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December, 2012
EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Toby Kravet – 808-224-1065
Vice President – Kevin Okawa
Treasurer - Geoff Chu
Susan Murata
Jon Kleinschmidt
Momi Kleinschmidt
Jonathan Carr
Roy Manzoku
Sandy Herron
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Club Historian
Jo Yee
Newsletter Editor
Toby Kravet
(Click on Contacts for e mail addresses)
IMPORTANT REMINDER: IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE HAKUBA AND/OR SUN VALLEY SKI TRIPS BUT HAVE YET TO JOIN THE CLUB OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP, NOTE THAT YOU NEED TO BE A CURRENT MEMBER AT THE TIME OF THE TRIP. THE MEMBERSHIP FORM, WHICH MUST ACCOMPANY PAYMENT FOR NEW MEMBERSHIPS AND RENEWALS, WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION, CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE UNDER "SIGN UP."
Do you enjoy playing a piano and listening to Christmas music? Do you plan to attend the Hawaii Ski Club holiday party Sunday, December 16 at the Withy’s Kailua beachside house? If you do, please volunteer to play the piano while our members sing Christmas carols before we have the annual gift exchange. You don't have to be an accomplished pianist to volunteer!!! What better way than singing merry Christmas songs to remind us of the wonders of the holiday season??? Please email Anita, anita@hawaii.edu, if you can play the piano for a short time during our party. Also, we need a second volunteer to be the song leader that evening.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
December 6 (Thursday) 6:00 P.M. General Membership Meeting at Seven Palms. Although the meeting starts at 6:00, members usually start arriving from 5:00 to 5:15 P.M. to order drinks and dinner and begin socializing.
December 13 (Thursday) 5:30 P.M. Board Meeting at Henry Loui's.
December 16 (Sunday) 4:00 P.M. Annual Ski Club Christmas Party at Todd and Malia's beachside home on Kailua Beach (see article below).
January 3 (Thursday) 6:00 P.M. General Membership Meeting at Seven Palms. Although the meeting starts at 6:00, members usually start arriving from 5:00 to 5:15 P.M. to order drinks and dinner and begin socializing.
January 18 - 26 Hawaii Ski Week in Hakuba; "Team Hakuba," the adventure begins.
February 22 - March 2 Ski Trip to Sun Valley; the adventure continues.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
I hope you all spent a nice Thanksgiving holiday with family and/or friends. I did, in Pelican Bay, right above Naples, on the gulf coast of Florida, where the morning temperatures were, unexpectedly, in the low fifties, and I had come prepared for weather only a little cooler than Hawaii's: Next year I'll know better. On the bright side, I look at it as the first step in acclimatization for the ski season.
Speaking of the ski season, many, if not most, of the western ski areas have already opened but are operating on a limited basis with only 2 - 3 feet of base coverage. Pray for snow, and if you are signed up for one of our trips and/or trips of your own and don't regularly exercise, it's not too late to start. You'll want to conquer the mountain instead of letting the mountain conquer you.
Most of you aren't aware that Board Member Sandy Herron has just returned to the Mainland to take her dream job as Administrative Assistant with the Federation of International Polo (FIP), the governing body of polo worldwide. Her contributions to the club, especially arranging our two most recent trips to the polo games in Mokuleia with VIP accommodations, serving as the "point person" for our ski trip to Sun Valley in late February, and putting up with the rest of the Board at our monthly meetings are well appreciated. We bid her Aloha, Mahalo, and Pomaika'i (good luck), but even from long distance, she will be continuing work on the Sun Valley trip and hopes to re-connect with many of us there.
As I review our current membership list, I have noted a number of long term members who, surprisingly, don't appear to have renewed. Since we had a few Sun Valley trip deposits temporarily "lost in the mail" (they showed up about a month after having been mailed), I fear that this might be the same case. It is usually about this time that we take non-renewers off the email lists, but, under the circumstances, we will keep the current email list intact until late December. Membership checks received up until a few working days ago should have been deposited within the past couple of days (mine was). If you renewed and your check does not show up on your November statement, you should contact Geof, members@hawaiisnowskiclub.com .
Finally, I hope to see many of you at our General Membership Meeting next Thursday and at our Christmas party in Kailua on December 16.
Again, pray for snow!!!
Aloha,
TOBY
UPCOMING SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Seven Palms Bar and
Grill (formerly Sam Sneads)
Navy-Marine Golf Course Club House
943
Valkenburgh St., Honolulu, Hawaii
December 6 (Thursday) 6:00 P.M.
Come to our next General Membership Meeting at the usual location on December 6. Although the meeting begins at 6:00, come before 5:30 P.M. to take advantage of the "Sunset Specials" on dinners.
