises -- has to do with skiing, too.

But DOUBLE BLACK isn't just for skiers. I wrote it so anyone could enjoy it. There's financial intrigue, dirty dealings, a little bit of romance, and of course, murder. There's also plenty of New England atmosphere. And a lot of local color.

It's fun. I think you'll enjoy it. And you'll enjoy the website, too.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Thanks, Ted.

2009-08-26T10:40:00.002-04:00

I'm talking about Ted Kennedy, who died last night from brain cancer at the age of 77.

I'm sure you'll hear everything you need to know about this distinguished senator from the news media. But I wanted to pay special tribute to Kennedy here for two important reasons:

First, Kennedy was instrumental in the passage of Title IX of the Education Enactments of 1972. Even though Title IX was not initially about athletics, it did a huge amount in establishing gender equality in sports budgets and competitions. Before the law passed in 1972, girls made up only 7 percent of high school sports participants. Now, more than 40 percent of high school athletes are female, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations.

And second, Kennedy also sponsored the Family and Medical Leave Act in 1993, which guaranteed 12 weeks of unpaid leave a year following the birth or adoption of a child, or as result of a serious illness in the immediate family. This made it possible for many women (and men, too!) to address serious family concerns without fear of losing their jobs.

Today, many of us take these pieces of legislation for granted. But these were truly groundbreaking when they were enacted, and have done much to change the way we live our lives.

Kennedy wasn't perfect, and in the coming days I'm sure we'll all be subjected to the same sort of canonization we witnessed with the death of Michael Jackson. But he did do an incredible amount of good, and for that, we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

So I'll say it again, for millions of American women: Thanks, Ted. May you rest in peace.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Kayaking the Connecticut

2009-08-24T07:20:00.018-04:00

Even though we're in the final throes of August, it seems like summer's just getting started, here in Vermont. June and July were nearly total washouts: cool and rainy, without much opportunity for outdoor activities. As a result, we've had to cram a lot of our summer fun into recent weeks.

For me, this included kayaking the Connecticut River. For those of you who don't know, the Connecticut is the river that separates Vermont from New Hampshire. And the part that we kayaked -- from Hartland, VT, to below Cornish, NH -- is a beautiful stretch. No houses or buildings lining the shoreline. Just trees, a view of the mountains, and now and then an eagle soaring into view.

This was not a rapids running, heart thumping sort of a trip. After being transported 12 miles upriver, we launched our rented kayaks into water that was as smooth as glass.

Here's the view, heading down the river:

Here we're approaching the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest double-span covered bridge in North America:

And here I go, under the bridge:

No, it wasn't skiing. But all the same, a great way to spend a summer day.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

We have a cover....

2009-08-18T10:23:00.005-04:00

....for DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, my debut novel, coming to your favorite bookstore on Jauary 5, 2010.

DOUBLE BLACK is a ski-related mystery about a young woman who heads for a Vermont ski town to pursue the ski-bum lifestyle, only to stumble upon financial intrigue, bitter family warfare, and murder. It has lots of quirky characters, loads of New England atmosphere, and stars a young woman with nerve, spunk, and a sense of humor about it all.

Here's the first line:

“When Stacey Curtis found the dead man in the bed, she knew it was time to get her own apartment.”

Intriguing, huh?

It's a lot of fun, if I do say so myself, for skiers and non-skiers alike.

You can even pre-order it now at Amazon.com. Hey, why wait?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Learn from the Best, and Ski with the Divas!

2009-08-10T14:03:00.010-04:00

Here's your chance to ramp your skiing up to the next level and have a blast doing it!

TheSkiDiva.com is partnering with the North American Ski Training Center to offer our first ever women's ski clinic, March 1-3 in Tahoe, CA.

This is going to be fanastic. NASTC is a top drawer organization. Headed by Chris and Jenny Fellows and headquartered in Tahoe, their instructors are members of the PSIA Demo Team and/or the LUNA Ladies Team, an elite group of women instructors sponsored by LUNA Whole Nutrition for Women and NASTC. The clinics will take place during the mornings of March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd — you'll have the afternoons to practice and explore. We'll spend one day at Squaw, one day at Alpine Meadows, and one day at Sugar Bowl. Group sizes will be kept small and the instruction will be top notch.

Truly, this is something not to be missed!

The cost: $790. This includes three half days of instruction, three days of lift passes, and one group dinner. Lodging packages are available at the Cedar House Sport Hotel.

And get this: if you register by November 1, you'll get 5% off!

To sign up or for more information, go to the NASTC web site or email NASTC at ski@skiNASTC.com.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Mark Your Calendars!

2009-08-05T05:01:00.004-04:00

Because five months from today, January 5, is the publication date for my debut novel, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY.

Published by Thomas Dunne, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, DOUBLE BLACK follows the adventures of Stacey Curtis, a young woman who ditches her cheating fiance and heads for a Vermont ski town to pursue the ski-bum lifestyle. Instead, she stumbles into financial intrigue, bitter family warfare, and yes, murder. It was a lot of fun to write, and I think it's a great read not only for people who love to ski, but for anyone who loves a good story.

Right now I'm hard at work on Book #2 -- DOUBLE BLACK is the first of a series -- so be sure to mark your calendars so you can get in on where it all begins.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The Countdown Begins

2009-07-29T08:54:00.006-04:00

Even in the heat of mid-July, some of us are dreaming of when the landscape changes from green to white.

Loveland Ski Area in Colorado has posted its snowmaking countdown.

To see when they'll start blowing the white stuff, go here.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Home is where the heart is.

2009-07-17T12:15:00.001-04:00

I grew up on the Jersey Shore. And even though it felt like home while I was living there, it certainly doesn't anymore. Over the years the area's changed so profoundly that I barely recognize it. What was once a town where everyone knew one another has become a large, ugly place characterized by traffic gridlock, suburban sprawl, and over population.

After graduating college, I moved to suburban Philadelphia. And though I lived there for nearly thirty years, somehow it never really felt like home. To me, home is a place where you feel truly comfortable. Truly yourself. And suburban PA, with it's shopping malls, heavy traffic, and housing developments, didn't do it for me, either.

Then a few years ago I moved to Vermont. Something about the area spoke to me, unlike any other place I'd been. When I entered the state, I could feel my soul exhale. And though I've only been here a few years and will never be considered a native (the old timers will always call me a "flatlander"), to me, it is truly home.

Everyone defines home differently. My parents and sister think my move to the Green Mountain State is just short of madness. They're perfectly happy in Florida in an environment that's the complete opposite of where I live. Florida -- well, let's just say it's not for me.

A friend of mine, Jessica Brilliant Keener, has started a blog called Confessions of a Hermit Crab, where you can share your joys, sorrows, and reflections about home. And even though it has nothing to do with skiing, I encourage you to pay it a visit. Because even after we're done skiing, we all have to go home. Why not talk about it.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Alison Gannett, Off Season

2009-06-02T10:22:00.019-04:00

Here's another genuine Ski Diva weighing in on how she stays fit during the off season:

Alison Gannett.

In addition to being a world champion Free Skier, a ski film star, a ski designer, and a master instructor, Alison has dedicated herself to championing environmental causes, tirelessly working to make our planet a better place. She's worked on the environment with Al Gore, started the Save Our Snow Foundation and The Office For Resource Efficiency, teaches environmental awareness with the Global Cooling Tour, and been named one of the Green All Stars by Outside Magazine.

Q: What athletic activities do you participate in during the off season? Why did you choose these and what is it that you like about them?

A: I surf, road bike, bike tour, mountain bike, practice yoga, and run. I don't "train" per se, rather I choose things that are fun for me. I love to bike tour -- great exercise while enabling me to get exercise while traveling for work on the road. I love using different muscle groups and doing something really different -- like surfing. I love the peace of the water, working on a really hard sport, while using my arms and back more than I normally do.

Q: Is there any particular activity you do that keeps you in shape for skiing? How? How often do you do it and what does it involve?

A: I like sports that exercise my whole body. Surfing big waves keeps me in killer shape while having fun, as do all my biking sports, while yoga keeps me balanced -- especially after eight knee surgeries. I like to vary my exercise so that it is fun and different. I try to do something every day.

Q: Do you ski during the summer months, say in South America or some other location? Is this for fun or for training purposes? Can you tell me about it?

A: I used to ski a bunch in the summer in South America, but I really like the change of the seasons and really enjoy my other sports and also compete mountain biking. That being said, I live at 9,000 feet, and we can ski almost all year round here, if you want to!

To find out more about Alison Gannett, visit her web site at www.alisonganett.com

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Kristen Ulmer, Off Season

2009-05-27T16:35:00.002-04:00

Ever wonder how a genuine Ski Diva keeps in shape during the off season?

We did, too, so we asked one:

Kristen Ulmer.

