Austin Skiers: A club for snow sports and travel enthusiasts

A first time adventure! Tucked between the Susa and Chisone valleys, Sestrière sits high on a sunny plateau just off the French border in Western Italy's high Alps. Its history goes back to Roman times, and the area has been a key historical crossroads, witnessing barbarian invasions, Muslim scouting parties, even a brief Nazi occupation. Sestrière's ski history can be traced to the late 1800's and its first tourist amenities from about 1919. However, it was around 1930 when the resort's real genesis occurred, especially with the construction of the famous circular hotel-towers designed by the architectural genius Giovanni Agnelli. Then the Fiat motor company stepped in and virtually built Sestrière as a getaway haven for its numerous Turin employees. This includes a large-scale buildup of "block style" apartments during the 1950's-60's. Despite some of this "industrial" architecture, Sestrière retains an attractive combination of quaint resort, modern cosmopolitan crossroads, and ski haven.

And speaking of skiing! As part of the famous Italian-French "Milky Way" region, Sestrière belongs to a mega-network 400km (250 miles) and 5,000 vertical feet of 66 lift-linked trails on the Cesana e Sansicario, Claviere, Sauze d'Oulx areas, all the way over the border to Montgenèvre, France (be sure to take your passport along on these runs!). This breaks down to 37% beginner, 54% intermediate, and 16% advanced runs, and the region's vast size means that at least one area has lots of snow at any time. The intermediates are the key links between the Milky Way resorts, while the advanced runs are often the World Cup courses and all this is yours on one ski pass! And Sestrière has of course beckoned the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, which we'll be previewing! Sestrière even has night skiing, on a well-lit and prepared 1 1/2 km slope in the Kandahar area. Add to this heliskiing, cheap lessons (about $25 per day), senior and small child discounts, and other activities like ice climbing, cross-country skiing, tubing, tobogganing, sledding, snowmobiling from about $25 U.S., ice skating, and snowshoeing, and you have a winter wonderland of endless sport and activity!

And off the slopes? Well, one key benefit is, of course, you're in Italy, which means superb Piedmont cuisine, wine, and shopping! Sestrière is famous for its "sniff and enter" cafes, where dining is as simple as tracing one of the many pleasant aromas wafting out of its walk-in cafes, and going in! These aromas include cheeses, pastas, pizzas, incredible wines, and desserts and of course there are the high cuisine full restaurants open primarily in the evenings. You can dance at the popular, crowded Tabata disco, the

Fantasy Pub, the Kandahar, or the Baby Bar or sip a quieter beer at Brahm's Pub. Then, if you have some time on your hands, consider taking a car excursion to Sestrière's beautiful, small mountain villages and their charming cafes, pastry shops, or stores. You might visit the Forte Di Fenestrelle; this is an ancient fortified town built on a hill, lit up in the winter at night with a beautiful view of its famous 4,000-step staircase, or visit the nearby ancient Fort of Exilles in the Susa Valley. For the more adventurous, there are regular trains to Turin (but you won't see the Shroud as it's kept locked up!) or Milan, a bit farther and larger, with more architectural treasures. We're flying Continental Airlines into Milan, then taking a coach on the scenic ride to Sestrière. We'll be staying at the 3-star Edelweiss Savoy Hotel an alpine, balcony laden chalet-style hotel, where breakfast is included in the price. So say "bon giorno" to a unique ski week and join us in Sestrière! Note: trip dates have changed to the 18^th (Saturday) to the 26^th (Sunday).

Mix first two ingredients, set aside; languish in tropical setting, add tropical drinks to taste, keep warm in sun;

mix mountains with snow, throw in several activities to suit all; add 12 fab folks and serve. (goes best with perfect weather).

After a 10 1/2-hour flight from Los Angeles, our small group arrived on time in Nadi, Fiji at 3:30 a.m.! Most of us elected to pay for an additional night so we could check into our rooms right away, but the three brave single men chose to wait it out until check-in time at 2 p.m. Almost immediately, Rob Smith and Kevin Juhl were off on a sunrise safari; the rest of us spent the morning sleeping off the jet lag. With the sunrise, we saw what an incredible property the Sheraton Royal Denarau was! A sprawling resort on the beach, on the South Pacific island of Viti Levu, it offered open-air dining, three pools, a beautiful golf course, and comfortable rooms with balconies and an ocean view. In short, it was a tropical paradise! Each morning we enjoyed a breakfast buffet in the dining room overlooking the pool and beach beyond. We quickly learned not to leave the table with food on our plates, as the mina birds descended upon them for their own buffet!

