Ummmm, is it ski season yet?

[Robyn1007]

I'm tired of summer and ready for fall and winter. If we open the slopes the same weekend as last year I have 80 days left. I know, I'm nuts but I HATE feeling hot and sweaty all the time. I have a brand new Vail sweatshirt, never warn that I just want to put on, cuddle up in front of my fireplace and set the alarm for getting up early to head to the slopes.

So, anyone besides Ana ;) ready for winter yet? :D

[Canice]

YES!! And it's not even hot where I live. Except for the awesome produce (and the fog) I hate summer! I go up to my mom's, in Sonoma, once a week and I'm about dying by the time I head home and hit the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge, picking up that cooooool salty breeze and wisp o' fog off the Bay.
I don't ski, but Labor Day is about the happiest day of the year for me -- even though it means the start of our hot weather.
Visions of autumn dance in my head.. :)

[TKay]

You are so funny. And I know you're not kidding. :D
I'm just warming up to summer myself. I've been taking the boys to the public pool which is open from 2 to 4 every afternoon. I just sit there and bask in the sun--something, even as a Californian, I've never really gotten into much. This year, those few hours of what feels like downtime is glorious.
That being said, I will tell you that coming in the house today with bags from Target, the dry cleaning, my work bag, etc., I was so hot and sticky and over it that I wanted to scream. So while I don't ski (or even live in a snowy environment), I feel your pain. ;) I hope winter comes quickly for you.

[Chefzhat]

Robyn. Stop this right now. :D If I get a rainy, cold August I'll know who to blame! :D I will haunt you all winter . . .

[badunnin]

I'm ready! I'm ready!

[Hoodone]

Robyn,

slight thread hijack, but we're moving to Colorado early, like NOW! So I won't get to meet you at the Houston get-together, but at the next Front Range meeting! We're going to rent a house in Evergreen near where we are building and DH will be commuting to Denver for his job.

On a more thread topical point, we don't want it to snow too early as that will slow down our house building. But we also can't leave Houston fast enough because it is way too hot and humid here after three years of Canada!

[wallycat]

I'm ready when the first day of spring hits :eek: :eek: :eek: :o :p

I agree, except for the produce, summer serves me no purpose.


I need a trust fund...huge trust fund; this way, I can fly to New Zealand when it is summer here and I can get winter TWICE!!!! :D :D ;)

[Chefzhat]

I need a trust fund...huge trust fund; this way, I can fly to New Zealand when it is summer here and I can get winter TWICE!!!! :D :D ;)

See, now that's just nuts.

:D :D :D :D

[wallycat]

Hey Deb, how are your eyes doing??

[Chefzhat]

Terrible. Still waiting for my new glasses/contacts to show up. grrrrrr.

How are you holding up???

[Robyn1007]

Hoodone, I'm sorry you won't get to come to the Houston Klatch but I can't blame you for not wanting to live there. I'm not a fan of the place, especially compared to Colorado.

We are kind of bad about klatches here in Colorado and the last one only had 4 of us. Let me know when you are feeling a bit settled and I'd love to get together. Evergreen is beautiful and has a wonderful artist community from what I hear. Oh, and let me know if you are looking for something and I'll do my best to direct you.

[varybarry]

I'm ready for winter time. This weather is gross. I need some snow in my life.

[Laura]

I am not ready for ski season, but as DS just got a brand new snowboard yesterday (it's amazing the deal you can get when companies want to get rid of last year's model), he is drooling over the thought of trying it out. Me, I could be done with summer, I just don't want to rush through fall.

[hollysmom]

I suppose you could head for Argentina this time of year.

What is the earliest that you have ever been able to ski?

I remember it snowing in October when I lived in Illinois - and I had just moved there from Houston in August - what a shock.

The furnace failed inspection in September the next year and I had not bothered to replace it and then during a cold snap in November - it was 26 degrees in the house. I quickly bought a new furnace.

SSM

[Robyn1007]

Well, last year I skied on October 15th but the first ski area opened October 13th. Now, that includes a lot of man made snow but we usually get our first snow somewhere toward the end of September. :D

[DmOrtega]

I can't say that I am ready for winter yet, however we are getting geared up for the winter ski season. :D My dh and I will be cross country skiing. We are talking to our kids about cross country and they are insisting that we go downhill or snowboarding with them. That will be pretty pricey for us. We haven't skied for years and our kids haven't shown any interest until now. I'm thinking that we will send them with the YMCA and my dh and I will cross country every other weekend. I guess we will see how it all works out pretty soon.

