SUN VALLEY ADVENTURE Jan 21-28

A gaggle of hearty NSC skiers & boarders descended upon Sun Valley with it’s fresh snow that is lacking in Tahoe.  A great time was had by all as described in Morgan’s trip report in this issue.

Click here for the full report>>

Sun Valley Race Results
It was snowing on Thursday, 1/26/2012, the day of the race and a number of NSC members decided to take the day off.  Only 9 NSCers raced, but we got 5 medals.

Name, Time (sec), Medal

Male Skiers:

Greg Foraker               22.97  Silver
Morgan Hua                 23.44  Bronze
Jim Sanchez                 23.74  Silver
Lansing Lee                 24.26  Silver
Greg Wong                   27.74    -

Female Skiers:

Barbara Foraker         29.04 Bronze
Katherine Altemus     30.49    -
Janice Melena             47.49    -

Male Snowboard:

Rick Dumlao               31.96     -

Pacesetter:                            17.61 sec

Where’s the Rain? - Karen Soo – Trip Director

Happy New Year! Kung Hey Fat Choy! The holidays are over, I’m back from my business trip to Hong Kong and now we welcome the Year of the Dragon.

Trip 1 is happening next weekend. If you are interested, please send me an email: There’s still room on the bus.  Click >> here << to read  my Director’s report!

Mammoth long weekend trip Didn’t make to Sun Valley?   See the flyer for the long weekend trip to Mammoth Mountain! Click >> HERE << tab for more information!

Armand’s Korner—The month of January saw two returning members, which now brings us to 72 members.  This is typical for the beginning of a new year since most returning members signed up before the weeklong trip and the weekend trips. Although there is snow up at Tahoe conditions are still not to normal levels. I suspect we need a few more “snow dances”.

Chamonix Ski Week -The Chamonix ski week currently has about 160 participants for this trip. In particular there is an opening for a female roommate, plus a few other spots are also available.  If interested, contact Armand :  ">

Congratulations to Maia & Alex Shibutani, earned the silver medal at the 2012 Figure Skating Nationals on January 28, 2012!!!  Your’s truly met this incredible ice dancing brother & sister team who are competing in their first year at the senior level!

Happy New Year! Kung Hey Fat Choy! The holidays are over, I’m back from my business trip to Hong Kong and now we welcome the Year of the Dragon. According to Chinese Five Element Astrology Calendar, 2012 is the Year of Water Dragon.

Chinese astrology is a balance theory of Five Elements. Each animal can be converted into Five Elements. Dragon contains Earth, Water and Wood. It’s a source of water and it is also called the water dam in Chinese astrology. Since water of 2012 comes with Dragon, it implied water from the sky makes a dam over-flow. Therefore 2012 is a strong water year.

Something is wrong here. I think I remember 2 storms rolling through the bay area. The last storm provided enough coverage to keep the ski resorts open.

Last weekend, I went up to Kirkwood and Heavenly. It was sunny and cool enough to keep the snow from melting. Most of the main runs were opened and groomed.

Trip 1 is happening next weekend. If you are interested, please send me an email. There’s still room on the bus.

Heavenly had made improvements to almost every aspect of the mountain. In 2002, there were 86 trails. This year, they’re up to 97 trails with the addition of three new runs on the Nevada Side. All three are solid intermediate runs accessed by the Stagecoach Chair. Outlaw provides a scenic view bordered by trees while Mineshaft and Comstock are both fun little jaunts that provide a cutover to Galaxy. They also widened five runs on the California side so there will be plenty of space to spread out.
Steins, located at the bottom of Patsy’s and Powder bowl Express, is their new Euro-themed beer garden and Umbrella Bar with sausages, stews, and chili. You can’t beat the atmosphere on a bluebird day when you’re sitting in an Adirondack with a cold beer in one hand and a juicy brat in the other.
A new addition for this season is the Après Ski at Tamarack Lodge. This year, the resort is extending the hours at Tamarack and hosting THE premier après party in Tahoe, They have food and drink specials, DJs spinning party tunes, and the Heavenly Angels on hand to host contests and giveaways!

