by Armand Gutierrez, President

April is here and that means the ski season is coming to an end. Heavenly Valley is extending their closing date to April 24^th, Kirkwood to May 1^st, and Palisades/Alpine have not posted any extension dates. Given the current snow conditions it would be a big surprise if Palisades opens for their annual 4^th of July ski event. Northstar has not posted a closing date but it is expected to be on or before April 10^th.

Board Nominations & Elections

Well, it’s that time again for holding our board nominations and elections for the 2022-2023 season, and an email for making your nominations for the board will soon find its way to your inbox.  This year there are three open board positions: Newsletter Editor and two regular board member positions. As you know, volunteers run this club, without them NSC would cease to exist, and it has been in existence for over 60 years! You are encouraged to take this opportunity to nominate an individual for one, or more, of the board positions. All individuals that accept the nomination(s) will go through an election process in May, and final results will be announced in the June Newsletter. Normally the results would be announced at the annual June picnic, but this year the picnic will be held in July. Many of you have served on the board in the past, and your efforts were greatly appreciated. Perhaps you would like to join the board again. For those that have never served, then now is the time to consider a board position. It’s an opportunity to provide new ideas and useful experiences, and it’s fun!

2023 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, Colorado

Next year’s ski week will be at Breckenridge, CO tentatively from 28 January – 4 February, 2023. Breckenridge is an Epic Pass destination so you can pick up an Epic Pass for the next season. Once again, Sports America will be offering the Epic/Ikon Pass promotion-trip rebate for anyone that goes on the trip and purchases a pass through Sports America.

For 2022-23 Breckenridge will be on the Epic Pass, and is also good for Northstar, Heavenly Valley and Kirkwood. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Breckenridge trip:

• Purchase an Ikon Pass (Palisades/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 Pass or Ikon Base Pass cannot be used at Breckenridge.

• 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
  • Purchase by April 21 and get 10 Buddy Passes
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.
  • Unlimited access to Breckenridge (Epic Local) or 5 days at Breckenridge (Epic Tahoe Local)

• 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 artist does not draw what he sees, but what he has to make others see – Edgar Degas

by Tina Woo, Membership Chair

This year our family decided to purchase the Mountain Collective ski pass.  This pass enables skiing at 22 locations for two to three days.  For the price of $539, this includes skiing a total of 44 days with no blackout dates, if you don’t mind travel planning.  Domestic locations include Mammoth and Palisades in California, Alta, Snowbird, Snowbasin in Utah, Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Snowmass in Colorado, Sun Valley in Idaho and Taos in New Mexico.  International locations include Mt. Buller in Australia, Niseko United in Japan, Thredbo in Australia, Valle Nevado in Chile, Chamonix Mont-Blanc in France, Panorama, Banff Sunshine, Revelstoke  and Sun Peaks in British Columbia, Canada.  Needless to say, there is quite the variety.

We decided to head to some Northwest ski areas: Big Sky in Montana, Grand Targhee in Idaho and Jackson Hole in Wyoming.  Luckily, my son-in-law, Mike, doesn’t mind driving, and made the four-hour drive from Jackson, Wyoming to Bozeman, Montana to begin our ski trip. Our group included children ages 6 and 8 who are very accomplished skiers (better than me)!

Highlights:

• Big Sky includes 5,800 acres of skiable terrain and vertical of 4,350 feet.   They boast a 6-person chair (“Swift Current) and America’s first 8-person high speed chair (Ramcharger) which are fully automatic with snow bubbles, heated seats, headrests, footrests and speaker systems for emergency communications.   All disengage when unloading from the chairs.  They need those heated seats, as the day after we left, the temperature was a frigid -17 degrees!  

• Grand Targhee is a smaller, quaint venue with 2600 total acres, a 2270 foot vertical drop and 5 lifts. Chair names include Fred’s Mountain, Peaked Mountain and Mary’s Nipple. They boast 500 inches of snowfall per year, which makes it known for its plentiful powder.  

• What can I say? Jackson Hole is Jackson Hole, a world class resort for boarders and skiers.  It is a large venue with over 130 trails, more expert and intermediate trails.  It’s on the radar for the FWSA domestic trip next year.

• We managed to find an Asian fusion restaurant, Ameriasia Bistro in Victor, Idaho where we dined on Pancit, Nasi Goreng and Lechon!

contributed by Tina Woo, Membership Chair

Tina has put together a list of some fun events, many of which are free, in the San Jose and San Francisco area. Read on!

• Saturday, April 9, noon to 2 pm or longer**.  Free Pizza and Pickle Ball at Santa Clara Bay Club, 3250 Central Expressway. Come and learn about this popular sport and get a chance to play.

** Please rsvp to membership@niseiskiclub.org. Click on the link above to see a flyer.

Not to worry if you can’t make it, next Pizza & Pickle Ball is Saturday, May 14, same time

Helpful information about the sport of pickle ball:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTvPYdKZqO0

• April 9-10 and April 16-17: The 55^th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, San Francisco with traditional music, dance, cultural events and Japanese culinary treats.

• Saturday, April 16 from 10 am to noon.  Spring Family Festival, Santana Row across from Left Bank

• Sunday, April 24 from 9 -11 am, Yu-Ai Kai Japantown 5K Fun Run/Walk https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/Yu-Ai-Kai-2022-Japantown-5K-Run-Walk?sid=95b94ba86cf444078a041033b893f232

• Sunday, April 24 from 10 am to 5 pm, Nikkei  Matsuri Festival, San Jose Japantown

• Saturday, April 30 & Sunday, May 1: Cupertino 38^th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, Memorial Park, Quinlan and Senior Center, Free Parking at De Anza College, Lots A&B www.CupertinoCBF.org

Free San Francisco and Beyond Activities

• Union Square Spring Concert Series, March 12-May 28 from 1-4 pm
• First Sundays of the Month: Asian Art Museum
• First Tuesdays of the Month:  De Young Museum, Legion of Honor, Conservatory of Flowers, Botanical Gardens.  All in Golden Gate Park.
• Wednesday, April 13: Free Admission 9-10 am, Japanese Tea Garden
• First Fridays of the Month: Jewish Museum
• Free National Parks Days: Saturday, April 16, Thursday, August 4, Friday, November 11

Free San Francisco City Guides:  https://sfcityguides.org Whether your interest includes history of San Francisco, art and architecture, landmarks, stairways and views, neighborhoods, check the schedule for current listings.  Tours are typically 1 to 2 hours.