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Sal snow boarding in DC blizzard 2010 part 1.MOV

Cheap Ski Holidays: A Memorable One Indeed

I had been told by my wife that our daughter would be leaving right after New Year on a skiing holiday. She and her friends were able to book a cheap ski holiday online. I thought to myself that they had it so easy. Looking at my wife, we then recounted how we would book our cheap ski holiday in the 80’s.

At my senior year at the university and with the Christmas holidays approaching, I realized that I needed a break from writing my thesis. It had been a long semester and my thesis adviser was particularly hard on me, which I didn’t mind at all because he was after my best interest. While walking down the hall, I looked at the student’s bulletin board, which was normally filled with messages or announcements throughout the year but this time was only half filled. Noticing a note that read “Cheap Ski Holiday—need 4 people and please contact Joie if interested. Deadline is on …” seemed interesting to me. I tore of the stub sheet cut into the paper and then went to the address provided for. Knocking on the door, I was pleasantly glad that the person who opened it was Joie herself. I showed her the paper and told her that I was interested in the Cheap Ski Holiday and there was a moment of silence. It seems that I didn’t read the whole paper where it mentioned that it was a female only preference. Apologizing profusely, I politely said my goodbyes and left.

Walking down the hall, I was stopped by Joie and she had said that perhaps it would be ok if I could go provided that her other friend brought her boyfriend as well and that I didn’t mind sharing a room with him. “No problem.” I said. So I went back to her with to her dorm room and waited for the other two people to come. Joie set the tone of the meeting noting when was the deadline for the payment, when and where to meet, and what to expect in the resort. It seems we were getting 30% off the regular price of the resort rates during peak season and it wasn’t a bad deal at all.

The resort was not as posh as it claimed to be but nevertheless it was a break from a long semester for me. Since Joie’s roommate and her boyfriend were always together, Joie and I spent most of the time skiing. She was a dance and voice major which was so different from my finance background. So we talked about how she got to know of this cheap ski holidays and of other things. It was a great holiday for me and I did meet someone who I was interested in.

Twenty years later, I look at my wife, Joie, knowing that it was that cheap ski holiday that brought us together. “Maybe we should book one ourselves to be near to our daughter?” I asked her. “Rubbish.” She replied. “I already booked one at a better resort.” We both laughed.

Want to Know More About Sand Skiing? Read On

The new sport of sand skiing is just beginning to take off. For many of us, the experience of skiing in shorts and short sleeve shirts will be a new adventure – one that lets us enjoy skiing and stay in shape all the seasons of the year.

What is sand skiing? It is simply the brand new extreme sport. From Palm Springs, California to Dubai, from Abu Dhab to Idaho, it’s the latest extreme craze.

There are two types of sand skiing. Downhill and cross-country both of which more or less mirror their snow ski counterparts.

Downhill sand skiing involves finding a dune, hill, or mountain, climbing to the top of it and skiing down it. Is it fun? Lots – except for the part where you have to climb up the hill. You’ll find no ski lifts, no trams, not even a rope tow. If you want to get up the hill, you have to climb it on your own. Nevertheless, the lack of these niceties doesn’t seem to have prevented newcomers from being drawn to the sport.

Cross country sand skiing involves skiing finding a nice long scenic stretch of sand covered land, strapping on the ski boots and skis and having at it. Nothing strengthens the muscles and increases stamina like cross country sand skiing.

Whether you do downhill or cross country sand skiing, this is fantastic exercise. If you’re not in shape, this sport will definitely get you in shape. If you’re already in shape, sand skiing will keep you fit.

The Essentials of Sand Skiing

So what equipment does a sand skier need? Pretty much the same as a snow skier. You’ll of course need skis, preferable older ones as sand, even fine sand, is an abrasive and over time can remove material from the ski’s running surface.

Sand blindness, like snow blindness, can cause a temporary vision loss. To prevent it, you’ll need a good pair of UV resistant sunglasses or goggles. You’ll also need ski poles to push past some of the denser spots of sand.

Sand skiing is usually done in warmer environments – so dress accordingly. Wear light clothing and if the sun is intense, wear a hat to protect your head.

Finding the Perfect Sand

Snow skiers are very familiar with the different types of snow, for example skiing on powder is a much different experience than skiing on packed snow. It may surprise you that sand skiers have similar experiences. Coarse sand gives a much different experience than fine sand. Wet sand is much harder to traverse than dry sand.

As you get more into the culture of sand skiing, you’re hear the terms “fast sand” and “slow sand”. Fast sand is great, you’ll feel as though you’re gliding on glass. It’s almost effortless. Slow sand can be a grind, like slogging through quicksand. And there are all sorts of gradients in between. Skiers looking for perfect sand is much like the prototypical surfer looking for the “perfect wave”.

So skiers rejoice. No longer are you confined to the winter season. With sand skiing, you can not only enjoy your sport year round, you can enjoy it in almost any place in the world.

Dimond Peak Snow Boarding With Crash

the crash is a little later in the video, but enjoy people!!

5 Ski Resorts To Experience Before You Die

1 Whistler Blackcomb Canada

Whistler Blackcomb is consistently ranked the No 1 Ski Resort in North America. With more terrain than anywhere else in North America with 8.171 acres. Even during the 2010 Winter Olympics Whislter Blackcomb will have over 90% of their terrain open for skiers and boarders to enjoy. This still gives them more rideable terrain than any other resort in Northern America.

2 Mammoth Mountain USA

Mammoth Mountain is a place unlike any other. A place where the towering peaks of the Eastern Sierra frames a majestic environment of incredible beauty for everyone to enjoy. I have always found Mammoth to a special place to visit as you always seem to create awesome memories with the friends you travel with and the new ones you meet. Another great feeling you have when you are in Mammoth is there does not seem to be any pretenses or judgments. Everyone at Mammoth is there for one thing, to enjoy a fantastic winter environment and have fun with friends.

