Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

Squaw Valley kept their promise and had skiing on the 4th of July. I saw film clips on the news and there were plenty of people in shorts, tank tops, and a few bikini-clad girls. Not the greatest skiing, but more of a happening just to be on that single run on the slopes on Independence Day. Will there be a repeat next year?

60th NSC Anniversary in 2018

Next year NSC will be celebrating its 60th anniversary. Yes, the club was established in 1958 to serve an Asian community interested in skiing and social events. During those initial years the club grew to 300+ members and there were busloads of skiers heading to Tahoe for racing and skiing. As time passed the club got older and our membership has dropped to fewer than 100 members. I recall going to Vail in 2008 for the 50th anniversary, and that’s why we are returning to Vail in 2018. In June 2008 the club held a 50th Anniversary Celebration “Golden Memories” held at the Holiday Inn in San Jose. The evening consisted of dinner, officer introductions, past president introductions, a silent auction, dancing, and Curtis Otaguro was president.

For our 60th anniversary it would be great if we could have another celebration. However, putting on a celebration requires manpower, and this is where you come in. This is a call for volunteers to form the NSC 60th Anniversary Committee. This committee will be responsible for coming up with a venue, task assignments, and whatever else needs to be performed. If you are interested in helping make this celebration come to life then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.

Snowbound Magazine

As president of NSC I often receive a variety of email promoting products, services, or notices from various ski resorts seeking our business for future trips. One particular email, from Snowbound Magazine, asked me to complete a short questionnaire on group travel tips. After completing the questionnaire I was contacted by the editor requesting my photograph and that my responses were going to be used for the next edition of Snowbound. Although my “mug shot” was not used in the article they did use several of my travel tips. A copy of the magazine is available on the Snowbound website.

Mountain View Obon Festival – July 15th and 16th

The Mountain View Obon Festival was a great success and I would like to thank the following volunteers: Bill Lee, Brian Hess, Ken Kato, Alex Kami, David Ng, and Tamara Liang. Once again NSC has stepped up to the plate and volunteered for this event.

Upcoming Events

September Pizza Social – September 10

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL! Yes, it’s getting to be football season again. Our September Pizza Social will be on Sunday, September 10th at The Garret (Campbell) so we can gather around, quaff a few ales, dine on outstanding pizza, and watch the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys battle it out on the turf. Although the game starts at 5:30 we can meet at 6:30 and still catch most of the game. If you’re planning on attending then let me know at president@niseiskiclub.org. And yes, el presidente is buying the beer.

NSC Bay Bridge Bike Ride – September 16

Get your bikes ready for a bike ride from Emeryville and across the Bay Bridge towards Treasure Island. Karen Soo and Sandy Kiyomura have laid out the route and are sponsoring this bike ride. See the flyer for details.

NSC Paint Nite in San Jose – October 7/8 or October 14/15

Are you the next Monet or Gauguin? My hidden talent definitely is not in painting, unless it’s paint-by-numbers. I’ve never heard of Paint Nite but apparently it’s quite the popular event (along with Escape Rooms). Check out the flyer for details on this upcoming event.

Vail Ski Week 2018

The Vail trip is moving along smoothly and we currently have 34 signups (out of 64). Take a look at the flyer and make that all-important decision to be on this trip. There’s still time to get the Tahoe Local Pass through Sports America (Epic Pass – Nisei Ski Club), which will be good for five days skiing at Vail, plus skiing at Northstar, Heavenly Valley, and Kirkwood.

Sandy Kiyomura

On the weekend of July 16 – July 17, some of our Nisei Ski Club members volunteered for the Mountain View Obon Bazaar. This has been a long tradition with NSC. Years ago, we used their gym for our annual dances. The dance is in the past, but we still participate in their bazaar. This year David Ng, Tamara Liang, Brian Hess, Bill Lee, Alex Kami and Ken Kato volunteered. Some of the positions involved food preparation and other positions involved working at a tempura or beer booth. There were members who came to enjoy the food and activities at the Obon. See pictures of members below. Karen Soo, David Tsuhako, Amy Tsuhako, and Alex Kami danced. I brought my daughter Misha and my granddaughter Amelia. To their surprise, they won on their first round of bingo. Amelia is now an owner of her very own laptop. Thank you, Elaine Yu and Bill Lee, for their photo submissions.

