kathy brower

Killington and Jay are both still open - don't know about anyone else. Both have bare spots and rapidly diminishing terrain & require walking As of Friday Killington had bare spots and rocks on Superstar - which normally has good coverage for another couple weeks anyway. My Ride board has been transformed into a rock board. Jay might get a little snow???? I think I'm done for the season - although my new board is in and perhaps when I get a good look at it I'll have to see if Mammoth or elsewhere has enough snow for new gear -

w/e = weekend - the time when you play and I work (I really do have a job...) - ie the 22nd and 23rd are w/e days. Well I've got alot to think about. - I have to be careful or you'll make it more complicated than carving and my simple brain will explode - all this info about torque, ergo's, after market links, stock adjustments..... I'll figure out in the next couple of weeks what I'm gonna do and how much I want to spend etc. - We may sell our lake house which would free up alot of cash and make me more inclined to get a more expensive bike. Kathy

I always wanted a BMW! Cool looking bike - but I looked up the specs -> seat height and weight and it is bigger & taller than the Ninja 500 and alot bigger than the 250 (1.5 inches taller, 115 lbs heavier). Although I rode the 500 a fair amount I was never as comfortable on it - the light size of the 250 is also good for me - (I could even push it up a hill and pop it when it wouldn't start - something I could not do with the 500) Sooo - I am really leaning towards getting another 250 - despite small size and low price it is (or at least was) an extrememly peppy and fun bike - Sad thing is I likely won't get to ride much with you guys as I imagine most of your trips are on the w/e? Who makes the sv650? Kathy

I had a 250 Ninja for a couple of years - it was my sole form of transportation from March to Nov one year when I was living in NYC so I put alot of miles on it. I loved that bike. It was stolen off the street in Manhattan one night (I usually paid a fortune to garage it and only left it out once!) Then when I went to get another bike I also thought maybe I should get a bigger one - I thought an FZR would be cool but could barely touch my toes to the ground - so I got a Ninja 500 and it was still too big for me. I really liked the 250 better - Unless you guys know of any other small bikes to consider that is probably what I would get. We have a friend that reconditions and sells used bikes so I could probably get a cheaper used one that was reliable too - although I do like NEW gear... (sounds like I am getting more tempted by the minute???? )

Well I look forward to hearing you guys gloat over weekend water skiing parties to get me back for all my weekday riding gloating - I am working every weekend this summer so will have to stick to weekday skiing - hopefully we will get our boat in the water for a bit before we sell our house - if any of you guys are free weekdays we are always looking for a third wakeboarder or skier willing to get up early when the water is Glasssss I am Jonesing already for the snowboarding and I haven't even stopped yet - that might be the problem with going so many days - I am going to have to go through withdrawal - hope I don't lose control during first non riding days and do something crazy like go out and buy another 250 Ninja - do you guys allow girlies in your riding club??

As of Tue at Jay and Wed at Killington all major snowmaking trails have edge to edge coverage with no bare spots. (at Killington post storm ungroomed trails did have rare hidden bare spots - East fall awesome no bare - Chute nice freshies but a few bare spots underneath, bottom of Bear Mountain a rare bare spot) Surprisingly turns out they each got about the same amount of snow 8-10" (4-5 wet heavy good base - 4-5 lighter on top)- Although Jay will likely get more over the next day or so... Groomed trails at Killington should be terrific for carving tomorrow - biggest problem at both mountains is that they have closed key lifts for the season at least for weekdays making access of my favorite trails tough. Other big problem at Killington today was hoardes of PSIA snowboarders and PSIA tele skiers and English tourists plus a big race- snow was fine but I was finally driven away by the packs - hopefully Thursday will be better crowd wise cause I think the snow will be perfect... and I have a sinking feeling it might be the last great carving day of the season for me For the weekend I bet Jay would be the best bet for carving

Geoff - How was Tuckermans? Today was day 76 at Jay where it started snowing around 8am then PUKED snow all day at > 1inch per hour Good Day! - forecast is for 12-18inches over next day or so then partly cloudy and warmer on Thursday ummmmm

rode at Sunapee for last day :(

Well - I made it through a painful dose of back to reality, problems, responsiblity and chores today - guess I'm prepped to go back to work tomorrow .... So how was sunny, empty Sunapee?

Can't make it ----> bummer

Well Eric, You picked a good day to sleep in - the snow was not nearly as good as Thursday - by 9am snow was about like 1pm on Thur and there were a fair number of people there.......Sunapee is losing ground fast :(

Vermont snow report - Day #63 (yes Geoff I am trying to rub it in) - 8 + inches of fresh at Jay and still snowing hard when I left made for a lovely day at Jay (and yes I was on my Ride) I guess it is up to Eric and me to carry the Thursday carving torch just in case one of you guys decides to call in sick cause you don't want to wait 8-9 more months to go carving again (assuming you start in Dec not Jan) - :lol: I even promise to write you a bonfide "I was too sick to work" excuse if you show up kathy

