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A Social Club For Snow Skiers and Sports Enthusiasts
Contents
Date and time: Tuesday, January 8, 2002, 7 - 9 P.M.
Location: Holiday Inn Northwest
8901 Business Park Dr. (Mopac & 183) 343-0888
Program: Service dogs - technology you can hug!
Sheri Soltes, speaker, texas hearing & service dogs
Trip Chair: Phyllis Penniston
Assistant Trip Chair: Cindy Carlson
e-mail: mammothtrip@austinskiers.org
Trip Size: 44 skiers
One of our Club's favorite ski areas, Mammoth truly lives up to its name. Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range 160 miles south of Reno, Nevada, this is big-mountain skiing with plenty of runs for all ability levels. It offers 3,500 skiable acres, 30 lifts, 150 named trails, a 3,100-ft vertical drop, average annual snowfall of 383 inches, and over 255 sunny days (70%) per year. Nordic skiers have not been forgotten either the Tamarack cross-country ski center offers 4.5 kilometers of freshly groomed track for all ability levels.
We'll fly into Reno airport and then travel by motor coach to the ski area, with spectacular views of the snowcapped Sierra mountains, high deserts and valleys all along the way. In summer Mammoth and environs serve as the eastern gateway to Yosemite National Park. And, your vacation will actually be spent on skis instead of a shuttle bus, since we'll be staying at the 1849 condos, just across from Canyon Lodge base area. This full service center features a ski rental shop, a ski school, and a sports shop for last minute essentials. It has two eating areas, the Canyon Beach Bar & BBQ with an on-slope patio, and the Grizzly Square Food Court with daily specials and snack items all day long (of course you can also have lunch in your condo). The Grizzly bar is a good spot to meet at the end of the day while waiting for your ski buddies to finish that last run.
Our condos feature a full kitchen with utensils, TV and VCR, and a wood burning fireplace. Videotapes are available for rent at the main desk. In addition, there are 2 outdoor and 1 indoor hot tubs and a heated swimming pool. We'll meet at the hot tub area each afternoon to socialize, plan evening activities, and soothe those tired, but happy, muscles. Transportation is very convenient, and a car is not necessary. The condo provides a free on-call shuttle service for the short trips into Mammoth Village and its many stores, restaurants and pubs/aprës-ski activities. In addition, the free Mammoth Area Shuttle services routes connecting the Main Lodge, Canyon Lodge, Juniper Springs Lodge, Tamarack Lodge and the town. For our members who want to take a break from skiing, the area also offers a wide variety of other activities, including snowmobile and snowshoe excursions, dog sledding, fishing, ice skating, and hot air ballooning. Guide services and instruction are available for ski touring, rock climbing, ice climbing, and ski mountaineering. Not only does Mammoth offer incredible snow, world-class mountain amenities and an exceptionally friendly staff, it also has great weather and plenty of California sunshine.
The trip price is also very reasonable and includes air from Austin, 7 nights lodging, transportation, and several parties where you can socialize with other wonderful Club members. Your memories will be Mammoth, so join us at for a truly great Spring Break ski experience!
Trip Chair: Wendy Buck
Trip Size: 12 skiers
It's difficult to imagine right now, but remember just a few months ago when the temperature outside was hitting 100 like the humidity? Well, here's your chance to get away from that prospect for two weeks this coming summer! Austin Skiers, along with several other Texas ski clubs, will be going down under to New Zealand, and as icing on the cake we'll stop off in Fiji on the way back! Can you say Kiwi?
We'll fly Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to Queenstown, where we'll spend six days and five nights at the Copthorne Resort Lakeview Hotel, just a short walk from Camp Street (the main shopping and activity center of Queenstown). A breakfast buffet each morning is included. Here's where you'll be able to experience the Kiwi adventure! You'll have the option to go jetboating on the Kawarau and Shotover rivers, bungy jump the Nevis Highwire and Kawarau Bridge, go horse trekking with Moonlight Stables, explore the Queenstown wine trails, or mountain bike out to the old gold mining village of Arrowtown. And don't miss the Skyline Gondola, which takes you high above the city. At the top you can participate in luge riding and/or have dinner with a spectacular view of the valley and lake below. And for you shoppers, you'll find Queenstown's cafes and restaurants, gardens, galleries, and craft shops to your liking. There's also an optional trip to Milford sound, where we'll stop and explore rain forests and other natural wonders before boarding our cruise ship for a breathtaking journey through the sound to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean. Of course don't forget the skiing we'll have a choice of four ski areas offering cross-country, downhill, and boarding these include Coronet Peak and the Remarkables.