On Tuesday morning Robin Braun, Kathy Collins, Pat Dobberfuhl, Wendy Buck, Steve Faulkner and a small group from Space City Ski Club boarded a dive boat for a 45 minute cruise among the islands to experience some fabulous Fiji diving. The water was very rough that day, which didn't bode well for a few of us! After two dives, we headed back to the resort, after stopping along the way at Mana Island to have lunch. The owners of the island agreed to keep the only restaurant open long enough to serve us, and it was a perfect way to end our first dive trip in Fiji! Many of our group started their evenings in the Meke Lounge for Bula Happy Hour. We always tried the Cocktail of the Day, with names such as ChiChi, Denarau Splash, and Tropical Itch (ask David Albers about that one!). It was also a perfect spot to watch the torch lighting; each evening at dusk a grass-skirted Fijian man would arrive at the beach and beat out a rhythm on a lali, a drum fashioned out of a hollow log. At the same time, another Fijian man with a long torch would run around the pool area and along the beach lighting tiki torches. It was quite a sight, especially I think for the ladies watching the men run around in their grass skirts!

Wednesday morning began with Louise Albers and Barry Robinson boarding the 100 foot schooner "Whale's Tale" for a relaxing day sailing among the islands. Better known as the "booze cruise", it features champagne and a continental breakfast, snorkeling, gourmet lunch, and all-you-can-drink while cruising five islands. By the time we left Fiji, most of the Austin group had indulged in this activity! Meanwhile, on the other side of Viti Levu, Pat, Robin, and Kathy were about to embark on a most memorable experience of a lifetime! In Robin's words, "Being offered the opportunity to 'Dive with the Sharks' initially created an image of menacing creatures circling around us as if we were hor d'ouvres! However, after being persuaded, off we went! We dove to 100 feet and knelt behind a low wall to watch the spectacle. While native divers with spearguns stationed themselves behind us, a large, covered trashcan was lowered and gradually opened. At first, a few smaller fish came to dine, followed by larger ones, and then the sharks. All the fish swam in a counter clockwise direction so that we seemed to be watching outside a rotating aquarium. At times there were three or four sharks feeding and sometimes there were so many fish that they created a blur and stirred up the sand like a snow storm the fish didn't even notice us! At that point in time, there was nowhere any of us would have rather been!"

For half of our group, one of our most unforgettable experiences came the next day. David had arranged a tour of one of the native Fijian villages, and soon had Wendy, Steve, Louise, Kathy, and Robin tagging along. We started the journey in an alley in Nadi. We met up with another woman from Denmark and we all clamored into the back of a small, 4-wheel drive pick-up. We sat on two wooden benches, and began a one and a half hour bumpy but awesome ride into the interior of the island, on a dirt road. We stopped a few times along the way to marvel at the view. The terrain was mountainous, sometimes dry, sometimes lush and tropical. At times we passed horses, wild pigs, cattle and other villagers on the road. There are several hundred native villages in Fiji; we were going to the Bukuya Village. Once we arrived, we were seated at a table on a patio and some of the ladies from the village brought us a snack. We had fruit, bread and fruit juice, and lots of it! Then we were ushered into one of the bures (huts) where we sat on woven mats on the floor and participated in a kava ceremony. Kava is a drink, made from the dried root of the kava plant, a type of pepper, and crushed to a powder and mixed with water. And in fact, this mild narcotic even looks and tastes like muddy water! Kava was used in old-culture Fiji in religious ceremonies, while today it's offered as a welcome to the village, and it's considered rude not to accept it. Kava ceremonies are common all over Fiji- everyone drinks from the same hollowed-out coconut cup; you can opt for high-tide or low-tide (full or half full). We each drank two cups of kava, and thankfully the kava bowl was empty!

