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March, 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:
Nothing scheduled due to COVID-19 limitations on activity.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Better Late than Never: A few weeks ago, I finally opened the December issue of Honolulu Magazine and there, in a center promotional section, sponsored by AARP Hawaii, was a 2 page, centerfold article, would you believe, on our own Lori Auhll. We all knew she was an annual competitor in the Waikiki Roughwater swim, but I didn't know that she has completed the race 20 times and often goes on her 2 mile training swims after finishing a couple of rounds of tennis at Kapiolani Park. I also didn't know that she is into paddling and, for a long period of time, horseback riding and has ridden horses all over the world. I would provide you a link to the article but couldn't get a satsifactory one without joining an organization or group and getting a password, and I didn't want to do that. In any case, GO Lori!!!!!
In last month's Newsletter, I stated that a few Club members were still going, on their own, to Aspen-Snowmass. Well, as it turned out, the Pickens drove up with their son, Jeff, from their second home (or is it their first and Honolulu is their second) elsewhere in Colorado and Geof Chu flew in to Las Vegas and drove up, after a week's skiing in Utah. Only these 4 made it. According to Geof, the snow was good, but the restaurants were totally take-out: He had stopped at a market on the way in so that he could prepare his own meals in his unit. He also shared that getting Covid tests with a fast turnaround for results in Salt Lake City, before he drove up to Aspen, and in Las Vegas, before flying back to Honolulu, were not a problem. You can find a photo of Geof, Jeff, and Claire at Aspen-Snowmass on the photos page of our website, www.hawaiisnowskiclub.com : Just click on "Photos" and scroll down to the 15th picture.
Craig Shaffer flew back to his original home in Pittsburgh in late January due to his mother's illness, took his snowboard with him, and just returned (to Pittsburgh) from a weedend at Bear Creek with the Beaver Valley Ski Club. He said the snow was a bit on the hard side. He also said that it was the first trip with a club he has taken in the last 5 years. I believe, from several Facebook posts I have seen, that he has been boarding elsewhere, but I'm not sure. He did go to a local park where he indicates his wife, Linda, to have been the lift operator: I assume he was boarding down, and she was driving him back up to the top (Kind of like Mauna Kea, but at a much lower altitude?). By the way, Craig's mom, whom he brought to Club meetings when she was in town and some of you have met, unfortunately passed away shortly following his arrival.
Andrea Weymouth Fujie and John Cho have been to Park City and are returning to Utah in late March for another go at it. On the second trip, they hope to concentrate on Brighton in big Cottonwood Canyon. With permission, her email on their experience is reprinted below.
Who else has been and/or motivated enough to "jump through the Covid hoops" to go skiing this year? Let me know, and I'll give you your 10 seconds of glory in the next Newsletter.
MEANWHILE, DRUM ROLL PLEASE, we are already planning to make up for lost time at Aspen-Snowmass next year. We have received preliminary information from Ski.com and may be signing a contract soon for our usual last week in January. Stay tuned.
Also, by now, you have received an email from Jonathan, asking for Board nominations, and this will be followed by the ballot. As with last year, due to the pandemic, there will be no meeting "---convened for the purpose of elections:" The process will be completed via email. Your timely response to the ballot, when you receive it, will be appreciated.
Finally, below are a couple of items from the latest Far West Ski Association's News Flash.
A hui hou kakou and stay safe out there,
TOBY
ITEMS OF INTEREST
EMAIL FROM ANDREA
"It was awesome. My friend and new ski club member John
Cho went to Utah in January. We chose Utah because we could limit our exposure
traveling and while visiting. Delta is maintaining empty middle seat blocking
thru april. So we were able to fly wide body nonstop with 3 middle seats to
ourselves both ways. We rented 4 WHL drive SUV from Avis/Payless, their cars are
right there at airport no shuttling.
Stayed at Empire house condo right
across street from main Park City lifts for 5 nites and then in a condo at
sundial resort at Canyons for 3 nights. We pretty much kept to ourselves and ate
most of our meals in condo, creating some fabulous and safe meals. Went
horseback riding in Midway.
Our timing was perfect as it snowed plenty the day we
arrived and throughout our stay. Park City lift tickets were super expensive
this year $ 179 for me(63) and $129 for John (67). On line pricing add $20 if
same day on site purchase. Everything everywhere was online and using QR codes.
Even to get into slopeside restaurants/cafeterias. There are no more paper trail
maps all on an app. God help anyone that doesn't have a smart phone or whose
smart phone freezes in very cold and windy conditions.
We also skied Brighton which was our
favorite just long travel time in the snow.
Going back March 22-29. Will stay in
condo at deer valley, john is a snowboarder so will probably ski mostly Brighton
and Solitude. Much cheaper and so beautiful. We tried to find accommodations in
the Canyon but very little available and very expensive. Will rent another SUV.
And if course flying delta again. We wore n95 masks the entire time at airports
and on plane. We went a little over board and sanitized every surface in
airplane, car and condos. Geoff gave us great advise on where to get Covid rapid
testing for return. Walgreens kearns drive thru. Our insurance covered so no
cost to us. Again a smart phone is necessary as everything is online with
testing and with reporting to state of Hawaii. Need to present the negative test
results to state and recieve QR code to enter Hawaii.
It's a brave new world out there, but
plenty of people traveling and skiing. Good social distancing for the most
part."
NEWS FLASH
FAR WEST SKI ASSOCIATION
February, 2021
DANGER IN THE BACKCOUNTRY: Last week 15 people in the US died in avalanches. The highest weekly total ever recorded! Are you prepared? Are you educated? Have you been trained? Just recently, North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA) hosted a webinar, entitled “Danger in the Backcountry” along with The Bryce and Ronnie Athletic Snow Safety Foundation (BRASS) that was extremely thought provoking. With backcountry equipment sales up over 137% in the last 3 years, many more snow sport enthusiasts are venturing out of bounds. Side Country is Back Country… it is not controlled and not patrolled! At the end of last ski season, when COVID shut down the lifts, there were more than 50 human triggered avalanches in Utah. One lucky victim (he survived) was recording his run on Strava, which showed he tumbled down the mountain at 77 mph! Last month I spoke on the inherent risks of so many more skiers, boarders, and snow-shoers heading out of bounds, and not knowing what they are doing! Please, please be safe out there. Check with your local areas. Have there been any avalanche warnings? If so, stay home!! Be safe, not sorry!
MR. “GS”- TED LIGETY ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT: Two-time Olympic champion,
Ted Ligety has announced his retirement, capping a storied 17-year career.
Ligety announced on Tuesday that he will be retiring. An Olympic gold at the
2006 Torino Olympic Games in the alpine combined and a gold in giant slalom at
Sochi in 2014, Ted has podiumed in all major FIS Ski World Cup events throughout
his career, including slalom, giant slalom, alpine combined, super-G and
downhill. He made history at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming,
Austria, winning three gold medals. In doing so, he became the first, since Jean
Claude Killy, 45 years prior… in 1968, to win three or more golds in one World
Championships. His achievements include 5-time World Champion, 3-time World GS
Champion, 5-time GS titleholder, 336 World Cup starts, 25 World Cup victories,
52 World Cup podiums, and the only American male to win 2 Olympic gold medals in
alpine skiing.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
HAWAII SKI CLUB IS ON FACEBOOK
If you are on Facebook, add the HSC as a “friend.” You will be up-to-date with recent HSC activities that members upload. The HSC Facebook page has photos from members on ski trips and at Club activities. You can also include your personal photos and announcements relating to the club for all HSC members to view.
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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