Next Stop, Ski Country

Put me on the next plane to Denver, Salt Lake City or Reno. Please! I have the powder flu--that itching, burning feeling where you yearn to blow off work, make a beeline for the roads taking you straight into the mountains, click into those ski bindings, and hit the slopes for what sounds like knee-deep powder.  But there's no remedy for this ailment when you're living in the flatlands of Illinois and the Midwest's temperatures have skyrocketed to near record-setting levels--even a trip to Wisconsin on the ski bus is out of the question, at least for this ski snob.

I'm dying here in Chicago, quite literally. It's snowing, nay, dumping, in the mountains, and I'm stuck in the land of wild temperature swings, melting snow, and gale-force winds. Sure, I like swapping out my heavy layers and commuting by bike instead of by foot, but that snow is calling my name. First Lake Tahoe. Then Utah. Then Colorado. I've seen the pictures on Facebook to prove it. And the storms aren't done yet. Take a look at these snow stats:

Lake Tahoe
By Thursday morning, Northstar-at-Tahoe reported 32 inches. On the south side of the lake, Heavenly counted 21 inches. Back to the north side and Squaw Valley USA was also sporting about a three-foot snowfall. I had been taught last winter that a good Lake Tahoe storm meant at least a foot, but I still can't fathom skiing, or seeing, nearly three feet of snow falling in a 24-hour period. And for a place that had been quiet about reporting snowfalls, which tends to mean they're not coming at the levels snow-seekers are used to, this was needed.

Utah
If you don't want to be tempted by the "greatest snow on Earth," don't follow the Ski Utah Yeti. This friendly snow creature only makes the powder flu worse from far away when he tells you it's monster dumping in the mountains or warns of an impending snowfall. This time around resrots from Alta to Brighton to The Canyons sported at least 8 inches of snow with more on the way.

Colorado
Every time there's a snowfall this season, Colorado resorts post pictures, especially Snow.com (here and here). For this girl, who would trade digs in a second with anyone living in this state, those pictures make it even tougher to be stuck in Chicago. I may be heading out west to ski next week but Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail are already calling my name. Their storms are only starting but how in the world does it snow three inches an hour at Beaver Creek? If I-70 is open Friday morning, I'm willing to put money on the numbers ditching work for a three-day--or four-day if Monday is already scheduled off--weekend.

Jealous yet? I am. I wish I had a Presidents' Day Weekend out of town--it'd be a good one with all the snow and even better to practice those powder skills. Instead, I'll be waxing and sharpening my skis and doing my snow dance for next weekend.

Who's out there skiing?

Photo of Beaver Creek's three inches an hour grabbed from Snow.com's Facebook page.

Snow Deals All Day Long

It snowed 20 inches in Breckenridge last night. Park City said it was firing up its snow machines to prep for its opening. Alta has a 41-inch base and plans to open Friday. Vail and Whistler are set to open on Friday, too. With all this snow celebration in the air, it's obvious it's time to pull the skis and boards out of the closets, or plan that next snow country vacay.

But if you're looking at those shreds and noticing a few base gouges--or you forgot you needed new goggles this season--or you simply need an excuse to shop, you want to head over the SteepandCheap for its snow only sale. Known for providing goods at discounts of 50 percent or more (most of the time), it's turning up the winter heat and offering the best from its ski closet all day long. Score new powder skis, a new softshell, warmer gloves or non-scratched goggles--and that's just for starters. The site refreshes frequently with new items but that means you have to act fast to get what you want, or hope it comes around again.

Check it out at steepandcheap.com or download the app to your smartphone to get the latest on the deals.

The Daily Feed: Sites We're Searching 8/27

It's easy for me to say I spent way too much time online reading stories, websites and news feeds. But it's all for good reason...either I'm picking up tips for training, stirring ideas for articles or catching up with the world. And lately I've been finding way too many likable links through Facebook. Yes, it's true. That little page suggestion box does actually provide some good information...as do my friends. Here's what I'm digging today:

• Runners, check out the latest installment on Master the Shift. I'm officially obsessed with Josh Cox's playlist, and know how desperately I need it for some inspiration to update my own.
• With that said, the cycling section is just as awesome this week. Learn how to fix a flat with a little help from Lance Armstrong. Doesn't get any better than Mr. Cycling himself.
• I'm still coming to grips with the ski season being right around the corner--I wish I could get the best of both worlds with perpetual summer and winter when I want it. I'm a sucker for vintage videos, especially skiing ones like this one from Keystone. Rumor has it that some ski areas might see snow this weekend...not enough for skiing but enough to get hopeful for the season ahead.
• Not that you necessarily want to keep tabs on what I'll be doing this weekend, but here's one darn cool event that will keep me busy on Saturday. And it's along Chicago's Lake Michigan shoreline.

Have a link that you'd like to share? Post it in the comments below. I love sharing news!

Update as of Aug. 31: Josh Cox's playlist and Lance's fix a flat from Master the Shift were posted on August 26. If your Facebook acts as oddly as mine does, you'll have to click the above links, then scroll down to read the articles. Be sure to act fast, the content could disappear in the next week or so.

