~ Armand Gutierrez ~

Last month’s Post-Season Picnic at Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale was a great event. About 30 members convened at the designated picnic area, which was next door to last year’s picnic spot, with plenty of food for everyone. Looks like Las Palmas Park is a popular venue for picnics so perhaps NSC can start a tradition by having Pre- and Post-Season picnics here every year. Besides the variety of food, Karen Soo had us all gather ‘round for her popular dice game. Would you believe that the winner is related to last year’s winner? I won’t reveal her name because she’ll have her own write-up in the newsletter. See Amy’s report here: << Picnic Report >>

The Mountain View Obon Festival is July 20-21 and if you’re interested in volunteering for the beer booth (or other booths), then please contact Karen Soo ( tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org ) and let her know. They also could use help in several other areas: pre-construction and post-destruction staging (this sounds like fun), manju making, strawberry shortcake booth (is sampling allowed?), and other food booths. So what are you waiting for?

Next year’s FWSA International trip is to Zermatt, Switzerland and a second week in Spain. It’s been 30 years since the last time I was in Zermatt so I just had to sign up for this trip. Yes, it’s a little pricey (more than the Chamonix and Innsbruck trips), but viewing and skiing next to the Matterhorn is priceless. Zermatt is a quaint little town that does not allow automobiles on the streets. Yes, you walk everywhere: to the restaurants, shopping, and the ski lifts. There are horse-drawn carriages for those that would like to see the town the old fashioned way. I’m looking forward to skiing Zermatt and possibly some side trips to various nearby Italian ski resorts (Monte Cervinia is on the other side of the Matterhorn). If you have any questions about the Zermatt trip then contact me at president@niseiskiclub.org.
(FWSA Website: http://www.fwsa.org/Travel/InternationalSki/2014-FWSA-Zermatt/2014-FWSA-Zermatt.html)

The Sun Peaks ski week trip already has seven signups and I’m sure there’ll be more. If you haven’t signed up then now is the time to do so. Normally final payments aren’t due ‘till November or December, but Alaska Airlines is requiring final payments by October. So get your check outs, fill out the sign-up forms and be part of what should be a great trip.