In the meantime have you heard of Nordic walking? I was looking for ski skates and ran across this walking technique using walking poles. It's very similar to cross country skiing, only walking. After some research, I found poles on Ebay and are getting them next week. I am going to try using them to get into shape for skiing. I am hoping that my family will take my lead and use them also because that first time out skiing can be a killer afterward.

What do you do to stay in shape for skiing?

[LakeMartinGal]

Nope -- not looking for winter, but fall would be nice -- cooler air, less humidity -- but then the lake cools down and falls in level... guess I'm ok with whatever comes!:D

[doglady8]

I'm ready! I've already purchased my season pass for the 07-08 season! Let it snow! And, I've been dreaming of skiing for the past two weeks.

Now that I think about it, not a day goes by without the subject of skiing coming up in conversation. Only a few months to go!!!

[wallycat]

Terrible. Still waiting for my new glasses/contacts to show up. grrrrrr.

How are you holding up???

Not to hijack, but I am doing well.
The worry about recurrence is the worst thing right now.
I do miss my breasts but have to say, not as much as I thought I would.
It's an adjustment, to be sure, but as the body readjusts and my brain gets used to looking at my "new me," it is almost liberating.
Guys at the coffee machine DO NOT stop talking now when I walk buy (which is a good thing as I was always very self conscious) and I feel so much lighter.
It's great to just be able to put on a t-shirt and go!! Walking and sweating and bike riding are all sooooooo much more appealing without having to schlep around those 34Ds :D :D :D :D

Too bad nature didn't give you boobs if you get pregnant and need to nurse a kid and then retract them for routine living :eek: :p ;)

[Kay Henderson]

Wallycat -- glad to hear you are doing well. I assumed as much, with all your interesting posts lately!

On the subject of winter, I know many ski enthusiasts who feel exactly the same way you do, Robyn. Bring on the snow!

As for me, I LOVE summer! (Tahoe summers are a big reason why we live here.) How could I not be happy in a situation where the forecast reads:

This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 82. West wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 45. West southwest wind between 6 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76. West southwest wind between 8 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Southwest wind between 7 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind between 8 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.


The only thing I can suggest is coming up with activities you enjoy and can look forward for every season. This year I decided I was spending too much time during the summer doing "need to do" stuff and not enough good stuff. I made myself a list of fun things I wanted to do during the season and posted it on my bulletin board. (In my case, sailing, water skiiing, entertaining, reading on the deck, updating my recipe collection, going on drives, walking and bicycling from the house, hiking, kayaking, jeeping, recreational shopping, star-gazing, trying my hand at photography by moonlight, touristy type and new things such as rafting, bycycling other areas, Sorenson's activities, Tallac activities, and horseback riding.)

At the rate I'm going, I'll be surprised if I get half of this in. Nevertheless, glancing at the list reminds me to include activities that I enjoy.

Kay

[Angelina]

Nice forecast...ours reads more like 90 with 100% humidity feeling like 100 for the next 5 days. Lows around 80 but of course since the house's been baking in the sun all day, inside it's an oven and I can't sleep with the AC on.

Please winter...hurry!!!! I need to get some decent sleep! :(

Angela

[badunnin]

Nice forecast...ours reads more like 90 with 100% humidity feeling like 100 for the next 5 days. Lows around 80 but of course since the house's been baking in the sun all day, inside it's an oven and I can't sleep with the AC on.

Please winter...hurry!!!! I need to get some decent sleep! :(

Angela

I almost peed my pants with happiness when I saw that the lows for the next few nights are around 63. Give the house a chance to cool down! Throw open those windows baby!

[Kay Henderson]

I almost peed my pants with happiness when I saw that the lows for the next few nights are around 63. Give the house a chance to cool down! Throw open those windows baby!

I know what you mean from my Sacramento days. In a hot spell, the bones of the house warm up bigtime and there is nothing you can do but run the AC (or suffer, which I was never into!).

Kay

[Robyn1007]

What do you do to stay in shape for skiing?

In the past it has mainly been cycling. Now I have a fitness center available so I'll start lifting weights and using the elliptical as well. I also have a fitness ball that I use for core strength and some good hamstring exercises to balance all the work the quads get on the bike.

[Gumbeaux]

Ummmm, is it ski season yet?

