by Armand Gutierrez, President

It must be getting closer to ski season as my Email Inbox is getting overtaken by emails from ski resorts, ski rentals, ski vacations, ski season passes, and anything else that is related to skiing. Of course, some emails are read, some are bypassed to be read at a later time, and the rest are deleted. And, of course, receiving these emails is prepping more for the onslaught of political emails and snail-mail brochures that will soon be arriving prior to the mid-term elections. Fortunately my Mail app has rules to delete the detritus before entering the hallowed shrine of the Inbox, but alas, I have no control over the deliveries from the USPS.

NSC Bocce Ball Event

On August 20^th Hoyt Nelson, Bocce Ball player extraordinaire, hosted a number NSC Bocce Ball players for several games and a picnic lunch afterwards. Although I was unable to attend it’s my understanding that Mother Nature cooperated with good weather and everyone had a good time.

NSC Bike Ride Event – Saturday, September 24th

The next NSC event is a Bike Ride that will cover the Bay Trail in the Mt. View/Palo Alto area starting at Shoreline Park. There will be two distances to chose from: a ~13 miler and a ~25 miler, so get your legs ready for some riding. And yes, what kind of event would it be without food? After the bike ride there will be a picnic lunch (BYOF). Details will be provided at a later date. The road warriors in the photo attended the Bike Ride Event in 2020.

2023 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge

Currently there are 11 snow warriors that will are on the Breckenridge trip, the smallest group that we’ve ever had for a ski week. We’ve got three condos filled and any more signups will be put on a waitlist until I can get four people to fill a fourth condo. Since we didn’t meet the minimum group rate requirements the original price had a slight increase and to keep the price reasonable the souvenir gift and Farewell Dinner were eliminated. However, we can still have a Potluck Dinner and a smaller Farewell Dinner at our own cost.

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:
  • $60 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or
  • $60 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 or Park City.

• Purchase an Epic Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) from Sports America and receive a:
  • $40 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass, unlimited at Vail Resorts
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Tahoe Local, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Unrestricted Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge.
  • $20 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Holiday Excluded Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge. This pass is recommended if you only want to ski 5 days at Breckenridge.
  • Our trip will not be during any of the Holiday Exclusion dates.
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.

• 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:  When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser – Socrates

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

All across the United States there’s been an on-going heatwave. Many people flocked to San Francisco just to avoid the heat in their own neighborhood and enjoy the cool blast of “Fogust”. I myself am keeping cool in New York under the blasting air conditioner. Labor Day is here . Summer is over and it’s time to stop wearing white. The weather should be cooling down unless Indian summers stay with us.
Just think, winter is coming in 4 months. I can feel it in my bones. Here some videos to get you ready for winter.

By Celeste Rogers, Nisei Ski Club Member

Saturday, August 20^th, 2022, at 10:00 am

It was a great day to be outdoors among blue skies, the trees, feathered friends, Lake Almaden (with water!!) and friends of NSC.

We occupied two courts for the day. Thirteen people turned out for Hoyt’s bocce ball event   Hoyt, Nancy, Tina, David T, Beverly, Judy and Winston, Janet and Rod and their 2 dogs on the sunny court.

I played in the shady court with Greg, Jeanne and Dorothy.  It was a lot of fun. It became competitive and addictive as we improved our rolling skills. It got better while keeping scores too. 

The other court had with 6 players per game. They play with 4 extra balls and the court ended up 12 balls at one time. The weather started out with moderate temperatures but it quickly climbed to 93 degrees. Just in time to go to lunch.

We finished playing at 12:00pm and we had a few discussions on where to go for lunch.  Hoyt suggested his favorites:  Crepe Bistro and Back A Yard.  Due to a request for outdoor dining, most could not join so we split into 2 groups: Dim Sum and Crepe Bistro.

I had lunch at Ocean Delight with Tina, Jeanne, Greg and Tony M – who joined us for dim sum. http://myoceandelight.com/site/ 

NSC VP Jeanne K was full of energy and full of ideas for future NSC events. She asked for our feedback on future weekend Tahoe skiing, road trips, dinner and concert, the 65^th Anniversary Dinner and Dance. After lunch, she had to run off to pack in preparation for a 10-day tour and cruise somewhere in Europe for 10 days. What a life.