3 Park City Mountain Resort USA

Park City Mountain Resort delivers the goods for skiers and snowboarders of just about every persuasion. This is a big mountain by North American standards, and the lift-served terrain seems to grow every year. The town of Park City is also home to two other resorts (Deer Park and The Canyons), and there are few if any services lacking in the valley. Bars, clubs, galleries, fine dining, fast food, slow food, lodging of every kind.

4 Las Lenas Argentina

Las Lenas ski resort located in Mendoza province of Argentina and has rightfully earned it’s reputation as the most extreme ski resort in Argentina. With incredible terrain to ski and board, Las Lenas features in numerous extreme ski and snowboard videos. Off-piste, backcountry or cruzin the groomers Las Lenas is the ski destination for powder skiing or snowboarding

5 Niseko Japan

Niseko is an increasingly popular ski resort in Japan with locals and international visitors. Regarded as the best ski resort in Japan for three main reasons, weather (snow), size and infrastructure. Niseko has been voted as the 2nd Snowiest Ski Resort in the World by Forbes Traveller Magazine due to the average snowfall for a season being approximatley 15 meters. Visit Niseko Japan to experience the magic for yourself.

Planning a Family Ski Vacation

It’s time to plan the family vacation – and everyone wants to go skiing. Don’t worry, skiing isn’t as expensive as you might think, and there are numerous resorts that cater to families, offering a variety of packages designed to save you money. The problem will be choosing the destination.

Most ski resorts have websites. Start the planning process by accessing these websites to determine where you and your family might want to go for your family ski vacation. There are many different things to look for when choosing a resort. The absolute most important thing to look for is a ski school if someone in your family will need instruction. While most resorts do have ski schools, some don’t. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a destination where one or more of your family members won’t have fun, simply because they don’t know how to ski.

Next, take a look at the slopes, lifts, and trails. You want to make sure that the resort has something to offer everyone in your family. If the resort only caters to beginners, an expert skier will become quickly bored. If you have a snowboarder in your group, and there is no snowboarding park or terrain, that snowboarder will not be happy. There are resorts that serve all winter sports – so make sure that your families interests are covered.

Lodging is the next thing to look at. You want to be comfortable, so where you will sleep at night matters a great deal. In most cases, there is a hotel right at the base of the slopes – but this isn’t necessarily the best or most affordable place to stay. Find out what your lodging options are for the area, and choose the one that is right for your family and your budget. If you will be staying farther away from the slopes, make sure that there is transportation to and from the slopes each day!

Your family will have many more interests that you will need to search for before deciding on a particular destination and resort. Some of those interests may be dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or horseback riding. Resorts do offer these activities, but some don’t – so be sure to ask about the winter activities, as well as the planned events during the time that you will be at the resort. This will help you plan a ski vacation that your family will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.

dave stuck – snow boarding borovets 2007

dave stuck in the snow

Tall Stories Promo

Tall Stories Promo, event video and photos from various trips

Tell Me More About Taking A North Dakota Ski Vacation In Frost Fire Mountain

Gaining respectful popularity throughout North Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada, the beautiful Frost Fire Mountain Alpine Ski Resort in northeast North Dakota. Frost Fire Ski Resort is a popular 25-acre alpine ski area for individuals and families, developing into one of the future generations of ski towns. Although this is not a large alpine ski resort, it is a great deal of fun, and perfect for family ski and snowboarding vacations. Located near Walhalla, the second oldest town in the state, picturesque present-day Pembina River Gorge gently winds its way from north of La Riviere, Manitoba, Canada, on downward to Langdon, North Dakota. Traveling by auto or bus, Frost Fire is seven miles west of Walhalla ND on Highway 55.

Considered a day-area ski slope, area statistics show that Frost Fire Mountain has an elevation of 1,346 feet and a vertical drop of 345 feet, with an annual snowfall of 240 inches. With a total availability of 3 lifts, the ski resort has two lifts consisting of 1 double and 1 triple chair, with one surface lift – a rope tow/T-bar; and has a 1,500 person lift capacity per hour. Ten ski trails are available for beginners, intermediates, and experts, while skiing and snowboarding guests each have separate terrain areas. Complete outfitting for all guests can be found for skiing, tubing, or snowboarding activities, with the option of private and group lessons available per hour, or a snowboarding lesson.

When the day is over, a pool and a hot tub can be found at the Super 8 in Morden MB, or a cozy Eagles Nest Bed & Breakfast can be found at Cavalier, ND. Either way, there are a number of motel accommodations in the surrounding areas, including the Walhalla Forestwood in Walhalla ND. There are many restaurants to choose from or you can eat at the Frost Fire Daylodge Cafeteria at the resort.

Several Canadian reviews refer to its low prices and excellent half-pipe. Almost all of the skiing visitors felt it was a wonderful place to learn how to ski, especially if you brought your family. The staff was friendly and was quick to wait on the, so they didn’t have to wait very long. You can buy your food and drinks there OR brown bag it with an excellent place to eat it at. Very few reviews on it were unfavorable, and everyone liked it for family.

If you are not too busy on the slopes, there are area antique shops to visit, or historical sites to see as well. To provide ski maintenance, Frost Fire Mountain Resort has precision stone grinding and base repair, along with ski tuning and waxing available overnight, or while you wait. This resort may be small, but based on skier ability, has everything a person can ask for. Why wait?

Snow boarding in the wolds on sk8 decks!

Snowboarding on sk8 decks and sledging!