Kathy Ito

Left, Right, Center, Hold. No, it’s not the latest line dance or poker game. For those of you familiar with NSC, you know it’s the popular dice game of chance. A chance to win a tidy sum of cash with a $3 buy in and yours truly won. Luckily, I had $3 in my wallet. Thanks to all 17 participants who donated their $3 to the cause.

Saturday, June 24th was a beautiful afternoon visiting with friends and enjoying the wonderful pot luck. NSC members never disappoint when it comes to delectable eats: BBQ pork ribs, tri-tip, hot dogs, hot links, egg rolls, sashimi, fried chicken, sushi, assorted salads, noodles, dips, chips, summer fruits. And, it would not be a complete NSC event without dessert. Ono grids, absolutely Da’ Bes’.

Our president, Armand, conducted the annual meeting, recapped our ski season, detailed the upcoming 60th anniversary ski trip to Vail, and future Far West ski trips to France and South America. Frank Chang gave us the treasury report and the good news we are financially healthy. Karen Soo, our trip director, also gave her report for last season and the lack of enthusiasm to fill one bus! Come on people! It was an epic year — the likes of which will not be seen in a long, long time. But wait! You can still enjoy the ski season, because Squaw is still open every Saturday as long as conditions permit and Mammoth is open daily until August!

A big thank you to the members who work so hard to put on these great social events. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and volunteers to keep this wonderful organization going. Great job! Keep up the good work! The club will be 60 next year and may we continue for another 60 years!

Judy Hom, Newsletter Editor

I was reading about observances for August. I found three that I thought I’d share with you.

Spider Man Day: August 1

Spider Man appeared on his first comic book cover in August 1962. It was the August edition of Amazing Fantasy. August 1 has been declared Spider Man Day and for 55 years, Spider Man has endured. In fact, another Spider Man movie – “Spider Man – Homecoming” has just been released this summer.

Senior Citizens Day: August 21

Ronald Reagan declared August 21st to be National Senior Citizens Day in 1988. Some people celebrate Senior Citizens Day on August 14th as it was the day that President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935.

For us who are 62 and older, the National Park Service sells a lifetime senior pass, which is good for admission to all of the national parks. The pass is $10 but will increase to $80 on August 28, 2017. If you qualify, get your lifetime pass now. For more information, visit the National Park service web site and read about the senior pass.

Women’s Equality Day: August 26

August 26th is the anniversary of national woman suffrage. The Nineteenth Amendment was proclaimed to be incorporated as part of the Constitution on August 26, 1920. This amendment prohibits states and the federal government from denying citizens the right to vote based on sex.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation

Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

It’s summer time and the warm-to-hot weather is perfect for all the summer activities – golfing, hiking, mountain biking, tennis, or whatever it is that gets you outside. As we start a new NSC season I would like everyone to think about why you joined NSC. Was it to ski with friends? What about attending social events (e.g. wine tasting, potluck dinner, etc.)? Although NSC sponsors a variety of hikes during the summer, there aren’t any other activities that involve the membership in a group venue. Perhaps this year we, as a club, can work on coming up with more social venues. If you have any ideas on a social event or would like to sponsor a social event then please let me, or a member of the board, know. NSC is not just “a ski club”; we are also a social organization.

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic, June 24th

Once again we had a great turnout for our annual membership meeting and Luau picnic, and the weather was most cooperative. This year I made it to the finals and went against Kathy Ito for the Left-Center-Right game that Karen sponsored. But alas, it was not meant to be for me to bring home the grand prize. Congratulations to Kathy Ito for being the big winner, and thanks to everyone that showed up and had a great time.

Upcoming Events

Mt. View Obon Festival – July 15th and 16th.
This is an annual volunteer event that NSC participates in and is always a fun event. After all, there’s a variety of food, carnival-style games, cultural events, lots of people, and the famous Beer Booth. There’s room for a few more volunteers to work at the festival so look for the flyer in the newsletter or contact Karen Soo (tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org).

Vail Ski Week 2018

Good news for the Vail trip! We are now flying Southwest to Denver, which means no baggage fees (for first two pieces) and a cost savings on airline fares. An updated Vail flyer has been posted on the website that provides all the details on the new Southwest flight numbers/times. Take a look at the flyer and make that all-important decision to be on this trip. There’s still time to get the Tahoe Local Pass through Sports America (http://www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei), which will be good for five days skiing at Vail, plus skiing at Northstar, Heavenly Valley, and Kirkwood.

We choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort.

Barack Obama

Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

June has arrived and that signifies the start of the 2017-2018 NSC season. Since there were no new nominations and all board members agreed to serve once again, then this season will be a continuation of last season. Thanks to all of you that took the time to vote.

Election Results

The 2017-2018 election results are as follows:

Phishing Attempts

Last month Frank Chang started receiving emails from yours truly. He quickly noticed various discrepancies and contacted me to confirm that I sent them, and I responded that I had not. Read about his experiences with phony emails.

Upcoming Events

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic, June24th
Mark this down in your calendar for the NSC Annual Picnic on June 24th at Las Palmas park in Sunnyvale (same place as last year). See the flyer in the newsletter and the Evite invitations have already been sent out. If you don’t get an Evite in your email then please let me know (president@niseiskiclub.org).

Mt. View Obon Festival is on July 15th and 16th. This is an annual volunteer event that NSC participates in and is always a fun event. After all, there’s a variety of food, carnival-style games, cultural events, lots of people, and the famous Beer Booth. There’s room for a few more volunteers to work the Beer Booth so contact Karen Soo.

Vail Ski Week 2018
Plans are moving smoothly for the Vail ski week trip for 2018. Take a look at the flyer and make that all-important decision to be on this trip. You might also consider getting the Tahoe Local Pass (https://mountaincollective.com), which will be good for five days skiing at Vail, plus skiing at Northstar, Heavenly Valley, and Kirkwood.

FWSA Trois Vallee Ski Week 2018

As a member of NSC you are eligible to participate in any of the FWSA/BAC ski trips. For 2018, FWSA is going to Trois Vallee (three valleys), France, and is the largest ski area in the world connected solely by ski lifts and slopes. There are 370 miles of ski slopes, 183 ski lifts, and home to eight ski resorts (Courchevel, La Tania, Brides les Bains, Meribel, St. Martin DeBelleville, Les Menuires, Val Thorens, and Orelle) that are linked together by a network of ski lifts and ski runs. FWSA has chosen Brides les Bains as the ski resort for accommodations. There is also a second week extension that will be visiting Lyon, Beaune and Paris. I’m planning on going on this trip and if anyone is interested in joining me then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.

Frank Chang, Treasurer
Just a heads up…someone has been using Armand’s NSC board member email alias [president@niseiskiclub.org] to send phony emails. I have received 3 phony emails sent to my alias [treasurer@niseiskiclub.org]. The date and content of each email is shown below. I knew right away that the first email was bogus because Armand is not a “Cheers” kind of guy. Maybe “Later Dude”, but not “Cheers”. Furthermore, Armand doesn’t send emails using [president@niseiskiclub.org] and he’s not an iPhone user. Besides changing our aliases, there’s nothing much we can do. I haven’t responded to any of these emails, so hopefully this hacker will give up. But please watch out for suspicious emails from anyone using “@niseiskiclub.org”…

To: treasurer@niseiskiclub.org
From: Armand Gutierrez [president@niseiskiclub.org]
4/26/17 – Frank Important Notice!
Hi Frank,

Kindly give me an update on the available account balances, and do we have any payments left to pay? Reply me as soon as you get this.

Cheers,
Armand

5/1/17 – Wire transfer request
Hello Frank,

I need to know if you’re available at the moment. There is an urgent wire transfer i need you to process before the wire deadline today. Email me back right here and let me know what details is needed.

Regards
Armand Gutierrez
President

Sent from my iPhone

5/22/17 – PAYMENT REQUEST!!!!
Hi Frank,

Good Morning, How are you? I need you to process a payment today. Do let me know if you are available.

Thanks
Armand Gutierrez

Karen Soo, Trip Director

The Mountain View Obon Festival is July 15 and 16. NSC provides volunteers for beer booth at the Mountain View Obon Festival every year. We need 4-6 volunteers per shift. If you’re interested in signing up for this slot, please email Karen Soo.

For more information about the obon, visit the Mountain View Buddhist Temple website.

Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

May is upon us and that means it’s time to bring an end to the NSC 2016-2017 season. Like last year NSC had a pretty good season highlighted by a variety of accomplishments:

• Volunteer participation at the annual Obon Festival in Mountain View
• Volunteer participation at the annual Snowbomb Ski Shows
• Coastal Cleanup at Crown Beach
• Various hiking and picnic events
• A very well-attended ski week to Snowmass

June marks the start of the NSC 2017-2018 season, and beginning this month you can take advantage of the $5 membership discount if you sign up and submit your membership form before May 31st. Please submit your applications to Greg Wong (Membership Chairman).

Since it’s the end of the ski season it’s time to start having our spring NSC events. Coming up, we have our annual Post-Season Annual Membership meeting and picnic on Saturday, June 24th. Be sure to gander at the flyer in this month’s newsletter for details.

Nominations & Elections

The nominations process has been completed and the next step is elections. The elections chairman tells me there were no nominations therefore the slate consists of the incumbents, and we’re fortunate that everyone on the board has agreed to serve again. However, voting is important and although there were no nominations you can still vote for a write-in candidate. Whether you’re voting for the incumbents or a write-in candidate, it’s important that you do vote. You will be receiving an email informing you to vote online using SurveyMonkey.

60th NSC Anniversary Vail Ski Week 2018

The Vail ski week is in progress and details will be announced soon. There is a preliminary contract but it includes airline pricing for United Airlines. Southwest hasn’t released their pricing yet but that would be the preferable airline. Quite a few people took advantage of purchasing the Tahoe Local Pass, which is good for five days skiing at Vail, plus unlimited skiing at Heavenly, Northstar (excluding Saturdays), and Kirkwood. It’s still not too late to get the Tahoe Local Pass at a great price. Go to the Sports America link: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei. The Vail date is January 27 – February 3.

Greg Wong, Membership Chairperson
The ski season is not yet over and Squaw Valley summit still has 246 inches of snow. They will be trying to stay open until July 4 but many other ski resorts have closed.

The Nisei Ski Club season has also ended. It has been a great year for those who went skiing with record snow fall and great conditions. The club’s only bus trip was canceled due to a lack of sign-ups. However, our trip director Karen Soo made the trip a go but without a bus. We went to Tahoe by car pooling and stayed in at Sands Hotel in Reno, our familiar lodging. The trip was a great adventure! We laughed, we talked, and we skied. We learned a lot about our fellow members.

This year, I went to Lake Tahoe 3 times with Nisei Ski Club members. We drove up just as the club did originally. This club has brought us skiers together and will keep bringing skiers together just as it has done for the last 60 years. So, now is the time to sign up for next year. We have the Vail Resorts week trip planned for next year. Karen Soo will try to schedule some weekend carpool trips again. We have our non-ski events in the planning. This is our anniversary year. Sign up before June 1, and there is a $5 discount.

Who: NSC members/ families and invited guests. Look for your Evite invitation in May.

What: Wear your favorite Hawaiian Shirts and Muu Muus and join us at our Annual meeting combined with a Luau picnic. NSC will fire up the grill with a BBQ luncheon. Soda, beer, and water will be provided. Attendees are welcome to bring side dish / dessert to share. Please email Karen Soo at tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org and let her you know what you are bringing.

When: Saturday, June 24, 2017 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Where: Picnic area #1 in Las Palmas Park, 850 Russet Drive, Sunnyvale. For exact location and parking location, here’s the link to Las Palmas Park

Why: To update our membership on the club and its future plans and to enjoy a pleasant day together.

Cost: No $$, Just Bring (3) – $1.00 bills for our game of luck and chance

Sandy Kiyomura
BAC is hosting its twelfth annual Oakland A’s event. All proceeds over cost go to Society for disABILITIES. It’s Coliseum fireworks night. The seats are in field level, first base side, and great for viewing games and fireworks.

Date: August 12, 2017
Cost:

• $36 seats – Game starts at 6:05pm
• $14 for TailBBQ + Raffle prize – Barbeque from 4-5:30pm

Deadline:July 10, 2017

For more information, click BAC A’s Event Flyer to download the flyer.

Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

Sad to say but April is here and that means the ski season is coming to a close. Most Tahoe resorts will be closed by the end of April (Northstar and Heavenly), and Mammoth is planning on staying open until July 4^th (weather permitting). Squaw Valley usually offers the same closing date but it hasn’t been officially announced yet. Due to the abundance of snowfall this has been an extraordinary season. Hopefully you had a good ski season this year, whether it was at Tahoe or the Snowmass ski week.

