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July, 2021
EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
– Toby Kravet – 808-224-1065
Jonathan Carr
Geoffrey Chu
Michiro Iwanaga
Anita Hodges
Alan Teramura
Caroline Sluyter
Mike Tsutsui
Karl See
Nelson Dang
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Newsletter Editor
Toby Kravet
(Click on Contacts for e mail addresses)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Every Monday evening (except on holidays and, of course, during Hawaii Ski Week), at 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 enjoy a "careful social hour" afterwards.
July 23 (Friday) 4:00 PM: Pau Hana at Dave & Busters, 1030 Auahi St., Ward Entertainment Center.
October 7 (Thursday): Annual membership year Kickoff Meeting. Time and location TBA.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
The Newsletter is a tad late this month but for verrrrry good reason. We were awaiting a more detailed write-up of the ski trips the Club is planning for 2022 as well as the announcement of our first member activity (besides hiking) since we were "pandemicized" in early 2020. You can find the write-up of the trips under "Announcements" below and the activity, a Pau Hana, above in the "Calendar of Events." and below in "Upcoming Ski Club Activities." We are able to schedule the Pau Hana due to our entry into Tier 4 thanks, in no small measure, to all us who stayed careful, got vaccinated, and lowered the Honolulu infection count We are also planning on having our usual new membership year Kickoff Meeting (excuse for a party) on October 7, pandemic rules permitting, and, hopefully, can get back to having regular monthly General Membership Meetings thereafter. By the way, we will be looking for a new place to meet. Ruby Tuesdays - Moanalua, at the time of our last meeting, in late 2019, said they would no longer be able to accommodate us unless we could guarantee that everyone arrive at about the same time to be seated. Apparently, our "modus operandi" of arriving individually or in small groups over a 45 minutes time period created logistics problems for them, especially with regard to having sufficient service staff. Ruby Tuesdays is basically a restaurant, not a bar or bar & restaurant, which might be the issue. If you know of a bar/restaurant which is conveniently located, could handle a group of 25-30 people in a specific area of the establishment, and "put up" with our habit of not arriving all at once, please let me know.
For the past few months, we have been including news items from the Far West Ski Association newsletter, and this month's items create an interesting juxtaposition. One item is about a number of ski areas joining together to fight climate change while the other is about snow sports, including skiing, being created at indoor venues. I hope that's not the future of our sport, but some scientists seem to think so. I remember, years ago, in the early 1960s I believe, one or more companies were promoting indoor ski practice on a long, wide conveyor belt which was tilted at an angle and had a surface on which skis would slide so that it operated as a "skiing treadmill." I saw one in Watertown, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, near where I was living at the time, and may have tried it but can't remember if I did or not. I do remember that it was about 12 feet wide, maybe 20 feet long, and looked like an injury waiting to happen.
Finally, near the end of this issue, under "Announcements," you'll see Larry Thurston, among other things, offering a double Sportube for sale. I have been using both a single and a double, like the one Larry is selling, for several years and can attest to their durability, ease of transport (with the appropriate length towing strap), and peace of mind from using. Although TSA always opens them, mine anyway, for a peek inside, as indicated by the acknowledgement they always leave inside, they always get it closed correctly (at least so far).
A hui hou kakou and stay safe out there,
TOBY
UPCOMING SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
JULY PAU HANA
Friday July 23, 2021, 4:00 to whenever
DAVE AND
BUSTER'S
1030 Auahi Street - Ward Entertainment Center
It's been over a year since our
last Pau Hana, and with Oahu going into the next tier on July 8, it's about
time to start them up again. The site of our last official club Pau Hana,
Dave and Buster's in March of 2020, two days before the shut everything
down, proved to be a great venue as the Pau Hana extended well past the
Happy Hour onto the rooftop bar/lounge with live entertainment.
Currently the Happy Hour with discounted drinks and pupu lasts from 4-7 PM.
Free parking is plentiful, and the venue is completely open including
the rooftop bar. Live music has not restarted yet, but the staff
is looking into it once we reach the next tier.