Now it was time to see the waterfall. Little did we know we were in for a one hour hike through the jungle! We were led by a villager with a machete, who used it to fashion walking sticks for the ladies and clear the trail along the way. He also carried Louise's bag on his head the whole way! When we finally found the waterfall, it was beautiful! Almost everyone jumped in to cool off, but the water was freezing! I'm not sure how David, Louise, and Steve managed to stay in so long! After a hike back to the truck, and then a short ride to the village, we were served an incredible dinner of rice, chicken, barracuda, more chicken, fruit, eel, and juice! After eating we walked about ten minutes to another side of the village to meet the chief. Unfortunately, he was unavailable that afternoon, but we did get the opportunity to talk to the chief's young wife. She was very candid and we thoroughly enjoyed our chat. We found it hard to believe that she did not understand the word "fun" - when asked what the children did for fun, she didn't know how to answer! She finally said that they plant, and help the women. We couldn't get away without drinking more kava, but the day was about over and it was a long way home. After dragging Steve out of the chief's bure full of village women, we piled into the back of the truck for a cold, bumpy ride back to the resort. Our last day in Fiji was spent doing everything else we hadn't already done! Rob learned to sail a catamaran, some just soaked up the sun on the beach. We all met for a seafood buffet dinner that night, and we wondered how New Zealand could possibly top this week in Fiji?

Saturday morning started before dawn when we loaded into buses and drove to the airport. After two uneventful flights, we arrived in Queenstown at 1 p.m. Our bus driver there gave us a quick tour of the town before he dropped us at our hotel. The Copthorne Resort is a nice property with a wonderful view of the Remarkables mountain range. It didn't take us long to discover that our week in Queenstown would be filled with one exciting activity after another. There was so much going on, the twelve Austin Skiers didn't get together again as a group until we left town seven days later!

Kevin and Rob rented a car and were off skiing and sightseeing different areas every day. Rob managed to injure his ribs again though, so he did more sightseeing than skiing! After meeting up with two gals from the Space City Club, we didn't hear any complaints from the boys all week! Jim and Gina Michalski also rented a car, and were able to enjoy towns a little farther out like Wanaka and Arrowtown. They climbed a peak outside of Wanaka and found a 360 degree view of mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and farmland. Gina said it was as close to paradise on earth as one could find! They were so taken with it all, they even took time to look at property for sale the morning before we left! They didn't make a purchase but it sure was tempting! Pat, our resident hardcore skier, took advantage of the chance to ski in August, heading off each morning for the Cardrona and Treble Cone resorts. The first day we were there it was snowing, so everyone took the opportunity to ski on fresh snow. It snowed again later in the week and fresh powder was had by all! August turned out to be a perfect time for skiing this year!

Wendy and Steve's big adrenaline rush came from the Shotover High Five. We rode the Shotover jet boat on the Shotover River, a thrilling ride zooming up and down the river justthisclose to the canyon walls, doing 360's in the water what a rush! Then we rode a helicopter, straight down one side of the mountain and back up the other side for a breathtaking aerial view of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. We landed at Bob's Peak, above the town, and spent a couple of hours viewing an Imax movie and racing each other down a luge track! Barry and Louise also acted like kids and took a wild ride on the luge. But instead of riding the gondola down from the top of Bob's Peak, they chose to jump! Actually, they parasailed down. That was one of the highlights of their trip, along with the winery tour and canoeing down the Dart River.

Several of our group spent a day on a tour of Milford Sound. To get there, we took an incredible five hour bus ride through some of the most awe-inspiring scenery one can imagine! We saw more waterfalls on this tour than we could count they seemed to spring out of the rocks and flow into nothing! There were amazing mountains and lush valley floors. We boarded a boat, the Milford Haven, for a 1 1/2 hour float on the sound. It was raining most of the way and our boat was seemingly "followed" by a beautiful double rainbow. I don't believe any of us will soon forget Milford Sound. There is nothing like it at home and it made a lasting impression on everyone.

There was so much going on, the twelve Austin Skiers didn't get together again as a group until we left town seven days later!

I have to mention the lazy steamship cruise across beautiful Lake Wakatipu, and the entertaining tour of the Walter Peak sheep farm. And I can't close without mentioning all the wonderful food we ate in Queenstown! Every night was a treat at a different restaurant. And I have to mention our ONE, FEARLESS BUNGEE JUMPER!! The award goes to David Albers for entertaining us with his awesomely stylish swan dive from the original A.J. Hackett bungee bridge! His mom, Louise wanted to know if he had left his affairs in order back home before he jumped! She had nothing to worry about, as David gave us a great show on our last day in New Zealand!

