Ski

Nah, you'll be at Gore in late March if things go well for Ridge.

The Shawnee NASTAR course is dead flat through the first four gates; if a racer skates three times at CB, they'll be tempted to skate six times at Shawnee. That also means it's a bad course for snowboarders. It's a 30 second course, which is good, but it's much flatter than Raceway (CB) or Montage. No real terrain, other than having to deal with a dogleg to the right. I'd rate it a C+ as far as NASTAR's go... There's a actually a guy that bought great timing gear and ski areas book him for races just like a DJ. Come to think of it, both Sib and I have worked with him at CB. She was in the finish house for at least four USSA races and I was the Starter for two PA Cups on Cliffhanger. Little kids love to run gates. Our weekly race series at The Hideout can get as many as 100 kids. Racing doesn't have to be about killer competition. It can be about "Wow, I made it down and went around all the gates. Let's do it again!"

I read a Ski Mag article once that told people to simply run gates wherever you see them set up on a mountain. In reality, ski teams sell cupcakes or raffle tickets (or just outright pay extra money) to buy those gates which are fragile when smacked just right. The Montage Race Team usually- and is supposed to- posts CLOSED COURSE signs when there's unattended gates. I'd recommend avoiding those courses, but admit that I almost always bash through when nobody is looking. When I worked at a NASTAR course, our mountain kept a percentage of sign-up fees. I don't know how it works now, but the people that run most courses are seasonal ski area employees on hourly wage. They get no direct benefit from turnout. NASTAR is what a mountain makes of it by how friendly the staffers are and how committed they are to set gates in sketchy weather. NASTAR could be free, I suppose, if the ski area paid the entry fee they have to send to NASTAR HQ. NASTAR at Montage is more of an added perk, than a money maker. I've been there on days that they've made $100 in sign-ups, yet given away $350 worth of skis and other gear. And NASTAR doesn't pay for the timing gear, which can easily cost $5000. That's the #1 cost. At our private hill we aren't quite that high tech: two walkie-talkies and a stopwatch.

Sib is 100% correct...and Dthmtl, as well. Sorry, but there is no benefit in getting "noticed" or getting "exposure" in ski racing. It is about the points and nothing else. You get good points by competing against the top racers on difficult courses. As Sib wrote, USSA racers have no use for NASTAR. What benefit does running a flat, open GS course do for a USSA racer? It can actually create a bad habit of tucking when you should be standing on your edges. NASTAR courses also do not conform to USSA standards. Only Cliffhanger at CB is up to USSA code...could you imagine the typical CB NASTAR entrant racing down Cliffy's icy headwall after 50 ruts have built up? Skimom: I love that you love NASTAR for everyone. Consider this: what USSA race would 'Dude skip for a NASTAR race? Would 'Dude rather have a NASTAR National Championship or win any regular season race in any New York or New England state? Your postitive attitude and passion for the sport is addictive in person, 'Mom. We just disagree on a few points. Gary kills the competition at NASTAR because there are no Masters racers in his division that would dream of spending airfare to ski on a NASTAR National course. That's like a Division I baseball player playing on a little league field. Sounds like I'm bashing NASTAR, but I think it's one of the best things in the world...for what it is: a chance for kids and adults to get a taste of gates. It is a place for people on rental gear to overcome fears. It's a place for hotshot newschoolers to ride a race course switch and a bunch of PASR to have a fun, goofy afternoon. It's a place to settle a score among friends. When I show up at our local NASTAR course, the first thing I do is help get people signed up...I often spend a 1/2 hour talking with nervous beginner skiers, giving the most basic tips. I always tell kids that smiling makes you ski faster. Guess how many of those newbies will be scared off from Sunday afternoon NASTARS when they see a bunch of people in new NASTAR speed suits? And this MB's admin thought post counts would be intimidating! Please don't confuse my disdain for Gary as negative feelings toward NASTAR. Gary is not NASTAR, despite what he says. NASTAR is very much franchised into what your local mountain makes it. I hope Blue aspires to be just like Montage. **(Sorry, but I didn't go back and research whether it's a percentage or specific handicap that wins these skis, but the essence is the same for the following point)** Does offering "free" Rossi race skis to people that can ski a 5HC make a difference? Absolutely not and here's why: a 5HC is married to his/her ski brand for one thing. A 5HC skier does not spend $400 airfare and $400 hotel, plus food, car, etc., to win a pair of $750 skis. Can a great recreational racer win those skis? Never. In a properly handicapped race, even a great 10 HCer cannot ski down to a 5. And just who is a 10 handicapper? Not me! Not even the best race coaches and handicappers at your local mountain. It is an award for the elite. Period. Wouldn't it be a better "carrot" if it were simply a door prize? Come, race, and maybe win a great set of skis. But, just FYI: race stock skis are impossible to ski for typical recreational racers. Lastly: USSA racers cannot be enticed to NASTAR. As Sib said, if you are J1/2 and therefore eligible for FIS, then that's their ONLY hope of advancing toward the US Ski Team. Getting "noticed" means entering an FIS race and scoring 35 points. PS: I still think gates should be free to run at every ski area in the US. Boarders and jibbers get free parks and pipes thrown in with their lift tickets. Running a GS course is MUCH cheaper than upkeep for parks and pipes. And anyone under 18 is forbidden from skiing NASTAR unless they have their parent come to the start house. Imagine doing that to pipe boarders? The secret to NASTAR's future success is making it more newbie-friendly. And getting rid of the egomaniacal Park City jerks.

