tuesday january 12th

Woke up at 4:20am and Ian and I arrived at the Newark airport early for our 7am flight. That was the theme for the morning. Arrived ahead of schedule in JH and Dave took us out for an afternoon tour on teton pass. We skied in some real mixed conditions with a very low snowpack. But we managed to acclimate a little and get our kits together. Exhausted, we crashed early, but only after Ian made a killer fajitas dinner that we shared with Dave and his girls. A good start to the big tour coming up in Rogers Pass. Received a text message from Nina- 'what- you are driving to Canada?! Yep in two days...

Sunday's Ski Race

Nina raced her first usssa gs race. It's really strange taking my daughter to a ski race. The parent trap of wanting her to have fun and do well. The adventyure began when Nina got carsick 15 miles before we got to the ski area. We pulled over on the side of the road in Warwick, NY.-done, still on schedule and it's only 7:45am. After we got to the area, Nina noticed that she didn't have her glasses. She said they were in the door pocket. Well, the only time we opened the door was... yes 15 miles back up the road. The coaches said don't worry we got Nina while I hustled back to the "spot" and drove slowly on the shoulder until I saw the glasses in the snow. I rushed them back and Nina was just going out for course inspection. I The coaches were great during inspection.I helped out a little but my duties were to be a dad. So after Nina's first run, I was waiting at the bottom and she had a nice run. She was crying and saying that she fell on her way skating out of the start on the way to the first gate. I told her I was proud she finished the run. She said her hands were shaking in the starting gate and she was really nervous. After wiping her tears and a cup of hot chocolate with her friends and teammates, she said she was ready for the second run. She skied it well and asked if she could do more races. "Dad", she said, "Ski racing is really obsessive."

Coaching...

The tuesday and thursday night training sessions have begun at campgaw.

Summit Elevation: 719'

Vertical Drop: 269'

Skiable Acres: 15

Trails: 8

Lifts: 5

Snowmaking: 100%

Night Skiing: yes

Community based skiing in one of the most crowded areas of the world! First night out I skied the voile drifters with my ten year old racers. They liked the big wood skis. And we made fun big turns with snow guns blasting...lots of ankle rolls to go with our california rolls, sake and sashimi.

Thursday I worked with the j2 girls getting ready for their local gs race. And when the ten year olds saw me without my drifters they shouted, "bring back the big wood ski."

Happy New Year!

Skied Alta for 5 days with a beautiful 17" storm right in the middle of the trip to set up a perfect full moon torchlight parade for the New Year! Family time was super sweet. Mom at 70 got into Eddies High Nowhere from the Gunsight entrance. Les Tate guided her and was super patient. Dad at 74 was sure footed on his new Mantras and tore up the groomers. Brad was scheduled on the calendar to join us. We all thought about him a lot since he was with us last year. Les and I got first tracks in Gunsight during the powder dump on BOTH days. Entering from the rollover on thirds we powered straight into the barrel of Gunsight and looped matching arcs on the far right wall. Face shots surrounded us and the new Drifters skied perfectly. Nina, at ten, hiked to Catherine's for the first time and it was like she found Jurrasic Park. She continued to hike and ski it each day leading friends into her newly discovered playground. I did get "Tatered" on the first powder day with an incredible morning with Leslie Tate and then some power laps with Mike Tate in the afternoon. Ed and Abigail stopped by from Solitude for a bluebird powder day on New Year's eve. From Ballroom to West Rus, Stone Crusher and Greeley to a final trip out to Catherine's to end 2009. Happy New Year!!! And...

May Your Turns Be Deep And Ever So Sweet

Back for Bentley

Well I thought the blog was only going to be about a singular ski experience last April. But now that Brad is gone, I thought it would be a good idea to bring back the blog and dedicate this season of ski blogging to Brad. He really loved the fact that I did record our AK experience and he told me how it was great his family could share in the ak ski experience from the blog. So here goes...just finished customizing my new dynafit zzeus alpine touring boots. Using my raichle spoilers as inserts-not sure the dynafit cuff is designed right but with modifications it will work. Brad was the ultimate boot customizer and pioneer. With his pickle barrel adaptation of his tele boots and then the cut off lange sole to fit over his leather tele boot, Brad in effect, created the first plastic tele boot in the industry. As the ski season ramps up over the holidays, and I sit looking at fresh superlight pow this morning in Alta, I think of Brad's often repeated mantra which I wish to all who read this and for those who make a turn or two for Bentley this season,

"May your turns be deep and ever so sweet!"

April 23

I'm back in NJ looking out at the Hudson River rolling to the ocean. Spring is here. The skyline of Manhattan is awesome like the AK peaks (sort of-not). Ian bagged the Duchess at Tucks while I was away. Nina is so happy I'm back and I listened to all of her stories yesterday. She had a lot to tell me and didn't stop talking all day. I got to tell her a few ski stories of my own. But she definitely had the stage. We cooked a huge waffle breakfast, walked to the library to get some dvd's and then we made dinner together and watched original Pink Panther movies. I want to thank everyone I skied with and those folks who helped me realize this journey. My hosts and good friends, The Tates in SLC. Dave McCandless in JH, and of course Brad "Bentley" Gamble for putting it all together in AK and being such a generous friend to all involved. Blog supporters, Ed Biddle and Ian Martin. Both you guys encouraged me to go for it. Thanks to all my JH friends who rallied at Dave's to party and catch up. I love you guys- Jamie, June, Lexy (in absentia/glad I saw you at the resort), Crawdad, Deerslayer, Doyle.  It was great skiing with and hanging with Renny Burke, Vern, Ernie and Rich Lee at Stieglers and on The Cirque. Thanks to my OLD crusty friend Jeff Zell," heh heh heh!" And yes I have your f'n  hat. You left it at the THC.  Come to NYC and you can have it back. To my new friends Kirsten Kremer and Jessica Baker. You women rock! I hope Nina can ski with you some day. Gotta make that happen.  Dave "Copy" Miller. Dave the Wave, Benny, Lisa, Jeff Ledger- it was tenawesome! Todd and Pete- my newest bestest friends. Can't wait to visit you guys in Hood River. Gotta thank my folks and Doug and Heide too for support and Nina care while I was away. Thanks to those who followed the blog. dc rip.

Until the next big  experience . . . there's always morSe sKIING.

April 21

Got up kind of late for a ski at Snowbird. Alta is closed for the season. We decide to hike the Twins off of the tram. I haven't been to Snowbird in years. Pipeline was calling to me after being in Valdez. So we booted it up the ridge. The shot was perfect. Sunny and spring like in the sun and firmer on the shadow side- a minor course in slough management but it was fine and fun. I was waiting at the LZ at the bottom, skis and pack all ready but no heli appeared. I thought I heard it coming. Damn! We had another run and then a beer on the plaza. A third tram was in order and then we headed out. Ahi tuna for dinner cooked by Leslie. Tomorrow I fly back East. I miss Nina. Wow.