On our sixth day, we'll depart Queenstown in the afternoon for a 2 1/2 hour flight to Auckland. Our 24 hours there will include a quick bunk at the Sky City Hotel and a leisurely dinner on arrival, then a few hours of sightseeing and shopping the next day, including the wonderful Maori culture center. We depart Auckland in the evening and arrive in Fiji after a 3 hour flight. We'll spend six days and six nights at the Sheraton Resorts Denarau Island. This is a 5 star resort facility with three complexes located on the beachfront overlooking Nadi Bay. It offers a championship golf course, tennis, and watersports including deep sea fishing; or just relax in the spa and fitness center. Again, breakfast is included. No matter which of the three complexes we stay in, we can enjoy the facilities of each. On the sixth day in Fiji, we'll depart in the late evening on a non-stop flight to Los Angeles, arriving at 2:40 p.m. on the same day (L.A. is 18 hours behind Fiji)!
The price of the trip at this time is $2,075, including round trip air from Los Angeles, all airport/hotel transfers, 12 nights lodging, welcome party on arrival in New Zealand, cooked breakfast daily in Queenstown and buffet breakfast daily in Auckland and Fiji. Add approximately $360 for air from Austin. In addition you will be responsible for departure taxes from New Zealand and Fiji. There is also the possibility of spending three nights in Sydney, to be added as a pretrip excursion. We may also offer a seven night scuba dive option to Taveuni, Fiji.
This trip is currently sized for twelve. To reserve your space on this great trip please mail your trip application and $200 per person deposit (fully refundable if we don't have at least 12 members sign-up) to Austin Skiers, c/o Wendy Buck, P.O. Box 2032, Austin, TX 78768. The trip application form is available for downloading on our Web site, www.austinskiers.org, or from any club officer or trip chair. It's already more than half full, and although there's a possibility of adding more spaces, send your deposit soon! For further information please contact the Trip Chair, Wendy Buck at 276-7407. This is going to be a great trip! Don't miss it!
Editor's Note: Prices and details are subject to change! Some trips are full and taking waiting lists. However, contact the Trip Chairs for trip status, because availability changes frequently!
Trip Chair: Liz Earhart
We're returning to Canada's most spectacular resort if you've never seen beautiful Lake Louise, nestled between picturesque mountains and glaciers, then you can't imagine what you've been missing! We'll have three great mountains to ski, plus bargain shopping (with the American dollar buying 1 1/2 times its value in Canada). Our lodging is the romantic, luxurious, grand Chateau Lake Louise, a beautiful and world-famous 80-year old hotel that is also the base for the great TSC parties and races. We'll also be able to visit nearby, world-famous Banff village and its remarkable shopping and dining. It's no wonder that the Canadian government made this the primary tourist attraction on the trans-Canadian railroad in the early 1900's Lake Louise's beauty, wealth of activities, and terrific skiing packs it all into one inexpensive package! Note that this is a Sunday-to-Sunday trip!
November's Page 1 featured trip
Trip Size: 42 skiers
Trip Chair: Terry Champion
Assistant Trip Chair: Rainer Vanoni
e-mail: bigskytrip@austinskiers.org
A welcome return for the Club! After well over a decade, we're going back to Montana's premier resort. Big Sky is a 4,350 foot answer to a key ski question: where's the nation's highest vertical drop? Big Sky is also incredible scenery, short lift lines, over 400 inches of annual snow, and Meadow Village's and Mountain Village's shopping, restaurants, and nightlife (plus a few celebrities might show up from their Montana ranches!). We'll be staying in 3br / 3 1/2 ba, ski in/out condos, with a hot tub and a restaurant on site. Plus, an on-call, free shuttle runs until midnight for those emergency grocery or pub runs! Whether you're a seasoned Club vet who wants a new destination, or newcomer who loves great skiing, gorgeous scenery and culture, Big Sky should be your choice!