Five Reasons for an Epic Winter

I'm still in disbelief that summer has wound to a close, fall is actually here (on the calendar although the weather outside could still fool me at times), and all of the activities that typically occupy my summer--open water swimming, cycling, triathlon and marathon training--are grinding to a halt. You'd think I'd be excited to start my usual ramblings about skiing but I'm not so sure I'm ready to face the reality of winter quite yet. Granted I think part of that is because I'm in Chicago and the snow is in Colorado...or Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Northern California. And we just get stuck with the cold weather and a miserable existence for three to four months, or longer if you count the season we had this year where I was still wearing fleece jackets come June 10.

But to help me be a little more enthusiastic about the impending winter comes the onslaught of ski resort newsletters. Most particularly news from Vail Resorts and its Epic Pass, a ski pass available regardless of where you live to help you ski like a local without actually taking up Colorado or California (as the case would be for Heavenly) residence. So why do you want to go Epic this winter? Take these five arguments for Epic...

1. It's already snowing in Colorado. Seriously, snow was spotted in the mountains last week and it was beginning to dump this week. You know there's at least one state among our 50 where you'll have snow you can actually play in this winter and you need every excuse in the book to get out there for some fun.

2. At $599 for the season pass--with no blackout dates at six resorts--you'd be having a V8 moment (you know those commercials with the forehead slap for 'shoulda had a V8') for missing out on the savings. You've made up the cost of the pass by skiing a mere six days--if you ski primarily Vail and Beaver Creek where the daily lift tickets in the 2008-09 season would set you back a hair over $100 a day--at the resort. And if you're resourceful, or hankering for as many powder days as possible, you can really get good bang for your buck at Arapahoe Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Heavenly, Keystone and Vail.

3. Do you really want to spend the winter skiing the Midwest garbage-dump-turned-ski-hill? I'm not nice, I'll blast these without giving all the resorts a fair shot, but if I can spend more time skiing than waiting in line, I'll save my vacation days for a Rocky Mountain High.

4. What's not to love about having your pick to ski or snowboard some of the best snow on Earth? And a ridiculous amount of terrain? There's a reason Vail Resorts lands among the top ski areas in the country in annual polls by Ski and Skiing magazines.

5. Become an Epic Pass holder and you can score deals without even setting foot on the mountain. Take the pre-season promo available to Chicagoans this September: lucky Epic Passers could score tickets to a Cubs game to watch Lindsey Vonn throw out the first pitch and be invited to a BBQ at the Cubby Bear before the game. Or if you couldn't attend that event you could buy passes online to score a $50 gift certificate to Viking Ski Shop, a Chicago institution when it comes to winter snowsports of the downhill variety.

So what are you waiting for? Score your Epic Pass today. It's better than letting winter keep you in hibernation and lamenting over the nasty weather lurking outside. Photo grabbed from www.ski-i.com at flickr. Posted by Kate

Spring into Summer Skiing

I know I should quit it with the skiing information but I was too excited when I read some skiing related news yesterday. And in a most unusual location. While most resorts have shuttered the skiing until November, there are still some resorts open for business for skiers and boarders. Utah and Colorado are the typical locations, but California? Yep, shocking that a state offering a warm climate everywhere but the mountains--even the Bay area reaching highs in the 80s last week--would still have snow. But with the massive snowfalls gracing Mammoth and Squaw Valley this winter--remember the four-foot snowfall from early March?--the mountains will be open through May.

Much to my disbelief--and more likely my naivete--Mammoth plans to stay open through Memorial Day with several skiable acres for skiers and boarders to spread out and plan in the snow. They'll also stay open until June if conditions allow. Hmm, should I be planning a trip out west? I'm liking the spring weather at home, but I can always use an excuse to pull the skis out of storage. And to really twist my arm, Squaw Valley plans to stay open until May 10. This year, the resort received 10 more inches than its seasonal average of 450 inches, and at the higher altitudes the base depth is still over 100 inches. Sheesh, where was this snow in Colorado when I wanted it back in March (really no hard feelings, I still had a blast).

So if the ski season flopped on your this winter and you're still itching to get in some runs. It's really not too late. And you can still work on your tan--maybe even wear a few less layers than you would in January or February. Photo grabbed from bmiersma at flickr. Posted by Kate

Spring Back to Ski

Yes, I love skiing and it's been great swapping ski stories with Liz this winter. Yes, I get carried away with the sport at times (sorry, readers!). Yes, I was thrilled when I learned yesterday that Aspen Highlands was staying open longer this year. But I didn't finish. I hoped that maybe I'd learn that other Colorado resorts planned to extend their seasons and have even more news to share. While that doesn't seem to be the case, at least in the resources I checked out, there are so other cool events worth highlighting.

Whether it's the recession or spring savings, Vail is having a crazy $199 deal before the resort closes on April 19. Talk about a celebration: You can score seven days of skiing for $199 from April 12-19 plus free festivities and concerts. With all of the snow Colorado's been blessed with in the last month, the ski conditions are still great and these savings slash the regular season daily price that creeps toward $100. Plus free concerts by Chris Isaak and O.A.R. after a ski day and watching the Pond Skimming Championships, where competitors try to glide across the water without falling in, how can you go wrong?