We only have 2 signups for Trip 2. Our cut off dated for the trip is next week. Most likely this trip will be cancelled. Maybe more rain and snow will come next month. It is hard to tell at this time.

Our long weekend trip to Mammoth is also experiencing a slow climb of participants. There’s still room if you are interested.

The dry weather is really hurting everyone this season both in the west coast and the east coast. Retail stores are having their big sales early to clear out their inventory. If you need new ski equipment, now is the time to buy.
Please continue to wash your cars and do a little rain dance for Mother Nature.

We need more snow.  See you on Trip 1.
Karen

Tour Leader wearing new outfit

We had a great trip to Sun Valley.    Eighteen inches of fresh powder arrived before us.  Even though the weather reports kept on warning about snow showers, there was sun shine every day.  There were three days of great sunshine and the other days consisted of morning snow and afternoon sun and blue skies.  There was great skiing every day.

Sun Valley is the plushest resort I’ve ever been to.  The lodges were fantastic and the food tasty.  The cleanest and classiest bathrooms of any ski resort I’ve ever been to.  The staff are the nicest people I’ve ever met.  Service is great here.  If you have unused lift ticket days, you can trade them in for massages, hair cuts, souvenirs, and meals.  Amazing.

On Sunday, we had a Welcome Reception.  Unfortunately, it was scheduled at the same time as the 49ers game.  So only a handful of us showed up for the free cheese and wine party.  Our table was the loudest as we missed winning every raffle prize by only one number.   Afterwards, I went to the free “Forever Plaid” musical comedy and enjoyed the show.

On Monday, we had a potluck and there was lots of good food.  I’d like to thank Edna and Haruko for organizing the event.  Someone thought I was gluten intolerant and they had arranged to make the dishes edible by me.  The funny thing is, I have no food allergies.  I can eat anything.  Wonder where that rumor started from?  Though gluten free, I can testify that all the food was delicious.

Sleigh Ride and Dinner (click to enlarge)

On Tuesday, we took a Sleigh Ride to the Trail Creek Cabin and ate at the hideaway for movie stars.  The Sleigh Ride took us through quite woods and past the Hemingway Memorial.  I had one of the best Prime Rib steaks ever.  David told me that the steak must have been really good because it was rare that his wife Mimi would eat that much steak — only one person took home a doggie bag and it wasn’t Mimi.  Rick joined our club and thought he knew no one in the club, but at dinner, he found out that both Dave and Peggy were his classmates at Mountain View High.  Small world. Several people had Hot Toddies for the Sleigh Ride home.  We got free movie tickets for eating at the Cabin.

On Wednesday night, a number of us went to see Hugo at the Opera House using the free movie tickets.  Before they played Hugo, they showed several ancient promotional films for Sun Valley.  At one point, movie stars rode horses 2-1/8 miles to the Trail Creek Cabin to get away from the prying eyes of the public.  Wow, talk about circular self-references: Cabin – Movie  – Cabin – Movie Stars – Cabin.  Luckily the movie about movies started.  Hugo is really for movie history buffs and movie lovers, not a kids movie that it is advertised as — I think the slow pace wouldn’t keep kids interested.  Having taken a few film history classes myself, I loved the movie.   By now a number of us figured out how to walk back to our condos.  It’s either a 6 minute walk or a 10 minute wait for a van to drive us to our condos.