Please stop by to say
Hi to familiar faces once again.
GEOF
PAST SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES
UPPER TANTALUS HIKE
Sunday, June 13
By 8:30 AM almost all the off-road spots where cars could squeeze in near the trailhead were taken, and I was beginning to worry that the 9 A.M. hike might not happen due to lack of parking. Also, not only did I see two large groups start hiking, but I counted over 22 people from the Hawaii Trail and Mountain Club start down the trail with loppers and other tools sticking our of their packs. Fortunately, however, Margaret Murchie, Sandra Robbins, Kathy Reinhart, and Peggy Duvall with her son Bradley found parking just a little ways up the road apeice and, despite the throngs who had entered, we did not encounter that many other hikers on the trail to Pauoa Flats and through "the flats" to a cliffside clearing where there is a nice view of Nuuanu Valley, the reservoir directly below, and Kailua (or is it Kaneohe?) through the Pali notch. Luckily, there are several trails that branch off of our intended route, and the throngs that entered earlier obviously disappeared onto these other paths: Whew! Although the trail was muddier than I had ever seen it at a point close to the end, the weather held and so did the soles of our shoes on the wet ground, roots, and bamboo which had been laid down to keep hikers from sinking. We got back in under 3 hours, none the worse for wear. Although the number of hikers this morning may have been an anomaly, it might be wise to start the next hike a bit earlier.
TOBY
NATIONAL NEWS:
From the
NEWS FLASH
FAR WEST SKI ASSOCIATION
MAY, 2021
MAJOR RESORT OWNERS BAND TOGETHER: Alterra Mountain Company, Boyne Resorts, POWDR, and Vail Resorts have joined forces to develop the Climate Collaborative Charter, a unified effort to combat climate change through shared sustainability and advocacy commitments. “The idea for the four of us to unite in this pledge was actually formed at an industry conference in October of 2019,” said Boyne Resorts president and chief executive officer Stephen Kircher. “We are very proud to be a part of this historic action and to co-create the industry’s first Climate Collaborative Charter,” said David Perry, executive VP of sustainability and special projects for Alterra Mountain Company. All four companies have agreed to operate their combined 71 North American resorts with sustainability in mind and to use their collective voice to advocate for effective public policy on climate action. They have committed to broadening engagement and participation for employees, guests, and community members, and to an inclusive approach that consults voices and perspectives from all backgrounds.
INDOOR SNOWSPORTS RESORT COMING TO WASHINGTON
D.C.: Virginia-based developer Alpine-X plans to build a new indoor
snowsports resort. The resort, Fairfax Peak, is the first of 20 such sites
planned for North America. Envisioned as a destination resort, Fairfax Peak
will feature an indoor snowsports venue, upscale hotel, gravity-powered
mountain coaster, zip lines, multiple food and beverage outlets, and
additional amenities. Guests will have year-round access to skiing,
snowboarding, snow tubing, and snow play, as well as a number of other
no-skill and low-skill activities. Alpine-X imagines its indoor resort model
will complement rather than compete with the traditional mountain resorts.
Groundbreaking and completion dates have yet to be set.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SKI TRIPS FOR 2022
Aspen Snowmass Ski Trip
Aloha All,
On behalf of the Trip Committee, I am pleased to announce our long-awaited
ski trip to Aspen Snowmass, January 21-29, 2022. We have guaranteed
accommodations in a conveniently located hotel and nearby condo (both
operated by Hyatt Residence Destinations) at a fantastic price. We have
reserved 20 double occupancy hotel rooms at the slopeside Stonebridge Inn
for $1195 pp and 3 two-bedroom quad occupancy condos at the nearby
Terracehouse Condominiums for $1225 pp. The Stonebridge Inn has a
restaurant, lounge, gym and outdoor pool. It is only a few minutes’ walk to
the Snowmass Mall and to the Village Express lift. The Terracehouse
Condominiums are a short walk from the Inn and has shared access to its
outdoor pool. Please note that we reserved space for only 12 people in the
condominiums so book your group early. The Stonebridge Inn breakfast buffet
package is available for an additional $126 pp for the week and also
available for those staying in the condos.
