Lac Beauport (QC), Canada – The big eastern snow drought of December, 1998 weighed heavily on my mind as I packed my ski gear. I prepared for my annual pilgrimage from Florida to visit the in-laws in Québec City, and I fretted about what I would encounter once I arrived. My concerns deepened as I … Continue reading Le Relais
Ski superstar Phil Mahre once said that skiing, for him, was best summed up as ‘the art of falling into the turn’. Indeed if you watch any accomplished skier carefully you will see a moment of relaxation between turns. n When first learning to give in to gravity, its often a battle with instinct. You … Continue reading Get Weightless Between Turns to Escape the Intermediate Rut
When most people think of skiing today they think of high-speed quads, gondolas, multi million dollar lodges, computerized snowmaking systems and fifty dollar lift tickets. In terms of location, most people recognize either Vermont or Colorado as skiing meccas, home to conglomerate or corporate owned resorts. A vast difference from the day of the ropetow, … Continue reading Peak Adventures
Powder. To skiers the word means many things. Some associate it with cold, wet, floundering. Others perhaps see it as a good shoveling chore for the kids! However to many skier’s powder represents the ultimate in skiing pleasure. The Western U.S. is known worldwide for its amazing powder skiing. However anyone who has spent much … Continue reading Skiing Powder
Most skiers have the natural tendency of trying to force their skis to turn. This force can take different guises: many people throw their shoulders into the turn to rotate their skis, others hold their feet together and shove out their hips, and some people even actually jump and just twist their skis in the … Continue reading Tip-toeing Like a Beast: Smooth and Powerful Skiing
There is a strange code of honor with ski bums. Some things that are considered “cool” to the die-hard skier are a mothers worst nightmare. There are guys who live in caves and old mines in the mountains above Telluride, all they own is their ski equipment and season pass. A good friend of mine … Continue reading On Display: Living in the Richard Allen Ski Museum
The war is over, though as in most wars* there are still some snipers lurking in the woods and housing developments. So who won? Everybody. Instead of two dueling sports, arguing and posturing for domination — the industry is starting to see a real synergy between the two. Even though snowboarders still only accounted for … Continue reading Snowboarding & Skiing: Common Ground