Elections

Well, it’s that time again for holding our board nominations and elections for the 2017-2018 season. By now you’ve received an email for making your nominations for the board. As you know, volunteers run this club, and without them this club would cease to exist, and it’s been in existence for almost 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 at the annual June picnic. Ask any of the current board members and I’m sure they will tell you that by volunteering they get back more than they ever gave. By volunteering you will experience social benefits as well as provide a greater sense of self-worth, trust, and lots of fun. Many of you have served on the board in the past, and your efforts were greatly appreciated and perhaps you would like to join the board again. For those that have never served then perhaps now is the time to consider a board position and provide new ideas and useful experiences.

60^th NSC Anniversary Vail Ski Week 2018

Yes, 2018 will be NSC’s 60^th anniversary and Vail has been selected for our NSC ski week. Our last visit to Vail was in 2008, so I’m hoping to start an NSC tradition of visiting Vail on our ten-year anniversaries. If you’re considering Vail for next year then you might also want to look into getting the Tahoe Local (Epic Pass), which will be good for five days skiing at Vail, plus unlimited skiing at Heavenly, Northstar (excluding Saturdays), and Kirkwood. Tentative date is January 27 – February 3.

Hoyt Nelson, Vice-President

Every year we ask the membership to nominate prospective members to fill the board of directors for the next  fiscal year (which starts 1 June).  The offices are president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, trip director, membership director, newsletter editor and board member(s) at-large to act as “floater” to help the board as needed.   Do you know another member who has not volunteered, but who would be a good candidate?  See if they are willing to run, or let us know and we will be glad to talk with them.   You can also nominate yourself.    We are looking for people just like you who can make this club even better.  It doesn’t take all that much time since the process of running the club has recently been streamlined.  The board decides when to meet (about 10 times per year) and rotates meeting locations to spread travel evenly.  Also note that annual dues are waived for all board members.

Are you a bit cautious to step up?  Here’s a chance to break out. Do think you have nothing to offer to the club?  Be assured we can find many worthwhile opportunities for you to help.

The duties of board members are as follows:

NSC President

The President presides at all meetings to supervise and direct the club’s affairs, appointing committees as necessary. He/She maintains inter-club relationships, prepares the annual club budget, and administers club operations of club matters via budgets and policies.

NSC Vice-President

The Vice-President advises the president and stays current on administrative matters so that he can take over all duties of the President when necessary, He is an advisor member of all committees and assists in the transition of the new board at the end of the fiscal year. He supervises the election of the NSC Board for the new fiscal year. He/She also promotes and coordinates non-ski events and ensures they meet the club requirements

NSC Treasurer

The Treasurer is the custodian of the club funds. He/She keeps an account of receipts and disbursements. The Treasurer shall disburse funds and bill accounts receivable as ordered by the Board of Directors, render whenever requested, the financial condition of the club, prepare a financial report and submit the necessary reports to the State Franchise Tax Board and the Internal Revenue Service

NSC Trip Director

The Trip Director shall coordinate transportation, lodging, Tour Leader selection, and trip cancellation with the club’s “Travel Arranger”. The Trip Director shall plan and administer all club weekend ski trips. Tour Leader Guidelines and all club winter equipment and supplies shall be maintained by the Trip Director. The Trip Director shall maintain and update Tour Leader Guidelines.

NSC Newsletter Editor

The Newsletter Editor shall coordinate the publication and distribution of the newsletter and SPAM to the membership. The Editor prepares a budget, sets up guidelines for submission of flyers and articles, and publicizes club events through the newsletter and emails. The Editor coordinates email distribution and web publication in coordination with the NSC Webmaster.

NSC Membership Chairperson

The Membership Chairperson shall be responsible for coordinating activities that promote membership in the club and for maintaining the membership roster. This includes contacting other organizations, updating the membership brochure, coordinate sending of the welcome letter to new members, maintain a list of non-members who have attended past events or non-renewed members to publicize club events, and advise the Board on matters relating to membership.

NSC Board Member

The Board Member represents the club in voting on club matters, promotes, supports and assists at club events, and shows hospitality to all participants of events, especially those new to the club.