I loved the event that included good conversations and especially the good food. It feels like the old days when Hoyt led us on the stairway hikes in San Francisco years ago! It was a fun day. Thank you, Hoyt, for leading this event.

Hoyt Nelson / Board Member

I happened to be in Palo Alto a few days ago at an odd time for lunch I remembered the only remaining Harry’s Hofbrau was still in Redwood City on the El Camino (and still stays open most of the day).   Same menu, line of servers slinging the same hash, same ambience, same clientele, same 4 kinds of mustard on every table.  My old favorite Turkey ala King (a huge mound of turkey & peas over rice) tasted the same (except for the price of about $10 vs. the old $7 including cranberry sauce and roll).  There’s also a Harry’s on E. 14^th in San Leandro.  I assume it’s like the others, but haven’t been there. https://www.harryshofbrau.com/

While working in North San Jose in the 1990s, I frequented Chez Sovan – the only Cambodian restaurant at the time on South Bascom, San Jose.  Unfortunately, Sovan soon left for Cambodia, but her son still runs a great Cambodian lunch 923 Old Oakland Rd. San Jose (but it closes at 1:30 PM).  Several places took over the South Bascom location with mixed results, but finally, but a new Cambodian place called Bayon Temple recently moved in and it is just about as good as the old Chez Sovan. https://www.yelp.com/biz/bayon-temple-campbell

To recap a few of my favorite places that are now closed fyi:  A Taste of India, Coconut’s Fish Café, Indo Café, the tasty Peruvian place on North Winchester – Isabella’s went missing for about 8 or 9 months, but has recently been replaced with a new Peruvian place called Inka’s at the 700 South Winchester.  The menu is a bit smaller, but the quality is still as good since the old chef still does the cooking. https://www.yelp.com/biz/inkas-restaurant-san-jose-2

Let me know about your favorite places.  I always have my antenna up.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

August is upon us and the weather is getting more fall-like with pleasant days and comfortable temps. Yours truly finally joined that all-exclusive COVID club, although it was a short membership (about two days) and more like a mild case of the flu. Nevertheless, we’ll continue to hear and read all about the roller-coaster cases ‘till the end of the year (and probably longer). Although the mask mandate has been lifted (except in medical facilities), wearing a mask does offer that added protection in crowded environments.

NSC Annual Luau Picnic and Membership Meeting

The NSC Annual Luau Picnic and Membership Meeting were held on Saturday, 23 July at Las Palmas Park, Sunnyvale, and there was a great turn out. Mother Nature blessed us with great weather and, as usual, there was plenty of food. This was also a great opportunity to say farewell to Karen Soo, as she will be moving to New York in August. She will continue her roles on the board as Newsletter Editor and Trip Director.

Board Movement (again)

Well, this time it’s Jeanne Katsuro that is making the change. Jeanne emailed me and said that she would like to volunteer for the open VP position, a spot that hasn’t been filled for years. Based on our Constitution/By-Laws the protocol for appointing a member to the board requires the board to nominate, second, and then vote, and if approved make the appointment. And this we did at the Luau Picnic/Membership meeting on the 23^rrd at Las Palmas Park. And yes, Jeanne was unanimously approved. So there you have it, a new VP on the board. And like a true politician Jeanne gave a short speech and related her plans for getting more non-ski events planned to increase our membership.

2023 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge or Park City?

During the Membership Meeting at the Luau Picnic I mentioned that Breckenridge might be canceled due to lack of signups (currently there are 11). The idea of no ski week didn’t sit well with me so I looked at various other options, including Beaver Creek, Telluride, Keystone, Vail, and finally Park City. Beaver Creek was deemed to small given the higher price, Telluride and Keystone didn’t make the finals because of their elevation (same as Breckenridge), and Vail would have broken the bank getting lodging at this late date. So, the latest candidate is Park City and I am currently awaiting a proposal to see what is available and cost at this late stage. Over the years I’ve been securing lodging by March-May to ensure availability and reasonable pricing, and now that it’s August the options are greatly diminished. Since a number of people purchased the Epic Pass from Sports America it would be better to find a resort that was on the Epic Pass.