The Lackawanna County Commissioners office would know, for sure. They'd probably give you a personal tour of the property. I thought you just might be giving Wolverine a hard time.

I actually searched quite a bit and didn't find the listing. Not a really aggressive realty listing.

I wonder if they use that in their ads?

Look, Bud, it's SUNSET FIRE, not orange. And chicks dig it---I see 'em stairing all the time.

Montage made money for six consecutive seasons (due mainly to the snow tubing addition), but then ran into bad weather for XMas week two years ago and they went crazy trying to sell it. The county is in financial ruin, with something like a 48% property tax increase to help the deficit. Montage has such an amazingly low overhead compared to other ski areas that it will eventually sell. If you recall an earlier thread, they spent $20,000 or so to advertise it in USA Today and The Wall Street Journal for $9 million, which was absurd. I've been reading that China has been buying everything, from IBM's laptop division to Maytag. Hmmmm....I'd support a Chinese takeover. Mmmmm...Chinese....

Speaking of helmets, Rossignol now has a line: I think I paid $39 for my lid...I'm still alive.

It's owned by Lackawanna County, along with the Ford Pavillion (where Missy saw Dave Matthews last night---near the ski hill), and Lackawanna Stadium (where the Philly farm team plays). The stadium is at the bottom of the access road. There are various townhouse, condo, and single family developments on the access road, as well as a decent golf course. Those are privately held properties, separate from the ski area. There are several hundred acres for sale along the access road. Wherein CB has had to fight for every acre of expansion, Lackawanna County wants to throw land at prospective builders. The Lackawanna County Commissioners have screwed up every aspect of the area. They had a chance to cash in and sell the stadium name when the Red Barons were a hot property. Instead, they bickered and jerked around some interested big companies. They ended up having to settle on some low revenue deal with a local tire company.

BTW, congrats and good luck, Schif!

BK is over an hour, although it'll be worth it for some road trips; twice the vert and 6 times as many trails. You can catch lots of rides to Tussey.

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...10 ft. more vert than BC...

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Which one and in what language? http://www.bodelicious.net/ Man, just saying "Bodelicious" is gay...

It started out at $9 million last year, but was assessed by Snowtime Inc. at roughly half that amount. Here's the Commissioner's link: http://www.lackawannacounty.org/viewDepartment.aspx?DeptID=8 This guy has been the Commission office spokeperson: Robert C. Cordaro Phone: 570-963-6800 Fax: 570-963-6812 E-mail: Cordaror@lackawannacounty.org Administrative Assistant: Jill Sensi

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Oh, cool, that's cheap enough. Thanks!

Yeah, for sure, when I'm not working. I'm already down to a four day work week during the winter. It would be good to have some gates before the weekend ASRA's. Blue is far for me, but empty Thursday slopes would be worth it. Hey, save me a search: do they have night-only passes or CB-like "treasure" packs?

10 second story: didn't sell; want someone as manager. It was a sidebar to the Red Barons and Dave "The Poop" Matthews Band traffic story. County Commissioners are looking for someone to come in and turn Montage into a profitable ski area...perhaps so more money can be raised in order to pay for the incredible deficit the stadium down the hill leaves.