Trip Size: 47 skiers
Trip Chair: Kevin Juhl
Assistant Trip Chair: Jon Martin
e-mail: andorratrip@austinskiers.org
Austin Skiers first-time exclusive! Andorra, a small country nestled in the Pyrenees on the French/Spanish border, is a place of wonderful contrasts and blends. First granted independence by Charlemagne about 1000 A.D., Andorra actually became an "official" nation only after its 1993 Constitution was approved. Although primarily under French-style government for most of its history, Andorra's location has ensured that it shares cultures of France, Spain, and the nearby distinct Spanish region of Catalan. Though only the size of a medium U.S. city, Andorra has a large nation's worth of great culture, with museums, fine arts, restaurants, and shops rivaling any other European country. Even the weather has its contrasts: while Andorra is only a few hours away from the sunny, balmy French Riviera, its high mountain climate ensures superb winter snowfall. The country boasts five ski resorts with a total of over 7100 acres of slopes (all within 20 miles of each other!). Finally, although Andorra's wealth and richness might make shopping seem expensive, their virtually tax-free monetary system provides unbelievable shopping bargains. On this TSC Expedition trip we'll spend the first 5 nights in the Andorra la Vella hotel, then the last 2 nights in nearby Barcelona, Spain. Breakfast and dinner are included while in Andorra, and a buffet breakfast in Barcelona. Excursions and extensions will be offered as well; so come with us to discover this enchanting land of contrasts- join us on our first trip to Andorra!
October's Page 1 featured trip
Trip Size: 44 skiers
Trip Chair: Gary Roth
Assistant Trip Chair: Barbara Jacquin
e-mail: innsbrucktrip@austinskiers.org
Beautiful Innsbruck, the capital of the world-famous Austrian Tyrol region, is synonymous with the development of skiing as a sport. Tracing its European roots back over 1300 years, Innsbruck became famous as a center of the famous Habsburg Court high culture during the 13th century, and Mozart found the crisp mountain climate suitable for his many visits. The incredible beauty and charm of this heart of European skiing must be experienced! Innsbruck hosted the 1964 and 1976 Olympics, and continues to be the focal point of the Tyrol's magnificent resorts (eight skiing regions, 210 lifts, over 300 miles of trails). You'll definitely want to ski the famous Patscherkofel and Axamer Lizum Olympic regions, plus we'll have options to ski the Stubai glacier, Kitzbühel and St. Anton. Our lodging is a 4-star hotel near City Center, with breakfast and dinner included. On Friday we'll have a group dinner at the world-famous Hofbraühaus in Munich (three-course meal included), then on Saturday we'll have a couple hours to shop and explore Munich before departing for the airport. Sound good? Even magical? Then join us!
November's Page 1 featured trip
Trip Size: 44 skiers
Trip Chair: Carter Rowles
Assistant Trip Chair: Wendy Buck
e-mail: durangotrip@austinskiers.org
Newly-redesigned Durango Mountain Resort (formerly Purgatory) has been working hard to give you the best in a Colorado ski vacation week! Our trip last year was full of Durango's fabled dry powder, and this year we're returning with the TSC. We'll also offer a short trip from Wednesday to Sunday. From the gentle slopes of Columbine, to the groomed cruisers like Paradise, to the trap-door headwalls of Styx, Purgatory's 11 lifts covering 75 trails serve up an ideal blend of 23% beginner, 51% intermediate and 26% expert terrain. And there's a great extra deal, called the Total Ticket: if you want to take a day off you can exchange one day of skiing for activities like snowmobiling, sleigh riding, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, or a tour of the Mesa Verde ruins. Add to this the TSC parties and races, and you have a great Western-flavored week in store. Durango is the place to be in early February!