TOBY
ANNUAL SKI CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY
December 16 (Sunday),
4 P.M.
156 F. N. Kalaheo Ave, Kailua
After eight years in Hawaii Kai, our annual Ski Club Christmas Party is, this year, moving to the home of Todd and Malia (Orque) Withy on Kailua Beach. Stroll on the beach at 4 P.M., have cocktails on the sand at sunset with light pupus, eat dinner on the lawn under the stars, sing carols with piano accompaniment if we have the talent (on the ivories) amongst us, engage in other activities which may extemporaneously develop, participate in the traditional Ski Club grab-bag gift exchange, and toast your favorite ski destination with a Grand Marnier (or equivalent) finale. Remember, this is a potluck and BYOB. Also, bring a grab-bag gift with approximate value of $15.00 if you wish to participate in the "event:" When your number is called, you choose a gift from the "stash" or take one that has already been chosen, thereby forcing the original chooser to choose again: In previous years, the circumstances with some gifts have been beyond hilarious. The Withy "manse" is at the end of a lane on the beach side (of course) of N. Kalaheo Avenue. The number "156" is clearly displayed on a white wall on North Kalaheo Avenue on the left hand side of the lane (Check it out on Google Earth Street-View--that's what your Editor did). If you are coming over the Pali from Honolulu, continue straight through the traffic light at Castle Hospital onto Kailua Road. When Kailua Road bears to the right in Kailua town, go straight through the intersection, instead, and you will find yourself on Kuulei Road which will dead-end at N. Kalaheo Ave. Take a left on N. Kalaheo, and you will find "156" approximately 1/4 mile after the turn. You can drive down the lane to unload your car, but you will have to find parking on the nearby side streets as there will be no parking available in the lane or on N. Kalaheo.
TOBY, MALIA
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Seven Palms Bar and
Grill (formerly Sam Sneads)
Navy-Marine Golf Course Club House
943
Valkenburgh St., Honolulu, Hawaii
January 3 (Thursday) 6:00 P.M.
Come to our next General Membership Meeting at the usual location on January 3. This will be our last, formal General Membership Meeting until after Ski Season (for most of us) is pau. Although the meeting begins at 6:00, come before 5:30 P.M. to take advantage of the "Sunset Specials" on dinners.
TOBY
HAWAII SKI WEEK 2013
Team Hakuba!!!
We have 31 signed up who will be heading to Hakuba, Japan
for our annual Hawaii Ski Week, January 18-26, 2013.
The majority of the
group will depart on United 879* that leaves Honolulu at 10:00 A.M. We arrive at
2:25 P.M. the next day. If you are catching your own flight, please meet at the
United baggage area by 2:30 P.M. to get on the private bus. Luggage transfer is
included, and we will be met by an English speaking guide.
The bus is a 5
hour ride to the Mominoki Hotel
http://www.mominokihotel.com/index-e.html at the base of the Happo One ski
in/walk out resort. The closest lift is the Kokusai lift.
http://www.happo-one.jp/english/mountain/. The ski rental facility is
located in the hotel. Your 5-day lift ticket will be good at 8 different
resorts. There are ski resort shuttle buses that can pick you up from the Wadano
visitor center, across the street from the Mominoki hotel.
Upon our
arrival, we will have a welcome orientation at the hotel. Rooms are western
style with a private bath per room and a daily breakfast buffet is included. Tipping is not required in Japan for service including hotels, restaurants,
concierge, and bell service. The hotel has coin operated laundry rooms and wifi
access.
For non-skiers, there are several restaurants in the Mominoki
hotel and there is also a shuttle that can take you to the town of Hakuba for a
nominal fee. If you walk, it is about a 20-minute walk. There are also natural
outdoor onsen (hot springs) in the hotel. If you’ve never gone to an onsen
before, please read the onsen etiquette.
http://www.onsenjapan.net/onsenbasics.php
Optional Day tours – you can sign up with the hotel
concierge for either of these day tours.
Snow Monkey Hot springs
The world
famous Jigokudani wild monkey hot spring is home to about 200 wild monkeys who
spend their days soaking in the natural hot springs keeping warm from the harsh
winter. You will be taken to the site and take a short hike to the hot springs
(about 20-30 minutes) each way. Afterwards, you will visit the historic town of
Obuse, home of the famous Japanese artist Hokusai (Ukiyo-e painter and
printmaker) and the museum dedicated to his works. Enjoy a traditionally cooked
Japanese lunch at the Masuichi club restaurant. You will also stop at Nagano
City, home to Zenkoji temple that has a history of over 1400 years. It is one of
Japan’s most revered temples and housed the first image of Buddha brought to
Japan in the 7th century.