The question now becomes: do we try to fill the Breckenridge trip or go with Park City? In either case, the minimum signups needed to maintain our group rates is 20 for lodging and 10 for air, meaning that we need at least a minimum of 25-30 signups because there will be a number of people arranging their own air. The deadline for final reservations is mid-October, and that doesn’t leave much time to decide on a final destination. To facilitate identifying a final destination I need those of you that are going, or planning to go on the ski week, to email me (president@niseiskiclub.org) your commitment to one of the resorts (Breckenridge or Park City) as soon as you can. At the moment we do have great lodging at Breckenridge that is ski in/ski out, plus a complimentary Wine and Cheese Reception. Park City will most likely require a shuttle bus to the slopes.

Breckenridge and Park City are Epic Pass destinations 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/Park City 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:
  • $60 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or
  • $60 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 or Park City.

• Purchase an Epic Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) from Sports America and receive a:
  • $40 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass, unlimited at Vail Resorts
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Tahoe Local, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge/Park City
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Unrestricted Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge/Park City
  • $20 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Holiday Excluded Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge/Park City. This pass is recommended if you only want to ski 5 days at Breckenridge/Park City
  • Our trip will not be during any of the Holiday Exclusion dates.
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.

• 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:  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

By Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

NEWS FLASH BULLETIN…

Sorry for the last minute addition to the NSC August Newsletter. I finally moved out of my apartment last month and I will be spending a few days in the bay area before flying off to the Big Apple on August 9^th.

I had the opportunity to visit exhibit of Guo Pei: Couture Fantasy, which is located at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco.

As a Fashion Design major at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, I was blown away by this exhibit.

All I can say is WOW.  My mouth just dropped open as it’s the most exquisite exhibit I had ever seen. I can imagine Lady Gaga wearing her designs.

Guo Pei is hailed as China’s first couturier. The exhibit includes more than 80 works from the past two decades highlighting her most important collections shown on the Beijing and Paris runways.

With exquisite craftsmanship, lavish hand embroideries, pleat work and Swarovski crystals, Guo Pei’s whimsical, fun creations dramatically connect the paintings, drawings and ceramic objects from the 17th century

Elaborate head dresses, accented jewelry and matching shoes was just as beautiful as the garment itself. One dress took over 8000 hours of hand embroidery

The Guo Pei main exhibit is located in the lower level, but make sure you walk though the other galleries on the MAIN floor.  The over-the-top dresses are strategically coordinated with the European décor that is located thought out the museum.

Make you get to the Legion of Honor Museum and check out this exhibit. The exhibit ends on September 5^th 2022.

 XOXO KAREN   

Here are some of my favorite pieces from the collection.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

July is coming in on a hot note, but nothing really drastic compared to last year. However, it seems like our drought season this year is expected to impact us for the summer. Last year’s celebration of our country’s founding was a return to the old days (pre-pandemic) and I suspect this year celebrations will be even greater. So do your part over the 4^th of July weekend by raising Old Glory high above and into the field of blue.

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic

The NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic are scheduled for Saturday, 23 July 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. We will also be saying goodbye (temporarily?) for Karen Soo, as she will be moving to New York in August. Look for the flyer and Evite.

Board Movement

How’s that for a catchy title? What does it mean? Well, Karen Soo, a long-time NSC member and Trip Director, is moving to New York to take care of her mom. Is this a permanent move? Possibly not, because she mentioned that she is leaving some of her cherished belongings here in storage. Her move isn’t scheduled until August and she will be at the NSC Luau Picnic on Saturday, 23 July. She’ll remain on the board and conduct business as usual since we’ve been having our board meetings via Zoom. So, make sure you attend the Luau Picnic and give Karen a glorious sendoff to New York.