In a few days you will receive an e-mail from SurveyMonkey with a link to an election ballot form (unique to you, so please don’t  share your ballot with anyone else). Filling out the form should be intuitive. SurveyMonkey will remind you if it doesn’t receive your timely response.  Please look for this e-mail and think about who to nominate. Send any questions to elections@niseiskiclub.org.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

March is upon us and it appears that our major snowstorms are behind us. Of course, Mother Nature is always unpredictable and she may surprise us with a few more storms this month. With all the snow in Tahoe, Heavenly Valley and Northstar have extended their season by one week to April 23rd. Haven’t heard anything about Squaw or Alpine yet but I’m sure they will be extending their season as well.

Just to give you an idea of how much it snowed in at Tahoe take a look at the two pictures. The boys digging out the ski lift are at Homewood, and the man-in-blue is at Northstar.

March NSC Weekend Trip

Although there’s plenty of snow up at Tahoe there weren’t enough signups for Trip 1 to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. Our trip director, Karen Soo, did come up with a car-pool effort with eight people making a trip for a weekend of skiing/boarding.

Snowmass Ski Week 2017

The Snowmass trip was a great trip and everyone had a great time. Based on comments received, the Crestwood Condominiums received top-notch points for their service and amenities. There was plenty of snow at Snowmass, Aspen, and Aspen Highlands (don’t know if anyone went to Buttermilk), and it did snow 1”-2” on Thursday. The Potluck Dinner was one of the highlights of the week. Instead of roaming around in search of condos with food, everyone gathered in the Independence Room at Crestwood feasting on endless tables of food. I would like to thank everyone for coming on this trip, as it was a lot of fun for everyone, meeting new friends, and exploring the various resorts.

Board Nominations

Now that it’s March it’s time to think about Board Nominations for the 2017-18 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 are fairly informal and afterwards we usually go out for lunch and talk about skiing or upcoming club events.

Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

Happy Chinese New Year!

Welcome to the Chinese Year of the Rooster! Yes, the Chinese New Year started January 28th and if you were born under the sign of the Rooster, then you are an unpredictable person. Roosters are intelligent, bold and are also self-assured. Have you ever seen a rooster strut his stuff? Roosters are very positive and thoughtful, and at times they are very conventional and exaggerated. Do you know anyone in the club that fits the characteristics of a rooster?

March NSC Weekend Trip

2017 is off to a great start with an outrageous amount of snowfall up at Tahoe, and this is the beginning of the ski season! I’ve been tracking the snowfall at Heavenly and the Comet Express chair (Nevada side) is still not open due to the lift being buried in snow. With so much snow at our favorite resorts in Lake Tahoe now is the time to sign up for the NSC weekend trip to Alpine Meadows/Squaw Valley on 3-5 March. Our trip director, Karen Soo, has been making arrangements for this trip and now all we need is for YOU to sign up and make this trip a reality.

Helmet Safety

Recently I received a request to review an article about helmet use on the slopes and the top reasons to wear a helmet. I know that most of the club membership do wear helmets, but if you’re sitting on the fence about wearing one then perhaps this article will be helpful in your decision. As usual, ski safely by knowing your limits and always be in control of your speed.

by Deanna Power

While the number of people opting to wear a helmet on the slopes has increased significantly throughout the last decade, there are still many people who don’t wear helmets. While most resorts do not make wearing a helmet mandatory, medical professionals recommend wearing a helmet on the slopes because of the impact it can make on the outcome of an accident. There are several advantages to wearing a helmet when skiing or snowboarding, so there is no reason for you to not wear one when participating in alpine sports.

The Statistics

While there is an excellent safety record for snowboarding and skiing overall, there are inherent risks that comes with any dangerous sport. When you wear a helmet, you can improve your safety and decrease the risks of you being seriously injured in an accident. The most recent data provided from helmet studies reveal that skiers and snowboarders are understanding the benefits of wearing a helmet. According to a study conducted by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), 67% of those who ski or snowboard wear helmets while participating in alpine sports.

The study shows that the use of helmets reduces the risks of suffering a head injury anywhere from 30% to 50%, but that decrease is usually limited to the less serious head injuries. Just because you wear a helmet, you shouldn’t participate in risky behavior because there has not been a significant reduction in the number of fatalities on the slopes during the last 9 years.

Four Reasons Why You Should Wear a Helmet

There are multiple advantages to wearing a helmet. Here are just a few:

1. Safety. Research shows that while helmets may not completely prevent head injuries, they can significantly impact the severity of the injury and the outcome of the accident. Most injuries occur when a skier strikes an inanimate object, such as a rock, tree, or the ground. Helmets can play a significant role in reducing the severity of the impact and reduce the trauma that your head suffers.

