ChairTalk: Three Resorts

Did you know you can see three ski resorts in one place? By just looking around you can easily see Nub's Nob, and across the Pleasantview Valley you have a good view of The Highlands. This is the perfect time of the year to also spot The Mountain. While standing on the flat part at the top of Southern Comfort, look directly south. You should see some white well beyond Little Traverse Bay. Since most of the natural snow in the area has melted, you are looking at a ski hill with man-made snow: The Mountain!

Why We Ski: Party!

The sky was blue, the snow was smooth, the pond was cold, the beads were bright, the costumes were great, the food was delicious, the flamingo (Floyd) was pink, and at the end of the day the beer hit the spot. I had a great time at Mardi Gras, as everyone seemed to be having. I had a fun lesson first thing and then spent the rest of the day helping out with the Silly Slalom and Crazy Couples races. They were both a lot of fun, and thank you to all the participants and Winter Sports School instructors who made it that way, especially JP Adams. This ends the spring special events schedule, but there are still two more weeks of great skiing and plenty of snow.

Signs of the Season: Mardi Gras!

Saturday is the annual Spring celebration at Nub's Nob that we call Mardi Gras. There are many great events for the whole family: The Fat Tire Boogie (a mountain bike race down the bottom half of Sno Pro), Petoskey Steel Drum Band, The Soaker Cup (where skiers go across a very cold pond), a costume contest, and lots of beads! The Winter Sports School sets up and runs the Silly Slalom and Crazy Couples races on Big Time. Here SSAA (Silly Slalom Association of America) Certified Czar of Course (of course) J.P. Adams tests out the framework for a new tunnel feature for the races with his assistant Bob Mogford. Ski you there!

Why We Ski: Sport for a Lifetime

When I was young, believe it or not, I hated skiing. My dad would tell us we didn't have a choice, we were going to ski because it was a sport for a lifetime. Golf, tennis, and skiing are sports you can do for most of your life. There are very few senior citizen groups playing football. I stuck with it (kind of, but that is another story) and by the time I was seven I loved skiing. Watching the CBS Sunday Morning bit last week on Lou Batori and the 70+ ski group brought Dad's advice back. I sometimes can't wait to get that $15 season pass when I turn 70 and then to continue skiing into my 80's and hopefully 90's! Maybe Sunday Morning will come a do a report on me in 2070!

In Your Pockets: Scraper

At the most I only use my scraper half a dozen days a year, but when I need it, I really need it. Usually I get it out to scrape the bottom of kids' boots on a day when there is new snow. Nothing gets that built up snow off their boots faster or easier. This weekend I had to use it for something else. Temperatures were above freezing, but luckily it kept snowing. Unfortunately for me, that snow was extremely wet and sticky. Any time I stopped moving, a mass of snow would accumulate on my bases. Sometimes I could get it off by sliding my ski back and forth. Sometimes the only thing that would work was to scrape the snow off. At times the snow would be over two inches thick! You can by plastic wax scrappers at the tune center or any ski shop. Instructors should ask JP if he has any more laminate samples to give away. They work just as well!

ChairTalk: Nubs in the News, Part II

Nub's Nob, The 70+ Club, and 100 year old Lou Batori were on CBS Sunday Morning this morning with Bill Geist! You can see the video here. There are lots of great shots from around the area, and you get to hear race announcer Mike Johnson a few times. Some of my favorite Lou quotes:

• I have been often asked what ski school have I attended, and you know what my answer is? "What flying school did the Wright brothers attend?"
• I'm careful, except when it is a beautiful sunny morning, and I am the only one, and it's freshly goomed. Sanity goes out the window, and you just point the tips and let them run.

Back to Nature: Mackinaw Bridge

I know, the Mackinaw Bridge is not "nature," but nature has to be just right to see it from the top of the hill. On a sunny day with blue skies and no haze, you can see the bridge if you stand just in the right spot: third tree down (shown here) from the patrol shack. Look NNE above the trees and you should see two white towers against the blue sky, just above the trees.

Signs of the Season: Spring Events

Here racers look over the giant slalom course for the Dynastar/Lange Challenge yesterday. It was the first of four spring events at Nub's Nob. Next Saturday will be the K2 Duels and a week after that will be the 49th Nub's Nob Open slalom race. Mardi Gras will be March 26, to wrap up the spring events. I have a poll on the right side of my blog if anyone wants to vote for their favorite event.

ChairTalk: Nubs in the News

A few weeks back the 70+ Ski Club invaded Nubs Nob. My goal is to one day be a member. One member turned 100 this year and caught the attention of Bill Geist and CBS Sunday Morning! The piece is supposed to run on Sunday's show. I don't know how much of Nub's Nob we will see, but they did a lot of filming there.

In other national news, Nub's Nob is a midwest finalist in the New York Times About.com Readers' Choice Award! You can cast your vote and check the results here. Go Nub's!

Addendum 3/5: Nubs won't be on CBS Sunday Morning this weekend, but they are winning the poll!

3/10: Nub's is scheduled for this weekend's Sunday Morning show!