A pioneer of the extreme sports movement, Kristen was a mogul specialist for the US Ski Team in the '90's and appeared in a number of ski movies, jumping off cliffs and making heart-thumping, jaw-dropping, knee-knocking descents on some of the world's gnarliest terrain. She's been named by both the media and her peers as the world's best big mountain (extreme) skier and overall woman skier, beating out Olympic Gold medalists. And in a cover feature about her life, Powder Magazine called her "the biggest icon the ski industry never expected" and the "protoplasmic mass of the ski industry." During ski season, she heads the Ski To Live clinic, which combines ski coaching with a western form of Zen teaching called Big Mind.

Q: What athletic activities do you participate in during the off season? Why did you choose these and what is it that you like about them?

A: I ride my road bike a lot -- a Cannondale Synapse 3 which I just bought and fell immediately in love with. I ride it super slow for transportation, usually listening to my ipod, and consider it meditation. Even chubby girls wearing flip flops and riding Huffy's pass me by. It's definitely not a "sport" for me; it's more of a slow down in life, then I just ride far enough it's a workout too.

I also love kiteboarding and take at least 3-4 trips per summer to go kiting. Been doing this for 8 years now which is a long time in such a new sport. Love it because it's adrenaline based and learning new tricks can be super challenging. It's also cool just to know how to do it.

Q: Is there any particular activity you do that keeps you in shape for skiing? How? How often do you do it and what does it involve?

A: Biking for sure. I probably ride 25 miles 3 times a week. When the ski season is coming back 'round I start riding up the Canyons in Utah -- Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood, maybe 2 times a week. Other than that a little bit of weight lifting and I'm good to go. I don't ski hard anymore and have a pretty efficient technique so I don't really need to get in shape for ski season anymore. I coach Zen while skiing now, and I don't ski with pros often.

Q: Do you ski during the summer months, say in South America or some other location? Is this for fun or for training purposes? Can you tell me about it?

A: I don't ski in the summer unless someone hires me to ski with them and facilitate a wisdom experience alongside the sport. I'll always love skiing -- kind of like I'll always love my ex-boyfriends -- but it's no longer my passion. My work with Big Mind and Consciousness through the sport of skiing is my current passion.

You can find out more about Kristen Ulmer's Ski To Live clinics at her website, www.kristenulmer.com.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

What shape is your summer?

2009-05-22T08:23:00.005-04:00

It's Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer.

So what are you doing to stay in shape for skiing next season?

Today I'm going for a nice, long bike ride through the beautiful Vermont countryside. That's me in the picture, biking with a friend last summer. We plan to lunch at King Arthur Flour in Norwich today, when we're done.

Hey, you gotta live, too, right?

Biking one of the ways I stay in shape over the summer. I try to do some sort of exercise every day, whether it's swimming laps, working out in the gym with the elliptical and weights, or just walking around the lake where I live. It's fun, makes you feel good, and keeps you in shape so you're ready to get out there and ski.

Here's wishing you all a safe and fun holiday weekend!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Here's to you, Ski Moms!

2009-05-05T06:07:00.000-04:00

.......for all you do. Making sure everyone has the hats, goggles, ski pants, boots, etc. etc. they need on the slopes. Dressing and undressing the kids. Assembling the lunches. Hauling the equipment. Harboring a secret stash of tissues/sun block/chap stick/energy bars for that unavoidable emergency. Accomodating multiple bathroom breaks and all the dressing and undressing that go with 'em. Providing encouraging words after a fall. Driving to and from the ski slopes. Attending ski races. Wiping noses. Wiping tears. Administering first aid. Putting on and removing boots/jackets/gloves/helmets. Making sure nothing gets left behind. Arranging ski lessons. Making sure the kids wear helmets.

For all you do, ski moms, for all your unwavering love, devotion, and support -- we salute you!

And to my own mom, who doesn't ski and never did, here's to you, too. Thanks for supporting my skiing when I was growing up, and for continuing to support it -- without ever asking 'why' -- now that I'm an adult.

Happy Mother's Day!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Vail must be reading TheSkiDiva.com.

2009-04-13T13:43:00.011-04:00

We've had a lot of threads on TheSkiDiva.com about helmets. Most people are for them, but some aren't for a variety of reasons -- everything from "Helmets makes me look dorky" to" "They won't help in a high speed crash."

Hey, my feeling is that it certainly can't hurt. Helmets offer more protection than just a thin wool hat. But the final decision should be up to you. I mean, if you want to spend the rest of your life drooling all over yourself, hey, go for it!

That being said, I've mentioned before -- here, here, and on the forum -- that helmets should be mandatory for three groups: kids, patrollers and instructors. Kids, because 1) they don't know any better; 2) we should do whatever we can to protect them, and 3) we put them in car seats, we should at least do this. And patrollers and instructors (at least while they're on the job) just because I think it presents a good example..

Now Vail has gone and made helmets mandatory for employees and kids in the '09/'10 season.

Here's the text of the press release I received from them today:

Vail Resorts Makes Helmets Mandatory for Employees in 2009-2010 Winter Season

Company also announced that helmets will be required for all children’s group ski and ride lessons and as part of their rental packages

BROOMFIELD, Colo.—April 13, 2009—Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN) today announced that, beginning with the 2009-2010 winter season, the Company will require all employees to wear helmets when skiing or riding on the job at each of its five mountain resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly. Helmets will be provided to every employee next fall as part of their standard uniform for working on the mountain. This new initiative is part of Vail Resorts’ overall commitment to skier and snowboarder safety programs.

“At Vail Resorts, the safety of our employees and guests is a top priority and we believe the time has come for us to take our commitment to safety to the next level. Our employees will set the example next year for all who enjoy skiing and riding our slopes,” said John Garnsey, co-president of Vail Resorts’ Mountain Division and chief operating officer of Beaver Creek Resort.

The Company also announced that it will require all children, ages 12 and under, who participate in a group lesson through one of its five resorts’ ski and ride schools to wear a helmet. Furthermore, a helmet will become a required part of any child’s (ages 12 and under) ski and snowboard rental package offered at all of Vail Resorts’ retail and rental outlets, unless a parent or legal guardian signs a waiver to decline use of the equipment.

“We firmly believe when children are participating in our ski and ride school programs that we must provide them with the proper equipment that promotes enjoyment of the sport while also reducing the possibility of injury. Even though we will now require children in our ski and ride schools to wear helmets and make them a mandatory part of every child’s rental package, we strongly recommend the use of helmets for all of our guests, regardless of their age or ability level,” said Blaise Carrig, co-president of Vail Resorts’ Mountain Division and chief operating officer of Heavenly Mountain Resort.

I applaud Vail's decision to do this. Hopefully, other resorts will take notice and follow suit. If it helps save lives and get across the message that helmets are worthwhile, then I'm all for it.

Just my two cents.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The passing of a legend.

2009-04-02T06:01:00.008-04:00

One of the greatest women skiers of all time has passed away. Andrea Mead Lawrence, the only US woman to win two gold medals in one Olympics, died from cancer at her home in Mammoth Lakes, CA, on March 31.

Born in Rutland, Vermont, in 1932, Lawrence grew up skiing at Pico, the resort founded by her parents. She competed in three Winter games, her first when she was just 15-years old, and was captain of the women's team during the 1952 games in Oslo, Norway, where she won gold in the slalom and giant slalom.

"When I got into the starting gate, it was like a deep, dark, still pool of black water, which is a metaphor and it's a very powerful metaphor," she said during an interview last month with Vermont Public Radio of winning the slalom run. "And when the count came down, I just went like a bullet down the course."

Bud Greenspan, a filmmaker known for his Olympic documentaries, chose Lawrence as “the greatest Winter Olympian of all time.” He based his choice on her later civic efforts in California as well as on the sheer excitement of her second victory in 1952.

Lawrence moved to Mammoth Lakes with her children in the mid-1960s and spent her later years as an environmental activist working to protect the Eastern Sierra Nevada. She served 16 years as a Mono County Supervisor, co-founded the Southern Mono Historical Society in 1983 and the Sierra Nevada Alliance.

In 2003, she founded the Andrea Lawrence Institute for Mountains and Rivers, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental planning and education.

I interviewed her daughter, Didi, a fantastic skier in her own right, for my blog in September, 2007. You can find that interview here.

My deepest condolences to Didi and her family.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Where did the season go?

2009-03-31T18:53:00.005-04:00

I can hardly believe that for many of us here in the east, the season is either over or just about over.

Warm temps and rain have really put a dent in the snow pack. I know the season's still going strong in the west -- and for that, I'm truly envious -- but today may have been my last day. The snow has the consistency of wet sand and is a gloopy mess after an hour or so, much of it is melting, and more rain's in the forecast.

All in all, it's been a great year. I skied 66 days -- a record for me, especially since the season seems to be ending a bit early. Still, there are things I didn't get around to doing; areas I meant to visit and never made it to. I guess I'll have to leave it for next year.

An Untimely Death.