2. Warmth. Being out on the slopes can be cold. Because the body loses most of its heat through the head, a helmet can be beneficial in keeping you warm. Helmets act as insulators and will keep your head warm.

3. It can hold your goggles in place. When you are skiing, you want to wear goggles to protect your eyes. A helmet can help you keep your goggles in place so you can see better when you are out on the slopes.

4. There are many reasons to wear a helmet, but an important one is that you set a good example. When children and adults see other people wearing helmets on the slopes, they pay attention. You wearing a helmet can lead others to wear a helmet and protect themselves as well.

Choosing a Helmet

When you select a helmet, you want to choose the right helmet for your needs. You want to get a helmet that properly fits. This means that when you strap it on, you don’t want it to shift when you tilt from side to side. There are helmets of different styles and designs. Some helmets are more lightweight than others, but they are usually more expensive. Select a helmet that feels comfortable so you can get a lot of use out from it. If you choose to wear a helmet, you’ll be going a long way in protecting yourself while skiing or snowboarding.

*This article was not written by an attorney, and it’s always your choice as to whether you want to wear a helmet. Just keep in mind that if you wear a helmet, you could be saving lives!

Newsletter Editor

This is to remind everyone that NSC has established a Yahoo Groups for ride sharing called rideNSC@yahoogroups.com. The purpose of rideNSC is to connect people who need a ride with people who can offer a ride. So, you can offer a ride or ask for a ride. You must be subscribed to the rideNSC Yahoo group.

It’s simple. When you offer a ride, send an email to ridensc@yahoogroups.com and state:

• preferred dates
• ski areas
• where you might be staying
• what the costs will be

Anyone who is part of rideNSC and is interested can respond to you.

Subscribing to rideNSC

Getting added to the group is simple, click on the link – Request to join our email group: rideNSC. You can find it on the right hand side of the NSC home page.

Sandy Kiyomura is the moderator and will approve (or disapprove) your membership. All members of the Nisei Ski Club can join the group. We ask for standard on-line etiquette. That means you should be “adult-like” in your postings. That means no offensive language or say anything that your mother would not approve of.

Questions? Send email to Skiyomura@gmail.com

Sandy Kiyomura

BAC has 8 races this year. On those dates, resorts offer BAC racers and their family and friends discount tickets. Each area has its own meeting area for racers. Tickets are normally sold before 8:30am. Look for the racers’ registration area. Last year, Northstar sold the discounted BAC tickets at the regular ticket office (inside). Mention that you are a BAC racer. This year, I’m not sure what is planned. There will be races on January 21 and January 22 at Northstar. Tickets are $66 and $50 for Seniors (over 65).

Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

It looks like 2017 is off to a good start with new snowfall up at Tahoe, and more is predicted in the upcoming weeks. I had planned on getting in a few days of skiing in early December but conditions just weren’t good enough due to limited lift operations and very few open runs. Now that I’m back from spending Christmas with family in New York (actually, Long Island), I’m ready to make up for some lost time. Conditions up at Tahoe look a lot better so I’m planning on getting in my first trip after the New Year’s crowd returns home.

Ski Instructor Course

Ever thought about becoming a certified ski instructor? Well, here’s an opportunity that’s coming up in January for you to take a week-long course on how to become a ski instructor. The course is January 8-13 at Heavenly Ski Resort and total cost is $707. If you’re interested, then you can contact

Heidi Ettlinger, PSIA/AASI-W Education Chair and Course Leader
Email: heidiettlinger@yahoo.com
Phone: 530.318.8661


Snowmass Ski Week 2017

The Snowmass trip is at the end of this month so hopefully everyone has had a chance to get their “ski legs” and be ready for a week of skiing. Aspen Snowmass has been receiving a lot of snow and the majority of lifts are open. By the time we arrive lifts should be in full operation and all runs open. The Snowmass Orientation meeting will be held on Saturday, January 7th so mark your calendars. This will be an opportunity to meet other members on the trip, socialize a bit, and pick-up the souvenir gift. If you didn’t receive the Evite then let me know so you won’t miss this event.

