|
|
|
|
|
|
Hawaii Ski Club – February - March, 2011
EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Toby Kravet – 808-224-1065
Vice President – Kevin Okawa
Treasurer - Geof Chu
Susan Murata
Wayne Fujihara
Jenna Surwilo
Jon Kleinschmidt
Momi Kleinschmidt
-----------------------------------------
Club Historian
Jo Yee
Newsletter Editor
Toby Kravet
(Click on Contacts for e mail addresses)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Every Monday evening (except on holidays): 4:30 P.M. A group of ski club members and their friends play tennis at Keehi Lagoon courts, off Lagoon Drive. Stay in shape and share refreshments afterwards!
February 10 (Thursday) Board Meeting at Henry Loui's.
February 12 (Saturday) 5:00 P.M. Post Trip Party, a potluck, at Sylvia "Sam" Wright's condo's Recreation area. This is the Esplanade, across from Kaiser High School, on Lunalilo Home Road. All members, regardless of whether you were at Hawaii Ski Week, are invited. This will serve as/be in lieu of the formal, February General Membership Meeting and, if you did not go on the Telluride trip, this will be your chance to vote for the Ski Week 2012 destination.
February 25 (Friday) Off to Snowmass.
March 24 (Thursday) 5:30 P.M. Board Meeting at Henry Loui's.
April 7 (Thursday) General Membership Meeting/Board Elections at Sam Sneads.
April 9 (Saturday) Volunteer activity for "Earth Day" at the Waikiki Aquarium.
April 16 (Saturday) Volunteer activity for "Sea Hunt" at the Waikiki Aquarium.
July 17 - 25 Alaskan Cruise (See Below)
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
I'm still grinning from and reflecting on the great time I had last week, skiing and socializing with you all at Telluride. I had been hearing about Telluride, from it's many devotees (a cult, I think), for years, but, had it not been the official Ski Club destination for this year, I probably would have never gotten there---which is the case with a number of areas we have visited through the years. I, as, I would imagine, a lot of you, have become kind of set in my ways and, outside of Hawaii Ski Week, end up going back to the same place or places, year in and year out, where I know the area and "the ropes." I always go back to Alta, Geof goes to Mammoth, Anita and Bill go to Park City, and those are only the members I know about. Thank heavens for my membership in the Ski club!
"Bon Voyage" to those of you soon leaving for Snowmass, our second trip, at the end of the month, and I would be jealous if I, myself, wasn't leaving for my usual destination, Alta. Most of you, probably, already know that we had to cancel the third trip, to Tahoe, due to insufficient interest to get the group rates we were anticipating. Apparently, there is interest now, but it is kind of late to try to "resuscitate" it. Trying to coordinate 3 trips this year has been an interesting, if not exhuasting, experience for the Trip Committee, and, while a second trip next year might be scheduled, it doesn't look like we will be trying for 3 again.
Kudos aplenty to the Trip Committee: Chair Susan Murata, Anita Hodges, Geof Chu, and Debbie Fujihara for the work they have done, and are still doing, to make this year's trips happen. You all see the product. I, who have been copied on all the correspondence, all the minutes of meetings, and have been asked for my opinion from time to time, see all the time spent and the mini disasters along the way, and for volunteers, they have done/are doing a fantastic job. I know you all agree.
Your Board has gone back and forth on how to best conduct the election, this year, for Ski Week 2012, and believe me, it has been hard to compromise democracy, practicality, and efficiency so that we can get the early planning start we need. Here is the formula we came up with: As in the past, Board and general members would present possible locations at the trip-ending Pizza Party, and a vote would be conducted; in a departure from the past, the voting would continue, only for members who were not on the trip, at the Post Trip Party; the top 3 areas receiving votes would then be presented to the entire membership, via email, for a final vote. Members who had voted at the Pizza Party would not be allowed to vote again at the Post Trip Party. Think of the Pizza and Post Trip Party voting as the "Primary," and the final vote, of the entire membership, as the "General Election." If we plan a second trip next year, it, barring contraindicating issues, will be to the second place ski area from the "General Election." The destinations formally proposed by members at the Pizza Party in Telluride, were Japan, Big Sky (Montana), Big White (B.C., Canada), and Steamboat Springs (Colorado), but members were/are free to vote, and will at the Post Trip party, for any area they wished/wish. Voting was/will be by secret ballot.
I apologize for the paucity of scheduled activities for the first quarter of this year; a casualty of the 3 trips scheduled, and the absence, from the islands, of many of your Board Members during this period. We will be getting back "in gear" following ski season.
Happy Skiing and Boarding!
Aloha,
TOBY
UPCOMING SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
POST TRIP PARTY/FEBRUARY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The Esplanade, 500 Lunalilo Home Road
February 12 (Saturday) 5 P.M.
