Nisei Ski Club

by Armand Gutierrez, President

Welcome to the Chinese Year of the Tiger! Yes, the Chinese New Year started February 1^st and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 15th. People born in the year of the Tiger (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, etc.) are often considered to be courageous and active people who love a good challenge and an adventurous life.

 2022 NSC Ski Week to Steamboat, CO

Our ski-week was filled with sunshine and blue skies for the whole week and no fresh powder. I must be a jinx because this is my third time to Steamboat and that elusive champagne powder was nowhere on the mountain for me. However, everyone had a great time schussing down the slopes, congregating for lunch, and savoring the cuisine that Steamboat had to offer. The Farewell Dinner at the Ore House provided us with excellent service and outstanding appetizers and entrees. Perhaps the only downer of the week was when all the 49er fans witnessed the breakdown and collapse of their favorite team attempting to gain a foothold into Superbowl LVI. Those Niner Rally Towels handed out by United Airlines at SFO turned into Crying Towels. As a sixth-seed for the playoffs, the Niners did well this year. Well, there’s always next year.

QotM:  It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.

by Judy Bracken, Newsletter Editor

There were five of us Nisei renegades who chose to attend the Far West Ski Association sponsored ski week to Snowmass/Aspen this year. The group nearly took over the resort condos with about 300 FWSA members, including 70 or so from the Bay Area Council, so quite a few familiar faces if one has attended other FWSA events.

Similar to the Steamboat area, for most days we enjoyed brilliant blue skies with snow-top covered 14,000 foot Rocky Mountain peaks as far as the eye could see. One difference is that we did have fresh powder, albeit just 4-6 inches, but enough to make the heart leap and the skis sing over the velvety smooth light snow. The snow cover was not the usual 8-10 feet known in Colorado, but there was enough coverage and cold air to keep the snow crisp and squeaky. Grooming was exceptional. While we spent most of our time at the 3,132 acres of Snowmass resort, days were spent at the smaller Aspen and Aspen Highlands Resorts as well. Our guide at Aspen Highlands described the 1000 step hike up a knife-edge ridge at 12,000 feet to the Highland Bowl, a magnificent bowl filled with double black powdery runs. He said it was a feat not to miss if possible, however none of our group found it possible!

One day we woke to a frosty -19 degrees. Many took that day off, but the die hard skiers piled on our extra layers and braved the cold. This was the kind of day to take several warm-up stops in the many lodges around the mountain, and two or more hikes to the five mile Long Shot run from top to bottom. It might have made it to 7 or 8 degrees that day. As with last year’s FWSA trip, the only group gathering was the outdoor picnic at the Spider Sabich picnic area. We were given debit and gift cards to use in lieu of the group dinners. They did hold the council races this year, and I believe the Bay Area Council won the most points.

All in all, while we missed our fellow NSC members at Steamboat, it was a wonderful trip to another part of Colorado.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

2021 is behind us, and apparently a lot of people are happy to put it behind us and bring in 2022 with great expectations. The COVID pandemic has not disappeared from our conscious minds, and probably never will in 2022 since we are constantly bombarded with reminders. On the bright side, Tahoe has been slammed with an abundance of Mother Nature’s best offering. The December record-breaking snowfall should provide us with plenty of skiing/riding for the upcoming months, and more if January and February also have decent snow dumps. Perhaps you missed out on last year’s season, so make it this year to get out and enjoy what we do best.

Passing of Past-President Stan Kakinami

Upon returning from New York (actually Long Island) one of my Zumba buddies mentioned that a past-president from Nisei had passed away but could not remember the name, other than it started with a K. After a little research on the Mercury News I found the obituary for Stan Kakinami, NSC president from 1972-1973. After reading the obituary I realized that he and I worked on the same project while at Lockheed back in 1978-81. We were both software engineers and that project sent me to Germany for 18 months to provide software support. While there I recall Stan coming to visit to deliver upgraded software for the system. The project eventually moved to Austin, Texas, and I stayed in Sunnyvale and Stan went to Austin. We also played softball together one season with others from the project. We weren’t very good because we lost every game, but just the same we had a fun time playing. For details on Stan here is a link to his obituary: 

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mercurynews/name/stanley-kakinami-obituary?id=31908050

2022 NSC Ski Week to Steamboat, CO

By the end of the month we will be making our escape to the Winter Wonderland of Steamboat. Thanks to the recent snowstorms there will be an abundance of snowflakes in the form of that famous Champagne Powder that Steamboat is noted for. The Steamboat Orientation meeting is on Saturday, 8 January and the Evite has been sent out, so let me know if you did not receive the Evite (president@niseiskiclub.org). 

Please take note of these last minute reminders:

• If you’re planning on renting skis then you can get a 40% discount with Steamboat Sports at the following link: https://packages.steamboat.com/packages/package/61850/?code=Nisei_RENT
• Steamboat will be requiring masks for unvaccinated people, and encourages everyone to wear masks while indoors.
• Restaurants are requiring proof of vaccination, so be sure to bring your COVID card.

QotM: The harder the goodbye, the sweeter the hello. – Mike Baxter

by Judy Bracken, Newsletter Editor

What started out as a couple of days skiing before the holiday crowds hit ended up in an adventure that I’ve always wanted to experience–being “snowed in” in a cabin in the mountains. My partner Mark and I, with our two dogs, headed up to Truckee on December 19, not realizing that a monster storm was on the way. We had intended to drive back on Christmas Eve and celebrate the rest of the holidays in San Ramon. While Mark examined the weather forecasts, I skied Monday and Tuesday at Northstar and Palisades with my fellow NSC member Elaine. We soon realized that the storm was much bigger than expected and either we go back on the 22nd, or stay for the duration. The decision was made once I called my son and told him the situation, whereupon he decided to make a beeline for Truckee, where he could work from home, ski and hang with us for a few days.

