Pat Donnelly

"Carve Your Enthusiasm" from Nubs Nob, MI

Right on chris! Why go anywhere else?

Feb 2007 issue arrived in the mailbox today - "Buck Hill, Minn., is the fastest little mountain in the midwest"

try http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/

Real old fashoned "slow-toasted" Oatmeal, good stuff! Can't wait to use this to make a batch of Gruel. The slow-toasted, nutty flavor of our award-winning oatmeal is enjoyed worldwide. Slow-toasted means it's roasted like a coffee bean, not steamed in a giant vat, bringing out a rich, chewy goodness that will start your day off right. http://www.christineandrobs.com/products.html

Thanks Dr. Sandman! Provocyclist - I tried and must say these are not made as OTG. You might want to look into a pair of Rx sunglasses from Panoptx http://www.panoptx.com/html/prescription.htm Their feature is google type foam around the eye sockets to block wind. My Rx pair was around $300.

Buggs - what are your angles set at on your A.M? Try a few runs at lower settings 55/50 or 50/45 and just ride relaxed, more freestylish / upright. A little less driving with the knees might help. You may be better off with the A.M. in Aspen as your 184 Rossi responds to muscle and drive.

Check your local listings for the weekend of Jan 27th and Feb 2nd. Re-broadcast of what was recorded in 2005. http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/

Check your local listings http://www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage/frampton/featured.htm

Google "back pain exercise ball" Works for me

Other options: Pre-season Warren Miller spiff usually includes a voucher to the Boyne's. Frequent rider card ($50) gets you 5 days af FREE skiing in early Jan, this did not work out for me this season; plus you get $10 off per day / per ticket. Limit one discount per card. Call Boyne Sports in Petosky to inquire about buying lift tickets in advance or on the day of at the store location. You might save a few bucks? Might be on en-route for you if you are going to The Highlands? You might want to avoid The Mountain on March 17th?

Providing our season extends . . . Birchwood Inn offer: Spring Ski Free March 25 until the end of the season This package is based on total occupancy, $79 for two people, plus taxes provides one night's lodging, continental breakfast and two one day lift tickets for either Nub's Nob or Boyne.

Tim, I ride front locked and rear in walk mode. I find this offers the flexibility needed to get low. Several riders that you know from Buttermilk ride in the same manner. I used to complain about rear heel lift but it's just how I ride. I have tried to stand flat footed and grab a rail and I just can't do this with out raising my rear heel. Part of the "comfort" zone feel may have come from starting our with the super soft and comfortable Nordica SBH boots?

In 2000 and 2001 Snowboard Life / TWSnowboarding publiished annual resort guides that I still flip through from time to time. Several photos by James Cassimus. Carver's featured: 2000 edition Kevin Thompson - Mountain High John Lee - Sun Valley Mike Jacoby - PCMR Will Garrow - Copper Larry Ledingham - Buttermilk Shannon Melhuse - Ski Apache 2001 edition Kevin Delaney - Mamoth (soft boot photo) Bill Bordy - Sun Valley Mike Doyle - The Canyons Matt Kroviski - Steamboat Cliff Ahumada - Buttermilk

From FirstTracksOnLine Lake Louise (AB), Canada - Lake Louise Mountain Resort has received more snow, generated a deeper snowpack, and opened more terrain earlier than any previous year on record, making 2006-07 the best ski and snowboard season to date at the Alberta resort. The resort surpassed the three-meter (10-foot) mark for accumulated snowfall on January 6th, which is the earliest in 38 years of record keeping. This was two days ahead of the epic season of 1998-99, which had previously been the benchmark ‘best snow year’…until this year. As of January 10, Lake Louise has had 3.28 meters (11 feet) of accumulated snowfall, as measured at the treeline, which is 168% above average for this time of year. The resort received 20cm (eight inches) overnight Tuesday night and 44cm (17 inches) in the past week. All lifts and 139 of 139 runs are open for skiing and snowboarding. Says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for parent company Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, “The conditions have been terrific since our opening day in November, but the continued record snowfall has taken the Lake Louise experience to a whole new level. People are enjoying some of the best ski days of their life right now.” “I’ve been snowboarding for 10 years and have traveled around the world looking for the Ultimate Ride. The snow at Lake Louise blew my mind and is by far some of the best I’ve experienced," said Daniel Hobachi, visiting from Toronto on Tuesday.

Ryan, You may want to order up a pound of fresh roasted for your own evaluation: http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.roasted.html I believe they roast on Monday's and orders are sent out the same day. There is a lot of information within the links from my first post. I have yet to purchase a drum roaster and am now on my third I-Roast; each time was an upgrade and to replace worn out roasters. I started thinking about getting into home roasting after a Starbucks opened near the work place. What got me wondering was how I could not come close to Starbucks quality brewed coffee at home when I was using Starbucks bean; I used a Bunn brewer, Proctor Silex percolator and even a Bodum press pot. I then visited a local commercial bean roaster and was pretty much told my results would improve if I started using freshly roasted bean. I bought some of his roasted bean then I search out home roasting equiipment. I do my roasting in our garage as there is a good deal of smoke, but it smells really good. Suppose you could do this inside providing you have an exterior venting hood vent.