I imagine if you ask the twelve Austin Skiers that went on this trip what was the best part, you'll receive twelve different answers! There was so much to see and do in Fiji and New Zealand, we couldn't possibly do it all. I, for one, am ready to return! Words cannot describe all the different experiences that we had, but you'll have to talk to the NZ trippers and see their pictures to get a better idea of what you missed! Those that have been there know what I'm talking about. So Bula! Now I'm off to plan my next Austin Skiers trip!

Don't Miss a Spot On Your Favorite Trip You'll have to sign up soon for your ski trips because you may not be able to later. Please contact the Trip Chairs now to sign-up we would like to take as many trip participants as possible! Many trips have either filled or may be full soon. But, for a few of the others, dates are approaching where we may need to release unfilled trip slots to avoid costly penalties. This means that some of the trip sizes may reduce and there won't be any remaining openings. Please contact the trip Chairs for more information. You may also contact Neil Martin (Acting VP Trips) if you have have any questions or need more details. Thanks!

Editor's note: At press time, the Lillehammer, Vail, and Sun Valley trips are full with waiting lists; all other trips currently have space available However, contact the trip chair for any trips in which you are interested, as spots frequently become available or are added.

Spend Thanksgiving with Austin Skiers and the Texas Ski Council (TSC) in Summit County, Colorado, one of the most popular ski destinations in the U.S. "Breck's" four interconnected peaks offer 3,400 vertical feet over 2,000 acres served by 25 lifts. That's a lot of skiing in an area where half the mountain is geared toward intermediates and 35% to the hotshots; and Breck runs the gamut of groomed rides to high alpine bowls to tree-filled plungers. And after the on-mountain thrills end for the day, take in the legendary Breckenridge town, full of shops, eateries, clubs, and countless avenues to explore. Our TSC trip includes the usual package of great parties, races, and special events; we'll be staying at the fabulous Beaver Run Resort with its own ski-in/ski-out quad to whisk you to the mountain each day (check out all their amenities at www.beaverrun.com)! And, something to be thankful for there's an optional Thanksgiving dinner available! All in all, a terrific way to spend your November holiday! Approximate price: (click here)

First time exclusive! The TSC has just scheduled a trip especially for folks who have never (or barely) set foot on skis! This is a great way to become acquainted to the ski (and after-ski) life. We'd like to keep most spots for rank beginners, but for those who want to come to improve on their skiing or just ski while a friend or family member learns to ski, lift tickets will cost you just $30 per day. The trip should run around This trip includes air to and from Denver, ground transportation to Winter Park, lodging for 5 nights and 3 days of a Beginner Package of lifts, lessons and rentals, and free shuttle to/from the hotel and mountain. The lodging is located in the centrally to downtown, putting the restaurants, shops, and nightlife within easy walking distance. This is a great, unprecedented opportunity!

It seems that once we find a good thing, we know how to keep it! This is our third straight holiday trip to the Olympic haven in Utah's Wasatch Mountains. Located 17 miles east of Ogden, Snowbasin averages 400 inches a year of famous Utah powder, and offers superb skiing on 3,200 acres, with 54 trails and 3,000 ft. of vertical, for all ability levels (20% beginner, 50% intermediate, and 30% advanced). And, of course, add to this the thrill of being able to ski on the Olympic Downhill and GS courses! We'll also have the option of skiing that untracked snow at Powder Mountain, and also the fabulously upgraded Canyons. The Club will be staying in downtown Ogden with an easy walk to the 25th street historic district and the Ogden mall. Dining, shopping, museums, pubs, antique and art galleries, boutiques, etc are nearby. Our suite hotel has a separate living room and bedroom, plus a free buffet breakfast and a weekday happy hour. Our trip price includes air from Austin, airport to hotel transfers, daily shuttle service to the ski areas, and 6 nights lodging. Ogden is the spot for your post-Olympic holiday fun, so don't miss out! Approximate price: (click here)

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 TSC Traditional trip will have the parties, races, and activities that you've come to enjoy, and the great news is that we'll staying in the ski-in, ski-out Apen's Resort on Blackcomb, 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! Approximate price: (click here)