And once again, I'm wishing I lived closer to the mountains to take advantage of this deal. Keystone closes on Sunday (sob), but they're maxing out the customer benefits in its last few days of the season. Starting April 1, skiers could score a three-day lift ticket for $99--that's three days for a little more than the price of one day during the regular season. And they still have plenty of great skiing with a base higher now than when I was there at the beginning of March. Oh wait, there's more. If you're visiting, you can score a room on Keystone property for $99 a night, or if you're just skiing for one day, Keystone will buy your lunch. April 9 might be a day to play hooky and head to the mountains--it's customer appreciation day where lift tickets cost $33 and there's a spring celebration at LaBonte's Cabin, one of the places to grab lunch on the mountain that has an awesome sun deck.

Is anyone spending Easter in the mountains? Any chance of taking this skier as a stowaway? Photo grabbed from aahoffmann at flickr. Posted by Kate

Stretching the Ski Season

I am so jealous right now! Yes, this is another gripe about the weather, but it's with good reason. While we're suffering through the never-ending end to winter (I swear even the groundhog couldn't want snow outside the mountains in April), Colorado seems to just be getting theirs. Those storms that keep pushing this way are coming from the mountains--and this time instead of missing them, as Coloradoans proclaimed in February and early March, they're hitting them. I shouldn't even be getting excited over a sport that is wrapping it up until November, after all I had to store my skis and gear a month ago today after returning from a trip to the Rockies.

But now I almost want to get them back out and spend my last weekend in April at Aspen. Why? Because all of those storms actually produced good news in Colorado. With more than 100 inches in Highland Bowl--its largest base this season--Aspen Highlands plans to extend its ski season through April 26. It closed on Sunday but it will reopen for the last two weekends of the month, April 18-19 and April 25-26. The cool part, at least for this tourist, is that lift tickets only cost $39 each day. Sweet! Keep in mind though that Snowmass and Aspen Mountain will close as planned on April 12, and Buttermilk closed for the season on April 5. But hey, the opportunity to still ski, that's one where I don't mind the cold. Photo grabbed from www.odysseyexpeditions.org at flickr. Posted by Kate

My Own Private Colorado

The people: you, some guides and 11 of your friends or total strangers bundled up with ski gear. The place: a secluded bowl that only the crazies on the mountain would want to hike to. The scene: freshies in the snow even when a snowfall hasn't hit in more than three days, plus steeps and cornices some drool over. And you hit it all day.

I might be getting a little extreme, but if you're even slightly into skiing--especially if you're a powder hound--the KAT tour at Keystone Resort in Colorado is one experience you won't want to miss. Snowcat skiing in the controlled backcountry at Keystone Resort in Colorado takes you skiing and dials the adventure factor far past normal. Even I would swap ice and groomers--stuff I could cruise all day because I'm in my comfort zone and think I look good--for knee-deep swallows, trailblazing bowls and fresh tracks. My form goes out the window, I'm on foreign skis to keep me afloat in the powder, and negotiating with conditions I once only read about in magazines or watched in Warren Miller movies. But if you want to feel like king or queen of the mountain, hit runs that are only skied a handful of times between snowfalls and be a part of exploratory territory (one of our guides said a lift might be built on our private spot someday and we're helping pave the way), this is one experience not to miss. At $200 a pop and not needing to purchase a mountain lift ticket for the day since you're with the cat, it's downright affordable for what you get in return.

The morning starts off meeting up at the base to check in and sign the waiver. It might seem like you're signing your life away, but really it's the same release you'd see if you looked at the fine print for skiing at Keystone and obtaining a lift ticket. Then it's up the mountain to the KAT yurt for orientation, learning how to use the beacon, losing some layers or gear in the cubby the guides labeled especially for you, and trading your daily skis for some super-fat powder hounds. We're all trading up to the Salomon Czar skis--and with names like Neon Nights and McCrazy to identify ours in the pack--to give us that extra leverage and floating prowess in the powder we'll be searching for all day, and we're slinging beacons over our shoulders under our jackets so we can be found in case of emergency. Luckily we're not being full-flung into backcountry prep and avalanche training, otherwise I might second guess my decision to head out--too many avalanches my eyes spot on the ski blotter. But we get a few quick instructions and guidelines and then it's off to board the snowcat and head out to the backcountry and get our ski on. Whoo-hoo!

Talk about feeling like we're kings and queens of the mountain. The cat only seats 12 skiers and it's so beastly, any skier that even tries to get in its path darts away when it comes chugging along. And that's just the ride along the track to get into the bowls we'll be hitting all day. Once we trek into the desolate bowls, the snow is ours for the taking. Duke and Brewer, our guides for the day, scout out our starting point, the cat stops and we unload out the back ready to start our first adventure. Our guides are handing us our skis and then we're off to follow Duke to the path he suggests we take to meet the cat--one he's selected based on the temps and time of day knowing that he has to break some of us in (OK, me, really) gently and that this snow is going to be nice now and get heavy later. We take off one by one to create S-curves side by side. Well, that's with the exception of me who couldn't quite get a handle on her demo skis and spent most of the time in the powder that everyone else was enjoying struggling to steer or just flopping over. Let's just say, you can easily get out of your element in the backcountry and even the easiest of turns can just throw you for a loop. But making fresh tracks and finding powder so unexpectedly deep that your pole sinks in far further than you imagined is always a welcome sight. Then it's to the group gathering point, either midway down the trail or at the bottom where the cat is waiting for us to load up. I'm not digging being covered in snow so early in the morning and am hoping the rest of the day pans out better than my first run.