On Wednesday 12/22, the first day of the storm, it began to rain. Oh no! I thought, they got it all wrong and it’s too warm to snow. Thankfully that night, the rain turned to snow, and it didn’t let up for the next five days. We shoveled the deck, we shoveled the berms on the driveway, we shoveled the steps to the front door, then rinse and repeat over and over. I was glad we were there to clear the decks or the snow might have buried the house completely! It was probably 10-12 feet overall. Although I have a driveway clearing service, they were often unable to get to all the houses and they even had one day where they ran out of fuel. The city snowplows were running out of places to move the snow and the roads, when they did get plowed, were becoming very narrow.

My son and I planned to ski on Christmas Eve, but when the power went out we realized we could not get the garage door opened (it’s a big door with a tall ceiling). However, I was surprised and happy when I saw that we had left the garage door open overnight! So we went on to Northstar, where we enjoyed a wonderful day of skiing in fresh powder on many runs. It was quite heavy snow that day, but as the days went by, the snow became lighter and fluffier. On Christmas Day the storm was in full force; we could not have skied even if we wanted to, as there was too much snow in the driveway and on the roads. I heard later that Northstar had closed at 2 that day due to low visibility.

Power outages were part of the snowed in experience. We had a 12-14 hour outage on Christmas Eve and one for 6-7 hours on Christmas Day, then there was one more long one on the 26th. Candlelight turned out to be soothing and relaxing, we had a good fireplace, and we were able to cook on our gas stovetop. My son tethered off his phone for internet usage. The tankless water heater didn’t work, so no baths or showers, but we were lucky to be mostly comfortable during those outages. If we got cold, we just went outside and shoveled snow!

We cross-country skied on the streets and snowshoed on the trails if we felt cabin fever for the few days that we were snowbound. The dogs were mystified by so much snow, but once they realized that snow and cold was everywhere outside, they made quick work of their “business.” On the day that I was finally able to take a hot bath, suddenly the house shook and shuddered. The dogs barked and I thought, “earthquake.” It turned out to be a huge 15 foot wide by 5 foot high cornice of snow that had fallen from the roof. It was a mini-version of a calving glacier!

We were waiting for I-80 to open on Tuesday, 12/28, and there was a break in the storm. Even though my Epic pass was blacked out, I just had to ski that day with all that fresh snow. So I carefully drove to Northstar, parked in the practically empty lots, bought a day pass and jumped on the gondola. Nearly every run was ungroomed, so I went to the steepest run I could find. Much to my dismay, I immediately got stuck, as the snow was too deep to move. The Backside and Lookout were closed and nothing was steep enough to get through the powder. Snowboarders fared much better than skiers, but even they were struggling. So I surrendered to the conditions and ended up enjoying some beautiful groomed runs on soft, fluffy, fresh snow. The air was clear, the crowds were minimal, and I was in heaven. Our adventure ended that day. We packed up and drove home the next morning, while many others were coming up. We can all be happy now that there is plentiful snow in the resorts, and we will have many more days of great skiing this season.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

Last month I posted the opening dates (19 Nov and 3 Dec) for Northstar, Heavenly, and Kirkwood (Palisades and Alpine didn’t have any postings). Well, apparently Mother Nature didn’t get the word about winter activities and those dates passed and the resorts didn’t open. Palisades did open for Halloween weekend but that was just a one-weekend event and skiing was fairly limited. I’ve been viewing the webcams for Tahoe resorts and it looks pretty bleak, and the warm temperatures are hindering snowmaking operations. Perhaps December will bring us that winter wonderland we’re all looking forward to for heading up to Tahoe and get the season started. On the other hand, Canadian resorts are open with plenty of snow and all lifts in operation.

On the topic of the state with the most ski resorts there was only on response, by Sheldon Sam, and he had the correct answer of the state of New York. What, you say? New York? What happened to Colorado or Utah? Turns out New York beat them all with 47 ski resorts.

2022 NSC Ski Week to Steamboat, CO

We’re counting down to our trip to Steamboat and here are some updates:

• If you’re planning on renting skis then you can get a 40% discount with Steamboat Sports at the following link: https://packages.steamboat.com/packages/package/61850/?code=Nisei_RENT
• Steamboat will be requiring masks for unvaccinated people, but does encourage everyone to wear masks while indoors.
• Restaurants are requiring proof of vaccination, so be sure to bring your COVID card.
• For up-to-date information go to this link: https://www.steamboat.com/the-trail-forward
• The NSC Orientation is currently scheduled for Saturday, 8 January, and an Evite will be sent out with details.

Christmas Greetings

On behalf of the NSC board I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. 

QotM: The best gifts are the ones not asked for. – Ed Alzate

contributed by Tina Woo, Membership Chair

Tina is always on the lookout for interesting and fun things to do in the Bay Area. These two look fascinating.

SAN FRANCISCO SOUL, Saturday December 4, 2021; 4-5:30 PM

In this work-in-progress virtual performance, BRENDA WONG AOKI, the first nationally recognized Asian Pacific storyteller in the U.S., tells true stories of her family’s 124 year history in the nation’s first Chinatown and Japantown against the backdrop of current times, when these historic cultural districts are being dismantled, replaced by skyscrapers and tech companies, and decimated by the pandemic. This new work was awarded commissions from the Hewlett 50, the National Endowment for the Arts, California State Arts Council, San Francisco Arts Commission, and The MAP Fund. Ms. Aoki tells of memories and moments in this unique performance, using archival images of San Francisco, as well as photographs and multimedia by well known artists. The price is $20 per person or $35 per household. Audience members will have the opportunity to contribute their thoughts at the end of the show.

Get tickets here!

HIDDEN HISTORIES WALKING TOUR

Hidden Histories is a live experience that connects you to the underlying beauty and historic riches of this remarkable neighborhood. Through Augmented Reality (AR) technology, your mobile device becomes a gateway to visions inspired by the milestones that shaped Japantown. You will see and interact with the art, which is overlaid on current-day Japantown.

Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, stories and community of the Hidden Histories of San Jose Japantown. Encompassing the three main Asian communities (chines, Japanese, and Filipino) that established Japantown, you will explore the cultural treasures of this diverse neighborhood with your mobile device.

You can experience the exhibit on your own, or if you prefer, the City of San Jose provided a grant to conduct guided walking tours of the exhibit during the month of December. The exhibit runs through January 15, 2022.

Dates and Times

• Saturday, December 4th, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
• Thursday, December 9th, 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 11th, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

Jumping Jehoshaphat! Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) opened on October 29^th for the Halloween weekend, three weeks earlier than planned. I don’t ever recall any Tahoe ski resort opening that early, usually it is either Thanksgiving weekend or shortly after.  Other resort openings:

• Northstar  – 19 November
• Heavenly – 19 November
• Kirkwood – 3 December

While on the topic of ski resorts, can anyone name the state that has the most ski resorts? Let me know at president@niseiskiclub.org.

Ski Resort News

• Steamboat Resort has received approval for upgrades to make it Colorado’s 2^nd largest resort.
• Vail Resorts nixes their reservation system (lift tickets), but vaccine proof will be required for some dining venues.
• Going to Europe? Ikon adds Dolomiti Superski (Italy) and Kitzbühel (Austria).
• Sierra-at-Tahoe, Kirkwood, and Heavenly Valley expect to open following the Caldor Fire.
• Dodge Ridge has new owners, Mountain High Resort. Long time owners Frank and Sally Helm decided to retire and operated the ski area since 1976.

2022 NSC Ski Week to Steamboat, CO

The Steamboat trip is coming up and before you know it we’ll by packed into a giant metal tube and transported to our winter wonderland for a week of skiing, dining, and getting together with our NSC family. As a side note, all members have been vaccinated, but bring your masks in the event that they are needed in Steamboat establishments.

QotM: People who find excuses for their actions will never find the resolution.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

La Niña or El Niño? One brings a lot of rain and the other doesn’t. Do you know the difference? Read on and learn. As we ease into the fall season and greet the upcoming months with cooler temperatures, weather forecasters are up to their ears in data, models, simulations, and predictions. And the latest prediction from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is that there is a 70% chance of wet weather in the Pacific Northwest (that includes us in the Bay Area) due to La Niña, and that translates into snow in the mountains and, hopefully, our winter wonderland in Lake Tahoe. So there you have your answer: La Niña brings wet weather and El Niño brings dry weather. Of course, along with the wet weather, aka rain, we need that Polar Express cold air from Alaska to transform raindrops into light and dry snowflakes. Yes, it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming ski season.

Vail Resorts Ski Operations

If you are an Epic Pass holder you may have received an email providing details on their upcoming winter operations for 2021-2022 for Vail resorts, and this would include Northstar, Heavenly Valley, and Kirkwood in the Tahoe area. This season Vail Resorts is focused on COVID-19 protocols in indoor spaces. Fortunately, our skiing activities are mainly outside, with the exception of on-mountain dining and shopping in the village. The following implementations are designed to combat the spread of COVID-19 while still providing an enjoyable ski day:

• Mountain access – No reservation system and will load lifts and gondolas at normal capacity.

• Face coverings – Only required in indoor settings, not required in lift lines, chair lifts, or gondolas.

• Dining Reservations – Reservations will be required at many of the on-mountain restaurants, and expect expanded seating and dining capacity.

• Dining Vaccinations – Proof of vaccination will be required at indoor and on-mountain restaurants.

• Employee Safety – All employees required to have COVID vaccinations.

These protocols are subject to change based on the local public health guidelines and changing dynamics surrounding COVID-19. 

2022 NSC Ski Week to Steamboat, CO

The Steamboat trip is fully booked and all we need is a good winter dump of snow to create our winter wonderland. As a reminder, 10 October is the due date for final payments, so please send those in on time.

COVID-19 Protocols and Vaccinations

Steamboat has issued the following COVID-19 protocols based on recently updated recommendations from the CDC:

• Face coverings – Only required in indoor settings for non-vaccinated individuals. For vaccinated individuals, masks are recommended.

• Enhanced Cleanliness and Disinfectant Measures – Steamboat recommends common COVID-19 prevention practices such as facial coverings in public indoor spaces, physical distancing, and practicing healthy hand washing/sanitizing.

• Like Vail Resorts, these protocols are subject to change based on the local public health guidelines and changing dynamics surrounding COVID-19. Additional information can be found at https://www.steamboat.com/covid.

I have received several requests for condo mates to be vaccinated, and for clarification NSC is not going to mandate that all attendees be vaccinated. However, in order for me to ensure that assigned condo mates are vaccinated I need to know who is, or is not, vaccinated. So, please let me know (president@niseiskiclub.org) if you are vaccinated (or not). One other note – if you are NOT vaccinated you may not be able to board on our United flight, or the airline you have chosen, if the airlines mandate proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test.  If you are denied boarding and cannot go on the trip then you most likely will not be able to get a refund since all trip costs will have been paid. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

QotM: If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

by Tina Woo, Membership Chair

Through the darkness of the pandemic, the hatred, and the divisions within our country, a new sense of self-awareness, purpose, and determination emerged. It is imperative that to move society forward we must work together as a united, global community to make a better future for the next generations. Everyday heroes have taken the lead to bridge relations, cultures, histories, and stories for better understanding, enlightenment, and compassion. We are proud to share those stories with you and look forward to continuing to build a strong community. 

Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest is a Production of Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene (CATS) a 501c3 non-profit

Once again, Nisei Ski Club is proud to support the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest 2021. The Live Film Festival is taking place Friday, October 1 (6:30-11 pm) and continuing thru Saturday, October 2 at the AMC Dine-In Sunnyvale Theatres. For audience safety, SVAPFF is reducing in-person theatre capacity. Alternatively, all of the films can be viewed digitally from October 1 – October 10.  This offers flexibility for the film viewer. You may recall, several years ago, the club sponsored Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066. Over 70 films will be offered in 20+ categories, including documentaries, drama, culinary food and lifestyle, animation, immigration and social justice, and Asian American shorts. These films will inspire, offer hope, make you laugh, think, cry and generate memories.

The film festival is offering different levels of pricing for the Opening Night, Live Festival Passes and film packages.  Tickets for the Opening Night Feature (Paper Tigers), Dinner and Fundraiser are $65.00.  An All Access Pass (opening night and all films screened in person are $125.  A festival pass can be purchased for $25 to view all films through October 10.  Film packages with various themes can be purchased for as little as $7.00. Check the links to view information – https://svapfilmfest2021.eventive.org/welcome.

Please consider supporting this event which brings films about history, culture, heritage and community awareness.

by Sandy Kiyomura, Board Member-at-Large

Editor’s comment: Nisei Ski Club has once again made a donation to this great organization, so this article is being reprinted from last year.

There is a very special ski school located at Alpine Meadows.  The “Tahoe Adaptive Ski School” was started 52 years ago by a few Vietnam War Vets who were learning to cope with their disabilities. (most amputees).  They were taught to ski by Jim Winthers, a World War II Veteran of the 10^th Mountain Division and Director of the Soda Springs ski school. They use specialized adaptive equipment and teaching methods to offer persons with any disability the experience of being on the snow. Many of their students are “Wounded Warriors”. Their mission is “to provide affordable inclusive physical and recreational activities that build health and confidence.”      

Achieve Tahoe is the parent organization of Disabled Sports USA with over 100 chapters in the US. They offer activities off the snow as well, such as cycling, swimming, golf, tennis. My son worked for DSUSA in their Maryland office and had amazing experiences there.  One of his tasks was to organize their events. Once he ran a marathon with an amputee and helped him finish. He played floor hockey on sleds with amputees. They have an annual convention in Breckenridge where 600 Wounded Warriors go for a week of ski instruction and races. (My son was the dealer at their poker night event).  Kirk Bauer, the executive director and a Vietnam war amputee, said in his speech that he had never before seen so many “multiple” amputees.  In previous wars, many soldiers were killed. Nowadays, the injured can survive although they may be missing (multiple) limbs.  Achieve Tahoe works with many Wounded Warriors. 

I had the privilege of working as a volunteer ski instructor with Achieve Tahoe for over ten years.  Although I had taught skiing before, working with disabled skiers gave me lessons in patience, gratitude and humility that I may not have learned anywhere else. I learned to appreciate things I often take for granted. When I have a sore knee, I remember that “at least I have a leg.” When I’m having a bad day, I remember all the challenges my students have in daily life. Some of the students are visually impaired. Many have cognitive challenges as well as physical challenges. Skiing brought them great joy and teaching them brought me great satisfaction. 

For those of you that might be planning an October visit to the Tahoe area, Achieve Tahoe is having a Covid-friendly “Foam Fest” event for the entire month. For a $49 donation, you get a Foam Fest glass and a 16 ounce beer at each of five locations in Truckee. This is in lieu of their annual beer tasting and music festival.

Their motto is: if I can do this, I can do anything. 

contributed by Judy Bracken, Newsletter Editor

Here is an invitation to attend this fun event and get psyched for the upcoming ski season.

It’s that time of year! Teton Gravity Research is bringing our new ski and snowboard film AND our WhiSKI series back to the Bay Area for several incredible nights of stoke. As a local club involved in the industry, we would love your help inviting your members to these events!

If you haven’t yet, Watch the STOKE THE FIRE trailer

Here are the TGR events coming to your area…

San Francisco, CA   | Oct 7 |   Palace of Fine Arts 

Tickets available HERE! $20 for adults, $10 for ages 16 & under at the early show. VIP tickets are $50 and include a TGR x YETI gift and more.

San Francisco, CA   | Oct 8 |   Delancey Street Screening Room (WhiSKI Series)

Tickets are available HERE and include a Tincup Whiskey tasting, YETI x TGR gift bags, athlete Q&A and VIP screening of Stoke the Fire

Oakland, CA   | Oct 26 |   Starline Social Club

Tickets are available HERE and only $20 each! Two showings: Early Show at 6:30pm, Late Show at 9:00pm. 

Want to be more involved? Our film premieres are an awesome way to connect with the local outdoor community! Please let me know how you would like to get involved and I can send over promotional materials for these events.

Full details and link to share: 

SF Premiere: https://www.tetongravity.com/films/stoke-the-fire/tour/san-francisco-premiere-of-stoke-the-fire

WhiSKI: https://www.tetongravity.com/films/stoke-the-fire/tour/san-francisco-whiski-series-of-stoke-the-fire

Oakland Premiere: https://www.tetongravity.com/films/stoke-the-fire/tour/oakland-premieres-of-stoke-the-fire

Lots of information and photos this month about the upcoming ski season, ski trips, the annual picnic, and restaurants in the area. Enjoy your reading!

by Armand Gutierrez, President

Are the Hot August Days and Nights going to extend into September? Much of that depends on how quickly the raging infernos in Northern California and the Sierra foothills can be extinguished and let Nature’s air conditioner roll in and bring that cool, moist, onshore winds to clear our smoky skies. As we do roll into September it’s time to think about the upcoming ski season and what to expect in terms of pandemic-related restrictions.

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic

The NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic took place on Sunday, 29 August and was well attended, and we were blessed with a comfortable, mild afternoon with just a hint of a breeze. As usual, there was a variety of cuisine that would satisfy the most discriminating palates.