Yep, it's mid season here in Louisiana. :D

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/247060065_1bf1197039.jpg

[Robyn1007]

You got me there but I figured most here knew that I meant snow skiing. :p :p I miss the kiddos as well.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7dd24b3127cce82565366f03900000016100AcsmTNm3aMm Lg

[Robyn1007]

I just got confirmation that I'll have the same age group this season for coaching! Only around 52 days until season starts! :D :D :D

[Chefzhat]

I just got confirmation that I'll have the same age group this season for coaching! Only around 52 days until season starts! :D :D :D

Good for you!

You should know that I'm going to the dark side this year - snowboarding.

:eek:

[Robyn1007]

Good for you!

You should know that I'm going to the dark side this year - snowboarding.

:eek:

I have a snowboard and just need boots and bindings. J and I went to look at gear last night. :D

[slknight]

Robyn, this picture is for you. DS insisted on putting all his winter clothes yesterday and went "skiing" around the backyard. (Hand-me-down X-C skis from BIL).

http://homepages.roadrunner.com/slknight/images/200708/nosnow.jpg

He asks us every day if it's winter yet. :D

[Robyn1007]

What a cutie pie! How old is he? A boy after my own heart. Thank you for posting. :D

[slknight]

What a cutie pie! How old is he? A boy after my own heart. Thank you for posting. :D

He's 4. I thought of you immediately. He loves the snow and could stay outside in it indefinitely. He hates hot weather and will complain that "it's such a hot day" when it's about 65. Good thing we live in Maine. :D

[Robyn1007]

Ah! Does he downhill ski as well or just cross-country? I expect we'll be getting our first bit of snow down here in the city in about a month or so. :D :D The mountains already got their first snow of the season.

[slknight]

Ah! Does he downhill ski as well or just cross-country?

That's the funny part; he doesn't know how to ski! :p He's eager to learn though and I think he will this year.

[Robyn1007]

That's the funny part; he doesn't know how to ski! :p He's eager to learn though and I think he will this year.

Get him up there! I learned at 2 as did most of the kids I coach. :D Although, that's hilarious that he wants to be in skis in August and he doesn't know how. You may have a racer on your hands. :p ;)

[Robyn1007]

Just read this article this morning which put a big grin on my face! :D Oh, and for any Front Range people, Ski Rex and Sniagrab (huge sales on last year's ski/snowboard equipment) start this weekend.

As summer fades, snowmaking gets set to start

SUMMIT COUNTY – It is a cool morning, with clouds hovering over the grass covered slopes of Copper Mountain.


Not the kind of day most people like. Mike Looney and his snowmaking crew would be the exception.

"Getting real close, getting an itchy finger," said Looney.

Summer is winding down bringing shorter days and cooler temperatures, the kind of weather Looney and other snowmakers have been dreaming about.

"Last Friday we had our first snow of the year and everyone is extremely excited," said Looney.

It means the Copper snowmaking crew will start getting busy, setting up snowguns and blowing the manmade stuff in a little more than two weeks.

Traditionally, Copper Mountain is the first ski area to make snow. They will not open until November 2, but one run will be ready for race teams to train on by October 20.

At the base area, Copper Mountain Spokesperson Lauren Pelletreau says the dusting of natural snow last week, mixed with the impending conclusion to summer, has been driving up season pass sales.

One reason is that just before the season starts, skiers and snowboarders can find good deals on season passes.

"Now is the time when folks can get the best deals on those products too," said Pelletreau.

The people at the ski areas are thinking about snow and are hoping that the rest of Colorado will start thinking about it too.

"Even if it's warm on the Front Range, you have to start thinking about winter," said Pelletreau.

You can bet Looney and his crew are thinking snow and how much they will start making just as soon as they can.

"It's time, whether we like it or not," he said.

[hollysmom]

Autumn as seen in Newton, Mass. -- Scott is out for a walk...

http://www.imagestation.com/6424915/3889119004

[Robyn1007]

Oooh, thank you! The trees in the mountains are starting to change. Jared and I are going up to the ski swap next weekend and then going to drive the long way home to see some leaves. I'm delighted to have someone who loves to do that as much as I do. :D

[MikeC]

I don't ski, Robyn. (My only attempt was years ago, and I ended up coming down the baby slope on the seat of my pants!) But I'm sick of this heat -- supposed to hit 90 degrees today -- so I'll vote for autumn to move on in quickly!! ;)