Duke and Brewer scout of some of the best spots in the backcountry for us to ski. With the lack of fresh snow and tours going out regularly, they're pretty selective but manage to find several spots where we're tearing up fresh tracks--and finding it hard to believe that we're leaving any untouched snow for those who'll follow. We have the mountain to ourselves as we continue to ski down one by one. And with the pressure of those to follow us, you have to keep skiing even though your quads are screaming in pain (mine liked to yell break time and when I ignored their requests I'd flop over or go pizza-style down the terrain) and we had the added bonus of looking for rocks and rough spots thanks to the wind-blown snow cover. Not to mention the constantly shifting snow conditions. While lucking out with a no-clouds-in-the-sky sunny day--and warm at that--the snow got so heavy in spots we started refering to it as mashed potatoes. And heavy isn't fun to ski, so at least I knew my inability to navigate wasn't 100 percent operator error--the snow made me do it!

Before heading in for lunch, Duke and Brewer led us to Two If By Sea (pictured in the distance), one of the backcountry runs that any instructor will point out when talking about terrain on the mountain. It's one of the longest runs and they'll say you just keep turning and turning and turning. And it's true--pristine skiing even when the wind attacks it and one run where you almost want to turn an empty slate into a slalom run, taking as many turns to keep going, going, going. I stopped twice to regroup, as did some others, but it was more to keep my form intact and enjoy the run than anything else. That and I was desperate for refueling so lunch in the yurt couldn't come soon enough.

Yep, lunch is included in this backcountry adventure--it's even snowmobiled in daily and set up gourmet-style in a mid-mountain yurt--and a welcome break for the legs. We're treated to warm bowls of black bean soup, Caesar salad and make-your-own sandwiches, and we're warned to save room for dessert. Why? Because it's a cheesecake prepared by some of the finest chefs at the resort--all of the food comes from Alpenglow Stube which posts gourmet prix fixe dining at 11,000 feet--and its Turtle style laden with caramel and nuts. Yum, it's hard to resist having a second slice but I know I'll go into food coma if I do. Not a good mix for hitting the mountain in the afternoon, and having to push through snow that's starting to turn thick and heavy like mashed potatoes.

We get our lunch break and then it's back to the cat for more exploration. While we're deposited in roughly the same location each trip up, we find a different way to go down every time. And even if with the sun moving closer to the horizon, we still have a good three to four runs left before quitting time--which can be good or bad depending on the Jello feeling in your legs. I'm still struggling as we go down, having a few good turns and then pushing through soreness but failing miserably. Part of the fun is falling in the snow, but I feel kind of dumb doing it in front of a bunch of top skiers, and looking bad doing it. Like finding thin cover with a rock hiding underneath or flying over a tree--that happened to others but I just caught myself in the heaviness. The only problem is now the runs start going by in a blur, up and down, up and down.

Near the end of the day, it's decided we have time for one more run, a bonus for pushing it earlier and flying down each run faster than some tours go. We end up returning to the spot where the day first started, but this time we don't have to comb the trail one set of tracks next to the other. It's a free-for-all to make it to the cat: ski the trees, head down a gully that's a natural halfpipe, stay above the gully for more controlled skiing. We know it has to be a good run since it's the last trip in the backcountry. It ends on a good note for me when I survive traversing the valley that tripped me up in the morning--and finally feel like I can turn on my skis.

Then it's back onto the cat to load out of the bowls, down the cat track and to the yurt where we stored our skis at the start of the day. As you bumble along, you can't help but want to nod off. It's been an exhausting day. You could say it gets worse too--skiing down the front side of the mountain to end the day. You've been pushing through powder for six hours and now you're hitting the skied-out groomers while acclimating to shorter and skinnier skis again. And in my case, those that desperately need to be sharpened to hold an edge on the icier sections. Back at the bottom both apres and the hot tub are calling my name. I'm needing some much needed relief on my legs. But it was well worth it. Too bad my next run will have to wait 'til next year, but this will hopefully hold me over until then. Posted by Kate

Don't Try This on Your Own

My heart dropped when I visited the Outside Online blog and read the latest post. I thought my eyes were deceiving me--after all it was late and I was tired--when I read of yet another accident involving yet another famous name while skiing. This time the skiing world mourns the loss of one of its own, and a name to reckon with when it comes to ski movies, Shane McConkey. The crew was filming in the Italian Dolomites when it happened on March 26.