Farewell Dinner (click to enlarge)

On Thursday, we had a free NASTAR race and because it was snowing heavily in the morning, only 9 NSCers raced.  We got 5 medals though.  By noon, we had blue skies again.  I had lunch with Jim and Janice at the Roundhouse Lodge.  They shared part of their Fondue with me.  I scraped off the crusted bottom — yum.  I also had my very first taste of Spaetzle.  The Lodge had a four sided fireplace and beautiful views.  In the evening, we had our early Farewell Banquet (Janice was leaving Friday, so I had decided to have our dinner on Thursday).  A few days ago, I had visited the Sun Valley Heritage and Ski Museum and found that Hemingway was a long time resident and had written parts of Farewell To Arms in the Sun Valley Lodge, in room 206.  If the room is vacant, they let you tour it.  It took me two days of trying to get access.  It’s the little surprises that amaze me.  I was delighted when Joel, on behalf of everyone, presented me with two books on Hemingway as a Thank You gift.  Joel had given me a heads up before the trip and I had already purchased a new Marmot Jacket and Pants — so I had already spent the money Joel was going to collect.  But Joel was still able to surprise me with those books and several other additional gifts.  Thanks Joel and Thanks to everyone that had gone on the trip — otherwise I would have been skiing naked.

The Most Dangerous Run (click to enlarge)

On Friday, we had sunny skies.  I took Sandy to some of my favorite runs at Sun Valley.  We went on runs of every color from green to black, from cruisers to moguls.  I took her through the Red Headed Woodpecker.  Sandy said it was “The most dangerous run in Sun Valley.”

The only hitch was our early departure on Saturday and the freezer box bus ride.  I’m currently working with our tour company and the bus company in getting some restitution for those involved.

Nevertheless, it was a wonderful week.

If you have links to photos or pictures of the trip you want to share, please send them to me or the newsletter editor.

 Here’s wishing everyone a great 2012!!!  New year’s resolution—get out and play in the snow!

SUN VALLEY ORIENTATION MEETING - from President Morgan

Come & meet your condo mates.

Contact me at ">. 

Mammoth long weekend trip - Can’t make to Sun Valley?  How about Mammoth Mountain?  See the flyer for the long weekend trip to Mammoth Mountain!  Click the wooly mammoth for more info ======>

 Weekend Trips – it can’t stay dry forever!!!  Sign up for a weekend trip.

Click here => SKI TRIPS <= for the details or the “SKI TRIPS” tab at the top of this page. This season, we have scheduled 3 weekend trips:

1. Heavenly/Heavenly, Feb 10 — 12, 2012
2. Squaw Valley/Alpine, March 2 — 4, 2012
3. Long Weekend at Mammoth, March 23 — 27, 2012 - see above.

Armand’s Korner—December  saw two returning members, which brings us to 71 members.

So far, the ski season is off to a miserable start.  Snow conditions in Tahoe have been the worst I have seen in years.  Hopefully, snow conditions will improve before our first weekend ski trip.

Chamonix Ski Week -The Chamonix ski week currently has about 160 participants for this trip, but if you’re interested there are still a few openings available. In particular there is an opening for a female roommate, plus a few other spots are also available.  If interested, contact Armand :  ">.

Click here =>CHAMONIX <= “pour plus informations”.

Hoyt and Nancy’s Great Adventure - They’re home now, but check out Hoyt & Nancy Nelson’s blog on their travels to South East Asia:   http://nancyandhoytontheroad2011.blogspot.com/

Finally, where is your newsletter editor? Here are some clues

I just got the souvenirs back from the embroidery for the Sun Valley trip.  It is a high quality fleece from Marmot (thanks to Karen Soo’s connections).  We ran out of some of the colors for the men, so colors will vary for some of the men.

There’s snow at Sun Valley already.  19 runs and 6 lifts are already open.  It’s a La Nina year for 2012 and it means a colder and wetter winter which is great for us.

I will setup a date for the orientation meeting in the next few weeks when I get the full details about our itinerary from Daman-Nelson.

Xmas Trees, Minouras, Snowmen (maybe), Dreidels, Santas and Bears – Oh My!

Did you vote???

If you didn’t, don’t complain!!

Thanksgiving has passed and now  thoughts are on holiday shopping & giving.  Don’t forget those who are less fortunate than you!  Be GENEROUS! Help the poor, the homeless, the foster children, or the ill.