Get in now on a great 4-day trip before it's too late! The long trip (February 9-16) is full but if you're interested, contact the long Trip Chair: (Carter Rowles, 833-0467) as cancellations may occur.
Trip size: 24 long; 10 short
Trip Chair: Chuck Bohman
e-mail: whistlertrip@austinskiers.org
Talk about a slam-dunk sure thing! This perennial Austin Skiers favorite is also most-frequently cited by ski magazines and polls as the number one world destination. And why not? The Whistler/Blackcomb complex is the largest single resort in the world, boasting over 7,200 acres on two mountains. That figures out to over 200 trails, 35 lifts, plus over a vertical mile of skiing on each mountain highest in the Western Hemisphere!! But all this size shouldn't fool you the beautiful, quaint, internationally flavored Village, tucked into Whistler's V-shaped valley, allows quick, convenient access to either mountain from the base. And, Whistler's low elevation means less panting and more carving in that 360 inch per year snowfall! You'll find shopping aplenty, and a remarkable choice of world dining cuisines (plus don't forget the mountain itself some of the best resort food at remarkably low prices!). The great news is that this year we have a prime location - we'll be staying in 2br/2ba condos across from the Village marketplace, where you can take advantage of the great exchange rate for the Canadian dollar. When you're talking a number one value, you're talking Whistler!
December's Page 1 featured trip
Trip Size: 36 skiers
Trip Chair: Cherilyn Hack
Assistant Trip Chair: Nancy Hawkins
e-mail: alyeskatrip@austinskiers.org
Another Austin Skiers first-time exclusive! Want to visit a foreign land while still in the USA? Well, that's the feeling many people get when they visit our country's "Final Frontier", beautiful Alaska! And, we're joining the TSC for our first trip into this wilderness paradise. Tucked amid the Tugach Mountains on Alaska's south central coast, Alyeska offers the best of Alaska's beauty and thrills. The mountain features 2,500 vertical feet of skiing on some 62 runs, serviced by 10 lifts, and its low elevation (base only 250 feet!) prevents the thin-air blues, while accommodating the 480 inches of snow annually. And, the resort features the must-see, majestic Alyeska Prince Hotel, and the spectacular Alyeska Tramway, from which you'll see heart-stopping views on your way to the summit! We'll spend the first two nights in Anchorage for a real treat - we'll be on hand to observe the start of the world-famous +Iditarod dogsled race! Then we'll take the hour or so trip up to Alyeska for 4 days of skiing and numerous other activities with the TSC. Want to experience a first? Join us on our first Alaska expedition!
December's Page 1 featured trip
Trip Size: 44 skiers
Trip Chair: Phyllis Penniston
Assistant Trip Chair: Cindy Carlson
e-mail: mammothtrip@austinskiers.org
Are you California dreaming? Can you say Mammoth? How about 3,500 skiable acres, 30 lifts and 3100 vertical feet? Mammoth Mountain is centrally located on the eastern slopes of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range. A traditional favorite, this huge area has something for all levels of skiers. Mammoth is 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 30% advanced terrain. Also, can you say sun? Mammoth has over 255 sunny days (70%) per year. You'll be treated to unobstructed views of high deserts and lush valleys bordered by the snowcapped Sierras. Our 2br/2ba condos are just a short walk from the base area, and feature 3 hot tubs and a heated swimming pool. A free on-call shuttle service is available for shopping or trips to some of the many restaurants and pubs in the village. Snowboard & ski rentals are just down the street at Canyon Lodge. Additional activities include cross-country skiing, snowmobile excursions, and fine dining at more that 30 restaurants on the mountain or in town. For a mammoth great time, join us at one of California's truly great ski experiences!