McConkey, 39, was ski-BASing for a new Matchstick Productions film when the accident occurred. He had trouble ejecting out of one of his skis when performing the ski-BASE stunt--ski off a cliff, eject from your skis using hand levers and pop open a parachute--which caused an uncontrollable spin he couldn't break out of. According to the Outside story and ESPN, it's not entirely clear as to how it happened, if the chute got wrapped around the ski, how the skis wouldn't eject and if airflow around the attached ski contributed to the spin. The Red Bull athlete has performed the stunt several times before--he's even photographed above ski-BASing outside the Silver Legacy hotel casino in Reno, Nev.--just this time something decided to go wrong.

Not that I didn't respect the stunts he performed on two skis before when watching my yearly round of ski movies, but I'll have an even greater appreciation for them next time I see him flying through the air. McConkey did things on skis that some of us can only dream of--or would rather put in the hands of the professional, especially since they make it look so fluid and effortless. And I can't think of anyone who didn't respect McConkey and what he did for extreme skiing. Photo grabbed from RenoTahoe at flickr. Posted by Kate

Noggin Protection

Whether it's skiing, cycling, rock climbing or white water rafting, wear a helmet when you head out. Not to be preachy, but not only will it protect your noggin but it could save your life.

I was shocked to read the news about Natasha Richardson's accident on the slopes at Mont Tremblant. I was even more shocked when People reported that it happened with a ski instructor and on a beginner run. I hoped that I'd find information that said Richardson was wearing a helmet but that wasn't the case. And with her condition listed as very serious--and the latest from People that has a friend saying she's brain dead--it's unfortunate that there was no helmet in use.

Even the New York Times has a story on the ski helmet debate. Michael Kennedy met his death on the slopes as did Sonny Bono. I've crashed on my road bike twice, broke a helmet both times, and know I probably wouldn't be here writing if I didn't have some protection.

I'm sure skiing examiners out there are posting like crazy on this one, but it's the helmet use that grabbed my attention. Helmets can be used in a variety of sports and can help prevent serious accidents from being worse off: taking a hard spill, crashing on the road, flipping over your handlebars, springing from a raft and hitting a rock. Sure the easy answer is to say, don't do these things, but for an endurance athlete, you can't exactly tell him or her to stay off the bike. There goes the triathlon season.

Protect yourself the next time you hit the road or trail and grab one of these helmets (depending on sport, of course):

• Giro--makes helmets for skiing and cycling
• POC--Julia Mancuso wore this brand during the 2006 Torino Olympics and the company is about to break into the bike market this season
• Boeri--skiing helmets are this company's claim to fame; I've had mine for more than seven seasons
• K2--this ski manufacturer makes a pretty cool helmet that integrates goggles and head protection without the all-too-common goggle strap
• Bell--recreational riders and racers can find a cycling helmet to fit their needs here
• Rudy Project--makes cycling helmets and has a coupon online to save 25 percent on a helmet purchase

There are still plenty of other helmet makers out there, but these are just a few to start shopping with. And one plus to wearing the helmet when you're skiing, on a cold day it keeps you warmer than a hat. In the meantime, my thoughts are out to Natasha Richardson and her family.

Picture: That's me and my husband with our helmets: he started wearing his after a crash that knocked him unconcious in 2000 and I went full-time in 2004 after getting it for racing season. As for the bike...I've cracked two helmets and don't leave home without one. Posted by Kate

Fit-Pic: Talons Challenge

There's nothing like sun, skiing and Spring-like conditions, especially when you're experiencing the Talons Challenge at Beaver Creek. We lucked out with a warm day--sure beat that subzero morning I was skiing in Park City in January--when we took to the 13 toughest runs at Beaver Creek to earn our Platinum pin and find our names among other Challenge finishers next time we're at the resort.

The challenge happens as a one-day event in January each year--mark your calendars for Jan. 23, 2010--with registrations limited to roughly 1,500 skiers and boarders. Or if you can't make it on that day, you can ski with an instructor to have the accomplishment certified. You'll take to the infamous World Cup course, Birds of Prey, luckily not logging speed and jumps like Bode Miller and Hermann Maier when they hit the mountain. Then follow it up with bump black runs off the Birds of Prey and Larkspur lifts and on Grouse Mountain. My favorite part is you can take as many breaks as you need, just as long as you can hit all the runs before those lifts close at 3:30. And if you take an extended lunch and shed layers as many times as I did (yep, I forgot how hot I can get skiing the bumps), that 3:30 deadline can start to look like it's not going to happen.

I'd hate to see what the troughs look like on these bumps on Talons Challenge day when thousands are hitting these runs throughout the day. But I'm happy we were hit with soft snow thanks to the sun hitting the mountain just right--with the exception of the slick top on Birds of Prey where I prayed the rest of the day wouldn't be as nerve-wracking as that and the last two runs on Larkspur where the bumps acquired some lumpy, icy chunks. And to say you're sweating, dripping even, while skiing, that's new to me. Posted by Kate

Snow Day!

If you're east of the Mississippi you've probably gotten pummeled by rain in the past few days, checking those basements for leaks, carrying an umbrella and rain gear every time you leave the house, and hoping that there's warmth and sunshine at the end of this rain cloud. But if you're living in the mountains, especially ski country, or perusing the resort snow reports as I now find myself doing daily (trying to give myself an excuse to hop a plane to the Wasatch or Rockies even though I just returned), then you're leaping for joy over a snow day.

