Pat Donnelly

By Michael Conniff/Aspen Daily News Staff Writer The hopes and cheers for local hero Chris Klug of Aspen came crashing to earth Friday afternoon in the worst possible fashion when the Olympic bronze medallist fell during ESPN Winter X Games IX at Buttermilk Ski Area, and broke his clavicle "crossing the damn finish line." Klug's friend, Dr. Tom Pevny at Aspen Valley Hospital, will perform surgery on the Aspen snowboarding star this morning. The prognosis: Klug is out for at least six weeks. "It wasn't the course," Klug said. "The course was fine. I hurt myself crossing the damn finish line. I was shutting it down because I was going pretty fast. I was coming in so hot I was afraid I was going to hurt the audience. I panicked and caught an edge." "You could tell immediately something was wrong with his shoulder," said Missy April, Klug's girlfriend. "He had a violent fall and he grabbed his shoulder. He touched it and the bone moved back and forth." Klug is the recipient of a liver transplant but the injury in the Snowboarder X qualifier is his first ever as a snowboarder -- and it comes at a particularly inopportune time. Klug, 32, was literally ready to board an airplane this afternoon after the competition to fly to Slovenia for a training session with the United States Olympic team in preparation for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turino, Italy. "They're going to the Olympic hill," Klug said of his teammates. "It's a dress rehearsal. That's the real bummer. I said to myself after this happened: 'What was I thinking?' I was out of control from top to bottom. It was pretty sketchy." Adding insult to injury, the crash came in a dangerous event that Klug has only done twice in his life -- giant slalom is his forte -- and the irony is that Klug did not even come close to qualifying. His time of 1:00.19 in the time trial Friday was good for just 25th place, with only the top 18 qualifying, though Klug had broken his collarbone before he knew the result. Klug came in 15th at the U.S. Snowboarding Championships in Whistler, B.C., this winter "It was fun," he said of competing in only his second X Games. "But it's not the safest thing. My specialty is turning and there's not a damn turn in the course. The X Games were still fun but my focus is on the Olympics." Klug, known in the Roaring Fork Valley for his equanimity, displayed his resilience Friday night by going right from the hospital to a book-signing at the Explore Book Store, where friends and admirers came by to pay their respects as the Percoset took effect. The name of his book: "To The Edge and Back." michael@aspendailynews.com

From Aspen's Mountiain Photo - action shots "Buttermilk Poles". Location is under the high speed chair "Summit Express" about 1/3 of the way up teh mountain from the base. Joey http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999865&type=portrait Mike http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999870&type=portrait http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999868&type=portrait Terry http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999835&type=portrait Larry http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999879&type=portrait http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999881&type=portrait Walter http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999994&type=portrait http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999995&type=portrait http://www.aspensnowmass.com/store/photo/detail.cfm?photoID=999873&type=portrait

Head over to the top or second chair on the beginner's side the K-L chairs. I think Lumberjack is the name. It is green but usually it has the least amount of traffic on the mountain and the groomed conditions will last well beyond 10a.m. Beyond that, I would suggest staying with the runs serviced by fixed grip chairs as there will be less traffic on these runs. I know there is a fixed grip chair near the base of the K lift and there is another near the summit. If you get a chance you should try a day at Loveland.

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=12b80d33-4a67-4aaa-b004-f08a1dc8d127

Applicable to snow sport helmets as well. Helmet Replacement Recommendations Giro generally recommends that riders replace their helmet every 3-5 years (obviously helmets that are involved in a crash or otherwise damaged should be inspected and replaced as appropriate). We post this general recommendation, along with instructions for Helmet Care, Fit, Use, etc. in our Owner's Manuals and on our website in the FAQ section. (http://www.giro.com/usa/gir_faq.html) Helmet Life-span To understand the reasoning behind our replacement recommendation, it may help to learn a little about helmets: Most CPSC-certified cycling helmets use liners made of 'expanded polystyrene' (EPS), which has been used in cycling and motorsport helmets for more than 40 years. EPS helps to prevent injury to the brain by compressing and absorbing the energy of an impact. We use EPS because it's the best material known for absorbing impact energy predictably and effectively over the widest range of temperatures and conditions. But as good as EPS is, it will not last forever. Its performance can degrade over time, and can be affected by environmental factors and handling (similar examples: tires dry out and/or wear down, chains rust and/or stretch, etc). Since every helmet is subject to different conditions over the course of its life, we prefer to be on the cautious side with our general recommendation for replacement. Hence, our recommendation of 3-5 years.