2023 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, CO

Plans are moving along with the Breckenridge ski week trip for 2023 and the date is from 28 January – 4 February 2023. People have signed up and there are plenty of spaces available, so act now and get your favorite roommates together. See the attached Breckenridge Flyer for details on the trip and signup forms.

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:
  • $60 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or
  • $60 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:
  • $40 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass, unlimited at Vail Resorts
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Tahoe Local, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Unrestricted Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $20 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Holiday Excluded Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge. This pass is recommended if you only want to ski 5 days at Breckenridge
  • Our trip will not be during any of the Holiday Exclusion dates.
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.

• 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:  Loneliness is something to be shared with someone – “Coach” Ernie Pantusso

–A Reflection on Leaving the Bay Area

By Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Many of you may or may not know that I will be moving to New York for family obligations. My mother is 90 years old. She’s very alert, but I can see her slowing down like most parents moving towards those golden years. Her only surviving older brother is 101 years old.

The goal is to give her the best quality of life with comfort care. I will be
taking care of her. Preparing meals in a kitchen with limited cookware and the utensils that she owns. The challenge here is to prepare something yummy and healthy. I’ve been told that I’m a good daughter to take care of my mother. “She’s lucky to have you there”. My reply is that I’m lucky to have my mother with me.

With an aide present during the day time, I will look for full time employment in New York City, Fashion Capital of the world. My friends are all happy to have me back in the hood. My Spidey senses will be turned on as I ride the subways to and from the city. You hear so many stories about people being pushed into the tracks or random attacks on Asians. All I have to say is you don’t want to mess with me. I will turn into Psycho Rambo mode.

I developed a lot of long-lasting friendships during the years. I will miss many of you who had crossed my path. The adventures we shared, the phone conversations, dinners and most importantly, the laughs we had. My Nisei Ski Club members will always be my 2^nd family.

Being NSC Trip Director was a fulfilling role. Arranging roommate assignments for those weeklong trips. Planning the weekend trip and meals with Amy Tsuhako was always a challenge. What hot meal can we serve on the bus ride up to Tahoe?  The challenges we faced–driving on I-80 during the snowstorm and getting into Reno at 3:00am in the morning, and then getting up at 6:00am to make the coffee and boil the water. Remember those trips? The long-weekends to Kirkwood, Mammoth and back to Northstar. At the end we all returned home safely and had so much fun.

I loved the Bay Area adventures like backpacking in Kalalau, Kauai, mini-vacations along the Western coastline, NSC weeklong trips to Jackson Hole, Aspen and Steamboat, running the Nike half marathons, Fishing for largemouth bass in the Delta, and picking up golf and trying to break a 100.

Although it’s not the end of a chapter as NSC Trip Director but a new journey as the NSC Newsletter Editor. Following the footsteps of Judy Hom and Judy Bracken–I bow to you!

This is a learning process for me so bear with me I learn how to create the NSC website.

Please give me a call if you’re ever visiting New York. I would love to meet up with you and give you insights on where to go and do.

I will leave my heart in San Francisco but I continue to be a San Francisco Giants fan and hoping the Golden Gate Warriors wins another NBA Championship next year.

See you on July 23, NSC Picnic – Come out and say Hi…… XOXO KAREN 

By Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

They say good meals leads to the great outdoors. I totally agreed there’s nothing like cooking in the open fire under the clear blue skies and the starry nights. Check out these articles telling how a Chinese cook helped established Yosemite National Park Service.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/how-chinese-cook-helped-establish-yosemite-national-park-service-n890221

I hiked to the top of Half Dome about three times and I never knew this building existed. The Yosemite Chinese Laundry building is finally getting its recognition.

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/welcome-yosemite-s-chinese-laundry-building?utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

by Judy Bracken, Newsletter Editor

This month we have just three articles, but they are full of information about our upcoming picnic and the ski week for next year, along with an announcement of the NSC board election results. This will be my last newsletter, although I will be working closely with Karen Soo for several months as she takes on this additional board position. Please continue to read the articles, and feel free to contribute any news or tidbits of interest. This website is for you as members, and please know that any and all of your contributions are always welcome.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

It’s June and the start of the 2022-2023 NSC season. Our recent elections resulted in several changes to the board – three board members are “retiring” from the board and we have one former board member returning and one former president joining as a board member. Thanks to all of you that took the time to vote, and you can read the full election results in Hoyt’s article.