I was crushed to see the snow we had prayed for last week to blanket the bare mountains fell now that I left. And not only did Colorado get hit, but Utah too. This season's snow isn't just reserved for Tahoe where a four-foot drop fell last week and completely blanked the Rockies. Alta's report at Ski Utah listed 22 new inches and Brighton listed 25. Sheesh. Now while those in Colorado will be quick to say that the snowfall is a light load this year, at least they got some white stuff to play in. Not epic proportions but enough to patch the holes that were starting to show by Friday afternoon. I'm just wishing I could play in it--check out the glades at Beaver Creek that were closed or hit the snowcat skiing area again and make some fresh tracks in what I'm hoping isn't mashed potatoes like I encountered. Yep, apparently mashed potatoes is a term for heavy powder--heavy, hard-to-ski-in powder that had me cursing my powder skis that were supposed to love the stuff and our guides flopping over on turns just like the guests (namely me).

Back to the snowfall...Beaver Creek is boasting 10 inches of powder today. I'm jealous! That also means that the glade skiing that I missed out on last week due to undesirable snow conditions--or the conclusion that myself, my husband and the head of the kids ski school decided upon--was most likely open. One way to find out: Check for the flag flying at the top of the Centennial lift, chair 6, that's black and flashing BC/EX. I'd sport a picture but I'm having some difficulties copying the link. The other way...for the Royal Elk Glade, head to the top of the Grouse Mountain lift and look right past the hut at the top. The sign and roping will be posted if it's closed (a familiar site for me) or be open for travelers. I can only imagine the pockets hiding in the glades...after a wind swept top crust, even I'd go skiing in the trees. As for getting to the Stone Creek Chutes, an area that used to be out of bounds but was recently rezoned to become a part of the resort's terrain, I followed Cindy our guide to get there and have no clue how we zig-zagged across the mountain to get there. It involves riding the Birds of Prey lift and traversing skier's left to more trees. Sounds sweet--and flickr pictures can prove it...I'm wallowing in others' glories captured on film in years past. But hey, keep the snow coming, Colorado can use it. Especially Blue Ox, my fave double black at Vail that was like a skating rink transplanted into a wind tunnel last Thursday. Photo grabbed from ctirpak at flickr. Posted by Kate

Two More Reasons to Love Colorado

I know I should stop dreaming about Colorado now that I'm back home and into reality, but snow reports and events from the Rockies are keeping my eyes wandering. That and after I posted a few reasons to stay in the Rockies, I realized I had a few more.

• Snowshoeing. Beaver Creek held a snowshoeing event on Sunday that brings families and individuals to the mountain armed to walk the snow. It's a ton of fun for both competitive athletes and leisurely strollers. While this past weekend marked the last of the adventure series' races, the Snowshoe Shuffle completes the season April 5. Held at McCoy Park, the nordic center facility nestled midway up the mountain, the shuffle offers event distances for all, a post-race party and proceeds to benefit the Shaw Regional Cancer Center.
• If you're not active, there's something wrong with you. OK, that might not necessarily be true but it sure seems like everyone is active in one way or another. At least everyone I met, that is. They all ski or board in the winter, then hike, mountain bike or road ride in the summer. But that's not all, some people cram more into their day in terms of active endeavors. Take the ski instructor who led us through the Talons Challenge at Beaver Creek: not only did he ski the 13 toughest runs at BC with us (and with bumps on most of them) but he had worked out before hitting the slopes that morning, lifting and running. Another ski instructor talked about doing trail marathons. And a friend had spent a weekend skate skiing, then hit the snowcat backcountry trails with us on telemark skis on Monday. And those lunges did not look fun in the heavy powder we encountered in the backcountry.

Eek, I'm making myself wanting to hop another plane out there as soon as I can. I still haven't unpacked so it's almost too tempting to head back. Any Coloradans have a floor or couch I can crash on? Posted by Kate

Sweet Home Ch...Colorado?

I've had the luck of checking out some of the skiing in Colorado all week. My plan was to actually blog about it while out here, but I never expected to be as tired as I was at the end of the day. So while you'll hear more about my trip next week once I'm back, I'm having a hard time leaving the Rocky Mountain state. We've all heard the Sweet Home Chicago line, but I'm thinking the exact opposite--even with talk of warm weather upon arriving home. I've got a Rocky Mountain high that I'm not ready to part with. Here are some of the reasons I don't want to leave:

1. The skiing. OK, the skiing is the exact reason for why I came out here. Colorado has some of my favorite ski resorts in the country, both old favorites I grew up skiing--like Vail--and new ones I've just started exploring in the last year--like Keystone and Beaver Creek. And even with the skiing labeled as spring conditions, I'm still having a good time. Knowing I'm going to have to pack my skis away til next year isn't sounding good right now.
   
