On your marks, get set…

That was not the crack of a Smith & Wesson 6 shooter you just heard. It was the sound of resorts all across New England firing up their snow guns. Do you like winter sports? Fed up with stick season? I do, and I am…ready to ski.

We are now all officially on the clock (terrible cliché).

I have not the slightest idea where or when my ski season will begin. This for granted, as soon as it snows—it will snow, because we are DUE (inner voice, not going there yet…not in the first blog entry)—I will be out there, SKIING!

Flashback: POWDER DAY

S.G. in the woods at Jay Peak

Gear Update: Just did the inspection. 32 minutes. The time I spend on analyzing the amount of expendable income I can allocate to necessary gear. Same result as last season. None
If I had to grade my Ski-ability/readiness = C+ (not really that good).
Big ticket items: Ski boots and snow tires.
Not so big: anything that you can sweat, sleep, eat, drink and ski in…basically useful items in the next 5 months (e.g. – good wool socks).
View Photo
Welcome to the Ski Blog.
I will tell you this. It is not easy to ski.
From RSN.com – Okemo snow gun

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View of Okemo taken in Ludlow, VT last week. Sent by a local friend.

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But apparently it is to snowboard 😉
Rider unidentified @ Okemo, VT – picture S.G.

New England Ski Area News
Officially some congratulations are in order. One ski area in New England is open. Their first day spinning the lift was Friday (11/03/2006).
Woodbury Ski Area
Brilliant quote from the owner/operator Rod Taylor…
“A lot of people say I’m crazy to do this but I love the sport. If I didn’t I wouldn’t do this because it’s not a good decision to make snow this early.”
Check out the video clip from this link to see first hand.
Note: I phoned Mr. Taylor and spoke with him. I had not seen the video clip yet. I was more interested in what he was doing down there to ‘make’ this snow… Here are the facts, as described to me…(according to my notes)
• The snow line at the end of video clip is because of a temperature inversion
• The ski/ride slope is part of a valley that is a cold air pocket
• They pull the water from the Cold Spring Brook
• Lifts are open 3pm to 10pm (I would call first)
Note to the note: if the link does not work it is not my fault, your employer blocked it.
This is not the first time Woodbury Ski Area has been the first in the north east to open.
What else?
The Message Board is alive. Post your two cents if you have anything to share.
Random thought: Fixed grip lifts are cool.
Back to the weather,
S.G.