Pat Donnelly

Contact Information ASPEN, COLORADO Main Store 516 E Durant, Aspen, Colorado 81611 Phone: 888.404.7110 Fax: 970.925.7266 http://www.stefankaelin.com/about_stefan.htm

Thanks Eric! Be sure to view the rest of the photos under SPRING SESSION at www.pureboarding.com

Mammoth Mountain, CA (Wednesday, March 23, 2005) - At the same time that ski lifts sit idle in parts of the Pacific Northwest due to a lack of snow cover, it's been a banner snow year in other parts of the American West, including the southwest, the Intermountain Region, and in California. A few days after Utah's Alta Ski Area surpassed the 500-inch season snowfall total threshold, a March storm hit California's Mammoth Mountain with mid-winter force, dropping over 60 inches of new snow on the ski resort and pushing the season snowfall total over 500 inches. The new snow brought Mammoth's total base depth up to a massive 16 to 18 feet, setting up for excellent spring conditions and a snow pack that is expected to last into July. Season to date, Mammoth has received 508 inches of snow, and the storm is expected to continue through the end of the week, clearing up just in time for Easter weekend. Mammoth averages 400 inches of snow per winter and a skiing and snowboarding season that extends an average nine months each year.

Neil, The Claws intial claim was for edge hold and stabilty on East coast hard pack or ice. You may be better served in your area on something other if you are looking for a set that is lively and not too heavy. I spoke to Doug Dryer at SES and he was saying one of the hottest skis for this season was the Atomic Metron which may be hard to find at this point as many dealers were selling out of them.

That's what I bought for my wife a few years ago although I have yet to try them myself. Maybe this weekend? The reason she wanted these in the first place was for better edge hold on hard pack, but what the heck, she prefers the corduroy just as I do.

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11357-155_PEDIW2-2-Accessories-26-Cleaners-and-Lubricants/Pedro's-Ice-Wax-Chain-Lube-offerIN050QB1.htm Bob Jenney - might this be a longer lasting alternative to Pedro's Syn grease? Product Description The patented technology of Pedro's Ice Wax creates a pliable, super-slick, soft wax barrier to protect its underlying silicone and PTFE lubricant layer. Then, water-based cleaners penetrate every nook and cranny of the chain, lifting dirt to the surface while the slick wax releases the dirt from the chain. And Bob, applying grease to the receivers in the first place was a great suggestion - thank you. BTW - I picked this off one of Kent's links for bicycles - good links.

Whitefish, MT (Tuesday, March 15, 2005) - Big Mountain Resort has announced that it will close for the winter season on March 27, 14 days earlier than its regular scheduled closing date. “As we all know, this has been one of the warmest and driest winters on record in northwestern Montana, and the effects are becoming apparent on our slopes,” said Fred Jones, president and CEO of Big Mountain Resort. “Despite the difficult winter, we’re glad we have been able to provide some of the best skiing and riding conditions in the entire region. We’d like to thank all our employees and guests for making it another good season.” Big Mountain’s final weekend will include a “Rites of Spring Beach Party” at the Summit House on Saturday, March 26. On Sunday, March 27, an on-mountain Easter Egg hunt will commence in the morning with the grand prize being a 2005/06 season pass. A kid’s Easter Egg hunt will take place at the fire pit at 1 p.m. for ages 6 and under and at 1:30 p.m. for ages 7 and older. The annual end of season Furniture Race has been rescheduled for the closing day at 5 p.m. on Chair 3.

Get out there and ride! Snowshoe, WV (Monday, March 14, 2005) - So far this March, Snowshoe ski and snowboard resort in West Virginia has picked up 69 inches of snow. Their three-week snowfall total is now up to nearly 80 inches. Conditions are so good, the Intrawest-operated resort is extending the season by another week. The last day for skiing and riding for this year at Snowshoe is now set for April 10th.