Steamboat's Western heritage was born out of ranching. This friendly, neighborly, and adventurous town takes these same pioneering ideals of the past and offers up a tremendous present-day ski and resort experience! The resort's six peaks - Mount Werner, Sunshine Peak, Storm Peak, Thunderhead Peak, Pioneer Ridge and Christie Peak - offer an entire mountain range of 2,939 skiable acres. The gladed areas of Sunshine and Storm Peaks are Steamboat's particular claim to fame, with "Champagne Powder ®" in the trees for the most avid powder hounds. And there's more coming - the four-phase Pioneer Ridge Expansion, a 770-acre area of intermediate and advanced terrain to the north of the existing ski area began in 1998 and adds more this year! And when you're tired from all this great skiing, take in Steamboat Springs town, complete with its quaint Western-meets-Scandinavian architecture and countless restaurants, shops, and places to dance the night away! This year, we're in our home away from home, the Lodge Condominiums. Come see why Steamboat has produced more Olympic athletes than any other town it's simply the place to be if you want to ski! Approximate price: (click here)

A first time adventure! We're going to the site of the 2006 Winter Olympics! Beautiful, sunny Sestrière sits high on a plateau just off the French border in Western Italy's high Alps. Largely built by the Fiat car company from 1934, Sestrière enjoys a long history and has earned a reputation as a practical, friendly, and total ski town. Sestrière's fame for terrific snow is not exaggerated its resorts' high altitudes and brisk climate assure an average of over 350 inches per year. And what a choice of skiing the local Sestrière area is on one flank of the famous "Milky Way" range circuit with 400km (250 miles) of 66 lift-linked trails on the Cesana e Sansicario, Claviere, Sauze d'Oulx areas, all the way over the border to Montgenèvre, France (be sure to take your passport along on these runs!). All of these mountains offer over 5,000 vertical feet in the high Alps, with superb trail grooming. For après ski, check out the town and its famous "Round Tower" and a host of superb eateries, shops, and dance factories. Or you can venture out of the area to the close by hub of Turin, Northern Italy's largest city (about 70 miles). Other excursions ( i.e. Milan) are also in the works. We're staying at the Edelweiss Savoy Hotel an alpine, balcony laden chalet-style hotel, where breakfast is included in the price. So say "bon giorno" to a unique ski week and join us in Sestrière! Approximate price: (click here)

Another first time adventure! This winter, the TSC couldn't have chosen any better - we're off to Scandinavia for the first time ever, to the site of the 1994 Olympics! Lillehammer may be small in size, but it's huge in life! Lillehammer's city center, with its famous old-world wooden architectural style, provides a charming base for all the regional activities available. Skiing is of course available at close-by Hafjell alpine center (the largest downhill area in the region), and cross-country Mecca's of Nordseter and Sjusjøen, and hiking and touring is also a good choice in these areas. Or, you can ice fish, take a sleigh ride, see a moose, or even be towed by a reindeer! The Olympic Park is a must-see, which includes: Håkons Hall (with the new, vast National Olympic Museum), Lysgårdbakkene Ski Jump Arena, Birkebeineren Skiing Stadium, Kanthaugen Freestyle Arena and the Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track. And, if exploring the Lillehammer region isn't enough, how about this? We'll first arrive in the capital of Oslo (a breathtaking city!) and are you ready? there's even a post-trip excursion to St. Petersburg, Russia! We'll be staying in Olso for 2 nights, then make our way to Lillehammer, where we'll be for 5 nights and all with breakfast and dinner included in the price! The TSC Winter Expedition assures us of some great activities as well. So what are you waiting for? Join us on our maiden voyage to the beautiful Scandinavian Peninsula and Russia! Approximate Price: (click here)

We haven't been to Vail for awhile? Why? Well, honestly it's been the price! Vail's treasures are limited to thicker wallets most of the time until now! We got such a terrific deal on this trip that we couldn't believe it - we're psyched at going back to Colorado's largest ski resort! In fact, Vail is 3^rd in North America. It's big 7 miles wide with more than 5,000 acres of terrain stretched out over 3,800 vertical feet! And, Vail's 350 inches of snow per year promises a lot of skiing for your money! Vail is known for its three main areas: the Front Side, the Back Bowls, and Blue Sky Basin. The Front Side's 127 trails include virtually every type of terrain, while the Back Bowls offer six miles of powder paradise and the Blue Sky Basin present a tree-gladed utopia nestled in wilderness. When the downhill fun ends, check out Vail's European-style village, replete with all the shopping, fine dining, and other winter activities at your disposal. Of course Vail is a haven for all the other winter activities, such as orienteering, horseback riding, snowmobiling, dog sledding, you name it! We'll be staying at the spacious SunVail Condominiums, and experiencing the vastness of the mighty Vail! Approximate price: (click here)