2. The views. I'm sitting in my condo not quite ready to pack it in for the night and can't stop staring at the window. In each spot I've stayed this week I've had the luck of looking right out onto the mountains. First at the River Run units in Keystone where I could see the gondola, then at the newly renovated Osprey Hotel at Beaver Creek (talk about prime real estate at the Beav), and now at the Pines in West Keystone. Between mountain landscapes and starry nights--and seeing constellations I've only checked out at the Planetarium--I'm hooked.
3. The food. I grew up at the ski garbage dump near my house eating fried donuts and microwaveable pizza for lunch. Now I'm dining on five-star meals for lunch and dinner--I'm just hoping I've burned off these treats when I hit the mountain. And I'm missing the remainder of the Keystone Culinary Festival. It kicked off tonight with a red wine tasting at the cozy Ski Tip Lodge and continues through the weekend with delectable treats, more tastings and chef demonstrations. I heard there's a chocolate class that's a must to check out--anyone who can build a gondola out of chocolate and have the gondie filled with truffles sounds pretty talented in my book.
4. The deals. Note to self: Don't go to Sports Authority in the mountains. I made the mistake of shopping in Avon the other night and stayed until closing time staring at the ski deals. If I could have found a pair in my size either there or at the location in Dillon, I'd be cramming yet another pair of skis into my ski bag to take home with me. At $200 or less for a complete set, I have to scrounge around for that at home, or hope I can make a trade at the ski show. And I'm not even touching on the demos on the mountain. I had to avoid the clothing section at Sports Authority for fear of what I might find. A woman in my Bettyfest group last weekend said she found her coat marked down to $60. Whoa!
5. Sticking it out through the weekend. In addition to wanting to be here for more culinary activities, there's another reason to stay that involves a quick drive into Denver. Denver's version of the Cycle for ALS kicks off Saturday at the flagship REI downtown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I'm still wanting to ski but cycling for a cause--and for 3 hours which I love--isn't a bad deal either. Check a Rocky Mountain Sports magazine for more details.

So I'm about to conk out in front of the computer, hence a photo and more links will come later. Tonight's dinner at the Ski Tip did me in--delicious but food coma central. And I have to rest up for my last quickie day on the slopes. How many runs can I get in before I have to beat traffic back to Denver? Photo grabbed from nozomiyume at flickr. Posted by Kate

Prep With Plyometrics

If you're looking to one-up the competition come winter thaw, here's an easy way to train now. Start with plyometrics. Add plyo to your workout and you'll strengthen your core to levels you never knew were possible.

Admittedly I'm no expert in the field of coaching--I've asked coaches lots of questions and attended a variety of clinics--but I won't have a certification to my name til later this year. But while out in Colorado for a ski trip, I've learned the importance of plyometric training. While it's helped me with my skiing, it's also easily applicable to endurance sports. And beneficial according to triathlon training legend Joe Friel. We need our quads for running and cycling, strength that can be built by hours of participation in this sports or isolated during plyometric work. And it's in the plyo that you can really feel those muscles firing, almost building strength and working that core faster. The plyometrics helps you fire those muscles faster, accelerating through a run or turning faster on skis and getting those skis around without slipping in the technique department.

Or at least that's the effect it's had on me. I spend hours on end spinning and working the elliptical (I can't stand treadmill running) all winter long to prep for the season ahead. And in two days on the slopes, I could feel my quads burning and pushing with each turn on the mountain. At first I thought I was doing something wrong with my turning but learned in the end that it's just a need to do more plyometric work to strengthen my quads. I have to sit in my living room and practicing a move we drilled into our heads "suck and press." Basically a squat--back straight, knees bent, femurs going at least horizontal but the lower you can get your rear the more you'll feel the move--but in a ski stance. I could stand and "suck and press" all day. But the jist is that these core workouts can help with your skiing, cycling, running--you name it. A strong core is going to help with that speed and even technique so you look good out there (no hunched over marathoners at mile 24).

Need some ideas for key core moves? I'm a fan of simply entering core workout into google and checking out some of the results or going more specific with ski core workout to show me some moves that will get me set for skiing but also apply to my other sports. I'll try just about anything to make me stronger out there and if a stronger core means more time on the slopes or running without dying, I'll take it. Photo grabbed from frixo.com. Posted by Kate

Fit-Fact: Trees at Deer Valley

That's skiable--the trees aren't as tight as they look--Centennial at Deer Valley

While I'm really trying to move away from the skiing references--after all I've been back in Chicago for two weeks--I still have skiing on the brain. Of course, it doesn't help that I whine about the weather all the time (and sorry for mentioning it constantly, too), wishing I could trade Chicago flats for Rockies peaks. But as I'm yearning for more ski time and sorting through my pictures from my last trip, it's really difficult to part with thoughts of Deer Valley, Park City and Alta, and all of the interesting things I learned about the areas. That Park City was a mining town and the old structures on the mountain--there's one near the Bonanza lift and another by Thaynes--were used for mining the mountain. That Alta operates snowcat skiing but on a very limited basis. That Deer Valley prunes its tree skiing spots.