http://www.canada.com/sports/story.html?id=90146e46-2c50-4f62-8c98-3654d0682f61

Bend, OR (Tuesday, January 18, 2005) - On Friday, January 28, Oregon's Mt. Bachelor ski and snowboard resort will give away thousands of dollars in lift tickets in an effort to fill the warehouses of the Central Oregon Action Agency Network (COCAAN) and feed the needy of Central Oregon. Guests who bring three cans of food or non-perishable food items to mountain ticket windows starting at 7:30 a.m. on Free Ski Day will be treated to an all-day lift ticket or Nordic Trail Pass courtesy of Mt. Bachelor. The lifts will begin operating that day at 9:00 a.m. Mt. Bachelor and the radio stations of Combined Communications are also encouraging guests to bring more than just three cans of food. “Last year our guests donated 26,780 pounds of food and we gave out 6,800 lift tickets,” said Mt. Bachelor spokesman Chris Johnston. “This filled the COCAAN warehouses, but they were empty again three weeks later.” According to the COCAAN website Oregon ranks number one in the United States for food insecurity with hunger and Oregon ’s hunger rate is nearly twice the national average. In Deschutes County over half of those receiving social services have had to reduce meal sizes or skip meals altogether because they do not have enough money to buy food. More food, especially nutritional food, can help to alleviate hunger. Mt. Bachelor encourages guests to donate canned tuna, chicken and salmon, canned and boxed meals such as soup, chili, stew, and macaroni & cheese, peanut butter, canned beans and peas, pasta, rice, and cereal, powdered milk and 100 percent fruit juices. For safety reasons guests are asked to not donate rusty or unlabeled cans, homemade items, non-commercially packaged items, alcoholic beverages, mixes or soda, open or used items. “Thanks to the Source Weekly, Knott Landfill, US Postal Service and volunteers from the National Guard and Juvenile Center we can do so much for those served by COCAAN,” Johnston added. “We hope our guests take advantage of Free Ski Day, but we also hope they donate time, food or money at other times of the year. Three National Guard vehicles sit filled with foodstuffs for the Central Oregon Action Agency Network warehouses from the Free Ski Day food drive in 2004. (photo: Dowayne Robertson)

http://www.kc-international.com/backprotection1.html

Watcha doin with your hands on the snow? Andrew okay?

Lots of information on Tognar's http://www.tognar.com/ http://www.tokowax.com/ http://www.race-werks.com/store.php?cat_id=18

the one time I asked earlier in the week (off-line) the high bid was $275 . . . . IF this still stands then I offer $280

http://www.canada.com/sports/story.html?id=6f2a3777-2c5c-4010-bd9c-32300d561af2

This board is heading to Utah!!!! And yes, this is the YELLOW one.

I have twins and am letting one go. Board is in very good condition - stone ground spring 2004 with about 12 days of riding on since that time. SCR = 15 $225 - shipped to lower 48.

It's raining North of Detroit today and heading to near 60*F - look out yyz, this front in heading towards you. I read they raised the EPIC flag at Highlands yesterday for the first time this season! Link to conditions at Aspen's four mountain's http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/reports/default.cfm Grooming report http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/reports/grooming.cfm?area=Buttermilk short term extended outlooks for Colorado, California areas www.snowforecast.com

Jan. 11, 2005 (KSL/AP)-- Utah mountains are getting hit hard with snow, forcing Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons to close down for the night. A popular ski resort also shut down for the day. Little Cottonwood Canyon was closed at 4:00 and Big Cottonwood Canyon will close at 6:00 Tuesday evening. All those currently in the canyon will have to spend the night there. Alta ski resort closed today because of avalanche danger. The resort has received snow every day for the past two weeks, totaling more than nine feet. Resort officials say it's rare they're forced to shut down because of too much snow. Meanwhile, seven inches is being reported at Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon. So far this season, Utah resorts have received as much as 34 feet of snow.

If so, then 17 would be your number. The 184 is 15 . . . soon to be one for sale.

where you plan on staying / riding and further input or suggestions or meetups could follow. Feedback on your return is also apprectiated - photos too. Have fun and ride safe.

http://www.pureboarding.com/en/ See both Days 1 | 2 And pages 1 | 2

http://homepage.mac.com/demark/tsunami/1.html

well at least I am surfing blind - under user profile you can elect your ID not to appear while you are browsing here. :)

Whatever you tweak I would say try not to make more than one change at a time. I used to ride 3/3 and switched to 3/0 - mo betta for me. You might try advancing your angles - I am set around 63/60.

Paul - you might need some SportLegs. Works for me! http://www.sportlegs.com/about/welcome.asp

Check out Homewood Suites in Midvale. Get to Snowbasin on a bluebird day and head to the Strawberry side. http://www.saltlakecityinfo.org/ http://www.skiutah.com/ http://www.rideutah.com/ Tickets??? You might contact http://www.saltypeaks.com/ Or that place near the entrance to Big Cottonwood canyon, near Porcupines bar/restaurant (good spot to eat/drink) - I think it was called The Lift House?

I try to take a paper towel to the receiver and pins to wipe clean at least once week then re-apply Pedro's. Rotating your receivers will also help extend life but do as Dave - big M - whatever said.