Wanted: Local Lange Boot Girls!

The Ski Guru loves Freeskier Magazine for things like this. In recent years their Local Lange Boot Girl contest has become a rite of passage as snow flies and the lifts start spinning across ski country. Each year since inception the contest has grown in popularity and competitiveness.

For decades Lange has been using woman to market their boots. Historically this was accomplished via posters hung in ski shops and base lodges. No complaints from either sex that skis on this strategy. Seems the woman like it as much as the boys. Obviously this type of stuff is not for everyone, but I am willing to wager that most who ski view the Lange Boot Girls as a positive thing.

That is enough about the past. Why should it matter how much it snowed eight years ago unless you are sitting at a bar drinking beers, telling stories, and it is raining outside. Skiing focuses on the present and the future. How much snow are we going to get? Which area do you want to ski at this weekend? Where are they dropping the ropes? You get the idea. Presently the current Local Lange Boot Girl champion is getting ready to pass the title to the lucky winner of the 09/10 contest. But she is still holding the boots. The Ski Guru was able to catch up with her and the result is the following question and answer session that sheds a few flakes on what makes her turn.

Stratton VT blew a ton of snow and opened

The Ski Guru always enjoys a Good Report!

Stratton is open and selling lift tickets for the 09/10 season. Those lift tickets might be pricey, but there are plenty of ways to save on their website.

“The skiing is excellent. Edge to edge. Top to bottom, there’s a ton of snow out there,” noted Stratton Snow Reporter Chris Estes. “You ski down and hear the roar of the snow guns in the distance. It makes it feel like mid winter.”

Forecast = more snow on the way. Looking for 5" to 8" in the next 36 hours or so… Projecting to have 30+ trails open this weekend.


picture from Stratton

Climate Change Conspiracy?

The Ski Guru ran across a very interesting take on Climate Change, or as it is put in the write up “'Anthropogenic Global Warming”. It is a good read, no matter what side of the climate change debate/discussion you fall on. Probably worth following how this one plays out...

LINK

Call me old school, but I remember when this dialog was about greenhouse gasses and the ozone holes over Antarctica - mind you things that could be measured by instruments and seen from the space shuttle. (Read – stop using Aquanet on those bangs 80's ladies). At least those statistics seemed quantifiable.



Seriously though, as a society in general we are all so quick to bash the world’s financial institutions, governments, even health care. Basically anything anyone feels could be hoodwinking the masses - for the same type of things (in link).

Why not scientists? They have agendas, and rumor on the chairlifts is that Al Gore is their leader.

The SG's recommendation = Plant a tree already. They only get in your way when you look at them while skiing/riding!

Think Snow

Front Running in the Powder department = The Pacific Northwest

If you have not been paying attention The Ski Guru thinks now is a good time to start. The mountains in the PNW have picked up unprecedented snows so far this November. A few weeks ago I saw this article on the Powder Magazine website that raved about an 80 inch dump at Mount Baker in Washington (cool photos).

I reached out to a friend out at Mount Bachelor in OR to get the scoop. The resort opened to the public with lift serviced skiing and riding this weekend. The base this morning was up to a solid 39” after receiving 20” of fresh snow since Friday. The forecasts are calling for a mix of sunshine and snow showers through Thanksgiving weekend. Not a bad pick for some turns in if you can manage it into your schedule.

Here is a video clip the resort put together for opening day…enjoy.




Think Snow!

The sun gets up early.

The Ski Guru knows you need to as well if you want to make tracks in powder. More coming soon, will be at full speed in mid December...

Get the gear tuned.

photo ~ sunrise from Moonlight Basin, MT

PS ~ this lead entry could be my submission for the worst writting of the season contest.