ChairTalk: The Ski

It has been a long time since I really wanted a ski based on graphics (think green Rossignol slalom skis), but Scott is bringing back "The Ski." I love it! Bobbie Burns came up with the ski and design in the 70's, and it really took off as a freestyle ski. I didn't remember it's name, but who could forget those awesome graphics! It will come in four different lengths, each length a different color scheme. Decisions, decisions!

Back to Nature: Weather

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, when I work up this morning I knew it could be one of the best days of the year or one of the worst days of the year. It depended on one thing: the weather. I am a weather junkie. I "Wake Up With Al" each day and always have a tab on my computer open to Weather.com. I also love my Weather Channel app. Usually I know what to expect, but the forecast for today had me baffled. Last night's reports stated "fog/drizzle" for the morning and "partly cloudy/windy" for the afternoon. The high of 48 degrees would be first thing in the morning with temperatures falling throughout the day. The day could end up damp and dreary or bright and warm. On my way to breakfast in the morning I could see a faint glow in the east! At our morning meeting there were clouds to the west, but they were moving north! Temperatures did warm up overnight, but the snowpack "set up" and hardened just enough: soft enough in the morning to get an edge but not too soft to be bad by the end of the afternoon. All things came together to give us a perfect spring skiing day in the middle of January. It was the best of times! Thank you sunshine! Now, back to the snow!

Take the poll to the right of the blog: What do you like better: sunny days or powder days?

Why We Ski: Rituals

Many sports have superstitions and rituals and so does skiing. Just like kids hoping for a snowday, we have our own lucky habits for a (hopeful) powder day. I am still convinced the sun only shines when I have forgotten my sunglasses. Are there any skiers out there who don't have their favorite socks, fleece, or long underwear? Just the act of preparing to head out onto the slopes is one long ritual. Anyone who doesn't believe me needs to watch my dad in the locker when he is gearing up! For the past few years I have taken my Sorel boots out of storage each October to be ready for any early snowfall. For the past few years there hasn't been an early snowfall. Coincidence? Just to be sure this year, my boots are not home with me but tucked snugly in my locker. I will gladly suffer through cold ankles for the good of skiers everywhere! Let it snow!

Signs of the Season: Buyers Guide

Another sign of the impending season is the SKI Magazine Buyers Guide. It is always fun to look through and dream about new equipment. To tell the truth, my last four ski purchases, spanning 20 years, have not been in the buyers guide. I tend to ask people in the equipment business who know how I ski what I should get, but I still love looking through SKI. I like to wonder if that new technology is what I will be skiing on in a few years. Long ago it was shape skis, now it is rockers.

Dress for Success: Kids Equipment Plans

This is the time of year that the local ski shops run special programs for kids equipment. For a membership fee, you can purchase or rent new or slightly used equipment for the entire season. At the end of the season, you turn the equipment back in and get a credit towards next year's gear. It is a great deal and guarantees a good fit each year. No more buying skis too long so they can be skied on for a few seasons or trying to squeeze siblings into hand-me-down boots!

Advice From the Purple Chair: Ski Swaps

Do you want to get some cash from your old equipment? Do you want some of your own equipment but don't really need top of the line new? Then a ski swap may be your answer. Local ski teams hold ski swaps each fall as fundraisers. It is a great way to sell and find gently used equipment. Equipment reps and sales people from the pro shops are often there to help you find the right item, as well as coaches and experienced ski parents. I think it is a great opportunity for adults who have tried skiing on rental equipment and are ready for their own gear. The Harbor Springs sale will be during the Nubs Nob Open House October 8, in the Guest Services building. The Petoskey sale will be at Central School October 29. Just remember, there are no warrantees on equipment you get at a swap, so shop at your own risk!

Dressed for Success: Season Pass

Here you can see my Merry Moose has his season pass and is ready for the season. Whether it is an unlimited, limited, or bargain pass, you are never fully dressed without your season pass. For a one time fee, an unlimited season pass allows you to go skiing whenever you want. The limited pass has certain blocked days, but on the other days you can ski as much as you want. With a bargain pass, you can only ski Saturdays at the beginning and end of the season. Otherwise you can ski two four-hour blocks each week. If you ski more than a few days a year, a season pass ends up paying for itself. Order yours before October 10, 2011, and get 10% off. If your family buys four or more, you can get another 5%! The Nub's Nob Open House October 8, is a great time to get your passes, but you can order them online or by phone up through the tenth.

Advice From the Purple Chair: Lockers

At most other ski resorts, prime real-estate has to do with condos. At Nub's Nob it has to do with lockers. Along side of the Purple Chair is the locker room. For $170 a season (10% less if you pay by October 10) you can rent a locker for your equipment. You can equip it with shelves and hooks, depending on your needs. My dad even has a hand crank machine in his that helps wind ace bandages. I am still waiting to see someone rig up a refrigerator! With a locker you don't have to schlep your skis from the car, and your boots are always warm, dry, and waiting for you. This works out especially well for families. When I was growing up we shared two lockers with my aunt and uncle. One had shelves for boots, etc. and the other was for skis. You can see here I have a modified version for myself: shelves just wide enough for my boots and helmet, but narrow enough so my skis and poles fit. The locker room itself is carpeted and has a special ventilation system to minimize humidity after those wet snowy days. There are rest rooms, a drinking fountain and pop machine, and even a wax room for all of you racers. It has come a long way from the days when the locker room used to be under the old pool! I have very little storage at my house, so I leave my equipment in my locker all year unless there is planned construction, which management will post before the end of the season. I even store my snowshoes and Sorels there during the off season. So whether you ski at Nub's Nob for a week or all season, go get yourself a locker!

