Saturday, April 23, 2011

Good to go for 2012.

Exciting news today as I just verified our day and time slot for next ski season already!  Same day, same time, same place.  My prediction would be that the first trip would be 1/6/12 and we would run for 6 weeks ending on 2/10/12.

That pretty much wraps up this blog for the season.  It was a fantastic season - one that we may not see again for awhile!  I'll start the conversation again sometime at the end of September/beginning of October so everyone has enough time to plan things out.

Thanks for following and as we make the switch to warmer weather, stay active!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Big Trip This Saturday!

We had an eventful last trip to Wachusett didn't we?  Luckily, the heavier rain showers had passed through earlier in the afternoon but once again, Mother Nature had a show in store for us.  There are a few places you do not want to be when lightning strikes in the distance and the top of a mountain is one of them!  Two thumbs up to the staff at Wachusett as they shut down the lifts immediately and waited it out long enough before starting back up again.  Unfortunately, once they had to stop a second time for a little while, it was time for us to go home.  A big thank you to the members of the Ski & Board Club as well.  I knew the fastest way to get word out that we were leaving a little early was through you guys calling and texting everyone and you didn't let me down.  Thank you!

Time to shift gears a little, we have a big trip this Saturday and while for some of you, it's another day at the mountain, others are excited to ski and ride for the first time on another mountain outside of Wachusett.  I spoke to the students before vacation and will reiterate 5 points here.

1. All rules that you signed at the start of the season are in effect.  This is a school function and while I don't anticipate any problems, you will be dealt with accordingly if there are any.
2. Helmets: You guys have been great.  Keep them on like everyone else and you'll stay safe.  Take them off and you sit in the lodge.  This is not the trip to sit in the lodge!
3. Ski Buddy: If you don't have a ski buddy for some reason, I need to know this before Friday.  Otherwise, stick together.  These trails split a lot more often so no taking off down the mountain without your buddy.  Stay within eyesight and you won't get lost/left alone.
4. The main lodge will have my cell phone number.  If something isn't right, go the main lodge and tell them you are with West Bridgewater.  They'll call me and I'll be there.
5. This isn't a bash toward Wachusett but it is the truth: the two black diamonds there are really much closer to blues.  If you just started skiing and riding blacks this year, you do not belong on the blacks at Bretton until you get plenty of blues in.  For a lot of you, that will be plenty of a challenge to satisfy you.  If you just started skiing or riding this year and were completely new to all this, you should be on greens first to see how that goes before proceeding.

Bretton Woods has a base of 5' right now and they've had 8 inches in the last 48 hours, it doesn't get much better than that!  All 102 trails are open right now.  In case you didn't know, Wachusett has 22 trails so that gives you an idea of the difference in variety.

The bus will be leaving school at 5:30 am, same lot as always.  I will be there at 5:00 and I am expecting everyone to show up by 5:15 so we can leave on time - you can sleep on the 3 hour ride.  Whether or not we see a movie on the way up will be up to you guys.  If you are someone that needs caffeine to function, according to their websites, the Dunks on Main Street and West Center both open at 5:00 am while the Dunks at the Shell Station and the Honeydew on West Center are 24 hours.  Please, please keep the bus clean!  We will be leaving the mountain at 4:00 pm so plan on being back on the bus by 3:45 sharp.  The runs are longer so don't try to squeeze one more in if you don't have time.  You'll probably be in the lodge wiped out by then anyway.  We will stop for a quick fast food dinner on the way home - probably within the first hour.  Once we're 20 minutes out, you'll call home for pick-up.

I think that's about it.  I know it's a long post but this will probably be the last one before we leave.  If I missed anything, please let me know.  Parents, if you have any questions or concerns, e-mail me anytime before Friday.  Students, e-mail is fine but I'm happy to address any concerns/questions if you just stop by the tv studio.  I hope you're all as excited about this trip as I am!

Finally, for an interactive trail map, click on this link: http://brettonwoods.com/flash/alpine_map_orig/alpine_trail_map.html

There you can click on the greens, blues and blacks to see which trails are where.  Someone told me that "2 Miles Long" (blue, all the way to the left) was awesome (thanks Ms. Nicolli).  I know a few of you have been to this mountain...so what are your favorites?
*If you're getting this via e-mail, you can click on the headline and respond through there.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Warmer Skiing This Week

Well it looks like we'll have some warmer weather this Friday for our last night at Wachusett (how sad).  Don't be fooled into wearing less clothes though, the temperature still drops when the sun goes down and it's a lot easier to take layers off than it is wishing you had worn more clothes.  Also, make sure you keep your skin layers on so you'll stay nice and dry - warmer weather usually means wetter conditions.