This Month's Page 1 featured trip
Trip Size: 44 skiers
Trip Chair: Mike Hagye
e-mail: combotrip@austinskiers.org
Still another Austin Skiers first-time exclusive (that's 3 next season)! Calling this a vacation is like calling Texas a small state; this trip's more like an adventure! How much can you do in ten days? We'll test the limit! First, we'll travel to western Switzerland to the village of Grindelwald. Headquarters of Switzerland's gorgeous Jungfraujoch ("top of Europe") region, with a total of 49 lifts and 130+ miles of marked ski runs (not including the bowls and off-trail skiing), Grindelwald has three main ski areas, and lies near the beautiful Aletsch glacier complex. Home of the first cable car (1908), Grindelwald is known for its pristine marble, ice commerce, chapel of St. Petronell (the patron saint of Alps travelers), and the world's highest railroad. In fact, our hotel is just across from the cog railway train that will take us on the short ride up above the village each morning. After five days of exquisite skiing, we switch gears, weather, and culture! It's on to beautiful, historic Greece, where we arrive in Athens, then take a three day cruise of several Greek islands, and a visit to the Turkish port of Kusadasi. After the cruise, we'll spend two days seeing Athens and its quaint, charming Plaka district of cafes and shops, and the famous Parthenon complex. We'll also take a short bus trip to Classical Greece's religious center, Delphi, and its memorable ruins. All this in ten days? Must be a dream; well, dream no more spend Spring Break in our first trip to these marvelous destinations!
Trip Size: 42 skiers
Sigh! The holidays are over and a New Year has begun. Winter in Austin can be fickle. Most days are sunny and warm with just enough cold and raining days to remind you that it is winter after all. Don't you just love it? But it's not great for skiing. So this is the time of year when my winter restlessness bubbles to the surface. I'm ready to go, somewhere anywhere, as long as there is snow and skiing.
I'm glad to see many of you share my same restlessness and desire for traveling. Our ski trips are well underway. We have already heard some of the great stories about the early trips. You still have time to create new memories yourself by applying for one of the few open spaces and you even have a chance to tell us about your adventures (see below)! And to ensure you get the most out of your ski trip, contact Timberline Fitness Studio to help you get in shape for skiing. Timberline is setting up a special Ski Conditioning Class exclusively for Austin Skiers. The classes will be held Tues./Thurs from Noon12:45 beginning January 15th, at 12th and Lamar. If you are interested, call the Timberline Fitness Studio at 472-1444 for more details.
Austin Skiers are awesome people. We collected $535 and more than 50 toys for Blue Santa at our Holiday Party. Because of your generosity, many Austin kids will have a better Christmas and holiday. As the President of the Club, it was rewarding to deliver those toys and money to my local firehouse. I even took pictures, but of course they are not developed. Thanks!
Wishing you the very best in 2002. And remember to Think Snow - as long as it is some place else, that is!
Tere Ayson
Jan. 8 Monthly Meeting at Holiday Inn Northwest
For questions on Special Activities, contact Cindy Berry, Activities V.P. at activities@austinskiers.org
No formal happy hour on Feb. 14 (Valentines day)
February 12 Monthly Meeting Valentine's Party place TBA
For questions on Special Activities, contact Cindy Berry, Activities V.P. at activities@austinskiers.org.
Note that there's been a change of locale for our January 8, 2002 monthly
meeting! We'll be in the Holiday Inn Northwest, the southwest corner of 183
and MoPac. Don't worry, it's not hard to get to! Take Jollyville Rd. about 1/2
mile. As it begins to curve right, take the right at Business Park Drive. The
hotel entrances are on the left.
To get onto Jollyville Rd.
Last month, the Editor shared some of his best (or worst) ski moments. Well, this is your chance to pitch in your 2 cents! We want to hear from you! We're putting together an article for a future issue (probably March or April) to hear from our Club members. We'd love to hear your greatest (or worst!) ski moment! What's the most memorable thing that's happened to you at the slopes? What is your most embarrassing moment? Your best success? Your greatest blunder? It's up to you, and we love funny or cheery stories! Once we get a good sample, we'll compile them into what should be a funny and stimulating article!
Sound good? Then here's all you have to do:
Keep it fairly short 1 paragraph or about 50 words is a good benchmark.
Keep it clean at least use discretion when telling your tale!
Make sure you identify yourself submitting "Jack" or just using your cryptic e-mail might not do it!