FWSA Update

Some of you may know that I generally go on the FWSA ski week trips to Europe (Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and France) and the extension trip for a week of touring (no skiing). Over the years I have become quite familiar with the tour leader, Debbie Stewart, VP of International Travel, and in some instances have helped her with various tasks. After the Sölden trip this past March, Debbie asked me to join her International Travel Team as one of her assistants, and I gladly accepted. As one of her assistants, I’ll be helping her with the planning, logistics, and coordination of future FWSA international trips, and attending the annual FWSA Conventions (next one is 10-12 June, in Portland). The 2023 FWSA International Trip will be to Zermatt, Switzerland from 24 February – 4 March, and the extension trip to Spain/Majorca from 4-11 March. If you have any questions about this trip, just send them to president@nisieskiclub.org.

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic

The NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic is scheduled for July 23^rd, so mark your calendars. As usual the club will be providing beverages and a lunch entree and you can bring a favorite side dish. Details will be on the Picnic Flyer.

2023 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, Colorado

 Plans are moving along with the Breckenridge ski week trip for 2023 from 28 January – 4 February 2023. A number of people have already secured their Epic Passes, which will be needed since there will be no group lift tickets. See the attached Breckenridge Flyer for details on the trip and signup forms.

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:
  • $60 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or 
  • $60 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:
  • $40 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass, unlimited at Vail Resorts
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Tahoe Local, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Unrestricted Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $20 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Holiday Excluded Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge. This pass is recommended if you only want to ski 5 days at Breckenridge
  • Our trip will not be during any of the Holiday Exclusion dates.
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.

• 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: A friend will bail you out of jail, a true friend will be in there with you.

by Hoyt Nelson, Board Member

The polls are now closed and all the write-ins have declined.  

The Board Members for 2022-2023 on June 1 will be: 

• President: Armand Gutierrez
• Vice President: vacant
• Treasurer: Frank Chang
• Trip Director: Karen Soo
• Newsletter Editor: Karen Soo
• Membership Director: Tina Woo
• Board Members at Large: Curtis Otaguro, Jeanne Katsuro, David Schultz, Rick Dumlao, Hoyt Nelson

Thanks for your participation.  These board members will be working hard to ensure you enjoy your membership in the Nisei Ski Club. If you are interested in helping out with specific tasks (like the picnic or the annual ski trip), please contact anyone on the board. Congratulations to all the winners and we wish all the best to the Nisei Ski Club in the coming year.

by Karen Soo, Trip Director

Please join us on Saturday, July 23 at Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale for our NSC annual picnic.

As you may or may not know, our infamous Trip Director, party planner, aka Martha Stewart wannabe, and chef extraordinaire is moving to New York to take care of family obligations. Along with celebrating our excellent ski club and its members at the picnic, please come out and join us for a special “Bon Voyage” to Karen.

We don’t know how she is going to manage the ski trips and newsletter from 2500 miles away. You know she will pull strings out of the hat to get the job done (hint: she could use some help)!

Please RSVP no later than July 20, so we can order the right amount of food for the picnic. Click here for all the details. 

by Armand Gutierrez, President

May is here and that means it’s time to bring an end to the NSC 2021-2022 season. Unlike last year, NSC moved more to its normal existence with reduced COVID requirements, and a sense of returning to social interaction. We had good attendance at two of our main events, the annual ski week to Steamboat and the annual Luau and Membership picnic. Even with a low snow load during another drought year, many members enjoyed many awesome ski days in Tahoe and elsewhere.

But now it’s June, which marks the start of the NSC 2022-2023 season, and it’s time to restart the upcoming season with a return of our standby events and perhaps a few new ones. Beginning this month, you can take advantage of the $5 membership discount if you sign up and submit your membership form before May 31^st. Please submit your application to Tina Woo (Membership Chairman).