SUN VALLEY UPDATE from President Morgan–

Still want to go to the sold out Sun Valley trip? If you are still interested, a waiting list  is being kept. Contact me at ">.  Click here >> SUN VALLEY << for more info.

Sun Valley is already opened with limited operations with  6 lifts already running

Mammoth long weekend trip  - Can’t make to Sun Valley?  How about Mammoth Mountain?  See the flyer for the long weekend trip to Mammoth Mountain! Click here>>MAMMOTH << for more info.

Armand’s Korner—November saw three returning members, which brings us to 70 members.  Now that winter is here and the ski resorts have started operations there should be an increase in membership during the next few months as we start preparing for our weekend ski trips, the long ski weekend to Mammoth, and the ski week to Sun Valley.

Chamonix Ski Week -The Chamonix ski week currently has about 160 participants for this trip, but if you’re interested there are still a few openings available. In particular there is an opening for a female roommate, plus a few other spots are also available.  If interested, contact Armand at  ">

Where’s the SNOW? Not much in California, YET!  Keep your fingers crossed.  In the meantime,

you can get into shape  or try a new winter sport like ICE SKATING.  Here’s my 7 year old  buddy, Sima, executing a great  sit spin.  Want to try your hand or rather, feet,  at skating, then here are some places to skate during this holiday season.

~Where to Skate~

San Francisco

• Embarcadero Center—Justin Herman Plaza
• Union Square (very small rink)
• Yerba  Buena  (4th & Folsom)  year round indoor rink

Oakland

• Oakland Ice— year round indoor  – 519 18th st

Walnut Creek

• Civic Center—1375 Civic Drive

Dublin

• Dublin Iceland— 7212 San Ramon Rd

San Jose

• Kristi Yamaguchi’s Downtown Ice at the Circle of Palms – A CIRCULAR rink!!—120 S. Market St –    this is really COOOOL→
• Sharks Ice  – 1500 10th St

Palo Alto

• Winter Lodge, first & only permanent OUTDOOR rink west of the Sierras!
  • 3009 Middlefield Road

Santa Rosa

• Snoopy Rink—Charles Schulz’s indoor rink!!!  With a Peanuts theme, of course! 1667 W. Steele Ln

Getting in Shape for Snowboarding

The following was sourced and condensed from :

www.snowboardsecrets.com/QandA/qasapula.htm

by Jean Sapula, Certified Trainer & Lvl II Snowboard Instructor

“Definitely stay with the aerobic conditioning, like running and hiking, but you can mix it up with other activities, such as, elliptical trainers, stair climbers and mt. biking, just to name a few. While aerobic exercise does help your leg strength to a degree, it is more important for keeping you from fatiguing on the slopes, giving you endurance. I’d suggest a good upper and lower body workout in the gym as well. The following exercises listed below help to comprise a good program for snowboarding fitness:

LEGS— Squats; Lunges…

ARMS— Push ups; Tricep “dips”…

BALANCE – with a tennis ball under each foot.

Both strength and aerobic training should be performed at least 3 times per week…. Flexibility is very important to relieve training soreness and decrease your chance of injury“ … see the above website for full details!



Vicarious Travelling with Hoyt & Nancy Nelson – follow the Nelsons while they traipse through Indonesia (Java and Bali), Singapore, Nepal and Northern India.  See their pictures and read their blog as they travel through South East Asia!

http://nancyandhoytontheroad2011.blogspot.com/

ELECTION DAY is NOV 8!!!

VOTE or SHUT UP!

Thanksgiving is just upon us.  Give thanks for all that you have.  Be happy  with what you have, hope for that what you don’t. Don’t over eat and be kind to your fellow person.

SUN VALLEY UPDATE ~ from President Morgan ~ 34 seats have been sold.  If you are interested, a waiting list  is being kept. Contact me at ">.

Here are some great reading material in Ski Net. com for your upcoming Sun Valley Trip in 2012 http://www.skinet.com/ski/resorts/sun-valley

Note Bene: 3rd remaining payment due 11/8/2011.