Jackson Hole always comes up high in our annual surveys, and this year was no exception. With its challenging, beautiful Grand Teton terrain, access to Yellowstone, and quaint ranching culture, "the Hole" keeps us coming back! This time it's with the TSC, with all the usual parties, activities, races, and things you love. Jackson Hole's huge 4,100 feet of vertical drop provides over 400 inches of snow per year, which you'll need to experience Rendezvous Mountain's gut-wrenching chutes, bowls, couloirs (have you done Corbet's?), glades and other world-famous expert terrain, or challenge yourself on the much longer than usual intermediate runs on Rendezvous and the gentler Apres Vous mountain. And this year, a nice treat - we're staying at the resort on the mountain, an easy 20 minute bus access into the Town (and famous Silver Dollar Bar and all the shopping, dining, and exploring you can "round up!"), so we're practically ski-in, ski-out! There's just no better challenge for any level of skier than Jackson Hole, so join us for what's always a memorable time in Wyoming's premier resort! Approximate price: (click here)

North America's largest single mountain resort, Heavenly's nine peaks and two valleys split the Nevada-California border and offer the best of both. Don't even think about covering Heavenly's massive 5,200 acres of 79 trails, just do your best! After toasting the day at one of Heavenly's three base lodges, go into Nevada's South Lake Tahoe for the casinos and Vegas-style buffets. Home for the week is the quaint 2/2 Forest Inn condos, just a 1 to 5 minute walk to either the new Gondola or the casinos, where the action never stops. And, as usual, we'll be looking to sample a few other magnificent Tahoe area resorts, interest permitting Squaw Valley, Kirkwood, Alpine Meadows, or another deep snow paradise! But wait, there's more you can also take the scenic Tahoe Queen boat ride, snowmobile, rent a dogsled, even ride a Harley, among South Lake Tahoe's numerous non-ski activities! So join us and go for it all at Heavenly it's a sure bet! Approximate price: (click here)

Our recent trips to Sun Valley have been so enjoyable that we're going there for Spring Break 2003! Sun Valley is a place of firsts it was the first destination ski resort in the U.S. (1936), and soon became the first winter stop for the Hollywood elite in the 40's and 50's. After a brief period of decline in the '60's it was once again restored to its former glory, so that by the mid-90's Sun Valley, having regained its original luster and charm, was voted SKI magazine's #1 resort in 2000. Located in the Sawtooth Range, Sun Valley boasts two mountains: Bald Mountain's 2000+ acres stretched over 3,400 vertical feet provide for serious skiing, and Dollar Mountain's excellent learning terrain is among the best anywhere. We'll be staying at the Warm Springs base in the Prospector Condos; this is near the shuttle stop to the Challenger quad, which will whisk you up Bald Mountain in a short 10 minutes. Each of our 2 and 3 bedroom condos offer fireplaces and mountain views. Amenities include heated swimming pool with Jacuzzi jets, sauna and on-site laundry facilities. Shuttle service to Dollar Mountain, Sun Valley, Elkhorn and downtown Ketchum is available from 7:30 a.m. to midnight via the Ketchum and Area Rapid Transit (KART). So don't be last come to experience Sun Valley's many firsts! Approximate price: (click here)