Once again, Sylvia "Sam" Wright has invited us to the Esplanade for the traditional post Hawaii Ski Week potluck. The party will be on the recreation deck or in a reserved activity room if it rains (but how often does it rain in Hawaii Kai?). To get to the Esplanade, turn off Kalanianaole Highway at Lunalilio Home Road, the last traffic light before the highway goes up the hill towards Hanauma Bay, drive in the mountain direction approximately .6 of a mile, and look for the looming white building complex on the left. Sam or someone else will be at the entrance to let you in and guide you towards the "rec deck." Bring your Telluride stories, photos, BYOB, and a dish to share. For those of you who did not go on the trip, please come as this will also serve/be in lieu of the February General Membership Meeting and will be your opportunity to cast a "primary" vote for Ski Week 2012.
TOBY
SKI TRIP TO SNOWMASS
February 25 - March 5
While close to 50 members are "decompressing " from the Telluride trip, others
are looking forward to the
second trip to Snowmass which is scheduled for February 25th to
March 5th. We currently have 22 members officially signed up for Snowmass
and "registration." has been closed. In case of last
minute cancellations, however, you can contact Debbie Fujihara,
Debbie@hawaiisnowskiclub.com .
Since the Snowmass trip is not Hawaii Ski Week, extra activities, except
for a potluck on one of the evenings, have not been
planned. The Crestwood, however, is sponsoring a welcoming cheese and wine get together on
the first night.
As you
know from last year, Crestwood Condo is at an excellent location, a great ski in/ski out place
with 3 hot tubs, daily cleaning service, and free laundry facilities. Your lift
tickets are good at 4 mountains - Snowmass, Aspen, Buttermilk, and Aspen
Highlands and free shuttle service is available to get you around the town or to
the other mountains.
Snowmass, Colorado – Feb 25 – March 5, 2011 (maximum 38)
· February 25, red-eye departure from HNL to Aspen (ASE)
· Feb 26, arrive, Crestwood shuttle 15 minutes away
· Feb 26-March 5 – Crestwood Condominiums, ski in/out
· March 5 – depart
· Land package will include 5 days of skiing (option for 6 days), 7 nights at
the Crestwood condo (4 per 2 bed/2 bath condo), complimentary laundry,
complimentary shuttle, and baggage handling.
DEBBIE, TOBY
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Sam Sneads Tavern at the Navy Marine Golf
course
Thursday, April 7
This will be the first "formal" General Membership Meeting for 2011 and the time for Board elections. Come to the meeting and/to vote----if you haven't already done so, by that time, via email. Also, remember to come before 5:30 if you want to take advantage of the dinner specials.
VOLUNTEERING AT THE WAIKIKI AQUARIUM
April 9, April 16
The Hawaii Ski Club has been supporting our Waikiki Aquarium with much needed
(and much appreciated) manpower during their annual fund raising evening concert
series and during occasional community events, often for children, held on their
premises. Volunteers assist with such tasks as setting up and taking down tables
and chairs, hanging posters, policing entrances, empting trash containers, and
serving food. The Aquarium is again asking for our assistance on April 9th and
16th to help set up and take down for the following two events:
April 9th
(Sat)- Earth Day
April 16th (Sat) - Seahunt (Easter Event)
More
details will follow.
Please sign up with Wandi,
sagumw001@hawaii.rr.com , to help and mark these dates on your calendar
WANDI
ALASKAN CRUISE
July 17-25
In July, a number of Hawaii Ski Club members will be going on a cruise to Alaska! Here are the details, for those of you who might be interested in joining us.
We are sailing on Holland America's 7-Day
Glacier Discovery, departing from Vancouver, B.C. on July 17, 2011, northbound
to Alaska on the ship Statendam.
July 16: Vancouver
July 17:
board the Holland America Statendam, leave Vancouver at 5pm
July 18:
cruising the Inside Passage
July 19: Ketchikan, Alaska
July 20:
Juneau, Alaska
July 21: Skagway, Alaska
July 22: cruising Glacier
Bay
July 23: cruising College Fjord
July 24: arrive in Seward,
Alaska at 6am; bus transfer to Anchorage, 1 night
July 25: fly from
Anchorage to Vancouver. Some of you might prefer to return home at the end of
the cruise, while others might want to stay longer to visit the area.
Inside cabins without windows (Category K)
$999.00
95.27 taxes
*********
$1094.27 per person based on double
occupancy
Outside cabins with windows and unobstructed view (Category E)
$1349.00
95.27 taxes
**********
$1444.27 per person based on
double occupancy
There are limited cabins that can accommdate 3-4 people
in either category.