Matsumoto Castle and Daio Wasabi farm
tour
In Japan, there are only 4 castles that have been designated
as “national treasures,” and Matsumoto castle is one of these. Construction of
the main donjon began in 1592 when warlords around the country struggled for
dominance. Matsumoto Castle is one of the few great castles of the feudal era to
survive in its original form. On the way to the castle, you will stop at the
Daio Wasabi farm, the largest of its kind in Japan and the perfect place to
taste many of the various different wasabi products, like Wasabi Ice Cream! After the guided tour of the castle, enjoy a Japanese set menu lunch. There will
be free time to explore the city and shop after lunch before departing back to
Hakuba.
Snowshoe tours – at the Evergreen Outdoor Center
across from the Hotel: You can sign up via this online link for a half day or
full day snowshoe tour
http://www.evergreen-hakuba.com/wintertours/snowshoe.php On
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, there are evening snowshoe tours with chocolate
fondue that starts from 7:00 pm. You will usually see badgers, rabbits, fox,
mink, and mountain goats while walking.
http://www.evergreenhakuba.com/wintertours/eveningsnowshoe.php
The
daily breakfast buffet is a great way to make friends, decide where to ski for
the day, or where to meet for après ski! On Friday, January 25, we will have a
closing pupu party – place to be announced once we get to Hakuba.
Our
return flight is United 880* at 7:25 P.M. from Narita airport. I will get the
information on when the bus departs from the Mominoki hotel to everyone. *Flight
schedules subject to change at the whim of United.
Should be a fabulous
trip! Pray for more snow~
SUSAN
SUN VALLEY IDAHO
February 22 - March 2
SUN VALLEY'S BUCKET LIST
Below is a sampling of the most memorable and iconic Sun Valley winter
experiences to check off your list! There are still a few
spaces left for the Sun Valley trip!!!!!
· Hop in a helicopter and head out to get some of the lightest powder in the
Rocky Mountains while Heli Skiing
with Sun Valley Heliski Guides
www.epicquest.com/trips/snow/rockies/sun-valley
· Wake up with the sun for an early morning “first tracks”
· Take an
evening sleigh ride to Trail Creek Cabin for a barbeque
· Take in a moonlit
ski or snowshoe and a savory dinner at Galena Lodge
www.galenalodge.com/
·
Participate in world-class Nordic skiing
· Take up ice hockey with free
equipment at Christina Potter's Ice Rink
www.visitsunvalley.com/things-to-do/christina-potters-ice-rink
· Experience the stoke of heli-skiing with 50,000 untracked vertical in one
day
· Soak in the largest outdoor hot tub where waiters bring you a hot
toddie
· Get a bird’s-eye view and take a tandem paraglide flight off of
Baldy www.flysunvalley.com/
· Find your own masterpiece in the local art galleries during a Friday night
gallery walk
www.svgalleries.org/gallery-walk-dates/
· Put on some skates and carve figure eights at Sun Valley’s year-round ice
arena
www.sunvalley.com/things-to-do/iceskating/
· Get literary and check out the local stomping grounds and resting place of
Ernest Hemingway
· Soak in Frenchman’s Bend hot springs in a snowstorm
·
Go for some classic “star”-gazing of the celebrity photos in the Sun Valley
Lodge
· Get some ten-pin glory and bowl at the Sun Valley Lodge
www.sunvalley.com/things-to-do/family/
· Ride the gondola for views and a cocktail at Averell’s at the Roundhouse
www.sunvalley.com/things-to-do/dining/mountain-dining/
· Travel back in time and tour the Ketchum Sun Valley Ski and History Museum
http://ksvhs.com/
· Saddle up and head ‘em out on a trail ride in the local mountains
·
Feel the glow of a great day skiing or boarding with the quality après Sun
Valley is famous for.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A SUN VALLEY SLEIGH RIDE
A sleigh ride to Trail Creek Cabin for dinner has traditionally been one of the
most memorable and fun Sun Valley winter experiences. The last time we took this
Sun Valley sleigh ride, a full moon was bright so we watched foxes run across
the snow near the sleigh! If you are going on the Sun Valley ski trip, you are
welcome to join our group on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
For dinner at
Trail Creek Cabin, horse-drawn sleighs leave the Sun Valley Inn at 6 pm for a
family-style dinner. The ride lasts about 1/2 hour each way and dinner lasts
approximately one hour. Dress should be warm and blankets are provided. Because
of the wild popularity of the sleigh rides to dinner at Trail Creek Cabin,
reservations are required.
Additional information regarding price and
menu will be provided soon via email to all Sun Valley participants.
SNOW TUBING SUN VALLEY
by Mike McKenna
If you have never been snow tubing, well then I’m sorry to report that you’ve
lived an unfulfilled life. Sure, most folks who’ve never tried snow tubing might
not think they’re missing much. But whoever said, "Ignorance is bliss,"
obviously has a serious misunderstanding about the word "bliss."
Bliss
actually means "a perfect untroubled happiness," which pretty much sums up how
you feel while spending an hour or two snow tubing. And the best part of the
blissful act of snow tubing is that it can be done by anyone from four to 84.
