~ Yvonne Battaglia – Monterey Ski and Social Club ~
WOW ! What a trip! I definitely did not feel like a newcomer on NSC Trip 1. Karen Soo and her co tour leader Tom Lee made me feel right at home. Karen is so efficient and she is also gracious. I just fill in the blanks on the sign up form on the internet site and I was on my way to Heavenly Valley. So what if all my friends at the Monterey Ski and Social Club were going to the golf tournament. I had seen a Warren Miller film and I was ready.
I recently learned that Nisei means second generation. Now that it’s the year 2012, the members subsequent are generation of skiers. These people were good friends and they have a common bond: the love for skiing. Additionally, they welcome newcomers. I had hit paydirt. I was going to learn how to ski in a welcoming environment.
Comfort food is part of the deal. It turns out Karen likes to cook for a large group. The price for the weekend transportation, lodging, dinner and drinks on a luxury bus. This was not fast food, it was hearty and satisfying. It included my version of a happy hour. Beer with dinner.
On our way to South Lake Tahoe, the bus’s engine indicator light went into red warning mode. Grady, our bus driver pulled the bus over in a parking lot to check things out. How funny it was when the guy from In & Out burger came out to the bus to ask us for our order! 45 minutes later we changed buses and we were off, DVD in, heading for snow, once again. Obviously, this group rolls with the punches, and we arrived at the Blue Lake Inn at 3am. It’s just not like this group to complain.
We were up at 8 am. Yes, there was some snow. The gondola was only a block away. Karen and Tom, purchased lift tickets for the group and a voucher for skiing lessons and equipment rental for me, the sole rookie. The process seemed easy for her, even though thousands of dollars changed hands.
I did not see them again until that evening. I was off to learn everything from snow plowing to stopping. Heavenly had some very good instructors and a new lodge. I was skiing in no time. I did manage to fall on my tail bone. No cast for me though. The tail bone injury wouldn’t really hurt until later. It was interesting how I remembered things about skiing, I had learned from my teenage years.
The lodge was a great feature of my skiing adventure. They had great refreshments, and you’re in the good company of skiers of all levels. And the ever present ski movies in the background. How ironic I would be watching the golf tournament in Monterey as I had lunch.
Some of the NSC members and I had dinner together in a nice local restaurant, called Freshies. http://www.freshiestahoe.com/ We talked about our day skiing among other things. This is a diverse crowd with many different interests. We rewarded Grady our trusted navigator and driver with a well deserved dinner. Some people allowed themselves a fried fish taco. After all, they did burn a few calories during a full day of skiing.
We recalled how there were flurries that day, but gorgeous scenery, and some good skiing. Some of us took part in the night life. Some went back to the motel to sleep, like my room mate Jenni Kanenda. Jenni was gracious and good. She provided me with this very smelly, mentholated, ointment to provide relief for aches and pains. Ironically, she would later injure her tail bone too. A fine pair we would turn out to be. Later we would divide up the soaps and creams provided by the motel for our kids.
The take home message is this is a fun, gracious, incredible group of people with a passion for skiing. I pray the lack of snow this year, and the economy doesn’t affect the success of this club. Anyone considering a ski club should give this group a try. I credit them with my ability to say “I am a skier!”