Want to go to France without a long overseas flight? As the only fortified city in North America, Québec City has sat at the crossroads of colonial history, attracting visitors (and attackers!) since it was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. Québec City is located on a high, scenic bluff above the St. Lawrence River from atop Cape Diamant. Greater Québec City comprises five historic areas with buildings representing four centuries of architectural history and the influences of Aboriginal, French and English you can experience the heart of French culture and language seasoned with other heritages. And we'll get a great view as we're flying directly into Québec City no long bus rides! There are just too many to-do's to mention here; of course there's skiing - three ski areas within 30 minutes of downtown: Mont-Sainte-Anne, Station touristique Stoneham and Le Massiff (plus over 30 cross country ski centers in the city). Beyond this, there's enough to keep you busy for a lifetime, never mind a week! You can tour and shop the oldest commercial district in North America (Petit-Champlain), or visit the Place Royale, the Île d'Orléans, the colonial Citadel, or the Old Port; you'll find premier shopping, museums, galleries, artisans' workshops, renowned designers' boutiques, and over 1,000 restaurants and exotic food shops everywhere. You can even take in all these sites in from your 5-star window - the TSC is hosting its Final Showdown from the fabulous, historic 19^th century Chateau Frontenac, high on a scenic bluff; you'll feel like royalty with this treatment! And, we'll have several excursions, including one to Montreal. Come see what the English and French found worth going to war over in the 1750's join us for a French-flavored taste of Canada in Québec! Approximate price: (click here)

Austin Skiers first-time exclusive! Our first formal trip to Central America features the best of the tropical rain forest, beaches, hot springs, and eclectic and quaint shopping. Costa Rica's reputation as a tourist and residential destination has exploded in the past few years come see what makes it so great! The first night we will be in San Jose at the Barcelo San Jose Hotel Casino. Then we'll be based for the next four nights in the fabulous Hotel Mariposa in Quepos/Manuel Antonio on the mid-Pacific Coast. The hotel is integrated in the rainforest hillside overlooking the Pacific and Manuel Antonio National Park, with a short walk to the village of Quepos' many restaurants and shops. Later that week, we'll move to the Lake Arenal /La Fortuna Region in the Northern Zone, where our stay in the Tabacon Resort features a view of Volcan Arenal and Lake Arenal. The thermal hot springs and mineral pools are within the resort making it a destination in itself; in addition, the Iskandria Spa offers a variety of relaxing treatments. Optional excursions include rafting, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, rainforest tours, clout forest (above the canopy) tours, sport fishing, and hiking, to name a few). The final price will be firmed up in September and includes; air, lodging and ground transportation. So are you ready for a grand time, Latin American style? Vamanos a Costa Rica!! Price includes a TSC dinner and continental breakfest. Approximate price: (click here)

Hey members, we've had some by-laws issues come up that require a quick vote at the October meeting. These changes are posted on the Club Web site: www.austinskiers.org. Look for the link to the new change proposals on the home page it should be in .pdf format requiring Adobe Acrobat. If you're unable to view these changes and need a copy, you can e-mail Mike Hagye at newsletter@austinskiers.org or come to the meeting, where a copy of the changes are available.

October 15 is the deadline for submitting your ad for the Directory! Prices and sizes range from a $25 business card ad up to a $200 full page (8 1/2 x 11) ad, with sizes in between. Format is grayscale, either hard copy or electronic (.tiff or .jpg is best). And remember that we're always accepting newsletter ads, with multi-month discounts available. Prices, sizes and formats are similar to the Directory. For more information, rates, and further instructions regarding newsletter or directory advertising, contact Marketing V.P. Marcia Honeycutt (e-mail marketing@austinskiers.org ). Technical questions about the ad format can be addressed to Mike Hagye, Editor, newsletter@austinskiers.org

Check out Breck: are we off to a good start? Looks like the snow season is starting out well this year! Last week about a foot of snow fell at Breckenridge! Check out a current picture at right of Peak 8. This is the earliest in several years snow has fallen (check out the Editor's column on p. 10 on this related topic).

With the cool weather and shorter days of fall approaching, these activities are soon to end for the season, but there's still time to put in one or two events! Those interested in playing Golf each Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon should contact Cindy Swannack cswannack@csmtg.com (ending soon due to cold and darkness, but we might go to weekends during the fall/winter months). Anyone wishing to get in Sunday sailing on Lake Travis, contact Hank Miller at hank@bga.com. And remember that we have weekly softball practices (Mondays) and games (Wednesdays). Contact Ben Mathis for more info or to get directions to play or cheer with the team.

We're also adding two new activities! Anyone interested in doing occasional bicycling tours should contact Kevin Collins, who will be leading biweekly or monthly outings. Contact Kevin at kevinmcollins@earthlink.net. And for you roller skaters/bladers out there, contact Marcia Honeycutt if you want to join a weekly outing. Marcia's at marcia@ewenix.com.