$599.00
95.27 taxes
****************
$694.27
for the 3rd person (1st & 2nd persons pay the above rates)
Cabins with
balconies are sold out with a wait list.
At this time the roundtrip
airfare from Honolulu-Vancouver-Honolulu is $670 and the airfare from Anchorage
(where the cruise ends) to Vancouver is $315.
If you would like to join
us on this cruise, please let me know very soon,
sagum001@hawaii.rr.com ,
because the preferred cabins are selling out fast.
WANDI
PAST SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
HAWAII SKI WEEK AT TELLURIDE
January 21 - 29
Telluride was "as advertised:" high (several members experienced altitude sickness at the beginning of the trip and one landed in the hospital overnight); cold (single digit temperatures in the early morning which warmed up to "reasonable" for the rest of the day----and warmed up to spring skiing temperatures all day for the last 2 days); and challenging (very few of us tried to ski all the way down to the town of Telluride on trails other than the green cat track. There was, however, from our location above the Mountain Village, an abundance of easily accessible green terrain for novices, and enough blue cruisers that intermediate skiers could ride almost all the lifts and easily get down again.
The Mountain Village, for all intents and purposes, has become the real base of the ski area. The Bear Creek lodge, our home for the week, had 3 jacuzzis, a swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room, an exercise room, a free shuttle bus to various important locations like the grocery store and the gondola, an in-unit bathtub jacuzzi (at least in my condo unit), free Wi-Fi, and the most uncomfortable bed your President has ever slept in. The Lodge wasn't exactly Ski-In/Ski-out as advertised: You walked across the street, down a short pathway, and climbed into a funicular (Think of an elevator which, instead of going up and down, rides along a roller coaster track) which would deposit you at one of the trails.
Despite the fact that most of the winter storms have missed Colorado, the quality of the snow at Telluride was good, the terrain was varied and challenging (if "challenge" was what you wanted), the on-mountain food was reasonably good, mountain staff were friendly, and the free gondola into the town of Telluride, for cheaper food and drink options as well as shopping, ran until the wee hours. By the time we left, many of the liftees knew what the yellow streamers on our poles and/or helmets meant and were greeting us with "Aloha." I'd go back in a minute
I'd like to quote Geof's oft repeated, "It was a good trip: nobody got hurt," but I can't---exactly: one member suffered a trip-ending broken shoulder, and I pray it quickly mends. The other injuries, however, thankfully, were not of the trip ending variety. Some of our members falls were truly spectacular and, thanks to Kevin, Craig's "crash and burn" is on You Tube for the world to appreciate. The trip, definitely, ended healthier than last year's .
Below are this year's "honorees."
NASTAR WINNERS: (also available at www.Nastar.com )
Male Skiers:
Steve Spielman
Gold medal 24.20 seconds
Jim Takara Silver 27.99
Michael Basso Bronze
29.35
Bill Hodges Bronze 29.77
Jonathan Carr Bronze 30.67
Female Skiers:
Anita Hodges
Silver 32.08
Lori Auhll Silver 32.12
Jackie Loui Bronze 33.05
(The following are as determined by the Club: Nastar does not award Snowboarding as a category)
Male Snowboarders:
Dennis
Nakaoka 1st place 38.71
Glen Lindbo 2nd 39.82
Geof Chu 3rd 40.27
Female Snowboarders:
Suzen
Murakoshi 1st 41.48
Susan Murata 2nd 46.62
HAWAII SKI CLUB AWARDS:
Best bump skier: Michael Basso
Best bump snowboarder: Dennis Nakaoka
Best
fall, female skier: Lori Auhll
Best fall, male skier: James Purvis
Best
fall, female snowboarder: Susan Murata
Wounded warrior, male: Dan Burtt
Wounded warrior, female: Margaret Lefton
Most improved female skier: Malia
Orque
Most improved male skier: Takeshi Toma
Most improved boarder: Glen
Lindbo
Most adventurous skier or boarder: Suzen Murakoshi
Most
Air-in-the-park: Craig Shaffer
Best “Never-ever” skier: Naomi Goya
The
“Come-back” skier: Gordon Ng
Good Samaritan of the HSC: Kevin Okawa
Best
team-player: Jim Takara
Queen of Aloha: Jo Yee
Energizer Bunny: Toby
Kravet
Hot tub queen: Peggy Duvall
Most Fashionable on and off the slopes:
Sam Wright
Greatest inspirational singer: Paul Ferguson
*** A very special mahalo to Debbie Fujihara
for creating and printing the colorful award certificates**
TOBY, ANITA
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SNOWBOARD FOR SALE
Craig Shaffer still has an unused size 141 snowboard for sale. $250.00. Craig may be contacted at 261-5989.
-----------------------------
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/