Karen Soo, Trip Director

A very Happy New Year to you and your family! Over 2 feet of snow has fallen in the Lake Tahoe area this past Christmas holiday and we are gearing up to a start of good a ski season.

There is just another month to go before 65 NSC members heads out to Snowmass where they been getting a steady snow fall.Armand will be having his orientation this month and I am planning the Snowmass pot luck for our trip.

NSC is planning its bus trip to the North Shore Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, dates: March 3 -5, 2017. The sign up form is now available on the NSC website. We were able to keep the same cost as last year. If you’re on the Snowmass trip and have the Mountain Collective pass, you will be able to use your pass on the weekend trip. Please send in your money early so we can plan this trip. We need 35 people to make this trip happen.

Date with Warren Miller

Curtis Otaguro, Greg Wong, and I had a date with Warren Miller’s new movie called Here, There & Everywhere, which was shown in Cupertino. We didn’t win any grand prizes but we did get our 2 for 1 lift tickets to Squaw Valley/ Alpine.

Amazon Link

If you need something from Amazon.com, click on the Amazon link, which is located on our Nisei Ski Club website (right hand side). Our club will get a small percentage from your purchases.

Looking for some discounted outdoor gear?

Are you looking for some discounted outdoor gear? All you have to be is 50+ and sign up at Senior Skiing. On the right side of their website, you can sign up for the Promotive deals.

ProMotive.com is the online community for industry experts and influencers. It matches qualified ski members such as yourself with top brands offering exclusive discounts on all your favorite gear.

We’re looking forward to a great season. If you have ideas for a great season, let me know.

Karen aka Trip Director for how many years now?

Sandy Kiyomura

Nisei Ski Club is affiliated with the Bay Area Ski Council. One of the benefits is that our members can purchase lift tickets at the discounted corporate price. You can buy tickets at corporate price of $84.15 instead of the at resort price of $109. That’s a $24.85 savings! For information on how to buy your Mt. Rose tickets, check out the flyer on how to buy your Mt. Rose tickets at the Bay Area corporate price.

Armand Gutierrez, NSC President
 

Ski Season Officially Opens

The ski season has officially begun with numerous resorts opening during the Thanksgiving weekend thanks to a series of snowstorms to hit the Tahoe area. Of course, these resorts have limited lift operations and perhaps only 5% of open terrain. But still, that’s better than no skiing. Let’s pray to the Snowgods for more snow in December.

Mystery Ski Spot

Congratulations to Andrea Stewart and Judy Hom for correctly identifying our Mystery Ski Spot as Sierra-at-Tahoe. It’s been a real long time since I’ve been to Sierra so I couldn’t say where this photo was taken.

Snowmass Ski Week 2017

The Snowmass trip is almost here and hopefully you’ll get in some skiing before the trip. Please send in your final payments no later than December 10th. The Snowmass Orientation meeting will be held on Saturday, January 7th so mark your calendars. This will be an opportunity to meet other members on the trip, socialize a bit, and pick-up the souvenir gift. An Evite will be sent out later in December.

Ride Sharing Service

Last year, Sandy Kiyomura set up a ride sharing service for NSC members to facilitate getting to the slopes with other members. The service is called rideNSC and members can make a post to the group to either offer a ride-sharing opportunity or make a request that you’re interested in joining with somebody that might be going skiing. For information contact Sandy at (skiyomura@gmail.com)

Christmas Greetings

This has been a good year for NSC with the popular Park City/Canyons Trip, numerous hikes, the Week 1 Football pizza social, and what looks like the start of a good ski season. On behalf of the NSC board, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

Hoyt Nelson, NSC Vice President

Eight of us met up at the Carmel Safeway and drove about 6 miles south to the Soberantes Canyon trail leading to a bluff that overlooked dramatically crashing waves. Next, after a stop for lunch at the north end of the Bixby Bridge, we sampled a bit of the old dirt road that everyone used before the 2 big bridges were built and drove south to at great view of McWay falls at the Julia Pfeifer Burns State Park. A few miles north of there we finally rediscovered the charming Tanbark trail that lead up Partington Creek (closed for about 10 years due to a forest fire in the area). By the time we reached our next hidden trail off Ribera Road just sout of the Carmel Valley Road, it was too dark to continue. So, we went back to the Safeway shopping center and ate dinner at the Rio Grill. Hopefully, people will find this and another gem in downtown Carmel in the future. Maps were handed out at the start.