National Ski Council Federation Report (NSCF)

The National Ski Council Federation (https://skifederation.org) was formally established in 1999, and consists of the largest 30 ski councils in the United States and boasts a total membership of approximately 300,000 snow sports enthusiasts. Our local Bay Area Ski Council (BAC) is a member of the NSCF.

In June I attended the NSCF meeting, via Zoom, and picked up the latest information from various ski resorts, ski-related industries, and travel organizations. See the accompanying article for details on what was discussed regarding the upcoming ski season.

2022 NSC Ski Week to Steamboat, CO

The Steamboat trip is fully booked, and a waitlist has been created for one late-signer and possible additional signups. And at our annual picnic there were several members that expressed an interest in going on the trip.

Steamboat is on the Ikon Pass, and is also good for Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Steamboat trip:

• Purchase an Ikon Pass (Squaw/Alpine) from Sports America and receive a:
  • $30 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or 
  • $50 trip discount for an Ikon Pass.
  • Go to this link to purchase: : www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei.
  • The Ikon Base Pass is good for five days skiing at Steamboat.

• Purchase an Epic Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) from Sports America and receive a:
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass, or 
  • $50 trip discount for an Epic Pass
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.
  • Epic passes cannot be used at Steamboat.

• Purchase both the Ikon/Epic passes and you will receive a combination trip discount based on the type of passes you purchase.

If you have any questions about either of the passes then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.

QotM: Followers want to be liked; leaders don’t give a damn – Ed Alzate.

by Karen Soo, Membership Chair

Another successful Hawaiian Luau picnic at Las Palmas Park is in the books. This was Nisei Ski Club’s first outdoor gathering since our picnic last year was cancelled due to the pandemic!

With the wildfires near South Lake Tahoe creating smoky conditions, we thought our picnic was going to be a bust. Adding to that, the day before was a scorcher with temperatures well in the 100s.

So, we tried to get the word out to start the picnic earlier. As it turns out, the weather was beautiful and sunny. A nice breeze in the shade helped to lower the temperature. The air quality was moderate and quite clear.  

Thirty past and present Nisei Ski Club members showed up, bringing plenty of food to share. We had vegetarian sandwiches, chicken wings, BBQ ribs, hot dogs, chicken salad, chili, pulled pork, roast pork buns, fried rice and plenty of pasta salads. And don’t forget the dessert and chilled watermelon. A big thank you to those who brought something to share. No one went home hungry.

We decided not to proceed with the LEFT, RIGHT, CENTER game because of the fear of multiple handling of dollar bills from person to person.  

Everyone had a good time gathering and catching up. If you think about it, it’s been over year and a half since we’ve seen some of our members in person.  The talk of the day was about who was going on the Steamboat trip. The trip is now filled. If you are still thinking about going, please send in your deposit so we can add you to the waiting list.

Look for future Nisei Ski Club events which include a Zoom cooking class and a bicycle ride in October / November.  

Be safe all. Keep wearing those masks if you are in an indoor group setting. 

by Armand Gutierrez, President

On June 29^th I attended the NSCF monthly meeting as a rep for BAC. The purpose of the meeting was to present and discuss various topics regarding the 2021-2022 ski season, both domestic and overseas venues. Major speakers included:

• Adam Feehan (Alterra Mountain, Ikon Pass))
• Stephen Hall (Skigroup.net owner, travel agent)
• Gloria Woods (ski.com, travel agent/resources)
• Colin (Sun Peaks)
• Larry Young (Steamboat)

Here are some of the major highlights from that discussion:

Resort Operations

1. Resorts will be returning back to pre-COVID conditions, although masks may be required based on current conditions. 
2. Online food ordering will remain for “to go” orders, and possibly no reservations in restaurants.
3. Some resorts are limiting groups because there is more revenue on individual sales. 
4. Staffing is becoming a challenge due to VISA requirements. There is also a housing shortage for employees.
5. It is anticipated that American/Canadian borders will be open, possibly with COVID restrictions. 
6. Airlines/Ski Resorts are imposing non-refundable deposits, same with Ikon/Epic passes.
7. Big resorts may want smaller groups, small resorts want bigger groups. Some resorts are going to be more restrictive in limiting lift ticket sales.
8. AirBNB/VRBO are becoming more predominate and this could result in a possible shrinking of lodging availability in the next 1-2 years.  Ski resorts rely on a variety of house availability for their staff. Any shortage in housing will impact hiring staff.

Lift Ticket Sales

1. There will be a variety of lift ticket options, and online purchases will be non-refundable. 
2. Dynamic ski lift pricing based on demand will continue.
3. Reservation systems will continue to be used and the best prices will be from online purchasing. 

Trip Insurance

Trip Insurance is designed to reimburse you in the event that you have to cancel due to illness or bodily harm (e.g. broken arm, sprained ankle, etc.) prior to the trip. Most policies do not cover COVID. Specifically, policies will NOT cover if you cancel a trip because you think you might get COVID, only if you actually get COVID before the trip.  Bottom line: read the fine print on any insurance policy before purchasing.

by Hoyt Nelson, Board Member-at-Large

Indoor dining is picking up around here.  Some places have reduced hours or have gone out of business, but I recommend the experience in general.  They are frequently almost empty and haven’t lost quality. Many offer outdoor seating.  Call to see when they are open, however.  

Our experience with some South Bay Japanese restaurants is that they change or go out of business.  There are some, like Gombei in SJ Japan Town and Yuki Sushi (at Pruneridge and Winchester in Santa Clara) that are consistently good, but even some of the reliable old places like Azuma on Stevens Creek seem (to us) have lost some of their luster.  Over the last several months however, we have eaten several great meals at Suro Sushi Grill about .3 mi. south of 280 on Saratoga Ave in San Jose.  They specialize in fancy rolls (which are good) but we prefer the standards like tempura, nigiri, donburi, etc.  Where Suro shines for us is the bento.  The tempura is not at all greasy and the sashimi is excellent and very generous.  My only complaint is that on two consecutive trips, the tea was good, but not hot.  Prices are fairly reasonable and the atmosphere is nice. 