Prunes its trees? I thought I was hearing things when Craig McCarthy, Park City Chamber of Commerce Communications Manager, confirmed that Deer Valley picks through its forests each summer to make for pristine tree skiing in the winter. No forays into the forests only to hit a pack of trees so tight you can't pick your way to the bottom. No dead-ends or random branches to hit you. No wonder I like these tree runs--I can actually pick my way through them without tumbling into a tree well or wrapping myself around a trunk (and trust me both have happened). I'm someone who tries to avoid trees at all costs--even if it means skiing a green--yet at Deer Valley the trees seem less intimidating, still challenging, and offer the hope of untracked powder on a snow-less day. My faves: Centennial off the Lady Morgan Express lift and Ontario Bowl. Posted by Kate

Fit-Fact: Happy Birthday Alta

Alta in 2009

With all of the cold weather and snow we've been having in Chicago, I've wanted nothing more than an escape to ski country, one of the few places where I can tolerate--and love--the hours outside and pray for another snow dump. So when I read about this ski news, it had to become a Fit-Fact for the week.

Alta Ski Area, one of the last skiers-only areas left in the states, turned 70 years old. While I knew it was celebrating its 70th season, I didn't realize that the date of opening was pinpointed and recognized. Turns out that Alta opened its lifts to skiers on January 15, 1939. The Collins lift, Utah's first ski lift and the fifth in the U.S., opened to 350 skiers.

Here's a little comparison for what's changed (or hasn't) in the past 70 years at Alta:

• In 1939, a lift ticket cost 25 cents for one ride, $1.50 for the full day.
• In 2009, a lift ticket costs $59 for a full day, plus a $5 charge for the reusable Alta card that serves as your pass for the day.
  
• In 2005, the Collins lift, which was upgraded a few times since 1939, was replaced with a high-speed quad that travels higher up the mountain, also christened Collins.
• In 2002, Alta and Snowbird paired up to offer a joint ticket for skiing between the resorts.
• Alta continues to use the same World War II howitzers to blast for avalanches in the area.
  
• Alta still is for skiers only. Snowboarders have to stay in Snowbird. Posted by Kate

Fit-Pic: Skier's Paradise

Fresh powder in the Daly Chutes of Empire Canyon at Deer Valley Ski Resort and a skier who's about to bite it. Photo by Vishal Verma.

Chicago and most of the Midwest got hit pretty hard with a snowstorm on Friday and Saturday. My friends wrecked their car driving up to Alpine Valley to hit the slopes when it landed in a ditch, and I was too nervous to take the car out even to drive a few miles north to trek in my snowshoes along the Lakefront. But when a friend sent this picture reminding me of our times at Deer Valley, I thought it was snow-worthy. And it is far more action-packed than a serene shot of Lakefront scenery captured on my own camera. Posted by Kate

Fit-Pic: Naked Skier

Photo grabbed from Tom Olliver at flickr.com

The media had a field day with this news clip--I swear I saw Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer chuckle at the clip on Wednesday's Today Show--and for good reason, albeit at the expense of a 48-year-old skier. The poor guy was left dangling upside down on a chairlift at Vail Resort...with his rear end exposed after his ski pants slipped down to his ankles.

The Smoking Gun (click to view actual pictures of the incident as I didn't want to break any copyright laws by posting them here) first reported the incident which happened on New Year's Day in Vail Resorts' Blue Sky Basin. The man and a child were trying to board the Skyline Express lift, which takes skiers into Blue Sky Basin from Vail's backside, and failed to do so properly because the chairlift's seat was apparently not completely down. Man fell through hole, ski got caught, boot didn't dislodge and he's hanging there waiting for help.

Vail reported that the man was suspended upside down for about seven minutes but was uninjured. Phew.

Who knew a day of skiing could turn into such a hair-raising, knuckle-clenching event? I guess I'll have to watch where I sit the next time I'm on a lift, just in case. Posted by Kate

Shopping Park City's Main Street

Photo grabbed from c8132 at flickr.com

Right away, you're probably thinking how shopping could possibly relate to Fit-Ink. But while I was in Park City, Utah, over the holidays, I found a connection between Main Street and fitness and not in the typical ski/snowboard rental shop variety.

Main Street is lined with 100-year-old buildings (I learned on this trip that Park City has at least 64 buildings on the National Register of Historic Buildings) with tenants featuring the likes of art galleries, restaurants, shops predominantly selling T-shirts, and specialty retailers ranging from designer boutiques to sportswear. Among specialty retailers, Main Street has a new kid on the block, Rossignol, which follows the company's move from Burlington, Vt., to Park City in 2006. I walked past the Rossignol store the other night on my way to Wahso for dinner (a must-go if you're ever in Park City), taking a second look and asking myself if it had been there the year before.

Alas, Craig McCarthy, Communications Director for the Park City Chamber of Commerce, confirmed that Rossignol was a new addition to historic Main Street (thank goodness I wasn't completely out of it when walking the street last year). And a good addition too, because I have to admit, the skis in the window were calling my name. DC Shoes, another component to the Quiksilver brand that runs Rossignol and Dynastar, set up shop across the street from Rossi with the latest and greatest in the snowboard market.

So now when I'm window shopping there's more to ogle at between the DC-inspired snowboard designs and clothing on one side of the street--577 Main--to the latest in skis, boots and bindings on the other--540 Main. And if the U.S. Ski Team is wearing it, who says I can't too? OK, maybe I need to wait for a demo day for the flashy new rides, but for now I'll bring out my Bandits on powder days.

Wanna read more about Rossignol, the company? Or its move? Posted by Kate