This winter has not been great for skiing. It’s actually been about as bad as one could imagine. Some people have seen the lighter side of a dry winter by taking up hiking, mountain biking, golf, surfing, paddleboarding, ice skating, and day drinking. Many skiers, however, lost their sense of humor a while ago. That said, perhaps a sense of humor is just what we need to break on through to the other side. As weather models begin to indicate a storm train arriving next week, SBDC has dug up some SNL digital shorts to help get us down the stretch. What do they have to do with skiing? Absolutely nothing. But Andy Samberg and the gang are frickin funny so here you go and pray for snow!
Author: Rob (Page 17 of 27)
New Years Day in Truckee looking more like November 1 than January 1.
The Janky Films crew recently sacrificed a nice pair of skis to the snow gods. Let's hope the Janky boys, who relocated from Alta to Tahoe this season, see some Sierra caliber dumpage in 2012.
Shane McConkey would have turned 42 years old today. Friends climbed to the top of KT22 to sit beside the eagle and celebrate his life. Nearly three years since his passing his spirit seems stronger than ever. We’ll never forget you buddy.
Friends remember Shane beside the eagle shrine at the summit of KT22.
SBDC author Rob McCormick with Shane McConkey circa 1993
If there is a silver lining to our lack of snow it is that ice skating on local lakes is all time right now. Cold temperatures and no snow has turned many lakes into perfect slates of clean black ice. We’re talking better ice than an NHL Zamboni could produce. The combination of awesome ice and clear, dry hiking trails has brought into play an elusive sport known as backcountry ice skating. Small high alpine lakes are in perfect skating condition and easily accessible. If you want to turn your lack of snow frown upside down perhaps you should pack a lunch, pair of skates, and a nip of Scotch and head to the hills for some backcountry ice skating. It won’t be this good again until we have this bad of a start to winter again. And let’s hope that’s a long time.
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Here’s another great ice sport:
Back where it belongs. The Extreme Bench at Squaw.
Remember the Extreme Bench at Squaw Valley? You know, the one in front of Dave’s Deli? The bench where Squaw Valley’s raddest rad dogs would saddle up with a mediocre beer of the week and tell everyone how rad they got that day? Under the Cushing Regime, the Extreme Bench was removed to prevent riff raff from hanging out at the base of the mountain. Paradoxically, many of the apres dwellers they were trying to eliminate are now legends of skiing and guess what? The Extreme Bench is back! Although most of it’s former occupants have migrated to the sanctuary of the Chammy, it’s nice to know this artifact of ski culture is back where it belongs. Next time you’ve slayed every line on KT in a far radder fashion then everyone else at Squaw, maybe you should grab a tall boy from Dave’s, saddle up and let the spraying begin on the good old Extreme Bench.
Todd Offenbacher met with Mountain Riders Alliance founder Jamie Schectman to discuss his vision of sustainable ski areas.
Legends in their own minds Robb and Scott Gaffney will be on hand for a showing of G.N.A.R. in Tahoe City Thursday evening. This should be a rip roaring good time as anyone familiar with the movie knows. Doors open at 6pm at Hacienda Del Lago in the Boatworks Mall. The movie is free and Hacienda will have food and drink specials too.
G.N.A.R. – movie trailer from UnofficialNetworks.com on Vimeo.
The new and improved Wild Flour Bakery.
The remodeled ground level of Olympic House is open for business. Wild Flour bakery has tripled in size and has added heartier breakfast items to its lineup of tasty baked goods. The elevated section in front of Wild Flour that looked like a cheesy carnival room has been removed and wooden picnic tables have been added in front of the fireplace. The wall on the west side of the room has been blown out and replaced with comfy lounge furniture, a fireplace, and windows facing Cushing Pond and KT. For parents, the lounge is strategically located between the video arcade and a new kids play zone. More importantly, it’s just downstairs from Bar One and a short skip to the Chammy. Lockers and remodeled bathrooms occupy the hallway where the arcade used to be. Basically KSL has taken a disgusting, outdated space and turned it into a contemporary ski lodge that has something for everyone.
A pilot study on backcountry travel between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows may lead to limited access as soon as the later half of this ski season. The area under review is wilderness land to the west of Troy Caldwell’s White Wolf zone and does not involve his property. Check out details courtesy of Moonshine Ink:
Moonshine Ink report on backcountry access between Squaw and Alpine
Unofficial Squaw reporter Miles Clark met with Troy Caldwell recently to discuss the connection of Squaw and Alpine through Troy’s White Wolf property. Apparently, Troy has no intention of selling the property to Squaw outright but intends to partner with KSL to fulfill his vision for White Wolf resort and ski area. Check out the interview courtesy of Unofficial Networks:
Miles Clark Interview with Troy Caldwell
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