We recently found Joy Dumpling on S. Blaney at Bollinger in San Jose.  In spite of their name, they have relatively few actual dumplings on the menu, but they are good and we were impressed with their quality.  We will return.  Still on our list to try are two places with the same name in SJ: Scott’s Seafood Chowder at 111 W. St. John and at 200 S 1^st in San Jose.  They are associated with the old Scott’s, but are supposed to be more casual and a little less expensive.  NOLO in Palo Alto was our favorite New Orleans eatery, but in the last couple of years, have dropped some of our favorite menu items.  We tried Bywater in Los Gatos (another New Orleans place) about 2 yrs ago on Santa Cruz Ave..  They only have a few of the old standards, but they aren’t as expensive as many Los Gatos places and are pretty good.  While in that area, don’t forget the Indo Café in Saratoga.  It’s amazing that it’s doing so well in such a hard-to-find location but I think it’s the best Indonesian restaurant in S Bay area.  

Check out my Google Drive section on restaurants for more info and contact me by email (hoiytnelson6@gmail.com) if you have specific questions. I will also send you my links to restaurant segment and other sections (so you won’t want to copy a random 24 letter address into your browser address bar).

As always, please send me info on your favorite places.  I always have my antenna up for interesting places..

There is still space available – Solden, Austria will be the setting for the 2022 International Ski Week.  Dates are February 26 – March 5^th and will include 7 nights lodging at the 4-Star Tyrolerhof Hotel, including daily breakfast & dinner at the hotel.  We’ll be offering an optional day tour during the week if one chooses to explore the local culture. There will be an extension to the Black Forest, Germany, March 5-11, 2022.  If one chooses to not go to Solden, but wants to do the Black Forest extension, we will fly you from the US to join us for the extension trip – we call this the “Stand Alone” trip.  For more information, contact Debbie Stewart, VP of International Travel:  fwsaintltravel@prodigy.net.

contributed by Roland Lee

Continuing the Japanese tradition of care and support for Seniors, the Kimochi Center has provided culturally sensitive, Japanese language-based programs and services to 3,000 Bay Area seniors and their families each year. 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of this valuable center! Services include transportation; referral and outreach services; health and consumer education seminars; healthy aging and senior center activities; social services; congregate and home delivered meals; in-home support services; adult social day care; 24-hour residential and respite care. Operating since 1971, there are Kimochi Center facilities in San Mateo and San Francisco.

On FRIDAY OCTOBER 29, 2021, a raffle drawing will be held to raise funds for the Kimochi Centers. The raffle tickets, at $10 apiece or 6 for $50.00 will give you a chance to win TWO roundtrip tickets to Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Spain, or New York City! Tickets are good for two years.

Please e-mail me if you are interested: Rolandlee3@gmail.com, and I will give you information about how to get your tickets. Click on this link for the flyer. Please call Diane Noguchi, Assistant to Executive Director at Kimochi if you have other questions or would like to schedule a visit. (1715 Buchanan Street, SF 94115)

by Armand Gutierrez, President

Hot August days and nights are here and that great high pressure dome over the Bay Area is bringing the heat, much to the dismay of our heroic fire fighters that are trying to keep northern California from looking like the Venusian plains. 

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic

The NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, 29 August so look for those long-lost recipes and bring a dish that will satisfy the most discriminating palates in the neighborhood. An Evite was sent out earlier this month so you can designate if you’re attending and what scrumptious dish you’ll be bringing to share. If you didn’t receive an Evite, or know somebody that wants to join in on the festivities, then let me know at president@niseiskiclub.org.

2022 NSC Ski Week to Steamboat, CO

Signups have been trickling in for the Steamboat trip and so far there are 21 powder-hounds praying for a winter wonderland. It is said that whomever controls the weather can control the planet. Believe me, if I could arrange for Steamboat’s elusive champagne powder to fall upon us while we’re there, then that would truly be a miracle. If you haven’t signed up yet then what are you waiting for? Remember, there are only 36 slots available and 21 have all ready been taken. To make it more enticing, if you sign up late then you just might not get your requested condo mate.

Steamboat is on the Ikon Pass, and is also good for Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Steamboat trip:

• Purchase an Ikon Pass (Squaw/Alpine) from Sports America and receive a:
  • $30 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or 
  • $50 trip discount for an Ikon Pass.
  • Go to this link to purchase: : www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei.
  • The Ikon Base Pass is good for five days skiing at Steamboat.

• Purchase an Epic Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) from Sports America and receive a:
  • 20% discount offered by Epic Pass
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass, or 
  • $50 trip discount for an Epic Pass
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.
  • Epic passes cannot be used at Steamboat.

• Purchase both the Ikon/Epic passes and you will receive a combination trip discount based on the type of passes you purchase.

If you have any questions about either of the passes then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.

QotM: Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

by Tina Woo, Membership Chair

Check out this great list of happenings for August!

The Palo Alto Buddhist Temple Obon Festival – August 7

Recorded Sessions, Videos & Photos – www.PABT.org  for more information

The event is not fully back this year, BUT they will be holding a Bento Dinner and T-shirt Fundraiser. In lieu of the annual Obon festival, you can order takeout bentos and pick-up on Saturday, August 7. Any questions and ordering, please email 21OBON.Bento@gmail.com

Yu Ai Kai Veggielution’s First Saturday Event on Saturday, August 7 (and September 4 & October 2)

There will be free brunch from YAK’s Food Truck; visit the Farm Stand and pick up some farm fresh veggies, fruits and herbs for your kitchen;  learn all aspects of farming and join YAK’s chefs in a community cooking class. Events from 10 am to 12:30 pm.  More information available at www. veggielution.org or Yu Ai Kai, 588 N. 4^th St, San Jose, 408-294-2505

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

Opening July 23 – teamLab: Continuity

Tokyo-based international collective teamLab is renowned for its interactive, interconnected digital artwork between artwork and viewer, inside and outside, and art and technology. Step into an experience like no other. You become part of an interactive landscape of blooming flowers, fluttering butterflies and darting fish and Sketch Ocean.  Senior tickets are $20, children under 12 free.

