Mike's Skiing Blog

Imagine skiing more than 250 resorts in 35 states across America - in one winter with one pass. You can, if you have the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Gold Pass. The Pass is a fund raising program set up through a partnership between the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Foundation and the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and helps support the training, development, and competition needs of America’s future Olympians.

The Pass is fully transferable, and is probably the only pass in the world that lets you loan it to your family or your friends, no questions asked. There are a limited number of these passes available. So, pony up $10,000, part of which is tax-deductible as a charitable donation, gas up the car, ski the country, and send Americans to the Olympics.

To get a Pass contact the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Gold Pass hotline toll-free at 1-800-9PICABO or visit the U.S. Ski Team Gold Pass.

_{Image © Mike Doyle}

If you are looking to spend a season or two working around ski resorts or if you are seriously considering a career in the ski industry, there is no better way to make yourself a sought after employee than to learn the skills necessary to be a bootfitter.

This time of year, Help Wanted ads are hanging in most of the Ski Shops around the country, and a good work ethic and maybe some experience selling skis, boots, and accessories will be sure to get you an interview. However, if you have a reputation as a competent, trained bootfitter you can pretty much take your pick of shops and be a top paid employee with a season pass.

If you think becoming a bootfitter is something you'd like to do, but the only experience you have with ski boots is putting on your own, don't despair. There is an option for some training in basic, and even in advanced bootfitting. Masterfit University offers a series of courses around the country that offer a uniform certification recognized throughout the ski industry.

I had the opportunity to attend a Masterfit University session and check out the Associate Course to see how a person can be trained in the basics of bootfitting and how that skillset can benefit you and the ski shop.

_{Image © Mike Doyle}

World Cup skiing overall and downhill champion Lindsey Vonn has been nominated for the 2008 Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation. The award winner is chosen by online voting at the Women's Sports Foundation web site. The polls close on September 2 - this coming Tuesday.

One individual and one team sport female athlete take home the honor of Women's Sports Foundation Sportswomen of the Year annually. Vonn's nomination, in the individual category, follows her incredible 2008 season with the U.S. Alpine Ski Team where she became the second female in U.S. history to win the World Cup overall title and the World Cup downhill title.

Remember, voting for Sportswoman of the Year closes soon - so, while you're here, visit womenssportsfoundation.org and vote for Lindsey.

_{Lindsey Vonn Image Copyright Getty Images Don Emmett}

Quiksilver Inc., the Huntington, CA based sports apparel maker has agreed to sell its Rossignol business to Chartreuse & Mont Blanc, a group headed by Bruno Cercley - a former Rossignol Chief Executive. The price of the transaction is reported to be $147 million, far lower than the $560.8 million Quiksilver paid to acquire Rossignol three years ago.

Prior to taking over Rossignol, which also includes Dynastar, Look, and Lange the Quicksilver company brands (Quicksilver, Roxy, and DC) were focused on surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding. Quicksilver is apparantly regrouping in those core companies.

Aside from being headed by the former Rossignol CEO, Chartreuse & Mont Blanc, majority owned by Macquarie Group, is no newcomer to the ski wear and ski equipment industry, since it is supported by Jarden Corporation's non-voting minority interest. Jarden is the owner of top ski and ski clothing brands K2, Marker, Marmot, and Volkl.

Quiksilver expects the sale to close in fall 2008 and will use the proceeds to pay down existing debt.

_{Image Courtesy PriceGrabber}

I know that Stand Up Paddle Surfing is really popular in surfing capitals such as Hawaii and southern California waters and I have occasionally caught some YouTube videos of Stand Up Paddle Surfing competition. In fact, there is even a Stand Up Paddle Surfing Magazine. So, the rollover to fresh water Stand Up Paddling seems like an easy adaptation and on flat water sounds like it could be fun on a hot summer day.

However, to join a bunch of these self-propelled surfbords into a contest to balance and paddle the length of Lake Tahoe begs for a compelling reason to be a contestant. Well, recently 27 world-class athletes were inspired to stand up and paddle 21 miles of Lake Tahoe to raise awareness and funding for victims suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other war-related injuries.

According to Tahoe.com this event was the brainchild of Truckee residents James Woodruff and Rob Gaffney and big wave surfer and stand up paddler Dave Kalama. James Woodruff is the brother of Bob Woodruff - who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a roadside bomb attack that struck his vehicle while working as a TV journalist in Iraq for ABC News.

During Bob Woodruff's recovery, the Woodruff family recognized a need to help returning injured U.S. service members beyond what the U.S. government was providing, and his family established the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation to assist in the long process of recovery and offer long-term support to help reintegrate TBI victims back into their communities. Rob Gaffney, himself an extreme skier, took up the cause as a friend of James Woodruff and gathered support in the Tahoe ski community.

Under the guidance of Dave Kalama the grueling 21 mile Lake Tahoe Stand Up Paddle was put together. The “pain” of this 21.6 stand-up paddling was to symbolize the pain returning war veterans and other victims of brain-related injuries face as they attempt to re-enter life.

Truckee ski racer Darron Rahlves, top snowboarders Jeremy Jones and Nate Holland, and extreme skiers Julian Carr and Arne Backstrom were among those who took up challange. Launched from Camp Richardson just after dawn at 7:10 am landed together at Kings Beach.