Denver, CO (Friday, March 11, 2005) - Colorado ski and snowboard resort Steamboat today will give away 2,000 lift tickets for a free day of skiing or riding valid from April 2-10, 2005 (one lift ticket used per person per day). Two thousand coupons for free skiing will be distributed starting at 5:30 p.m. today at the Steamboat booth on the first floor main entrance of the REI Denver Flagship store. A maximum of two lift tickets will be given to each person while supplies last. The free lift ticket giveaway coincides with the in-store premiere of the ski movie, About A Skier, the winner of the Ski Action Category from the Steamboat Mountain Film Festival later that same evening at 7:00 p.m. Steamboat has enjoyed 16.67 feet of snow so far this winter with 51 inches since Feb. 8th. The resort is currently reporting a 55-inch base at mid-mountain, 66-inch base at the summit, with all 164 trails, 2,965 acres or 100% of the mountain open for skiing/riding.

will fit well into a double-ski SporTube. There is a double ski up for bid on e-bay - item #7140270732 $25 shipping via USPS seems out of line? I would think FedEx ground could do the job for less and the item should not require boxing.

Get a double-SKI SporTube http://www.sportube.com/pages/skis_two_pair.htm The ski model can expand more in length then the snowboard version. With two boards, I mount both sets of bindings on the top board. From Northwest Airlines - Ski Equipment: Hard shell cases are recommended when checking your ski equipment. A liability release form must be signed for plastic/soft ski bags.

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article605.html

18 waist is more like it 13 would be the SCR

Submitted a few tips to Tognar's and one day an apron showed up in the mail along with a thank you note.

You need either smaller feet or advance your bindings to eliminate the overhang/boot-out. I think IronMan Kent might be willing to take that board off your hands.;) I have the same Rossi in a 170 length (waist 13) available if you are interested.

$200 including shipping within lower 48.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312142811/102-5909889-1242562?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=507846&s=books&v=glance

I wrenched my back last month at the SES and ended up able to SKI the last two days with the help of "mother's little helper's" (600mg Ibuprofin + Vicodin). I just started to read "Backache: What Exercises Work", by Sobel & Klien. So far the read makes sense as it is saying most people "cannot accept that exercise is simply the best, most potent medicine available to treat a back problem." Don't expect instant relief as this should be a routine to live the rest of our days by. Detailed (back specific) exercises are outlined later in the book.

From FirstTracksOnLine Whitefish, MT (Thursday, March 3, 2005) - In an attempt to battle the perception that skiing and snowboarding across the northwest is a lost cause, Big Mountain Resort will take the snow to the road – literally. Today, Big Mountain Resort marketing director John Frandsen will drive a truck full of snow through Spokane and Seattle, arriving at the Tacoma, Wash. REI store for a radio promotion. “We’re trying to really hit the message home,” said Frandsen. “Winter may have left Seattle skiers and snowboarders in the dirt, but we’re trying to let them know that Montana still has snow. While we realize that this is not a banner year for any resort in the region, we still have five feet of snow at Big Mountain’s summit and the skiing and snowboarding is good. If you are looking for snow, you can come out to Big Mountain and have a great time.” Big Mountain still has five feet of settled snow at the summit with 80% of the terrain open despite the unusually warm conditions and lack of recent precipitation. While the lower south face has felt the effects of warm temperatures and low precipitation, the upper mountain continues to hold 60 inches at the summit, and the north face is buried top to bottom. From Seattle, just a day’s drive, a quick plane ride, or an overnight on the sleeper train will bring skiers and snowboarders to Big Mountain Resort above Whitefish, Montana. Big Mountain will join KISS radio in the parking lot of the Tacoma REI from 1-3 p.m. on March 10 for lift tickets, giveaways, and other prizes. A truckload of snow from Big Mountain will be the centerpiece of the promotion as Frandsen and his staff speak to Seattleites about how easy it is to get to Big Mountain.

Scott - You do not need to remove between runs but (as always) do make certain you are locked in before launching. That is, if you are using step-ins.

If you buy the toe warmers you may need to tape in place they wanted to ball up on me when I inserted my foot into my boots. They have added a full length foot warmer to their product line, but I have not tried this one yet buy plan on doing so next time it gets into single digit temps. http://www.grabberwarmers.com/warmers.htm I also have the Hot Tronics from a few years ago - kind of high maintence as it was recommended to fully discharge and re-charge the battery packs every 30 days. I got two seasons out of the first pack before it died. Supposedly the current versions are "new & improved". The Boot Gloves help retain heat AND help stop the snow from infiltrating in my 324's.