Fine Art in the Park, Lincoln Park,Los Altos, August 14-15, 10-5:30

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Los Altos, the 46th year of this real walk in the park for 2021 allows you to enjoy the summertime joy of the annual Fine Art in the Park. One of our members’ partner, Mark Stephenson, is a participating artist.

100% of Rotary Fine Art profits will go toward projects such as providing emergency help for victims of COVID-19, providing local scholarships and supporting sustainable projects both locally and internationally.

​Rotary is dedicated to improving lives, creating a better world and ending polio forever. With fighting disease as one of our causes and the current state of COVID-19 in our communities, we encourage you to participate in our 2021 Fine Art Show to support Rotary while also supporting our amazing featured artists. 

Live music festivals coming to the Bay Area in the next few months

• Stern Grove Festival (sterngrove.org)
• Yerba Buena Garden Festival  (ybgfestival.org) 12:30)
• 14^th Annual Petaluma Music Festival – petalumamusic festival.org
• San Jose Jazz Summer Fest – sanjosejazz.org
• Golden Gate Jazz Festival – goldengatejazzfestival.com
• 64^th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival – montereyjazzfestival.org

The power of Korean television dramas.  If you’re searching for some dramas, aim your streaming device at South Korea, some are funny and some are horrifying. 

• The Kingdom (Netflix 2019)
• Mystic Pop-up Bar (Netflix 2020)
• Stranger from Hell (Netflix 2019)
• Black (Netflix 2017)
• Strong Woman: Do Bong Soon (Viki 2017)

8 New Peninsula Restaurants to check out

The Bay Area is open again and there is a ton of varied new food to try on the Peninsula!

1. The Mandarin, Menlo Park 1029 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
2. Refuge, San Mateo – pastrami favorite located at the Hillsdale Shopping Center, refugesc.com
3. Left Wing, Mountain View – Korean fried chicken has touched down in Mountain View, leftwingbar.com
4. Pizzone, Palo Alto – Milan-style pizza, 700 Welch Road #110, pizzone.com
5. Tasty Mob, Sunnyvale, permanent food truck, 1255 El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, tastymobmarket.com
6. Asian Farm, Redwood City, fast-casual Asian fusion, 3176 Middlefield Road, Instagram.com/Asian_farm/
7. Vivi + Livy, Sunnyvale, food bakery mahjong tile candies and Kona coffee shortbread cookies, pickup and delivery, viviandlivy.com
8. Wild Onion Bistro & Bar, Palo Alto, hotel dining option in Hotel Citrine 750 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, hotelcitrine.com/dining

by Armand Gutierrez, President

July is coming in hot and sultry and, as expected, our annual drought season has returned. Last year’s celebration of our country’s founding was somewhat subdued, but this year’s celebration will most likely be as strong as ever. So do your part over the 4^th of July weekend by raising Old Glory high above and into the field of blue. 

Mt. View Obon Festival

 The Mt. View Obon Festival is on 17-18 July at the Mt. View Buddhist Temple. In the past NSC members volunteered to work various booths, with the Beer Booth the most coveted prize. This year we won’t be volunteering (not needed), but you should attend and participate in the various events. Rest assured that there will be a variety of delicious cuisine, carnival-style games, cultural events, lots of people, the famous Beer Booth, and try not to bring home any goldfish in a plastic bag. For more information visit their website at https://obon.mvbuddhisttemple.org

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic

The NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, 29 August so mark your calendars. An Evite will be sent out later this month so you can designate if you’re attending and what scrumptious dish you’ll be bringing to share. Tevye would be proud of us as we maintain tradition and return to Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale for the picnic. Look for the flyer and Evite.

2022 NSC Ski Week to Steamboat, CO

Steamboat is on the Ikon Pass, and is also good for Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Steamboat trip:

• Purchase an Ikon Pass (Squaw/Alpine) from Sports America and receive a:
  • $30 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or 
  • $50 trip discount for an Ikon Pass.
  • Go to this link to purchase: : www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei.
  • The Ikon Base Pass is good for five days skiing at Steamboat.

• Purchase an Epic Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) from Sports America and receive a:
  • 20% discount offered by Epic Pass
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass, or 
  • $50 trip discount for an Epic Pass
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.
  • Epic passes cannot be used at Steamboat.

• Purchase both the Ikon/Epic passes and you will receive a combination trip discount based on the type of passes you purchase.

If you have any questions about either of the passes then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.

QotM: The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits – Albert Einstein

by Tina Woo, Membership Chair

We’ve had a very successful membership drive to-date.  Please  welcome new member, Tim Hadlock and returning members:  Carolyn Booker, Emiko Cheek,  Sheri  Glazebrook, Joel  Hayashida, Lennie Kwock and Carol Fujimura and Anastasia Mandrussow.

