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At last night’s (11/12/2008) meeting we had guest speakers from Signature Fitness. They provided insight to simple exercises to prepare to the upcoming ski (and snowboard) season. In literally minutes per week we can easily reduce the “I hurt everywhere” the day after the first day we get back on the slopes. Our thanks go out to the folks from Signature for taking the time to come and speak. Check out their website at: http://www.signaturefitness.net/
Please see attached flyer for information regarding the Hidden Valley Ski Patrol Beefsteak Dinner and Slow-dance on Saturday November 22, 2008.
link to flyer ==> Hidden Valley Ski Patrol BEEFSTEAK DINNER AND SNOW-DANCE
The season is officially underway!
This past Wednesday’s party was attended by over 70 members. It began with an excellent recap slide show of the past year’s events skillfully choreographed to music. This was followed by a continuous silent slide show - thanks to all the photographers and videotographers and to Larry for putting the movie and slide show together. Of course there were general party activities: eat – drink – talk – repeat.
Time to wax the skis and boards any think SNOW!
See you on the slopes…
Written by Craig Desantis
Photography by Diane Bogert
Gallery created by guess who.
The idea of doing a pub tour of Vermont had cropped up now and then over the years, but it was Don Taggart who made it happen. Our pub, grub and wine tour actually started the Friday night before when we all arrived at the lodge for this adults only weekend. Beer, wine, and various other spirits flowed as we gathered in the dining room to just kick back. As it so happened, it was Glen DeSantis’s birthday so of course we had to sing “Happy Birthday” and share some birthday cake. One would think that would be enough, but as the night progressed several more choruses of “Happy Birthday” erupted.
Needless to say that by the next morning, several individuals who shall remain nameless were suffering from too much partying the night before and one individual ended up at the hospital. It seems Chuck Emory fell out of his bunk, hit his nose on the chair on the way down, and needed stitches. The doctors worked quickly when they realized the urgency of patching up Chuck so that he could get back in time to board the bus.
After making sure that Chuck was secured in his seat on the bus, our tour departed from the club lodge. Our first stop was the Otter Creek Brewery in Middlebury where we received a personalized tour that explained the finer points of beer making. Afterwards we tasted various samples of their beers and browsed through the store for souvenirs and beer to go.
Our next stop was the Shelburne Winery, which overlooks Lake Champlain. Our group gathered outside next to the vineyards where we spent time sampling the winery’s various wines and snacked on cheese and crackers.
The Magic Hat Brewery in South Burlington was next. We did not take a tour, but went straight to their company store called the “Artifactory,” where the interior décor looked like a snowboarder hangout. Is there any coincidence that they are in Burlington, VT, home of the original snowboard manufacturer, Burton? We hung out for a while for more beer sampling and T-shirt buying.
Next was Switchback Brewery. We were again fortunate to receive a brief talk on their brewing process and sampled their product. The bus ride from place to place was never dull. Just when things would get a little quiet, someone would start to sing “Happy Birthday” to Glen and we’d all join in. This happened quite a few times throughout our journey.
On to the heart of Burlington! We stopped for lunch at the RiRa-Gaelic Pub/Restaurant, which is located in the Church Street Marketplace. The buffet lunch we enjoyed was quite the feast. We had a couple hours to ourselves to shop, walk around, hang out, or visit the nearby Three Needs Brewery Pub and Vermont Pub and Brewery. Then it was back on the bus for the hour ride to our final destination.
The last stop on our tour was for dinner at the Peavine Pub/Restaurant in Stockbridge where many of us dined on their famous flat bead pizza. Glen was surprised once again with a birthday cake and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” from all of us.
Don Taggart proved once again that Craigmeur Ski Club is more than just a ski club. The trip was fluid, well organized, and we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. A big thank you and kudos to Don Taggart for doing such a terrific job on his first organized event for the club. And by the way, Glen…. Happy Birthday!
Written by Sue Ticotin
The following is from Larry Ticotin:
As webmaster, I often receive suggestions, comments, and complaints about the Craigmeur web site. One such comment revealed that too many photos of one individual always seems to dominate our photo galleries. As I explained to this individual, I spend sometimes several hours to sort through and select the best photos, but I can only work with what people give me. As it turns out, it is usually the same folks that are taking pictures. So if you want more variety of photos, please remember to bring your camera to our events. Snap away and I will gladly post your photos. Please click here to view this special photo gallery.