The board has been meeting frequently because life with NSC does go on.  Plans are in the making for our annual Luau and Membership Picnic, our ski week trip to Breckenridge, and a few other events that are in the planning stages.

Board Nominations & Elections

The nominations process has been completed and the next step is elections. The elections chairman (that would be Hoyt Nelson) tells me there were several nominations. Therefore, the slate consists of the incumbents and nominees. However, voting is important and although there were several nominations you can still vote for a write-in candidate. Whether you’re voting for an incumbent, nominee, or a write-in candidate, it’s important that you do vote. Your vote tells the board that you do appreciate the volunteer work performed by members of the board, so please take the very short time needed to cast your vote. The election ballot will be distributed in the coming weeks.

2023 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, CO

Next year’s ski week will be at Breckenridge, CO from 28 January – 4 February, 2023. Breckenridge is an Epic Pass destination so you can now order 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:
  • $60 trip discount for an Ikon Base Pass, or 
  • $60 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:
  • $40 trip discount for an Epic Local Pass
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic Tahoe Local, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $30 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Unrestricted Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge
  • $20 trip discount for an Epic 5-day Holiday Excluded Pass, 5-days skiing at Breckenridge. This pass is recommended if you only want to ski 5 days at Breckenridge.
  • Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei.

• Our trip will not be during any of the Holiday Exclusion dates.
• 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: Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

by Judy Bracken, Newsletter Editor

It was April 25 at Palisades, as it was the only resort open on Mondays in the north Lake Tahoe area. Elaine and I were loving the sunny skies, cool breezy weather and no crowds on this late season day. There had been a few inches of new snow the week before, so coverage on the slopes was good. As the afternoon waned and the temperatures rose, the snow was becoming sticky–the kind that grabs and slows the skis suddenly. Elaine was quite a bit ahead of me, as I was cautiously making my way down to the base on Mountain Run upper road, when I heard a rumbling noise behind me as a snowboarder cried out “Oh, s*#%!” I initially thought the snowboarder had just crashed, but when the noise continued I turned around to look, and was gobsmacked to see a wall of slow moving snow continuing to slide down seconds behind me! I was no more than 20 yards away, and no one was buried in it, thankfully. The snowboarder rode down another run, so I was the last person to ski down Mountain Run that day.

Elaine and I decided to take the Funitel up once again, so we could get a better view of the slide. It originated about 2/3 of the way up the run (2nd Westface, next to Mosely’s) above the road. It was not a roaring avalanche like we see in films, but more like a slow slide full of big, heavy, wet chunks. When Elaine skied down next to the slide to glean more information, a ski patroller scolded her as he was probing the snow. Apparently, she was not supposed to come that close, although he was probably just following protocol. The slide was about 3-4 feet tall, and the road was, most likely, cleared by the next day.

Whether the universe was sending me a message, or I had an angel by my side, it was a good time to end the season. At any rate, that day was a day to remember…my last ski day of the 2021-22 ski season!

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.

by Armand Gutierrez, President

The ski season hasn’t measured up to great expectations. Lots of snow in December, and then January and February brought little to very little snow. So, now that the ski season is half-over, let’s hope that Mother Nature blesses us with good snow conditions in March.

2023 NSC Ski Week

It’s time to start thinking about our NSC ski week for next season and I’m counting on a return to a fully normal season. I was thinking about a return trip to Sun Peaks (Canada), but perhaps it’s better to wait until 2024 and not have to deal with possible COVID testing requirements when returning to the States. Next year’s trip is still up in the air, so if you have any preferences then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.

Board Nominations

Now that it’s March, it’s time to think about Board Nominations for the 2022-23 season. If anyone has an interest in joining the board for the next season and has questions about what it entails, then just drop a note to any of the current board members, or perhaps you have someone in mind to nominate for the board. Please keep in mind that the Nisei Ski Club relies on volunteers to be on the board and undertake the running of the club. It’s not all work and no play. Board meetings this year have been online using Zoom, but we did have one face-to-face meeting that started out as a Happy Hour session but morphed into a Board meeting. It is a convenience to attend a Zoom board meeting from the comfort of home, but I do miss the face-to-face interaction and the lunches afterward.