Some upcoming  summer activities:

Celebrate July 4 with fireworks, parades and music

–    San Francisco Pier 39, The Embarcadero fireworks begin around 9:30 pm
–    The Warriors will host Thrive City Block Party at Thrive City, the Plaza surrounding Chase Center, 11 am – 4 pm

–    Relax on the Fourth of July on the USS Hornet, 10 am to 6 pm, Alameda
–    Parades in Half Moon Bay, Orinda, Pleasant Hill

–    Parkoncert at Civic Park, Walnut Creek, 3 pm
–    San Francisco Symphony Concert, Davies Symphony Hall, Friday, July 2 & Stern Grove on July 4

• July 11: Virtual San Jose Obon Festival  

Watch live cooking demonstrations, children’s crafts, SJ Taiko performances, Chidori Band & Odori Dancing 

• August 7 & 8: Virtual Palo Alto Obon Festival 

More information available soon

• The 84^th San Francisco Stern Grove Festival with free concerts is happening once again. 10 Free Concerts at 2 pm from June 20 – August  29.  Advance reservations required. 

7/4 SF Symphony

7/11 Thievery Corp and Dessa

7/18 St. Paul & Broken Bones

7/25 X, The Avengers

8/1 Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

8/8 Thundercat

8/15 Fitz and The Tantrums

8/29 Tower of Power

• The Bay Area museums have re-opened just in time for  summer

Asian  Art Museum:  https://asianart.org/

Oakland Museum: https://museumca.org/exhibitions

• August 29 Annual Nisei Ski Club Annual Picnic – Save the Date!

by Tina Woo, Membership Chair

In May, we had a very successful membership drive.  If you have not yet renewed, now is the time! Please welcome two new members: Gary Chaw and Jim Stewart.  And, welcome back returning members:  Carol Ellis, Debra Fong, Allen Hu, Aaron Levin, Janice Melena, Sheldon and Wendy Sam, Amy and David Tsuhako and Carolyn Wong. 

As mentioned previously, the Nisei Ski Club board is excited to announce several events scheduled for the balance of this year.  In late August we are planning for our members’ annual picnic and are busy researching local parks in Sunnyvale.  Piggybacking on Karen Soo’s well-attended Thai Cooking demo, she has agreed to conduct another zoom cooking lesson in late September.  Our bike gurus, Curtis Otaguro and Rick Dumlao are planning another ride in the Fall. 

Nisei Ski Club is a proud supporter of the Mt. View Obon Festival tentatively scheduled for July.  And, in   October, we will once again sponsor  the Silicon Valley Asian Film Festival (virtually) and Achieve Tahoe in Winter.

June marks the start of the 2021-2022 Nisei Ski Club season. Download and complete the membership form to be eligible. We have several events coming up, in addition to the week-long trip in January 2022 to Steamboat, Colorado.  And, we’re certainly open to suggestions for club activities. I’m hoping you will join us!

by Sandy Kiyomura, Board Member

We are living in unprecedented times. It is not only because of COVID-19, but our nation has been experiencing heightened racial hate and violence. However, this is not new. For many centuries, US history is filled with racial inequality. In the 17^th century, Africans were enslaved as cheap labor. The Native Americans have had their land, culture and race almost extinguished. As for the Chinese, there was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibiting immigration of Chinese laborers. This is the only law which targeted a specific ethnic group from immigrating to the US. For the Japanese, 120,000 Japanese were interned unnecessarily behind barbed wire fences with armed guards for 4 years during World War 2. Today there is a surge of Anti-Asian harassment, crime and violence. In the past year and a half, there were over 6,600 reports of Anti-Asian hate incidents.  On May 20, 2021, President Biden signed a bill to combat hate crimes against Asians and Pacific Islanders. 

We all watch the news and shake our heads. But what can you do? Asians are often known as the “model minority”, the “silent minority”. They don’t want to “rock the boat”. This needs to change. When you see something, do something.  When you hear something, say something.  Anti-Asian racism is subtle, cumulative, unintentional, casual and widespread. We need to speak up whenever we witness anti-Asian bias. More specifically:

Be an ally. Here are the 5 D’s of bystander intervention:

1. Distract   Start a conversion with the person being harassed, ask for directions, drop something
2. Delegate    Ask someone nearby to find someone in a position of authority
3. Document  Try filming (pretending you are checking your email). Give it to the person being harassed.
4. Delay  Check in with the person being harassed. Even a “knowing glance” can reduce trauma
5. Direct  Speak up about the disrespectful behavior when it’s happening. “That’s racist”. “What do you mean when you say ‘Chinese virus’?” 

Whenever intervening, consider your own safety and the situation first.  I hope this was helpful. I have interviews and information for anyone interested.  You can email me at:  skiyomura@gmail.com

Stay safe! 

from FWSA Newsflash, May 2021

The Alterra Mountain Company plans to invest $207 million in capital improvements, including $111 million in resort projects at Steamboat, Deer Valley, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, and Mammoth Mountain; $31 million in enterprise technology systems; and $65 million in resort maintenance and planning.  Pending local government review and approval, Deer Valley plans include: Snow Park Lodge and base area to undergo a complete revision, providing additional accommodations and skier services, new contemporary food and beverage and après options, and an additional ski beach. Squaw Valley Alpine: The highly anticipated Base-to-Base Gondola (B2B) will begin construction this summer. It will provide a connection between the Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows bases—currently a seven-mile drive. Mammoth Mountain: The multi-year Main Lodge redevelopment will create the “Base Camp to the Eastern Sierra,” with a new ski beach, state-of-the-art services, Adventure Concierge Center, an array of boutique dining and retail experiences, luxury lodging and a variety of residential ownership options, complete with club amenities and programming.  This plan is in the permitting phase and scheduled to begin construction in spring 2023.  Steamboat will begin a three-year, $135 million base area redevelopment and on-mountain terrain expansion. Steamboat’s Gondola Square will be transformed into a multi-use plaza with additional dining and après, retail, entertainment, and year-round gathering places. A reimagined guest arrival experience will eliminate cumbersome stairs and provide easy access to the mountain. On-mountain improvements slated for the 2021-22 season—pending additional approvals—include an additional 650 acres of advanced/expert skiable terrain in Pioneer Ridge.  Guest enhancement amenities are expected to be completed by the start of the 2022-23 winter season.