READY TO ROCK n ROLL ~trip director Karen Soo aka the 1/2 marathoner! See my report (click  >> here <<)  and the details of the 2 weekend trips of this upcoming season.  It’s been a LOOONG time since we’ve had a South Shore trip. Trip 1 will mark our return to Heavenly Valley!  Click on the “>> here << or the Ski Trips”  tab above.

Mammoth long weekend trip Can’t make to Sun Valley?  How about Mammoth Mountain?  Click >> here << for the flyer for the long weekend trip to Mammoth Mountain!

CHAMONIX TRIP—If you’re interested in the Chamonix trip, contact Armand Gutierrez, at : .  Click here >> CHAMONIX << for details.

Il Ciclista! ALLEN HU— This past Sept, NSC member & randonneur, Allen Hu spent 10 days cycling in Toscana sul Mediterraneo . Check out Allen’s travel log and great pics in this issue - clicca >> qui << per il suo articolo.

50% SNOWBOMB SHOW DISCOUNT! Enter “nisei” on either event ticket page for 50% off Gen Admin tickets and $10 off VIP tickets for BEER/WINE tasting

Silicon Valley  (Nov 12-13): http://snowbombsv.eventbrite.com/?discount=nisei
San Francisco (Nov 5-6): http://snowbombsf.eventbrite.com/?discount=nisei

World Cup Racing—at the first race of the 2011-2012 World Cup season (Oct 22-23) at Sölden Österreich (Austria), Americans Lindsey Vonn and Ted Legity took 1st place in their Giant Slalom races.  Way to go USA!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ends Nov 6 – DST ends one week later this year

Reminder – when ordering from AMAZON, use the NSC link on the right of the home page!

Karen Soo – Trip Director

It’s November and you can feel the chill in the air. I was just in Lake Tahoe for a few days attending Marmot’s Fall12 sales meeting. All the Aspen leaves had fallen and a winter cold blast had hit the Tahoe area, a good sign that snow will arrive early this year. I heard Boreal is making snow and there is word that they might open this weekend.

They say La Niña is back. What does this mean?

Well water temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean are much colder than average, which is the definition of La Niña. Those temperatures can affect weather patterns across the globe, and that’s why La Niña is important. For North America, La Niña has some predictable consequences for snow during the winter meaning    LOTS OF SNOW FOR 2012

The two weekend trips that are scheduled for 2012 are set and ready to go.  Click here for >> the detailed schedule << .

Trip 1 – February 12 -14, 2012 – We’re heading to South Shore, skiing 2 days at Heavenly. It’s been 4 years since we skied there and its time to revisit the resort. We’re staying at the Blue Lake Inn which is just walking distance from the Main Gondola.

Trip 2 March 2 – 4, 2012 – We’re heading to North Shore, skiing at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. Squaw Valley and Alpine had combined forces. If you have a Squaw Valley season pass you’re in luck. You can use your pass at both resorts.

Due to rising cost, we kept the cost as low as possible. For NSC and BAC members, we’re offering an additional $10.00 discount if you sign up early for both weekend trips. You must send in your sign up form and check before January 1^st, 2012. Don’t hesitate, send it in now.

Our long weekend trip to Mammoth is all set for March 23 – 27, 2012

The last time we went to Mammoth was 2009 and the cost of the trip has gone up only $20.00. We are also offering a senior rate for 65 years old and over.

There were a few members who asked about the Mammoth only portion of the trip and we have that available for you too.  You do have to arrange for your own air/ land transportation to and from the resort. Please send in your complete form and first deposit by December 1^st to secure your spot.  More details can be found on the NSC website, click >> Go Mammoth <<

Until next month, enjoy your Thanksgiving holidays with your family and friends.