2009-03-20T06:24:00.007-04:00

I'm sure all of you have heard of the tragic death of actress Natasha Richardson. Talented & beautiful, out for a day of fun with her children, fatally injured by a fall on the bunny slope. Sad. So sad.

There's considerable debate on whether or not her death would have occurred if she'd worn a helmet. I'm not going to go there. I'm not a doctor or an expert in these things, so I'm certainly not qualified to judge.

All the same, people continue to argue about whether or not helmets are necessary. Some people say they're useless in a high speed crash, so why bother. Some people say they never fall, so they're not needed. And some people just don't like being told what to do.

My opinion? It's your head. So if you don't want to wear a helmet, be my guest. I'm a helmet wearer. I just don't see how it can hurt. I wear one for biking, and I wear one for skiing. I don't fall much, but it doesn't take a big fall to cause a bad injury, as the Richardson death makes plain.

My hustand, Jon, and I started wearing helmets a number of years ago after my daughter got a concussion while snowboarding. And I'm glad we did. Last winter Jon was skiing on a very easy connector trail when he caught an edge, went down, and hit his head so hard his helmet acually cracked. I shudder to think what might have happened if he didn't have one on.

I do think kids should wear helmets. They shouldn't have a choice. When you're adult, you can engage in all the risky behavior you want. That's why only adults are legally allowed to smoke and drink. It should be the same with helmets.

I also think helmets should be required for ski patrollers and instructors, while they're on duty. To set an example for everyone else.

None of this brings Natasha Richardson back tolife. But if it gets you seriously thinking about helmets, that's a good thing.

Think about it.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The Diva Summit

2009-03-09T06:40:00.007-04:00

Sorry I've been out of touch lately. You see, I've been at the Diva Summit. What's that, you ask? It's a gathering of women from TheSkiDiva.com, the leading internet commuity for women's skiing. The site has more than 1,400 members, and some of us came together in Summit County, Colorado, for fun, fellowship, and great skiing.

We had attendees from as far away as The Netherlands and Norway, and as close as Denver and Frisco, Colorado. The site has members from all over the country -- actually, all over the world -- and it was great to make new friends and see others we'd met before. Part of the reason I started TheSkiDiva.com was to connect with other women who enjoy skiing as much as I do. It was great to have others make those connections, too.

We hit five resorts in seven days: Breckenridge, Copper, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Keystone. Conditions were -- well, to be honest, they could have been better. But that didn't matter. We still had a blast.

I'm hoping to make this an annual event, and I'm already thinking ahead to the gathering for next year. Snowmass, anyone?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

A Peek at the 2010's: Part 4

2009-02-26T06:03:00.002-05:00

Nordica
Nordica has made some modifications on the Drive, increasing its waist size from 74 to 76 and giving it an integrated binding. The Mint is also 74 vs. 72. I didn't get around to skiing any of these.

They still have the Conquer, a ski I’ve demoed before and really like, but I’m not nuts about the new color scheme: black and white with chartreuse accents. Bleh.

K2
The Lotta Luv has gone up to 82 in the waist, and they’ve replaced the One Luv with the Free Luv. I took the Lottas out because I know a lot of women like them, but I couldn’t get these off my feet fast enough. I just felt like I was all over the place, forcing them into the turns and not having any fun at all.

Rossignol
Rossi has an extensive line of women’s skis. At the low end is the Harmony, with a side-cut tail that’s supposed to make it easier to come out of a turn. A new ski that I found especially interesting is the Eco(sp.?), which they say is an environmentally friendly ski. The base is made of recycled plastic, and they say they used less petroleum products in its production. 75 underfoot. They’ve also replaced the top end of the Attraxion Series, the 11, with the Attraxion 12, and done away with the arms they used last year (these were supposed to allow you adjust the ski's flex, depending on conditions and terrain. I thought they were pretty gimmicky) This is based on the men’s Classic 70.

I had to try the Eco, which turned out to be a really nice ski. Responsive, a good carver, light, quick. And I tried the Voodoo 80, which has a slightly turned up tail. I tried the Voodoo last year, but maybe in a different waist size (it comes in several). Whether it was the conditions or the waist size, I liked it this year a lot better. Very responsive, came out of the turn nicely. I’d like to get this in some off piste stuff. I liked this even better than the Eco. A very fun ski.

SO – in a nutshell, my favs of the skis I tried:

Favs of the two days I was there:

Volkl Aurora (yes, I still love these skis)
Volkl Aura
Fischer Koa 84
Rossi Voodoo 80
Elan Free Spice
Head Wild One
Rossi Ecco
Head Perfect One

Thumbs down:

Atomic Double Deck
K2 Lotta Luv (sorry)

The bottom line: there's something for everyone, and everyone's different. What appeals to me may not appeal to you. So be sure to try before you buy.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

A Peek at the 2010's: Part 3

2009-02-17T13:23:00.004-05:00

Fischer

Fisher has replaced its popular Vision series with the Koa. Available in a variety of widths (75, 78, and 84) the Koa has a sandwich vertical wood core instead of the glass fiber wood core found in the Visions. The rep says this makes it a lighter, stronger ski with better edge hold. The graphics of the Koa are a big departure from the Visions, too. Dark with a bold, abstract design that’s not at all girlie. I really liked it.

Fischer still has the Vapor, which I really wanted to demo, but since they only had it in a 165, I decided to pass. Instead, I took out the Koa in the 75 and 84. The 75 was nice – lively, good rebound, good edging, easy to ski. But I liked the 84 even better. For a wide waisted ski, this thing skis like a carver. I’d give this a big thumbs up.

Blizzard Skis

Blizzard has an addition to their Magnum Series: the Magnum Viva 7.4. They also plan to introduce the Viva Max in a Magnum 8.1 soon (81 underfoot), but they don’t have it yet. Some of you will also be pleased to hear that they’ve brought back the Eos this year (88 underfoot; the same ski as the men’s Chronus.)

Anyway, I took out the Magnum Viva 7.4’s, and what a nice ski! Good edging, easy to turn, nice rebound. I also took out the Viva 7.6’s just for comparison -- a more advanced, all mountain ski with a wood core and an integrated binding system. This ski wants to go, yet it’s stable and smooth with good edging.

Dynastar

Dynastar is adding two new women’s skis to its line-up: the Exclusive Eden, with an 85 waist, a wood core, and a vertical side-wall, and the Exclusive Elite, which will be a high-end groomer with a 72 waist, wood core, and a straight side wall (this’ll be above the Exclusive Fluid). Unfortunately, they didn’t have either ski at the Demo Day, so I couldn’t give them a try.

They’re also discontinuing the Exclusive Legend Powder.

All the skis have new graphics. I took out the Exclusive Legend, a carry-over ski and their top seller, It’s a very nice, maneuverable ski that’s a jack of all trades. The 2010’s have a new graphic that’s white with a weird pastel image of a woman’s face, which I really didn’t like.

(To Be Continued.....)

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

A Peek at the 2010's: Part 2

2009-02-12T05:31:00.005-05:00

Head:

Yes, I have a weakness for Head skis, directly attributable to jealousy over my sister’s Head 360’s in 1969 or 1970. Actually, I had Head Monster IM-70’s a few years ago, and I really liked them.

In 2010, Head is offering the same line up with one new addition: the Perfect One, a carver with a 67 waist. It’s pretty bland looking, but a nice ski, nonetheless. The narrow waist makes it go from edge to edge very nicely, and it has good rebound. The other skis are carry-overs from this season, with new graphics. I also skied the Wild One and the Every One. The Wild One is the equivalent of the company’s Monster IM82. It’s a very stable, solid ski with an 81 waist and a vertical sidewall. Good energy to it, too. And I love the graphics. The Every One is white with the name available in either orange or blue. It’s a versatile, nimble ski that’s light and quick. I neglected to get the waist size on this; I think it’s in the lower to mid 70’s.

Elan

These take the prize for the most beautiful graphics. The Black Magic is gorgeous: black with little flecks of colors embedded throughout, and a little crystal embellishment. The '10 Black Magic is a little stiffer than this year’s model (they added wave technology). I skied them, and found them to be a good intermediate ski.

I also skied the Free Spice. This is a wider ski (88 waist); I wish I could’ve tried this in powder , but alas – no new snow. It has really cool new graphics -- kind of a splattered paint look. Other than that, the ski is the same as this year's. The Free Spice is based on the men’s 888 Alu, without the metal.

Lastly, I tried the Speed Magic. This is Elan’s top of the line. It's 67 or 70 underfoot (can't remember), and very fast and responsive. A fine carver and very lively and easy to turn.

Goode

When you walk by a booth where there’s a sign saying they have the lightest ski out there, you just have to give it a try. I couldn't resist. Goode Skis are made entirely of carbon fiber. And they ARE very light. You especially notice it when you go up the lift. But this lightness comes at a price: I found myself getting knocked around in the snow a bit. So no.

(To be continued.....)