http://www.strattonfreestyle.com/Pages/stevek.htm

Woody Creek Tavern - a must see watering hole just west of Aspen. From the Aspen Daily News . . . 2/23/05 Report: Thompson requested loud send-off By Troy Hooper/Aspen Daily News Staff Writer text - It turns out the dean of gonzo isn't through holding class. One of Hunter S. Thompson's last wishes was to have his cremated body blasted out of a cannon onto his property at Owl Farm, George Tobia Jr., an East Coast entertainment lawyer who has represented the author for the past 15 years, told the Boston Globe this week. Friends of Thompson confirmed the wish to the Aspen Daily News on Tuesday, although one source said there are discussions under way that could be even "more exciting" than what the Boston Globe reported. Details, however, were unavailable. Other pilot discussions are underway to commemorate his life's work. Meanwhile, a commemoration for Thompson's close friends and family has been scheduled on March 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Belly Up nightclub in Aspen, a.k.a. Fat City - the name The Good Doctor initially prescribed to owner Michael Goldberg. A family spokesman said, "You know who you are" if you should attend. A public celebration of Thompson's life is planned for early this summer. No suicide note was found in the kitchen of Owl Farm where Thompson shot a .45-calliber into his head at about 5:42 p.m. Sunday and instantly died, according to Sheriff Bob Braudis, who said he had "zero" inkling his good friend was on the verge of killing himself in discussions the two had in recent weeks. But in the Boston Globe report, Thompson's attorney said preparations were being made. "This was definitely not spur of the moment," Tobia said. "He arranged to have things dealt with, and he wanted his family close by, but he didn't want anyone to know - he didn't want anyone to try to stop him." During the last few years of his life, Thompson, 67, suffered from a mounting list of ailments that included breaking a leg in Hawaii during a trip to his hotel suite's mini-bar, coping with an artificial hip and spinal surgery. Even so, the "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" author remained mostly upbeat with his friends. But, as his books and his neighbors can attest, Thompson's personality was volatile. "He came up to the house a few times when I was sleeping and left things to scare me," said Grammy-winning musician Jimmy Ibbotson, who lives up the road from Owl Farm, and is known for creating his own wild stories. "He left what looked like a human foot in front of my door. It was fake, but I was scared to death." As a budding writer, Thompson deeply admired Ernest Hemingway, who fatally shot himself in 1961 at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, at the age of 62. Hemingway's death clearly echoed in the minds of those familiar with Thompson's writings. "The strength of his youth became rigidity as he grew older. He was an old, sick, and very troubled man," Thompson wrote in a piece entitled "What Drew Hemingway to Ketchum." "The illusion of peace and contentment was not enough for him," wrote Thompson. "So, finally, and for what he must have thought the best of reasons, he ended it with a shotgun." Thompson's body was cremated in Glenwood Springs on Tuesday. The day before, his son, Juan Thompson, 40, placed a CD of favorite songs that Hunter had edited and titled: "Where were you when the fun stopped?" in back of the hearse that carried him to Farnum Holt Funeral Home. The playlist included songs by Warren Zevon, a longtime friend and political ally of Thompson who died of cancer last year. Zevon once discussed his relationship with Thompson to VH1. "The first exchange we ever had was about 10 years ago, when my daughter and I arrived in Aspen. I said, 'Dr. Thompson, I've got the most terrible headache you can ever imagine. I don't know what to do at this altitude.' He said, 'Acid.'"

From FirstTracksOnLine Bend, OR (Tuesday, February 22, 2005) - Coupons are now available at any Oregon and SW Washington Wells Fargo Bank branch redeemable for a $10.00 lift ticket at Mt. Bachelor on Friday, March 18, 2005. According to Mt. Bachelor spokesman Chris Johnston, “Skiers and snowboarders will search long and hard before they find a better deal than this!” Without coupons a regular priced adult, all-day lift ticket at Mt. Bachelor is $46.00, teen tickets are $39.00 and youth tickets are $28.00. Original coupons are required to redeem the special $10 lift ticket. Wells Fargo ticket coupons can be exchanged at any Mt. Bachelor ticket window on the day of the event only. Coupons and lift tickets are valid only on Friday, March 18, 2005. Lifts will be open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and four lift tickets may be purchased with each coupon. The Wells Fargo $10 Friday is an in-service day for many schools in the Northwest. It also begins the traditional Spring Break period for schools in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

http://www.tognar.com/bsreptips.html