If you've never seen the Beatles' tribute band The Eggmen, this is a great opportunity to experience their superb renditions complete with the legendary Lake Travis Oasis sunset! The date is Saturday, October 5. Arrive by 7 p.m. to join us at a table (just look for us or ask for "Austin Skiers"), sit back, eat, dance, and enjoy!

Also, kommen Sie mit uns to a great night out during the heart of German Oktoberfest to Walburg Mercantile! Saturday, October 19, we'll meet in the Restaurant at 6 p.m. for Schnitzel, then head to the biergarten for the sounds of the Walburg Boys until 1 a.m. For dinner reservations, e-mail Cindy Berry activities@austinskiers.org by October 12.

Saturday, October 26 from 8 p.m. 12 a.m., we'll be "scaring" up a good time at our Annual Hallowe'en Costume Party! We're meeting at Elva Hibb's for this potluck food and costume extravaganza! Here are directions to Elva's: Go 183 to Spicewood Springs Rd. At Spicewood Springs Rd. go west (east of 183 is McNeil Rd.). Go 1 1/2 miles on Spicewood Springs, past Canyon Vista Middle School, until you begin to descend the hill. Entrance to Canyon Mesa subdivision is on your left (look for the sign). There are 16 houses in the subdivision; Elva's address is 8230 Spicewood Springs Rd. #5 (turn left after entering into her complex). See ya there, and remember to bring your own dish, and of course, bring your own "boo's!"

This is your last call for The Austin Skiers 2002 Fall Golf Tournament Sunday afternoon, October 27 at the Lago Vista course on Lake Travis. The format will be a scramble (or select shot) of hopefully evenly-matched teams, with the emphasis on fun rather than competition; first tee time is scheduled for 1 p.m. This is for golfers of all abilities from rank beginners to experienced players. The $25 fee includes the green fees, riding cart and awards (how many half-day lift tickets can you find for $25?). Interested? Contact Otis Sikes at osikes@aol.com for more details and sign-up.

See what's news for the TSC in their online "Inside" newsletter. This contains key events, info, and goings on which just might be relevant to you and a TSC trip you're on. To view the latest issue, just go to their link at http://www.texas-ski.org/insidernews/inside-tsc.htm . The TSC appreciates your continued support!

From the Editor...

When I was in college, I seriously considered being a meteorologist. That was, until two things happened: first, several classes were canceled due to lack of enrollment; second, meteorology majors aren't co-ed magnets. So, the performing arts it was

Well, embarrassing as it is to admit, I still keep track of the weather. Not just by looking out the window(!) but actually get into the geeky world of climate patterns, cycles, trends, and all that junk. Before you laugh too loud, I don't have a weather vane on my roof (or head), send up daily weather balloons, or stand in thunderstorms scribbling down data. No, this is just a casual pursuit. Now as exciting as all this is, it does have a relationship to my interest in skiing. For the weather's effect on skiing the past few years has been notable to say the least. Leaving out all the geek data, we've seen a noticeable pattern involving two of skiers' ultimate downers: heat and dryness. And although there have been powdery exceptions to the rule, the past 4-5 years have seen a disturbing drop in snowfall amounts and increased temperatures in many worldwide locales, especially where skiing is involved. Many areas have seen perhaps a strong snow "month" instead of an entire 3-4 month "season". Now, weather geeks have fist fights over whether all this is cyclical, and if those cycles are brief (a few years), long (decades or centuries), or both. But I guess for most of us, the key is how good this season will be (who's worried about next century?). After all, we gamble with our pocketbooks months ahead of time on good ski weather. Many Club vets I've talked with say that '98-'99 was the last good winter (I remember that, too!). So what's the point of this exciting discussion? Well, after mixing in all the El Ñio's, La Ñia's ocean current trends, greenhouse effect stuff, and the like, the "experts" are predicting a cold, wet winter for the Rockies and the Alps. Will this finally mean an end to a 5-year Colorado mountain drought (going to Vail, I hope so)? Europe has experienced its wettest summer in over 40 years (and disastrous flooding), so maybe the trends are changing. Let's hope so, and hope that we see 3-4 good months of constant snowfalls this year. In the meantime, just a warning: don't tell me "nice weather, huh?" or you might regret it!

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 15^th 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:

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Issue 10:02

Contents

From the Editor...