Basically, if you can sit and giggle at the same time, you can enjoy snow
tubing.
Not to be confused with its watery, warm weather cousins of boat or
water-ski tubing, snow tubing is basically sledding in style. Participants ride
a large "Magic Carpet" up to the top of the snow covered hill, pick a run, then
hop on the glorified inner tube and with a shove from a friendly attendant it’s
time to slide on down the hill. There’s something about the sensation of
sledding down a snowy slope that just makes you smile–and makes youngsters laugh
unabashedly. Snow tubing sort of makes you feel like you’re riding a frozen
water slide.
For obvious reasons, the sport has been growing in popularity
nationwide and it’s now tough to find a ski area from little mom-and-pop places
in New Hampshire to the largest resorts in California that don’t have a snow
tubing park. The ski industry is now calling snow tubing, "the rising star of
the slopes."
"It’s a great alternative for people who don’t ski or snowboard
but still want to have a fun winter experience. It’s also a fun thing to do if
you just want to take a break from skiing or as a fun thing to do après skiing,"
said Jon Golden, who’s worked at Sun Valley’s Tubing Park for a couple years.
"People from all ages and all walks of life have fun when they come here."
No wonder snow tubing is growing in popularity. It’s the type of simple outdoor
activity that can put a smile on anyone’s face. It also offers kids (and the
kids in all of us) an opportunity for a few gloriously blissful moments. The
type of boundless joy that kids remember their whole lives. [The Sun
Valley Snow Tube Park is open daily from 11am to 5pm. Warm hats and gloves are
recommended, but there are no other clothing requirement.]
You and your friends had until September 15th to sign up
for this HSC trip to Sun Valley but, due to cancellations and other issues, some
"slots" may still be available. Please contact Anita (
anitah@hawaii.edu ) or Sandy (
Sandy@hawaiisnowskiclub.com )
to determine if this is the case.
SUN VALLEY TRIP COMMITTEE
PAST SKI CLUB ACTIVITES:
OCTOBER PAU HANA AT
NICO'S, PIER 38
Seventeen Ski Club members made it down to Nico's at Pier 38 for the Friday, October 26 Pau Hana. A few of us early arrivers started out at an "umbrella table" outside the restaurant but, with more arrivals and some scattered "liquid sunshine" from the heavens, moved inside to a large table. The restaurant has a large, "spanking new" interior, large picture windows through which you can see the fishing boats at what is a working pier, friendly wait staff, and moderately priced, well prepared food and drink. We all left as the Friday night band was starting to crank up. Thank you, Take, for the idea to come here, and if any of you, out there, have any ideas for future Pau Hanas at other places we haven't been yet, please let me know.
TOBY
HIKE UP WAAHILA RIDGE
(A Dog Day Morning)
On a not-so-bright but early Saturday morning, November 17th, eight ski clubbers (and, in the eight, I'm counting Susan Murata's dog, Chico, who is included in the Club's Family Membership), disregarded the ominous skies and began the climb up the spine of Waahila ridge starting at Dole St. Chico, providing us proof positive that four legs are better than two, beat everyone up most of the rocky section, was undeterred by the brief rain squall that slowed the rest of us, and for the remainder of the hike, was "riding point," repeatedly running ahead to insure that we were safe from ambushers and then returning, only to repeat the process again--and again--and again. An hour following our start, after hiking through three eco systems, we arrived in the cool shade of the Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area and started the descent, branching into another trail. red dirt mud all the way, thanks to recent rain, that ended in the valley with the water tanks between Waahila Ridge and St. Louis Heights. By the time we reached the bottom, several pairs of shoes were destined for the trash and Chico for a bath. First, though, several of us went to Town restaurant on Waialae Ave for an early lunch. The next Ski Club hike will, most likely, follow the end of ski season.
TOBY
THANKSGIVING VOLUNTEERING AND TAILGATE
For 24 consecutive years, HSC has volunteered to help Salvation Army serve Thanksgiving dinner at NBC. This year began, as usual, on the grass by the Arena, for a potluck brunch. We enjoyed great food, prepared by US, and the traditional mimosas. Our club was interviewed at the tailgate and seen on the TV news. We are always a hit in our seasonal headgear, club shirts, and happy smiles. Salvation Army does a terrific job organizing this annual event. Mahalo to our volunteers for giving up a big part of their day to help. We were rewarded by more than good feelings this year: The production company of "Wicked" gave us each a free ticket to the show!
WANDA
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SNOWBOARD FOR SALE
Craig Shaffer still has an unused size 141 snowboard for sale. $250.00. Craig may be contacted at 261-5989.
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Contributions from the membership to future newsletters are encouraged and will be greatly appreciated: Please e mail them to Toby (see Contacts) no later than 9 calendar days from the end of the month. Thanx much.
Updated club info available at http://www.hawaiisnowskiclub.com/