Rob Gaffney told Tahoe.com “It greatly exceeded my expectations, and I think the one thing that was really cool for me was watching everyone and seeing how they were really interested in this cause.”

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause visit the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation.

_{Stand Up Paddling Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images}

The best way to count down the days to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver is with a computer clock for your desktop.

Omega, the official timekeeper for the Games events offers not only a countdown clock on their website, but provides both a Mac Gadget and a Windows Gadget download. When you are clocking winners in 100's of a second you better be sure you have a dependable timekeeping device and the Olympic Committee has entrusted Omega with that responsibility since 1932.

That's over a half century of measuring ski races where that hundredths of second determines who gets a lifetime of Gold.

_{Image Copyright 2008 OMEGA SA}

Aside from being on Britian's Olympic team what does skier Alain Baxter have in common with cyclist Rebecca Romero, hurdlers Colin Jackson and Jacqui Agyepong, and heptathlon athlete Denise Lewis? Why, for various reasons they all appeared naked for camera shoots, of course.

Baxter became the first Briton to win an Olympic skiing medal in 2002 but was stripped of his bronze and banned for a 3 month period when a trace of lev-methamphetamine was found in his sample. The Scot, had the suspension lifted on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after he proved the trace was from an over-the-counter Vicks inhaler. However, the medal was never returned because the drug was, in fact, in his system, no matter inadvertently.

The naked camera shoot is for a calendar Baxter hopes will spur interest by potential sponsors for much needed training funds. At one time rated 11th in the world in slalom Baxter has slipped to 130th yet has high hopes to return to Olympic form in time for the 2010 Vancouver Games - if he can get into serious training.

Married in 2006, Baxter's wife Sheila is said to have told him he needed more exposure on his comeback trail. I'm not sure if Sheila thought he'd take her advice to the "Full Monty."

Anyway, here's hoping Alain can raise enough for a good racing suit and anyone that might want to pass the lad a pound or two see Alain Baxter - The Highlander.

_{Alain Baxter Photo Copyright Mike Hewitt/Getty Images}

Last month, we got a look at some of the top 08/09 Women's Skis. Now, it's time to turn our spotlight on what's new for the men this season.

For starters, last season I actually had the opportunity to ski the 08-09 Head Mojo 94s that I'm holding for my Christmas in July photo - and yes they are my new skis! These are Twin Tip, 132-94-119, and are available in a range of sizes, from 166cm to 187cm.

Definitely in the mid-fat category, Head's sandwich construction for the 94's make for a durable, firm yet surprisingly light ski that handled well on the groomers I tried and can't miss in any but the deepest powder.

I asked Guest Author Tony Crespi, a former Ski School Supervisor and Development Team Coach, who loves testing skis and writing about them, to give us an overview of some of what he liked in the 2008-09 Men's Skis. Tony presents some of the best skis to look for in Powder, All Mountain Expert Cruisers, and All Mountain Performance Cruisers. No matter where you ski, or what your most common snow conditions are, there's something here for everyone.

As I have always said and as Tony reiterates - Demo, Demo, Demo. Skis that are great for one person may not be so great for a person of a different size, or someone who might like a faster ski, or more of a carver type. Take in the information and personal opinion of expert testers, like Tony, and then be sure to demo two or three skis before putting your money down.

_{Image © Mike Doyle}

Are you considering taking your family on a ski vacation this season? It's important to choose a ski resort that is geared towards families and children. Not all ski resorts are suitable for younger or beginner skiers. There are some resorts where the terrain and services are geared toward satisfying the challenges of the advanced skier. Your vacation will be more fun if you visit a family-friendly ski resort that offers special programs, packages, and discounts for children.

Don't wait too long to book your trip. You'll need to book holiday and school vacation weeks early to get your first choice of airline and hotel or condo reservations. That's especiall true this year with airlines cutting flights and raising prices. Also, if you're booking ski school or lessons for your family, book them when you make your reservations, so you're sure to get a spot in the class.

Ski Vacations

• Family Ski Vacations
• Top Ski Vacations
• Ski Resorts
• Ski Deals / Discounts

Image © Mike Doyle

In early June, I mentioned the daydream of an enclosed ski area in Riverhead, Long Island. Well that dream is a little closer to becoming a reality - about $2,000,000 closer.

Recently, officials of Riverside Resorts turned over an unrefundable $2M to the town of Riverhead to initiate the environmental, engineering, energy, and other review studies necessary before the proposed project can began construction. The investors, led by Scottish home builders Baldragon Homes Ltd. and real estate developers Bayrock Group LLC, say the payment is a sign of their commitment to the project, which is being proposed for 160 acres of the old Northrup Grumman site.

Only 75 miles east of New York City, the resort will include, in addition to the 35 story ski area, an indoor water park, a convention center and hotel, a winery, equestrian trails, campgrounds, an artificial lake, and a spa surrounded by botanical gardens.

While, if all plans go as the developers see it, skiing isn't planned until 2013. Maybe you might want to makes some subtle inquiries into possible slopeside properties, but don't look for anything resembling an alpine chalet.

_{Dubai Snowdome Copyright Getty Images Chris Jackson}