Submit to the Editor:
via e-mail: newsletter@austinskiers.org
by regular mail: send to Editor, Austin Skiers, 13507 Couri Pass, Austin TX, 78738
hand deliver to any Austin Skiers officer at meetings or happy hours
Remember, this is your newsletter, so we'd like to hear your stories! Deadline for all submissions is March 15. Remember if you e-mail to put your real name. You've kept it to yourself, now share it with the rest of us!
We all enjoy the opportunity to shoot the breeze with fellow club members and visitors alike at our weekly happy hours. You might not stop to think that although our happy hour is an informal, spontaneous gathering each week, it's also a means to represent our Austin Skiers' image to local establishments and other patrons. So, we're reminding you that good behavior and common sense should always be the rule at happy hour. If you ever have a problem with a restaurant's service, food, seating, or other issues, discuss those problems quietly and politely with the management, or you can notify Cindy Berry, our Special Activities V. P. if a recurring problem exists for you with a particular venue. Remember that while you're an individual, you're also an Austin Skier and can affect the image of the entire group. Let's take this time to remember that decorum and tact goes a long way towards being invited back to a venue, as well as keeping for us the good name we've spent a long time building!
2 CineMark Theatres Discount Passes
Lou Horwitz
Bula headband, water bottle
Jackie Bayly-Bryant
Steamboat T-shirt & cap
Bryan Kruse
MAJIC 95 T-shirt & insulated mug
Pat Glantzberg
Descente ski sweater (courtesy of Sail & Ski)
Jon Martin
Seems like everyone does an In/Out List this time of year. You know, what's out from 2001 and what'll be in for 2002. Because I get paid the big bucks to do the newsletter (stop laughing!) I feel it's my duty to keep you up to date:
OUT
IN
Wind Chill
"$&^#* it's cold!"
snowboarders hate skiers
snowboarders are now skiers
fat skis
fatter skis
La Niña
El Grande Snowfallo
Keeping Warm with The North Face
Throwing Darts at Osama Bin Laden's Face
monoskis
losing one ski
rocks
snow
Warren Miller to pass the bus time
War and Peace to pass flight cancellation time
favorite Club 2nd activity - scuba
favorite Club 2nd activity - golf
"specialty skis"
"used skis"
color coordination
black/blue rear end lack of coordination
boots with "conforming" liners
bandages that "conform" to your feet
sewer-worker looking snowboard garb
snowboarder looking sewer-worker garb
"I financed this vacation thru stocks"
"I defaulted and was put in the public stocks"
dirt
snow
new materials sought to make skis
new money sought to buy skis
"No Friends On Powder Day!"
"No Friends Since Tech Collapse!"
airline food
airline bankruptcies
buying your man Tommy Hilfiger stuff
not having a man to buy stuff for
Mike Hagye
President Tere Ayson
president@austinskiers.org
| V.P. Trips Doug Jordan | |
| V.P. Trip Planning- Liz Earhart | |
| V.P. Programs Elva Hibbs | |
| V.P. Publicity Gary Roth | |
| V.P. Membership Barbara Jacquin | |
| V.P. Special Activities Cindy Berry | |
| Secretary Barbara Bobo | |
| Treasurer Cindy Swannack | |
| Newsletter Editor Mike Hagye | newsletter@austinskiers.org |
| Webmaster Cliff Hoagland | skiwebmaster@austinskiers.org |
| Past President Anthony Beissner |
| Cathy Collins | |
| Mary Gasal | |
| Jim Davis | |
| Neil Martin |
The Austin Skiers' newsletter is published monthly, 12 issues per year. Subscription is included with payment of yearly membership fee. Articles and correspondence should be addressed to the Editor by e-mail at newsletter@austinskiers.org or by phone (see above). Deadline for submission is the 15th of each month. Send issues regarding the Club Web site to skiwebmaster@austinskiers.org. For more information on the next Club meeting or other related activities, contact any of the following:
Austin Skiers is a non profit ski club
For questions on Special Activities, contact Cindy Berry, Activities V.P. at activities@austinskiers.org
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