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

A Peek at the 2010's: Part I

2009-02-06T20:03:00.006-05:00

It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. This week I spent a couple days at the Ski Industry Demo Days at Stratton, VT, to preview the 2010 skis.

I absolutely love the Demo Days. Manufacturers set up tents filled with their new equipment, and the lucky participants have three days to try them out, talk to the reps, and learn more about next season's skis. Truly, I felt like a the proverbial kid in a candy store! So many skis to try, so little time.

Two overall impressions, however: First, there didn't seem to be a lot of new models this year. I don't know if it's the economy or what, but manufacturers seem to be more focused on refining their current skis, such as upping the waist size, or giving them new graphics. I guess it's a less expensive way to freshen their product line. Second, I'd say that the manufacturers have really stepped up their graphics. There are some stunning skis out there for next season!

So here’s what I saw and tried. I didn’t take as copious notes as I did last year, with the stats for each ski. This year I was much more casual (read "lazy"). So for what it’s worth, here goes:

My vital stats:

Advanced skier, 110 pounds, 5’1”

Most of the skis I skied were either 157, 161, or 163, depending on what they had available.

Volkl:

Volkl doesn’t have any new models coming out next year. However, they’re introducing a new technology called “Bio-Logic,” which they claim puts a female skier in a more neutral stance. According to the rep I spoke with, traditional bindings have the heels jacked up. When you combine that with the higher ramp angle you typically find in a woman’s boots, you end up being tipped too far forward.This can actually cause you to crouch, pushing the calf forward and really working the quads. (It's like doing wall sits all day; your quads end up killing you.) To combat this, Volkl has raised the toe in the binding. The result is better balance of the hamstring and glutes and more efficient muscle use. They’ve also tapered the tail angle so it releases more readily at the end of a turn. The tip is a bit wider, and they gave the ski a more consistent flex pattern.

The only new model they have for the coming year is the Estrella (not sure of the spelling), which they say is suited for aspiring intermediates. I didn’t try it, but I re-tried the Aurora, Tierra, and yes, the much loved Aura. Yes, I am still in love with the Aurora. What a ski! If I were in the market, this is the one I would buy. It feels like a Cadillac under foot: smooth, stable, and strong with that great Volkl edge. A terrific all around ski (too stiff for the bumps, though). As for the Aura, they’ve changed the graphics once again. Actually, they’re very similar to this year’s, except in a different color scheme (a silvery gray background and not as much color). I think I like this year’s better.

Atomic

The new women’s ski from Atomic is the Double Deck. And it’s really lovely: a white topsheet surrounding a raised black area, all covered with thin silver hatch marks. It’s really elegant. If you went to a black-tie ski event, this is the ski you’d bring. The technology sounds way cool, too: Simply described, it has two decks which are essentially one ski on top of another. Although the two skis are produced separately and joined together, each can move freely. The lower deck (adapter deck) adjusts to the slope while the upper deck (control deck) distributes the power generated by the skier.

Sounds great, right? Well, no. I found them very, very heavy, extremely torsionally stiff, and unresponsive. Perhaps they just need a bigger, stronger skier. A man I know tried the men’s version and loved it, so maybe it’s me.

Atomic still has the Heaven’s Gate and the Cloud series. I didn’t demo any of these this year, though last year I really liked the Cloud 9’s when I skied them last year.

To be continued.....

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Lift Ticket Deals For Ladies.

2009-01-21T16:09:00.002-05:00

Being a woman has its privileges. Here are some lift ticket deals, just for being femaie:

Mondays
½ Off Ski Sawmill, PA
$25 Ragged Mountain, NH
$25 Saddleback, ME

Tuesdays
$39 Okemo, VT
$35 Ski Roundtop, PA
$32 Shawnee Mountain, PA
$46 Mt. Sunapee, NH
$18 Mt. Lacrosse, WI
$14 Mt. Hood Skibowl, OR (nights)
$39 Peek’n Peak, NY

Wednesdays
$10 Off Blue Mountain, PA
$53 Hunter Mountain, NY
½ Off Ski Denton, PA

Thursdays
$25 Pebble Creek, ID
$29 Mt. Rose, NV
FREE Beech Mountain, NC

Fridays
$28 Shawnee Peak, ME

Special Days
2/6: $15 Bromley, VT (mothers only)
2/2: FREE Ski Sawmill, PA
2/7: $10 Mt. Rose, NV (men dressed as women)
2/9: FREE Ski Sawmill, PA (men dressed as women)

The last two seem a little odd. What is it about having men dressed as women on the slopes????

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

How cold is too cold?

2009-01-13T17:14:00.004-05:00

For everyone, it's different.

Take my folks who live in Florida. If the temperatures dip into the fifties, they're ready to call it a national emergency.

Here in Vermont, however, we're in for a real cold snap. The high temp over the next few days is expected to top out at 5°, with the wind chill making it feel like well below zero. Overnight, it should dip to about 20 below.

That's cold.

Will I go out to ski? Probably, at least for a while. There are ways to gear up to make it a bit more tolerable. I have boot heaters in my ski boots, Boot Gloves to wear over them, a face mask (as ugly as that is), and lots of warm base layers to pile on under my ski pants and jacket. I'll probably take more breaks than I would under ordinary circumstances (2 runs, break, 2 runs, break).

When it comes to cold temps, looking good takes a back seat. I'm all about keeping warm. I won't be pretty, but I'll be out there.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

About Avalanches.

2009-01-07T11:02:00.012-05:00

We've all seen the news reports about the deaths in Canada, Colorado, Utah. This is shaping up to be a terrible year for avalanches.

It's important to remember that avalanches aren't just limited to the backcountry. This season, there've been in bound avalanches at Jackson Hole, Squaw Valley, Snowbasin, and Snowbird.

What causes an avalanche? Wind, temperatures, slope angle, all play a part. Generally, avalanches occur when a weaker layer of snow is unable to support a heavier layer on top. The ensuing instability can cause snow to break away as a slab or crash down the slope in a raging torrent.

No matter what your experience, anyone can get caught in an avalanche. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk:

Heed avalanche warnings. No, you are not immune. Nor are you invincible. Check with area experts. When those in the know say that avalanche danger is high, do yourself a favor and listen.

Tell people where you're going. If you plan to head out to ski even for an hour -- especially in the backcountry -- make sure someone knows where you're heading, and when you expect to be back.

Don't travel alone. And make sure you and your companions have received avalanche training and know how to conduct a search and rescue operation.

Have proper equipment. This includes a transmitter. Make sure it's set on "transmit" rather than "receive." And make sure more than one person has a shovel.

If you get caught in an avalanche, try to stay on top of the snow. It's best if you can remain on your belly with your head pointed toward the bottom of the slope, if at all possible.

Use common sense. Don't go where you shouldn't go. If you have no avalanche training and conditions are dicey, stay away.

Stay safe out there, everyone.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Hello, Goodbye.

2008-12-31T09:13:00.005-05:00

So here it is, the last day of 2008. And while I'm sitting here looking out my window at the snow coming down, I thought I'd reflect a bit on the year that's coming to a close:

Here are some of my memorable ski-related moments, from 2008:

Meeting and skiing with members of TheSkiDiva.com at Solitude during Diva Week in Utah;

Meeting and skiing with tmembers of TheSkiDiva.com during Okemo Diva Day;

Breaking a personal record of ski days, with 63 days for the '07-'08 season. This meant LOTS of fun days on the snow;

Nearly destroying my nearly new Queen Attivas at Magic Mountain (hey, it was memorable, all right!). I took a huge chunk out of the base, but was able to get it repaired;

Getting to try next year's skis at the industry demo days at Stratton in February. I felt like a kid in a candy store! You can see my reviews here and here.

Getting TheSkiDiva sign on Good Morning America, when the show came to Vermont;

Expanding the site to include an E-store for great TheSkiDiva.com gear, a directory of women's ski resources, and a new home page with ski news and member pix;

Publishing TheSkiDiva.com Cooks!, a cookbook with recipes submitted by forum members. If you'd like a copy, go here;

Getting a publisher for my ski-related mystery, tentatively called DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, and coming from St. Martin's Press in January, 2010; You can find out more about it here.

Passing 1,000 members in TheSkiDiva.com.

Here's hoping that 2009 brings us all more terrific ski memories. And here's wishing you a safe, happy, and healthy new year.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Booting up!

2008-12-21T20:14:00.012-05:00

To celebrate my recent book deal, I did what any self respecting Ski Diva would do: I celebrated by getting myself some new gear.

What did I get, you ask? New ski boots, of course!

My old boots were getting packed out, so I headed for my favorite local bootfitter, Shon Racicot, at Bootpro in Ludlow, VT, for some help. After making a careful examination of my feet and stance, Shon suggested the boot he felt would do the best job: the Atomic Hawx. I tried them on, and even though I really liked what I was feeling, I thought to myself, "This is far too easy. NO ONE gets boots this fast." So I set out on a "bootquest" of sorts, visiting a number of ski shops in the area to try on boots from a variety of manufacturers. But no matter how many I tried, I kept coming back to the same thing: none of them worked for me like the Atomic Hawx. So back I went to Shon.