Signs of the Season: Tent Sales!

Let the Preseason begin! The preseason runs until the slopes open, and is a great time to talk about skiing and think about equipment. I always feel that the new preseason starts when the tents go up at the Bahnhof and other pro shops. Tent sales are the best place for adults to get new equipment, and for kids to get new clothing. The shops mark down last year's gear and outerwear, and sometimes run specials on the new stuff. I got my boots at one two years ago! Even if you don't need anything, it is great fun to go hang out, see friends you haven't seen in a few months, and talk skiing. The Bahnhof's sale will run until July 31, and they will be open each day from 9 am to 8pm.

Dressed for Success: Goggles

Goggles are very important for skiing. They protect your eyes from snow, wind, and sun. They help keep your face warm, too. Goggles have a special coating inside to help prevent fogging. If you goggles get wet inside, don't wipe them out! The coating will become smeared and there is no way to fix it. Your only choice is to let them air dry. One of the best things about goggles occurs in the spring: goggle tan! I can't wait to get out in that sun and have a goggle tan line!

Dressed for Success: Snowpants

I had debated about doing this topic earlier in the year, but I thought, "Everyone knows to wear snowpants when skiing!" Not long after I saw a kid in the lodge with sweatpants on and soon after that I saw an adult wearing jeans and snowboard boots! Whatever fun you are going to have out in the snow, you need a pair of pants that the snow won't stick to. They will keep you warmer, but the most important thing is they will keep you drier. At first any pants may seem dry, but sooner or later you will fall down, especially if you are snowboarding. Snow will then stick to your pants. When you go inside, the snow will melt and soak your pants. So, stay dry, stay warm, and accomplish this by wearing snowpants!

Dressed for Success: Rent

Are you about to try skiing for the first time? Don't borrow equipment, rent! I know it can be very tempting to save a few bucks by borrowing those straight skis and those boots that almost fit, but it is worth the money to rent. Ill fitting or outdated equipment can ruin a ski experience. The rental center at Nub's Nob turns over the inventory every other year, so you get the latest technology and equipment. Joyce Moore and her team are experts at finding you the right boot size and will even help you put them on. They know what ski length is right for your size and ability and your bindings will be perfectly adjusted. They even have a quick way to measure what size poles you will need. Renting elsewhere is better than borrowing, but I recommend to rent where you are skiing. That way if you need to adjust or trade anything you can. Also, less hauling equipment around. If you rent at Nub's Nob, you can use the day and overnight ski check for free.

Dressed for Success: Mittens

It is no fun skiing when you are cold, especially when it is your hands that are chilled. Don't skimp when it comes to protecting your precious fingers. I recommend buying your gloves or mittens at a ski shop. You do not want to go with something from a big box discount retail store. When shopping for kids, I suggest getting mittens instead of gloves. They are warmer and are easier to put on. Whatever you decide on, don't choose knit pieces. Snow tends to stick to them, and when you go inside the snow melts making them even colder for your second trip out. On cold days your hands can get numb in even the best gloves. On days like that, I would recommend purchasing hand warmers.

Dressed for Success: Helmets

The Nub's Nob Winter Sports School policy is that helmets are recommended, but not required. I highly recommend them! Helmets can be purchased at any local ski shop or at the Nub's Nob General Store. They are also available through rental for just $10 a day. There are many things on a ski hill that can cause an injury: the ground, equipment, trees, buildings, other skiers and snowboards, terrain elements, and the thing that scares me the most, a chairlift. Will you or your child sustain a head injury while skiing? Probably not, but wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry?

Dressed for Success: Boots

I am not an expert on boots, but I can pass on advice from others:

1. If you are debating between two sizes, pick the smaller. Boots do not shrink, but they can become packed down.
2. If you are a woman, buy women's boots. Men's boots are higher and women's calves attach to the leg lower.
3. Whether you buy, rent, or get a pair from a swap, listen to the people there. They know what they are doing and are there for a reason.
4. Lastly, wear your boots around the house before the season starts.

For years, a family fall ritual has been my dad wearing his boots around the house (actually, I mostly remember him wearing them in the armchair watching football). He has always advised this, and for years I ignored him. Until last year, I did fine. My previous pair was over 10 years old, and except for them bruising my calves (men's boots!), I had no problems at the beginning of the season. Thanks to Jeff Obeshaw and the Bahnhof I was brave enough to get new boots last year! I wore them around the house a few times and I think it really helped get my feet ready for the transition. After a long dark summer in my locker, here they are ready for another fall around the house! Dad has even suggested raking leaves with them on, but I live on a busy street and I am not that brave. Also, Fred Bingman will tell you that I don't rake leaves!

Dress for Success: Socks!

When you go skiing, you should always wear one pair of non-cotton socks. You would think if one pair is warm, then two would be warmer, but remember, this is the sport where you pressure the right ski to turn left. Not everything is as it seems. Two pairs of socks means more wrinkles. More wrinkles means less circulation. Less circulation means colder feet. Why not cotton, you ask? Cotton has the amazing ability to soak up moisture. It also really hates to let it go and instead keeps it right by your skin. Wet feet equal cold feet.