Photos by Larry Ticotin, John Generoso, Wendy Brescia, Susan Priore
Photo Gallery and Video by Larry Ticotin
A message from Larry Ticotin, VP and Webmaster for Craigmeur Ski Club:
On October 15, 2008 the club was fortunate to have guest speaker, Roni Mattiello, Snowsport Director for Hidden Valley Ski Area. Susan Priore obtained this brief outline of important details covered during the meeting (thanks Susan):
With over $750,000.00 in upgrades since October, the new owners of The Hidden Valley Club are expecting a fabulour season.
Our philosophyis to listen to whaat our customers’ needs and expectation are.
Ø We’ve widened the Helenback trail
Ø Updgraded trails
Ø Added 17 new snow cannons, increasing snowmaking capability
Ø The lodge has been newly painted with an effort to preserve the beautiful wood chalet
Ø New roof and gutters enhance the lodge’s beauty
Ø Food and beverage equipment added to our kitchen
Ø New high-quality rental equipment skis, snowboards and boots by Rossignol
Ø New fire sprinkler system installed throughout the lodge
Ø New carpeting in the main rooms of the lodge
Ø 3rd floor restrooms have been completely reconstructed and renovated
Ø 1st floor restroom improvements
Ø Upgraded POS with new ticketing/season pass system
Ø Nightime trail lighting imporovements.
And more things happening every day! Stop by and give it a look!
The Hidden Valley Club’s special non-holiday, Mid-Week Season Pass offer for the NJSC Ski Club’s and their members is only $99 and includes:
1. non-holiday weekday and weeknight skiing
2. each pass holder receives an additional ticket for themselves and each immediate family member for a complimentary day of skiing on any day (weekend & holiday inclusive)
3. Ski Club’s whose members participate in the offer may reserve our “Members Only” private dining room on any 2 weeknights to host their regular club meetings. (or offer it up to the club members to use for a personal event such as a birthday celebration).
4. HVC will offer a reduced cost food package to go along with the room reservation.
5. HVC will offer a discounted night lift ticket to the club members who didn’t purchase their season pass on the night of the club’s event.
Contact your club leaders to order your Hidden Valley Club special season pass!
The Hidden Valley Club is also proud to be the new host mountain to all the NJISRA High School Teams & Leagues for training and races for the 2008-2009 season.
The Hidden Valley Club is excited to be hosting the NJ Ski Council weekly Wednesday Night Races beginning in January and the NJ Ski Coucil Consolation Race is back again.
Consolations Race And Pasta Dinner, Thursday night, Jan. 15, 2009; $34 ticket includes:
Ø 4pm Lift Ticket
Ø 6pm Pasta Dinner
Ø 7pm Race
(only $19 for dinner and race if you already have your season pass!)
New Jersey’s Best Kept Secret!
44 Breakneck Road, PO Box 433, Vernon, NJ 07462 Ph: 973-764-4200
www.thehiddenvalleyclub.com
Stayed Tuned and attend meetings for details…
On October 1,2008 Bill Thistle, ski boot fitter and guest speaker, visited the club to discuss issues related to boot fitting.
The following are some pointers Diane Bogert received via email correspondence with Bill Thistle:
Here are some of the points and thoughts that underlie the talk given at the ski club meeting Wednesday night.
It’s not your fault!
If you turn better one way than the other . . . It’s not your fault!
If you have a ‘bad’ habit you can’t correct . . . It’s not your fault!
The plastic ski boot determines your stance, your balance and your control.
If the interaction of your ski boot and your leg shape create a balanced stance then skiing is easier and you are in better control.
If the interaction of your ski boot and your leg shape create an unbalanced stance then skiing is more difficult and you have a lack of control.
If you have not had your boots adjusted to compensate for your personal leg shape then your ski technique will be limited by your need to compensate for misalignment caused by the boots.
I am glad that you now have an understanding of how alignment can affect your skiing. You are a most fortunate group of skiers!