Gobble, Gobble,  Ciao  Karen

Dates:  Friday, March 23 – Tuesday March 27, 2012

Full Package Includes:

• 3 nights lodging (Ski in and Ski out accommodations – 2 bed/ 2 bath condos.  4 per condo – Juniper Springs Lodge/ near restaurants and supermarket
• 1 night lodging at Sands Hotel / Reno – Double occupancy
• 3-day lift ticket at Mammoth Mountain
• Bus transportation
• Tues breakfast / Fri +Tues dinner; après ski drinks / snacks.

Not included: Lift tickets for Kirkwood and Sugar Bowl.

Contact:   Karen Soo  ">

40 spaces are available for this trip, so sign up early. Only your sign-up w/ initial payment will reserve a space on this trip.

Cancellation Policy:

• Cancel before Jan 1^st, 2012 – $10 cancellation fee will apply if you do not have a replacement.
• Cancel after Jan 1st, 2012 – $20 cancellation fee will apply if you do not have a  replacement
• Cancel after Feb 1st, 2012 – $25 cancellation fee will apply with a replacement or

$670.00/ $590.00 Senior if you do not have a replacement.

Please read carefully. It is your responsibility to find a replacement if you cancel.
You must be at least 21 years of age and a member of Nisei Ski Club to sign up for this trip. Membership is $30. Please fill in a membership application form and send separate check to Armand Gutierrez/NSC membership   http://www.niseiskiclub.org/membership.pdf

report by Allen Hu

For years northern Europeans have vacationed in the glorious hill towns of Tuscany like Montepulciano, Arezzo, and San Gimignano. Americans learned about this Italian secret when Frances Mayes rebuilt a Renaissance house in Cortona and wrote “Under the Tuscan Sun”.

Yet, there’s another Tuscany on the Mediterranean with 3000 years of ancient history based on the Etruscan civilization. Our fixed-base bicycle trip began on this coast near the village of Donoratico.

Our hotel was on the sea for those after-bike swims. Food was superb but this is Italy where even the airport food is gourmet. Did I mention the excellent gelato found everywhere? Snacking on such ambrosia is a twice-daily requirement. This section of Tuscany is bicycle-heaven. Small roads have courteous drivers and acres of vineyards are interspersed by age-old olive groves. Intermingled among the trash-free country roads are pink stone villages reachable by climbs of varying length and height. Several roads are shaded with tunnels of overlapping chestnut trees. Tall umbrella pines provide another shady respite. On some rides, regal cypress trees mark our pathway while far away mountains touch the sky. California’s pink and white highway flowers, “oleanders” grow everywhere.

Most days the climb was at least 2000 feet with an average distance of 30+ miles. The weather starts cool but quickly heats up to 80 deg. plus. Based on pace, attitude, food needs, and past friendships, we formed small cycling units. One stunning hilltop town feels like our ‘hood since we climb there frequently to  Castagneto Carducci dates back to 1000 C.E. The five mile ascent is a downhill delight on our homeward stretches. Originally the town was Castagneto Della Gherardesca, after a wealthy, royal, family. They ran their world in a feudal “Cosa Nostra” style. By 1907, the locals decided to rename the town to honor a famous short-term resident, Nobel laureate poet Giosua Carducci. As we sip espresso, our spectacular view extends over pink stucco towns with red tile roofs until our eyes meet the sea.

The most challenging and spectacular ride was off the prescribed route sheet. My intrepid group bicycled almost 70 miles with 4200 ft of climbing to Volterra, a major tourist attraction. D.H.Lawrence traveled to Tuscany in the 1930s and wrote about Volterrra. Climbing up we understood Lawrence’s words: “On a towering great bluff that gets all the wind and sees all the world.” The last cycling day is a flat coastal ride to Populonia, an ancient town. As we approach the town, a gorgeous aquamarine bay stretches below. We cycle along until the final mile where we are confronted with several 18% grades. I make a few stops to catch breath. There’s an amazing contrast between the 14th century castle-fort and the 3000 year old Etruscan ruins.

Italy is my favorite country. Consider the package: food, passionate people, Renaissance, ruins, Michelangelo, hill towns, and gorgeous landscapes.