Here's some info I found that describes the Atomic Hawx:

New concept that allows forefoot flexibility through special gills at front of boot that gives better balance, better transmission, more performance for less effort. Less pressure and force on the metatarsal area for superb comfort. The New I-Flex technology puts your stance in a more upright position and with the new Elastic I-Flex Zone it goes to absorb vibrations and unintentional forces to the skis. A new I-Flex Chassis is a mixture of flexible plastics in varying thicknesses for improved comfort, precise fit and performance. Softer components around the cuff and instep area makes the Hawx putting on/taking off easier and gives a more precise fit. .

All I can say is that I've skied on these boots seven times with zero issues. That's right -- none. Which is amazing in a new ski boot. They're actually a full size smaller than my previous boots. And while the fit is snugger -- a good thing in a ski boot -- there are no hot spots or pressure points. The snugger fit gives me a better feel for my skis and permits better response to the movements of my feet and ankles. The result: better edging, better control, better skiing.

I can't say if these boots would work for you. The important thing in a ski boot is fit, fit, and again, fit. And to get the best possible fit, don't just buy boots off the shelf from some big box store. Make sure to visit someone who really knows ski boots, like Shon. Your feet will appreciate it. I know mine do.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

I just got a book deal!

2008-12-11T13:18:00.005-05:00

Many of you know that my husband, Jon Clinch, is the author of the critically acclaimed, award-winning novel, Finn.

Well, he's not the only writer in the family anymore. I just sold a ski-related mystery novel, DOUBLE BLACK, to Thomas Dunne, an imprint of St. Martins Press. It'll be published in January, 2010, and it's part of a two book deal that'll include a yet-unwritten sequel to the first.

Here's a synopsis:

In DOUBLE BLACK, Boston’s twenty-something Stacey Curtis ditches her cheating fiance and heads for a Vermont ski town. She’s looking for the life she’s always dreamed about, but she stumbles instead into financial intrigue, bitter family warfare, and murder. Populated with quirky characters, loaded with New England atmosphere, and starring a young woman with nerve, spunk, and a sense of humor about it all, DOUBLE BLACK is an exciting run down some treacherous mountain trails.

Here's the first line of the book:

“When Stacey Curtis found the dead man in the bed, she knew it was time to get her own apartment.”

I am sooooo excited about this. If you don't mind my saying so, it's a fun book that I really think all of you are going to enjoy. And while it contains plenty of skiing and ski-related stuff, I think it's something that just about anyone will like.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The "R" Word.

2008-12-04T06:25:00.001-05:00

Not that "R" word -- the one that has to do with precipitation. The other "R" word -- the one they've been bandying about on the news lately. Recession.

It's official. We're in one. And I don't have to tell you: skiing isn't cheap. So how can you still participate in your favorite sport, while minimizing the financial pain?

Here are some tips, suggested by members of TheSkiDiva.com:

Get a season pass: The initial outlay is large, but if you ski a lot at the same mountain, it can considerably reduce your cost per day. A season's pass can have other benefits, too. Some provide discounts on lift tickets at other resorts, nearby lodging, and on-mountain retail locations.

Bring your lunch: Food at the mountain can cost nearly as much as a pass. So bring something that costs less, tastes better, and is much healthier for you: food from your own kitchen.

Get a job: The cheapest way to ski yet. Work at the mountain, and they'll give you a season's pass. You'll even earn a few bucks in the process.

Carpool to the hill: Yes, gas prices have come down. But the last time I checked, gas still wasn't free. Drive with a friend.

Join a club: If you don't live close to a mountain, join a club that has a house or lodge. Weekend rates are far cheaper than the cost of hotel and sometimes even include meals and a cook -- which can make life very nice after a day of skiing.

Buy ahead off site: Sometimes you can get a deal on a day ticket if you buy before you go, either from the resort's web site or at designated ski and outdoor shops. It's not a huge discount, but it'll save you a few bucks.

Pick a card: Some resorts offer their own discount cards. At Mt. Snow, for example, a "Fan Fare" card costs $99, and gives you 50% off during the week, 25% off weekends and 10% off on holidays.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

TheSkiDiva Cooks!

2008-11-26T18:52:00.008-05:00

Tomorrow's Thanksgiving. And at the time of year when food plays such a big part in our celebrations, consider this:

TheSkiDiva Cooks, the new cookbook featuring recipes from members of TheSkiDiva.com community.

There's everything from SnowHot's Famous White Hot Chocolate to Diva Dude Chili and Face Plant Cake — more than 150 recipes. Enjoy mouthwatering appetizers, beverages, soups & salads, desserts, main dishes, and more. And of course, it makes a great holiday or hostess gift.

To order your own copy, go here.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

WOOOO-HOOOOO!!!!

2008-11-21T16:22:00.004-05:00

My ski season has started!!!!

Today was my very first day of the season. And even though it wasn't a full day (I was only out there for a few hours), it was great to be finally skiing.

My home mountain is Okemo, Vermont, and they always do a great job making snow. Not too much terrain was open, but the conditions were good and it snowed early in the day, which made it extra nice. Okemo is blasting its snowmaking guns like crazy, so more trails will be opening each day.

Interesting, though -- every year I have the same crazy, irrational thought: What if I've forgotten how to ski? I know it makes no sense, but there it is. Usually it's gone after just a few turns. But I wonder -- does anyone else feel this way, or is it just me?????

Here's wishing all of us a great '08/'09 season!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Skiing with the Girlz.

2008-11-14T11:50:00.006-05:00

Want to spend the day with women who love skiing as much as you do, while taking your skills to a higher level?

The answer may be as simple as a women's ski clinic. Today there are women's ski clinics at just about every resort. It's a great way to gain confidence and improve your skiing in an encouraging, supportive environment, free of male machismo.

Here are a few you might want to investigate:

Okemo Women's Alpine Adventures (Okemo, VT): This well regarded women's clinic is headed by Maria Tomaselli, honored by Skiing magazine as one of "America's Best Instructors." Okemo offers five, three, and two day programs.

Copper's Wednesday Womens Program (Copper Mountain, CO): Here's a program where you can come every week, or just drop in. Held every Wednesday throughout the ski season.

Ski with Kim (Beaver Creek & Aspen, CO): Kim Reichelm’s skiing resume is impressive, with two World Extreme Skiing Championships and winnings in the U.S. Extremes and the South American Extremes. She's also skied with the U.S. Ski Team and the Women’s Pro Tour. Kim's Women’s Ski Adventures are 4-day, 5-night instructional ski vacations that are educational, informative, and lots of fun.

Jackson Hole's Women's Ski Camps: JH runs two 4-day sesssions: one in January, and one in February. Join Jackson Hole's top women instructors as they help intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers conquer the big stuff on this amazing mountain.

Women's Extreme Edge: Didi Lawrence heads up a four days session open to skiers Level 8 and up who are eager for the challenge of double-black terrain, and offers coaching in both the technical and psychological aspects of extreme skiing. Didi is an amazing instructor whose enthusiasm and expertise will have you doing things on skis you never thought possible! You can see my interview with her here.

Mermer Blakeslee's Women's Fear Clinic: If fear is holding you back, this is the clinic for you. Mermer Blakeslee, the ski industry expert on fear and author of the renowned "In The Yikes Zone," (see my interview of Mermer here), holds a four day clinic in January just for women at Windham Mountain (NY).

Snowbird's Women's Ski Camp: Held for four days in January and four days in March. The January session features guest instructor Robin Barnes, who has twice earned a spot on Ski Magazine’s Top 100 Instructors list. Snowbird also offers Women's Monday Getaways, held every Monday morning throughout the season.

Holly Flanders' 3-Day Workshops (The Canyons, UT): Sessions are held in January, February, and March, and are headed by Olympian and World Cup Champion Holly Flanders.

There are many other women's ski clinics to choose from, too. Call your favorite resort -- chances are they'll have one.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Ski for the Cure!

2008-11-06T14:10:00.002-05:00

Never say that skiers are just out for a good time (though yes, that is part of it).

Recently I posted about K2's Breast Cancer Research Fundraiser. Now here's another one that's ski-related:

To raise money for the Breast Cancer Three Day and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Kitties for A Cure, an independent group, is raffling off lift tickets for a number of ski resorts in the Northeast. A single raffle ticket costs $1., or you can get a Super Ticket that covers all the areas for $5.

The following have donated tickets to the cause:

Black Mountain, NH
Bromley Mountain, VT
Pat’s Peak, MA
Ragged Mountain, NH
Saddleback, ME
Shawnee Peak, ME
Waterville Valley, NH
Whiteface/Lake Placid, NY

The drawing will be held December 9. You can go to the Kitties For A Cure website to participate or to find out more.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

I'm not the Morals Police....