QotM:  A lie has many variations, the truth none – African proverb

by Judy Bracken, Newsletter Editor

Unsurpassed views, bluebird days, skiing on glaciers, top notch dining…what more could you want out of a ski trip to the Austrian Alps? We found plenty more, but a word to the wise—this is not a trip for the faint of heart.  First there was the long flight, including layovers for some, and then many hours wait at the Munich airport to gather the group travelers coming from various areas of the US.  Then there was the 4 hour bus trip to Solden, winding through alpine roads with construction and holiday traffic delays thrown in (it was a big ski week for many European countries).  Then there is the first day at the resort, trying to sort out our tickets and pushing through surprisingly long lines to get on lifts and gondolas.  And of course, the jet lag that follows us throughout the week.  Finally, we got down to the nitty gritty, the whole reason we endured this arduous journey, the point of it all—to ski in the Alps!

And what a joyful ski adventure we had!  Swooshing through wide open, perfectly groomed slopes with mountains towering over us, feeling like ants skiing at top speed through long valleys and swaths of glowing white trails.  We enjoyed a mountain tour the first day, set up by our trip leader Debbie Stewart, who had divided us into groups based on our stated abilities.  My group was the Snow Warriors, and we ended up skiing with most of those people the entire week.  Our group consisted of of 6-10 compatible skiers, aging from 28 to 85 years old!  The runs have numbers instead of names, so we needed to study the map carefully to avoid getting lost.  Austria, as here in California, has not had a plentiful snow year, and the snow quality could have been better.  However, they have really good grooming machines and each day we had smooth surfaced, although at times icy, runs.  Fortunately, visibility was not a problem and when we ended up at the top of the topmost gondola, we could see for miles, even as far as the Dolomites Range in Italy.   

One day, we took a short bus ride and skied at the Gurgl Ski Area, which was divided into two areas called Hochgurgl and Obergurgl.  There was a horizontal gondola connecting the two sides, much like at Whistler/Blackcomb.   This area had wonderful ski huts spaced about the mountains, complete with full restaurant service.  We loved the goulash soup and the apple strudel with vanilla sauce.  And no meal was complete without beer!

Some of us attended an optional day trip to see the Swarovski Factory, where sparkly crystals are made for jewelry and many other purposes.  While we found out nothing about the process of making the crystals (apparently, it is a secret), we saw many beautiful and creative displays, set in 17 themed rooms.  There was a Hollywood room, with displays of Michael Jackson’s white glove, Elton Johns’ red suspendered trousers, Marilyn Monroe’s dress in which she sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. Kennedy,” and Judy Garland’s ruby red slippers.  All had used the Swarovski crystals to create apparel with lots of sparkle and “bling.”  Other rooms had  themes such as love, peace, and nature.  The grief chandelier, a gorgeous revolving glass light, allowed a meditation on loss and endings.  After the museum, we spent some time touring and shopping in Innsbruck, and some enjoyed lunch in a typical Austrian restaurant.  

Our hotel was a ten minute walk from the gondola, and included our breakfasts and dinners every night.  It was a wonderful buffet, with pastries, cheeses, salads and several different entrees and desserts from which to choose each night.  We were able to have a couple of happy hour gatherings with the FWSA group during the week.  The hotel also had a pool and saunas, which were usually full of families with children this holiday week.  Of course, you could escape that by going into the “no clothing allowed” sauna and steam room.

Debbie Stewart did an excellent job organizing this trip with its many different changes due to the pandemic.  She arranged a Covid test for us the day before we left, which is required to get back to the US.  All were negative except one person, and unfortunately, that person will have to quarantine in Austria until completely well and has a negative test.  There were others that went on to the Black Forest extension trip, and I have word that others may have Covid symptoms as well.  It’s a reminder that this pandemic is still with us, and precautions need to be taken despite the change in mandates and regulations.  

There is so much more to tell about this trip, but you will just have to go yourself sometime to experience European skiing.  Next year, the FWSA trip will be in Zermatt, Switzerland, home of the Matterhorn.  Check it out on the FWSA website.