Dan - I think we lodged at the Best Western but this was a mile or so from "downtown". You might find something on the mountain . . . Hello Shred? For dinner - gotta go to Mambo Italiano. Try to get there early and sit up front at the bar to catch all the (cooking) action. Best place in town!! Best run - IMO, Ed's run - fixed grip chair, wide open, less attacks approaching from behind. Do check out the on mountain Hell Roarin basin bar for lunch.

You might want to call and talk to Sean before you buy. Based on your size I'd say you might be better off with a 179 FCII.

Either one of your Doneks. If you need something other, then drop a line to inquire about Bomber's demo fleet. Not too far East on I-70. Good eats at the Dam Brewery too! Same exit as the Bomber factory.

Clarkston, MI - Ski areas across Michigan have teamed up with the state's McDonald's restaurants to offer a popular and very affordable introduction to the sport of skiing and snowboarding, called Discover Michigan Skiing. The program, which has run every January for the past 14 years, includes a beginner lesson, ski or snowboard rental equipment and a beginner-area ski lift pass or cross-country trail pass. Twenty-one ski facilities are offering the package, which will be honored through January 31. The price for the Discover Michigan Skiing program - downhill or cross-country skiing - is $30 for adults and $25 for children seven to 14 years old. The snowboard price is $40, for everyone 10 years and older. The lesson normally covers basic maneuvering on skis or snowboards, including stopping, turning, riding the lifts, and getting up from a fall. The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) administers Discover Michigan Skiing as one element of its "Cold is Cool" program, which is dedicated to offering winter outdoor fitness programs for Michigan children and their families. To sign up, interested beginners must have a Discover Michigan Skiing Value Voucher. They are available at participating Michigan McDonald's restaurants and MSIA retail ski stores in mid-December while quantities last. A printable voucher is also available online at www.goskimichigan.com. The voucher lists all ski facilities offering the program. Participants choose the place they wish to visit and then must call to pre-register. Ski facility personnel will give instructions on what to wear and where to meet. Program times differ from ski area to ski area and skiers must call for reservations. Steve Kershner, MSIA chairman and director of skiing for Shanty Creek in Bellaire, suggests calling as early as possible, since lesson times fill quickly. As a special bonus, everyone who completes the program will receive a packet of ski information in the mail, including a coupon valid for $20 off the purchase of $100 or more in ski-related merchandise at participating MSIA retail ski shops. Ski areas participating in Discover Michigan Skiing are located throughout the state and include: Apple Mountain in Freeland Bittersweet in Otsego Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls Caberfae Peaks in Cadillac Cannonsburg in Cannonsburg Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon Hanson Hills in Grayling Indianhead Mountain in Wakefield Marquette Mountain in Marquette Mt. Brighton in Brighton Mt. Holiday in Traverse City Mt. Holly in Holly Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs Pine Knob in Clarkston Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain Shanty Creek in Bellaire Swiss Valley Ski Area in Jones The Homestead in Glen Arbor Timber Ridge Ski Area in Gobles Treetops Resort in Gaylord.

Aspen, CO - The 11th annual ESPN Winter X Games will be held in the Colorado ski and snowboard resort of Buttermilk, near Aspen, for the sixth consecutive year, from Thursday, January 25th through Sunday, January 28th. The event will remain at Aspen/Snowmass through 2010, for a total of nine consecutive years (2002-2010). All Winter X Games competitions will take place at Buttermilk Mountain, one of the four Aspen Skiing Company resorts. Winter X Games 11 will air live on television in the U.S. on ESPN and ABC and will feature nighttime events. The event will also be displayed on various ABC and ESPN distribution platforms, including television, Internet, cell phones, iPods and more. Winter X Games 11 will feature events in Moto X, Skiing, Snowboard and SnoCross. Athletes from around the globe will be competing. For the 2007 Games, Snowmobile Freestyle will make it's debut.

Two things you might try 1) a thinner sock such as a nylon liner although you did not mention what you had on. Just a suggestion. 2) remove the liner, insert your foot to see if the shell you have is correct for your foot. Check the how to but I believe you want 1 to 1.5 finger widths clearence behind the heel area when your toes are all the way forward. If the shell is correct them maybe a moldable liner is the answer?

I remember last year there were a few lifties asking about carving gear and demo availabilty BUT this was a week after the 2006 SES. Had they only known!

Fresh is best!! Try eating a whole roasted store bought bean and they taste stale compared to a fresh roasted bean. I think I started roasting about 5 or 6 years ago. Links . . . http://www.lucidcafe.com/homeroast.html http://www.sweetmarias.com/ - you can order fresh roast here + lots more. http://www.i-roast.com/index.php - the I-Roast 2 is my current roaster http://www.williamsbrewing.com/

Ken, Go to one of the BIG BOX stores, Home Depot or Lowes, and I think you will find what you need. And if you really want to protect your (board) edges buy some of the pre-slit foam pipe insulation; secure with big rubber bands or long strips of velcro. Might want to use the foam to protect any clothing you might pack in the tube from getting cut by sharp edges.