That understanding gives you a choice, do you continue to blame yourself and struggle to improve, as you have in the past or do you fault your equipment and have it adjusted to you and create better balance.
Most skiers have not had the opportunity to learn about how alignment affects their skiing giving them no choice but to continue to blame themselves in their struggle to improve.
It is unfortunate that the ski industry fails to understand these things. These are the major reasons contributing to the fact that less than 15% of those that actually go through the effort to get on snow and try skiing become skiers.
It is my hope and my goal that in time, with the help of skiers like you that, the ski industry will come to the realization that alignment matters and then see to it that everyone that makes the effort to try skiing does it well aligned, in balance and with control. We must give everyone a chance to enjoy the wonderful sport of skiing.
Videographer: Diane Bogert
Movie Editor: Larry Ticotin
Hey everybody!!!
Important info about this week’s (1 October 2008) meeting…
This begins the weekly meeting schedule - Wednesdays - 8pm - The Exchange in Rockaway - Downstairs
Special Guest Bill Thistle - boot fitter -
Bill Thistle grew up in NJ and was introduced to skiing in 1970 at Great Gorge Ski Area. Shortly after he had the good fortune to spend a ski week at Gray Rocks Resort in Canada, which along with the ski movie The Performers shown nightly at the bar, was all it took. The next season he was in Boulder Colorado then Aspen the following winter. Bill studied in the summer at the Aspen Academy of Martial Arts and began applying the principles of movement and mind body coordination learned there to skiing and racing. He became Director of Training at a boarding school in Aspen and then traveled on both the Men’s and Woman’s Pro Ski Tours as a coach and trainer. Bill now shares the technical and equipment knowledge he has gained over the years with skiers looking to improve and get all the enjoyment possible in our wonderful sport.
Bill will be available both before and after the meeting to answer questions as well as take a look at how you stand in your boot and explain how alignment adjustments may instantly improve your skiing. So it would be a good idea to bring your boots.
Written by Craig Desantis
Note from Larry Ticotin: The above 10 minute video is a ski lesson video from our upcoming guest speaker.
Ten members/friends of Craigmeur Ski Club ventured down to Philadelphia to take part in the third annual Bike Philly ride that was held on Sunday, September 14, and drew a crowd of over 3,500 participants. This family-friendly bike tour took us through the historic neighborhoods of Philadelphia, where Ben Franklin waved us on, and through beautiful Fairmount Park. The area was closed off to traffic so bicyclists could enjoy a car-free bike ride. It was mostly flat and all paved making for a relaxing pedaling experience. Diane Bogert organized this event, which included a stay at the Philadelphia Chamonix Hostel so that we could be at the event early in the morning.
The event organizers started the bike tour at the bottom of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Museum is the site of Rocky Balboa’s famous climb, a metaphor for the underdog rising to a challenge. And rise to a challenge, some of us did. The event gave bicyclists a choice to do distances of 10, 20, 35, or 50 miles. Some in our group did the 20-mile run, which if we include the 9 mile round trip from the hostel to the starting/finishing point turned out to be almost a 30-mile trip. A few more adventurous souls such as Olivier Monod, Adele DiBari, Pat Finn, and Maryanne Mecca did the 35-mile run. John Rodgers (a friend of Glen DeSantis) and Karen Blaine completed the 50-mile run and according to John, Karen kicked his butt going up hills and wowed him with her stamina and strength.
Of course, no event would be a success without food. The event organizers supplied beverages, snacks, and fruit before the ride as well as at some rest stops along the way. We also enjoyed hot dogs, Philly pretzels, pizza, and various other foods at the finish line.
It looks like bike events are gaining popularity as a summer activity for Craigmeur as more of them are being organized and bringing our members, family, and friends together to enjoy a day or weekend of biking, dining, and fun. We all agreed that this event was a huge success and that we are looking forward to doing it again next year.
Thank you Adele for picking up the registration labels for everyone. And a big “Thank you” to Diane for organizing this event and insuring that we all had a great time!
Written by Sue Ticotin
Photos by Larry Ticotin, Diane Bogert, Olivier Monod
Photo gallery created by Larry Ticotin
Video and narration by Diane Bogert.
Movie created and edited by Larry Ticotin.