2008-10-31T15:45:00.003-04:00

....But I do have a problem with the new "Playmate" snowboards recently introduced by Burton.

Now, I know I'm not the intended audience here. First of all, I'm not a boarder. And second, to be blunt about it, I'm no kid, either. And though I do believe that yes, the body is beautiful and yes, we should encourage artistic freedom of expression (the umbrella that Burton is hiding under), I don't think these boards were rolled out in celebration of either of these things.

My feeling is that these images are merely a shrewdly calculated marketing device designed to capture a particular market segment -- in this case, adolescent boys -- to whom graphics of naked women are very appealing. Instead, what they actually do is objectify women as sex objects -- something we've been trying to move beyond for decades -- as well as alienate a very large segment of the population.

I think Burton tries very hard to market itself as an "edgy" company. It does a lot of stuff purely for shock value. Face it, there's a certain element that likes to buy stuff because 1) it either ticks people off, or 2) it makes people do a double take. Plus it gets Burton a lot of exposure, like when they encouraged boarders to poach skiing-only resorts last year.

This type of marketing is what you do when you're completely out of ideas. The oldest trick is the book is to show an image of a naked lady. It's Neanderthal, it's juvenile, and it's just plain dumb. I think Burton should know better than that, and I'm incredibly disappointed that they don't.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The Pink Chase.

2008-10-24T09:02:00.004-04:00

That's the name of K2's breast cancer fundraiser.

As many of you already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And as part of this, the women of K2's women's development teams will ski as much vertical, or walk as many kilometers, as they can to raise money for breast cancer research.

Anyone who makes a donation or a pledge though K2 will have the opportunity to win prizes, including a complete K2 Skis package, travel luggage, Polar watch, tickets to Arapahoe Basin and more. The fundraiser runs through October 30, so there's still time to participate. Go here for more information on how you can participate.

Who among us doesn't know of someone who has been stricken by this awful disease? Here's our chance to make a difference. How incredible would it be if there was a cure for this in our lifetime!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

I love Fall.

2008-10-16T06:15:00.015-04:00

I really do. It's a beautiful time of year, especially here in the Green Mountain State. So I thought I'd post a couple pictures to share the beauty of the season.

Right now my local mountain is scheduled to open on November 15, but things are going to have to change dramatically for that to happen. All the same, A-Basin is open in Colorado, as is Loveland. So the season is ramping up, and pretty soon, the leaves will be down here and everything will be covered in a blanket of white. I don't know about you, but I can't wait.

Still, when you look at these pictures, it's nice to have such a beautiful world to look at, in the meantime.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Show Your Inner SkiDiva.

2008-10-09T06:20:00.009-04:00

It's easy, when you visit the new TheSkiDiva.com store. You'll find a wide range of apparel featuring the TheSkiDiva.com logo available in a variety of embroidery colors. There are fleeces, vests, jackets, hats, shirts, and more, perfect for the cooler weather.

To commemorate our Grand Opening, we're offering a special edition TheSkiDiva.com hoodie for only $19.99. Be sure to stop in and take a look.

While you're at it, visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The Deal on Kids.

2008-10-03T10:35:00.010-04:00

Anyone who wants to make skiing a family affair knows how expensive it can be. But in a few states, skiing is more affordable, thanks to programs offered by various state ski associations.

In my home state of Vermont, the Vermont Passport allows fifth graders to ski or ride free free at a number of resorts, when accompanied by a paying adult.

Here are a few states with similar programs:

Maine: WinterKids Passport

Michigan: Cold is Cool

New York State: 4th graders Ski and Ride Passport

Utah: Fifth Grade Passport

Colorado: 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program

Granted, requirements vary -- in some states, the program is for fourth graders, in others, for fifth graders, and so on. There are also various fees involved. And your child must be enrolled to participate.

Another way to save is to check with your ski resort. Many offer free tickets for children up to a specific age. And virtually all offer discounts for junior skiers.

No matter how you do it, there's no denying that getting your kids out there is a great way to introduce them to a lifetime of fun.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

A conversation with Allison Gannett

2008-09-27T16:20:00.008-04:00

We can learn a lot from Allison Gannett. In addition to being a world champion Free Skier, a ski film star, a ski designer, and a master instructor, Alison has dedicated herself to championing environmental causes, tirelessly working to make our planet a better place. She's worked on the environment with Al Gore, started the Save Our Snow Foundation and The Office For Resource Efficiency, teaches environmental awareness with the Global Cooling Tour, and been named one of the Green All Stars by Outside Magazine.

Alison is also member of TheSkiDiva.com forum for women skiers, and she kindly consented to answer some questions for us.

Q: Many athletes are involved in supporting various causes, and I know you’re extremely involved in the environmental movement. Tell me what led you to become so active in this. When and how did you begin? Was there some sort of epiphany?

Q: What's your idea of the perfect ski day?

A: A remote hut in the woods, deep powder, tons of great food, my boyfriend, friends, or family.

Q: What's your favorite apres-ski meal?

A: I have to say that pizza is my favorite apres meal, but I love chocolate chip cookies, also.

To find out more about Alison Gannett, visit her web site at www.alisonganett.com

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Save Our Snow!

2008-09-19T06:16:00.008-04:00

Anyone who loves skiing should know about the Save Our Snow Foundation -- for obvious reasons. Lose the snow, and you lose something we skiers feel passionately about. After all, if there's no snow, there's no skiing. Just last year a ski area in France actually closed due to lack of snow (Abondance),

But as they say, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Nearly 50% of the world's drinking water comes from glacial and snow melt. No snow, and a lot of the world goes thirsty. Conversely, glacial and snow melt can drive up ocean levels, sinking low lying areas and submerging islands.

There are other problems, too. Global warming can cause more extreme, unpredictable weather, leading to more severe, frequent droughts and storms. And it can allow warmer weather insect species to invade and devastate our northern forests and crops.

As snow lovers, we can't just sit idly by and allow this to happen. Save Our Snow is a good place to start. The organization was formed to educate people on the problem of global warming. Believe it or not, there are some people who still don't believe this is a reality. Even the CEO of General Electric, whom I saw on the Stephen Colbert show the other night, remain unconvinced. (I'm shaking my head even as I write this; it boggles the mind.)

You can check out Save Our Snow or donate to the cause here. Every little bit helps.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Do you wear make up when you ski?

2008-09-16T12:36:00.006-04:00

Generally, no.

With my helmet, goggles, gaiter, and sometimes even a face mask, it's hard to tell if I have a FACE, let alone if I'm wearing any make up.

Still, I am getting older. So sometimes I'll cave in and put some on. If I know I'm going to skiing with a bunch of friends -- just so I don't scare them away. I know it's vanity. I know it's futile. But I'll do it, anyway.

Far more important than makeup, however, is sun screen. You can get a mean burn from the sun reflecting off the snow. Make sure it has a high SPF, and be sure to re-apply. And when you get off the slope, moisturize. The wind and cold temps can dry out your skin. Definitely worth it.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Saving money on ski gear.

2008-09-09T14:42:00.004-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm always on the lookout for ways to save a buck with ski gear. So imagine my delight when the same folks who brought us SteepandCheap.com opened up Tramdock.com. It's just like SAC, except it's all about skiing.

How does it work? They sell one item at a time at a deep discount until it's gone. Then they introduce something else. Could be skis, jackets, sox, ski boots -- anything ski related.

Forgive me if this sound like a commercial, but it's too good not to spread the word. Check it out!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

A talk with a boot expert.

2008-09-02T17:30:00.001-04:00

Want to know what's new with women's boots? I did, too, so I went to talk to Shon Racicot, owner of Bootpro, a new shop opening in late September in Ludlow, VT.

Shon is one of the great bootfitters in the industry. He's been working with boots since 1986, and is a 15 year graduate of Masterfit University. He previously worked with Northern Ski Works in Ludlow, VT.

Q. Why is bootfitting so important?
A. I've always felt that the boot is the key component to comfort. You can buy any brand of boot, but you have to tweak it to adjust it to an individual's biomechanics and anatomy. That's key. Just like a ski; if it's not tuned correctly, it doesn't work, no matter how much it costs. The last 10% of adjustment is 90% of performance.

Q. Can you describe the difference between men's and women's boots?
A. It's driven by anatomy. Women typically have a narrower heel and foot, so women's boots tend to grip the heel a little tighter. Many women come in and say they have big calves, so their calves hurt in their boots. The truth is that women's achilles tendons are shorter, so the calf is farther down in the boot, and that makes it seem like they're larger, even though they're not. A men's boot is going to fit higher on the calf. So for women's boots, you want to make sure you have a scalloped calf.