Awesome time! I had fun riding with all - and the banquet was fun too - I really liked watching everyone win stuff and although I was jealous it was great to see TT get the custom board! I think I'll just have to keep going to ECES and/ or SES until I win a board :D

Snow report from NH today: No rain at my house this am -- I chose Loon over Killington- weather report at Killington was for - ugh - freezing rain Drove through hard driving rain thinking I was making a mistake - got there and the lifts were on hold d/t thunder and lightening BUT then they finally opened a little before 10am - and it ended up being great. Snow was perfect conditions for my little Kashmir Ride (heavy cement) and I ended up having a great day - AND not one drop of rain fell at Loon all day - flurries by the time I left. Coverage still decent. Rare bare spot at the base. Best of all there was NO ONE there I actually rode the gondi by myself every time - unheard of at Loon for those of you that don't go there Paul I do not know Killington ticket prices - check web site - not cheap I'm sure...... Eric check your email

Are you guys..umm...really done for the seaon? No more riding or no more weekday riding is what I've heard from some... There is still a month of good riding left anyway (I hope) - granted today will probably suck but Wednesday and Thursday are getting colder, sun coming out and should be better. Killington is still making snow and Jay is forecasting up to 20" over the next couple of days.... With our good Sunapee carving Karma I bet Thursday will be good.... Kathy

Here is a bonafide warm and fuzzy thank you from NH (almost Maine) - Thank you all SOOOO much for all the work in bringing demos and the effort you all made to have them there every day. I had a ball at ECES and got to demo some boards - Planned to on Wednesday but that didn't work out and I did NOT think it was anyones fault just made it work for a different day. Please do not think opinions of Mirror 70 are shared by most. Common sense suggests if you made the effort to come you would want the demos available as much as possible.

Wow - another awesome day. I was totally stoked that two more women carvers showed up today too. Jen - now we just need to find a way for the school system to give you Thursday's off - Jen (Manch Mike) Check your email. Geoff, Bob, Eric and Ben - How were your boards?? We missed riding with you. I hope I have the patience to demo some boards at Sugarloaf :p Bob - I expect a full report next week on how much your dogs love their cubes - so you have to try them out before you leave. See you guys in Maine Kathy

Thanks & Parris would agree 100%

The person that died after hitting a tree at Sunapee on Friday, Mark Parris was a friend of ours. He was an avid and competent skier taking winters off from work to ski. He was in general a fine athlete and also a terrific person. My husband is somewhat shell shocked as this is his second friend to die skiing in less than 2 years. Somewhat alarming - I do not believe Parris was going at a high rate of speed when he crashed. What we understand to have happened is that he was on lower blast and saw a good pal of his teaching a class - and in classic Parris style went to goof on his pal by running over his skiis then looked back to see the results of his silliness, lost control and crashed into a tree. He died at DHMC that night. Due to the rapid and competent resuscitative efforts of Sunapee patrol and DHART he was able to donate all of his transplantable organs. Despite above I am most likely in for riding on Thursday :) - svcs are Sunday and I can't go anyway. I will do my best to not be morose or timid (I keep thinking of Parris going off the edge when I am near the side of the trail - ugh) - can't stay for after :( TT I will bring the boots... Also have Eric's board and Bob's bindings to return ...

I will be at North Peak chair a little before 8am (don't they open at 8am on Sun?) - If I don't see you I will check back a little before 9am. See you in am... KB P.S. You're right about 89 - It's usually the worst right around Warner! I have Hakkepulata tires (or however you spell them) and front wheel drive so my car goes pretty good in the snow

Sunapee sounds good - I hope I don't scare you on my softies (In more than 2-3 inches I usually ride softies) - I'm flying home tomorrow night but should beat the storm and be home in plenty of time to make first chair :) KB

thanks tx1230 Killington is the last place I will likely go on Sunday - Maybe Killington Monday - for Sunday I may end up going closer to home if it is snowing

Anyone riding Sunday? How about Pico? I haven't been in years but hear they are a good bet for Sundays. I have some ACS coupons that I would be happy to share - I think one is $30 off.... kathy B

Out for 2-9 Back for 2-16 though - Geoff - I thought you were around next week? kathy B

Wow - more ideas to try - Thanks! Just got back from 3 days of riding and have been trying some of the stuff... I think the thing that has helped the most so far is a reminder from Bob and Baka of yet another thing that PSR taught me - I have been working on lifting my right arm / shoulder(when on toe side) and stretching out my side (and keeping my left arm on it's side of the body) 8" of fresh so I rode my Donek only on Sun then softies Mon and Tue after the snow- but it turns out I was doing the lean thing on my softies too - and I think I have made some improvement. I also widened my stance to 18.5 inches - tough change at first but I think it does give me more stability - I think I will back off to maybe 18" for now. - Allee I think you are taller than me? So maybe that works out to be similiar? Anyway how are you? How is the season treating you? I saw you went to a performance camp - I may try that next year. D-Sub "so far those are the best pics of a female recreational carver I have seen. I'll leave what's "missing" to others...you're already aware..." very kind words - However I do know several women some of whom ride regularly at Killington and Stratton that can smoke me on the more challenging trails. Kathy