Round trip airfare on
United Airlines from HNL through DEN to Aspen departs HNL Friday January 21
at 9:20 PM and arrives Aspen Saturday January 22 at 10:45 AM. The return
flight departs Aspen on Saturday January 29 at 9:41 AM, changes planes in
LAX and arrives in HNL at 5:58 pm. Currently this roundtrip airfare is $998
so the Trip Committee has decided to wait for a lower airfare. We will
notify you if and when this happens and you will be able to add this to your
reservations online.
Additional costs include discounted lift tickets
for 4-6 days at a greatly reduced price. For example, seniors (65+) can ski
6 days for $462 (($77 per day, compared to $149/ day at the window). Another
additional expense is $50 pp for the Farewell Dinner. In the past we
incorporated the Farewell Dinner cost into the price of lodging. However,
due to tax and accounting issues we can no longer do so. This dinner is
subsidized by the Ski Club since our Farewell Dinners actually cost over $75
pp (which includes room rental, tax, service and gratuity). This Farewell
Dinner will automatically be added to everyone registered since it is one of
the highlights of the ski trip, where we announce our trip awards and hold
our nominations for next year’s ski destination. If you are arriving and
leaving on the Hawaii Ski Club group airfare then there is $50 round trip
airport transport fee to reserve a van for the group. However, if you travel
as a single or couple (and not with our group) then there is a free, shared
shuttle to the hotel and condo. If you have any questions you can contact me
at alan@hawaiisnowskiclub.com
To register for the Aspen Snowmass Ski
trip, go to this link:
https://meetups.ski.com/hawaii-ski-club-2022/
You will find a menu of options once you enter the site including
lodging, lift tickets, ground transfers, Farewell Dinner and payment
options. Note that there will be $500 pp deposit required at the time of
registration, with the balance due November 18, 2021 and can be paid by ACH
(free) from your checking account or by credit card or PayPal (subject to
3.4% processing fee). If you have any problems registering at this website,
please contact our Ski.com representative Marcie Hawks by clicking on the
link below her picture in the registration site.
Rusutsu, Japan Feb 19-27, 2022
We have reserved 25 double occupancy rooms at the 4 star ski in ski out
Rusutsu Resort Hotel for 7 nights, including buffet breakfast, dinner, 6
days lift tickets and airport shuttle for $2090. Round trip non stop airfare
on Hawaiian Airlines is $900. Total package price is $2,990 with
Schewetravel. Possible 3 days extension to Niseko for an additional fee.
Registration form coming out soon.
ALAN
FOR SALE BY OWNER
Sport tube Series 2
The Series 2 will fit 2 pairs of
skis or one snow board. This is a new in box item, never used. Item is still
in the box. This lists for $200 on Amazon.
Sport tube Series 2 travel
case can hold 1 snow board, 2 pairs of Alpine skis & poles, or up to 4 pairs
of Nordic/skate skis & poles. The case is easily lockable, has a pull handle,
connecting pin, roller wheels, 4 ski straps, and comes with 4 rubber band brake
retainers. It is made of 100% recycled HDPE ensuring light
weight and high durability. The case has internal padding and straps at both ends to protect against
movement and shaking during travel. Will sell for $100.00
Tennis Rackets
Prince Force 3 tennis
rackets with cover $45.00. Pro Kennex tennis racket with cover
$25.00.
For Free
Soft Side Ski Boot bag. Has Level Nine Sports
House logo on the outside.
Please Contact:
Larry: 808-200-4698,
leave message.
HAWAII SKI CLUB IS ON FACEBOOK
Facebook is the best way to keep current on the Hawaii Ski Club. On your Facebook page on your computer, type "Hawaii Ski Club" into the search box on the top left. On your mobile device, tap the magnifying glass at the top to get the search box. Pictures from Ski Club activities and other items are posted as they are submitted. You can submit your own Ski Club pictures and other items you wish posted by emailing them to anita@hawaiisnowskiclub.com
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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 and on our Facebook page.