Women also have a different hip angle than men. The new women's skis have the mounting point more forward because a woman's hip structure is farther back. This centers the hips over the skis. This can cause a woman to crouch, pushing the calf forward and really working the quads. It's like doing wall sits all day; your quads end up killing you. Women need to stand up straighter to support themselves skeletally rather than muscularly. The trick is to let the calf go out the back of the boot and maybe even elevate the toe. That can help you stand stronger.

Q. That's interesting. I've always heard that a lot of women need heel lifts to make them more forward over the ski.
A. Heel lifts can definitely work. But I've noticed that reducing ramp angle in a ski boot can help you stand taller. Everyone is different. It could be driven by the new shaped skis, too. You're very upright, and you want to lead into that turn with the shovel of the ski. With the old skis, there was a lot of dynamic motion where you had to start at the shovel, work to the middle and end at the tail. Now it's a very stable position with more subtle movements. Then again, heel lifts may work for some women. Everyone is different, depending on anatomy and biomechanics of the skier.

Q. So what's the latest in women's ski boots?
A. One of the biggest innovations in ski boots is the co-molding of plastics where you can have a soft plastic co-molded with a stiff plastic. So in the zones of the boot where you need rigidity and edge transmission you put the hard plastic. Then you put in softer material where you need the flexibility that allows the skier to suck up terrain and make subtle changes without throwing the ski. Women's boots can now be made softer, with easier flex.

Atomic has a very good program with its new Hawk series of boots. These have a suspension-like system in the forefoot that allows the boot to really steer the ski. It's softer, so it allows better edge transission. It's like an accordian in the forefoot.

We're also seeing new materials in the liner, so the boots are warmer than they've been in the past. Some are actually using wool in their liners. Lange is even using quilted down. Some boots have it just in the toe, and some in the whole liner.

You can get in touch with Shon at his new shop, Bootpro, by phoning 802/228-2776 or by emailing info@bootpro.net

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The Ski Reviews Are Coming Out!

2008-08-26T10:49:00.004-04:00

And that's a sure sign that ski season is coming, too.

All the same, pardon me if I don't get too excited. The reviews in SKI and SKIING magazine, for example, are hardly reviews at all. Not one negative comment about any ski (can't upset the advertisers!), and some lines are completely left out (where are the Head skis in SKI magazine? I LOVE Head skis!!!) To be accurate, they should really call it a Gear Listing; more accurately, a Partial Gear Listing, since they left out so much.

For better reviews, go to RealSkiers.com. You have to pay to sign up (I think it's twenty bucks for the year), but you get much better reviews. Or women can check out the Gear Review section on TheSkiDiva.com, where real live skiers like you and me talk about skis they've tried out.

Of course, the best way to determine whether a ski is right for you is to try it yourself. No review in the world can be a substitute for that!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

We're almost at 1,000 members!

2008-08-18T06:18:00.003-04:00

It hardly seems possible, but TheSkiDiva.com, the internet home for women's skiing, is nearly at 1,000 members.

This is especially exciting, because on September 4, the site celebrates its second anniversary!

If you haven't visited or registered at TheSkiDiva.com, now's as good a time as any (but please, women only). It's a great place to talk about all things related to women's skiing -- travel, gear, technique, and so on -- in a setting where you can be entirely comfortable. There's nothing else like it on the web, and it's a wonderful community made up of women who share your love and addiction to a fantastic sport.

Stop in and register. Maybe you'll be our thousandth member!

Appreciating the Summer Olympics.

2008-08-12T06:20:00.003-04:00

Yes, I am capable of appreciating summer sports. Michael Phelps is amazing. And Dara Torres has become a personal hero of mine (41 years old! She rocks!).

So here are some of my random thoughts about the Olympics:

Wasn't that the most amazing opening ceremony ever???? Stunning. Incredible. Eye-popping. These don't even begin to describe it. If you haven't seen it, find a way to. You won't be sorry.

Michael Phelps is incredible! Probably the best swimmer of all time! That said, I wish NBC wasn't turning its coverage into the Michael Phelps Show. I mean, there are plenty of other athletes there, too. It's a bit much.

What's with women's beach volleyball? Why do they wear bikinis and the men wear shorts and t-shirts???? Am I the only one who finds this odd???

How does one get to be an Olympian in some of these sports?

The American women had a clean sweep at fencing: Gold, Silver, and Bronze! Go USA!!!

Those synchronized divers are amazing. How do they do it???

Some of the Chinese women gymnasts look like they're 8 years old.

All in all, the summer Olympics are an amazing display of what talent, ability, and incredible hard work can do. Every athlete there should be congratulated. I salute them all. And I'll keep tuning in.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Summer camp: It's Not Just For Making Potholders

2008-07-30T07:21:00.005-04:00

To most people, summer camp brings to mind sing-a-longs, doing arts and crafts, and toasting marshmallows over a campfire under the stars.

Not the case for rippin' skiers. For them, summer camp means time to hone their skills at Mogul Camp.

One of the women who participates in TheSkiDiva.com just got back from the Momentum Adult Mogul Camp in Whistler, BC, where she spent a week working with some of the ski world's best coaches. The camp is run by John Smart, a 13-time World Cup medalist, 2-time Olympian, and Canadian Ski Hall of Fame member. You can read about her adventure here. But be prepared to turn green with envy -- it looks like an awfully good time, especially if you're as ski-starved as I am right now.

Mount Hood has a summer mogul camp, too. It might be too late to sign up for this year, but how about next?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Women's Ski Reviews: '08/'09

2008-07-19T08:45:00.002-04:00

Check out my articles on About.com!

There are two. The first, "Selecting Skis for Women", explores the differences between men's and women's skis and discusses things you should keep in mind about when you're looking for a new ski. The second, "Women's '08/'09 Skis," reviews some of the skis you'll see in the new season.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Do you make your kids wear a helmet?

2008-07-14T11:20:00.003-04:00

A lot of people do. Yet some of these same people refuse to wear one themselves.

I've heard all the arguments: I don't fall much, I don't ski fast, I'm very careful, It's not comfortable, etc. etc. etc..

Look, whether or not you wear a helmet is a personal choice (though in my opinion, a misguided one). But it doesn't set a good example for your child if you don't wear a helmet and you make them wear one.

This past season my husband fell in a very easy area -- he just caught an edge and went down -- and his head hit so hard that his helmet cracked. I shudder to think what would've happened if he didn't have one on.

All kids should wear helmets. All patrollers and instructors should wear helmets.

In fact, I think everyone should wear helmets.

They're not just for kids.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Ski the Fourth!

2008-07-02T05:51:00.005-04:00

The Fourth of July weekend may seem like an odd time to think about skiing, but here are some random thoughts to help you make it through the summer:

Loveland Ski Area starts making snow in just over two months. Go here for an actual countdown to the big day.

Snowbasin is celebrating the Fourth with a ski and snowboard race. You can sign up and race, if you like. Go here for more information.

You can always get your ski fix satisfied at some of the great internet ski forums, where they talk about skiing all year long. If you're a woman, try this blog's sister site, TheSkiDiva.com, the premiere internet community for women who love to ski. A terrific forum for everyone is EpicSki.com. And if you're European, try Snowheads.com.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Give me some leeway here....

2008-06-25T08:06:00.004-04:00

It's the off season. So permit me to brag a bit:

My husband's novel, Finn, has been named a Notable Book of the Year by the American Library Association. They only name about ten books for the year, and of those ten, invite maybe three authors to address their annual convention.

Jon is one of them.

He's off to Anaheim, CA, this weekend to receive this tremendous honor. And I couldn't be more proud.

Finn was also named one of the year's best novels by The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and The Christian Science Monitor. And it was a finalist for the John Sargent Sr. First Novel Prize, and the recipient of Philadelphia's Athenaeum Literary Award.

So if you're looking for a great read, look no further. Hey, you gotta fill up those off season hours somehow, right?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Raise your hand!

2008-06-19T06:13:00.006-04:00

Want to volunteer at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics?

The Vancouver Organizing Committee is looking for up to 25,000 enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers who can help out before, during, and after the Olympic Games. A couple things to keep in mind, however. You must be 19 years old before September 1, 2008. It's strongly recommended that you have your own accommodations. And you'll have to pass a background check and numerous security clearances, before you're accepted.

Still, imagine the opportunity to be right there, in the midst of all the athletes, the games, and the glory!

Anyone interested must register with VANOC (the organizers of Vancouver 2010) before the end of June this year. Go here for more information.

Do we have any takers?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

It's always ski season somewhere.

2008-06-14T18:04:00.008-04:00

I know an instructor here in Vermont who spends half the year instructing at Okemo, and the rest of the year teaching in Australia. For her, it's endless winter.

It is possible. You could ski all year round, if you like. While we're sweltering in the heat, ski season is getting underway in New Zealand and Chile.

But if you're looking for something really exotic, how about Africa??

One doesn't usually put skiing and Africa in the same sentence, but this morning I read about Afri-Ski, a ski area in Lesotho, an African kingdom surrounded by South Africa. The area features a single slope a kilometer long. It's been open since 2005, and bills itself as the largest in Africa. Some 10,000 guests visited Afri-Ski in 2007, and 15,000 are expected this year.

So how about a trip combining a visit to one of Africa's Game Parks and some African turns? Would that be cool or what?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Will The High Cost of Gas Put A Crimp In Your Skiing?

2008-06-04T14:21:00.004-04:00

A very good question, indeed, with gas already over $4. a gallon in many areas of the US.

I live within five miles of my home mountain, so for me, the high cost of gas won't keep me away. But most people don't live that close. For them, it could push skiing out of their reach, especially when you combine it with the high cost of the sport, in general -- equipment, lift tickets, and so on.

The effect this will have on the ski industry can't possibly be good. Ski areas depend on ski visits for profits. And if people cut down on their visits, it'll make it harder than ever for resorts to make money. What's more, ski areas need fuel, themselves, for basic mountain services. Could we be seeing more cutbacks? Even higher lift tickets? Forced closures?

I shudder to think.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Women's Ski Jumping Takes A Fall: Part 2

2008-05-31T15:09:00.002-04:00

There may be hope yet.

Last week a lawsuit was filed in the British Columbia Supreme Court on behalf of some of the women ski jumpers.

“Women ski jumpers meet all the technical and universality requirements,” said Deedee Corradini, Women’s Ski Jumping-USA (WSJ-USA) President. “There are certainly more than enough qualified women jumping from more than enough countries. The women are ready and we have tried to communicate that to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but to no avail. We were forced to conclude it is a matter of discrimination and decided we had no choice but to launch a lawsuit.”

The lawsuit names the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) as respondent, Corradini said. The statement of claim asks the Court to allow women’s as well as men’s ski jumping events to go ahead in Vancouver in 2010. The individual plaintiffs include six of the top 10 internationally ranked female ski jumpers in the world, including athletes from Norway, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and the United States. Marie-Pierre Morin, a retired Canadian Ski Jump National Champion and Karla Keck, a retired American National Champion are plaintiffs as well.

We'll have to keep an eye on this. Not to allow these women to compete is beyond the beyond. Good luck, ladies! We're rooting for you!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Women's Ski Jumping Takes A Fall.

2008-05-25T16:10:00.006-04:00

When I first posted about women's ski jumping almost exactly two years ago (see Jump for Joy), it seemed like its inclusion in the next Olympic games was imminent.

Boy, was I wrong!

Instead, the IOC has recently decided NOT to include Women's Ski Jumping at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, even though in 2006, the FIS voted to add an individual event in the 2009 World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic -- a necessary step to the sport attaining Olympic status.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said, "We don't want the medals to be diluted and watered down, that is the bottom line." He argues that the international sport only has 80 competitors worldwide, and that allowing them to participate in 2010 would dilute the value of the medals. But according to the president of Women's Ski Jumping USA, Rogge's numbers are wrong. She says the US has at least 150 jumpers nationwide and that Norway has between 500 and 600 female jumpers! That gives ski jumping more seasoned competitors than women's bobsled and skeleton had when those sports were added to the Games in 2002.

You can sign a petition to help get these deserving women a chance to compete. Go here

And for more info on Women's Ski Jumping in the US, go here.

Let the women jump!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Are you still skiing?

2008-05-14T09:48:00.006-04:00

Sadly, I'm not.

My season here in the Green Mountain State ended on April 15.

But some lucky people out west still are.

Still open:

Snowbird, Utah til June

Araphahoe Basin, Colorado

Mammoth, California

Squaw, California

Timberline, Oregon

Mount Bachelor, Oregon

Brundage, Idaho.

Some of the women from TheSkiDiva.com were out at Araphahoe Basin this past weekend, and had phenomenal conditions.

So if you're still taking turns, take one for me.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Here's to you, Ski Moms....

2008-05-08T21:43:00.001-04:00

Swimming to nowhere.

2008-05-04T16:16:00.006-04:00

Staying in shape during the off season is important. I know, I know -- it may seem like a long time til ski season starts back up. But you have to do something between now and when the snow flies again. Otherwise, you'll end up paying big time.

Besides, it's fun.

So what am I doing, now that my ski season is over?

A variety of things. For starters, a couple weeks ago I joined my local fitness center. And I began swimming laps.

Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. You get the idea.

For starters, I'm swimming half a mile. Can't do it straight through without stopping yet, but I'm working on it. Once I get that down, I'll increase the distance. It's great exercise. And when I'm done, I really feel like I've had a good workout.

Hey, my Dad is 85 years old, and he swims half a mile three or four times a week -- WITHOUT STOPPING!!!! If he can do it, shouldn't I be able to, too????

Swimming has its advantages over running. You don't get hot and sweaty. It's low impact, so it's easy on your feet and joints. And it's kind of calming. I can think about all sorts of things, while I'm in the pool.

It's not skiing. But it's not bad. I'll let you know how it works out.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Counting the days.

2008-04-26T13:11:00.009-04:00

Are you as obsessive as I am about keeping track of your ski days? I mean, really, what's the difference if you ski 25 or 35 or 45 days per season? Isn't it all just supposed to be fun??

Well, yeah. But for me it's fun to see if I can ski more this year than I did last. So I installed the Snowbook application on my Facebook profile. It's pretty cool. Not only does it allow you to count your days, but you can put in where you skied and comments and pictures, too. And you can post your profile, too -- years on the snow, the equipment you have and so on.

You have to belong to Facebook to use it. So if you are and you love to ski, give it a try.

By the way, I had 63 days on the snow this season!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Winter on its way out.

2008-04-22T14:56:00.003-04:00

The first picture was my deck in February.

The second, my deck on April 19.

Winter is on its way out, but there's still plenty of great talk about skiing on TheSkiDiva.com, the internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Ski Review: Volkl Aura

2008-04-15T19:14:00.005-04:00

Today was my last day of skiing for the season, and I had a pleasant surprise: there was a demo day of Volkls going on. So I finally had a chance to demo the Auras! After all, these have received tremendous reviews from many of the women on TheSkiDiva.com. And I had to see what the fuss was about!

The specs on me: 5'1", 110 lb., an advanced skier who likes to go fast.

The specs on the skis: 163 cm, 130/94/113, with a 19m turning radius.

The conditions: Typical spring skiing: firm first thing in the morning, becoming softer as the temps worked through the 30's and into the 40's, with the snow ultimately turning into soft, sticky piles as the day went on.

With a 94 mm waist, it'd be tempting to save these just for powder days. But no -- these skis can do it all. I was able to get them up on edge and felt totally in control over the few icy spots I hit. They also did great in the spring crud, and were stiff enough to bust through the gloppy piles that built up as the soft snow got pushed around.

My only regret is that I couldn't try them in the powder. I'm sure they'd be a blast, but there's no way I could judge that today.

One think that's kind of odd: instead of the deep, solid wood-bat-hitting-a-softball "thwwwunk," the Aura had more of an aluminum-bat-hitting-a-baseball "twaaaaank" sound. Kind of weird; just took some getting used to.

And a word on the graphics: the '08's are totally different from the '07. For anyone who's seen them, you know they feature a woman in what's supposed to be some sort of traditional Asian garb, with her breasts practically falling out (I can't understand the reason for this; why would this make a woman want to buy these skis??), but I actually like the new graphics better the old ones. It's a personal thing, I know, but I think they're kind of cool.

My take on the skis: They're lively, easy to turn, lots of fun, not too heavy or stiff, but definitely not wimpy, either. I don't think I'd have any problem using these just about anywhere, except maybe on eastern boilerplate -- and I say that not from experience, just a guess. I'd LOVE to try these babies in powder.

I give them two thumbs up.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

So what did you accomplish this ski season?

2008-04-09T15:53:00.008-04:00

Sadly enough, the ski season is coming to a close here in the northeast. The snow is softening and melting, the days are becoming warmer, and yesterday I saw my first robin. I truly hate to see it end.

Nonetheless, it's been a terrific season. The snow conditions have been epic here in Vermont all winter long -- quite a change from last year. I started skiing in mid-November and even skied today, April 9, getting in more than 60 ski days, a new record for me.

In addition to racking up more ski days, some of my highlghts this year have been:

Skiing Alta and Solitude: Never been there before, and it was absolutely fabulous. Loved the terrain, the weather, the skiing; I'll definitely be back!

Meeting more of the great women from TheSkiDiva.com: Many joined me at the aforementioned Alta and Solitude, where I spent a week meeting and skiing with some terrific women from across the country. Others came to ski with me here in the norheast. You can't imagine a more fun group of ripping women skiers! Truly a delight to meet each and every one of them.

Pushing my comfort zone: Even in skiing, it's easy to get stuck in a rut, particularly when you ski the same area most of the time. On my trip to Utah, I definitely pushed my boundaries, skiing terrain I probably wouldn't have attempted on my own -- and it was a blast!.

Definitely a season I'll long remember.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.