Don't forget your forms!  One is for leaving an hour early Friday and one for the March 5 trip if you plan on coming.  Both are due this Friday!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Good to go!

The School Committee has granted us permission for our trip up north!  I will be meeting with the students tomorrow during Power Block to go over everything and hand them permission slips.  We are off to Bretton Woods, NH on Saturday, March 5.  We will meet at the tv studio parking lot (same lot as always) and be leaving at 5:30am.  I plan on getting to school by 5:00 so I expect the majority of students to arrive by 5:15 so you can have time to get your equipment underneath and find a good seat.  I know this is early but you have over three hours to sleep so it's not so bad.  We will leave the mountain at 4:00 pm and will make a stop on the way home for dinner (fast food).  We should be arriving back at the school at approx. 8:00 and I'll have the students make the usual call when we're 20 minutes out.

Cost is $25.00 for lift and bus, that's it!  Rentals for boarders and skiers are $29.00 and helmet rentals are an extra $5.00.  Payment is cash or check made out to WBHS.  You can combine all fees into one check and for those siblings that are part of the club, combining those costs are fine as well.  This is all on the permission slip that kids will be getting tomorrow.  As I stated last week, money is due by this Friday the 18th.  Again, sorry for the short notice but vacation next week has caused me to make the due date sooner.

Bretton Woods has 9 lifts with 101 trails which consist of 35% greens, 40% blues, and 25% black diamonds so everyone should have a great time!  I'm really looking forward to this trip and I hope most of you can make it.  If you plan on attending (or know you can't), feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you haven't already and I'll know how many I'm expecting.

As always if you have any questions at all, ask away!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Smooth as can be...

Not a whole lot to say this week.  Things are running fantastic (knock on wood), everyone seems to be smiling at the end of every trip, and I think the conditions last week were amongst the best we've had yet.  It's hard to believe that we're 3 trips in with 3 to go already!

So how are things going for everyone else?  How is the caf. food?  The terrain park?  Lessons?  Feedback is always welcome!

I'm looking for some feedback about something else as well.  I know many of you have been skiing and riding further up north either this past year or in previous years.  Let me know what mountains you've had the most fun at and why you enjoyed it so much.  Tell me whatever you can to convince me that it's a cool place to go!

Enjoy your half day and see you all on Friday.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

An Eye On The Storm

Mother Nature is at it again!  The good news is the mountain received 8 inches of fresh powder on Tuesday.  The bad news is I'm going gray trying to follow all of these developing storms heading to the Northeast!  As I said last week, the mountain won't close so if it's safe to drive, we'll be there.  If driving conditions are not looking good (for either 2pm or 10pm), our trip will be canceled and we'll make it up on the back-end.  A decision has to be made by 11am Friday morning (mountain rule) so keep your fingers crossed!  Personally, I'm hoping for an inch or two so we can have some fresh snow on the mountain and keep everyone safe at the same time.

Just a couple of things to note this week:
1. Let's not get lazy on our tip for the bus driver.  While it isn't mandatory, I'm hoping for a dollar from each student and while week one was plentiful, week two was a little weaker.  I think a buck a student is very reasonable for the driver who is getting all of us there and back nice and safe.
2. Students, please make sure you keep track of your belongings.  I hate to sound like a nag but last week alone we dealt with a lost pair of gloves, a helmet left on the bus, and a jacket left at the lodge.

I hope everyone is having a great time so far!  It goes by fast so enjoy all of the time you have out in the fresh air.  As always, your feedback is more than welcome so if you have a comment or concern, feel free to let me know here or via e-mail.  Any suggestions for this weeks movie?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Responsibilty Code

I should have conveyed this information to students before our first trip but for some reason I thought it was in the mountain application.  This is the Responsibility Code taken directly from the mountain's website.  All students are expected to follow this every single time they are at the mountain.  If anyone has a question about any of this information, please see me before we get to the mountain.

1.    Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.

2.    People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.

3.    You must not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.

4.    Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.

5.    Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

6.    Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.



7.    Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

Snowflakes and Smiles

You can identify the kids that are skiers and boarders by the fact that their smiles are just a little wider than everyone else when it snows!  So Mother Nature has been good to us two weeks in a row now.  Having snowfall while we were at the mountain last week was a treat and I don't think I need to say anything about what conditions will be like this Friday (can you say 18 inches at the mountain today).

Speaking of last week, it seems as though everyone had a great time!  I heard a lot of stories from beginners and veterans alike and everyone was really excited to get up to the mountain again.  It was funny running into kids on Monday who told me they were wiped out all weekend - I'm sure the parents were happy about this!  The process went very well last week so we'll go about things the same way again this week.  Just a couple of things I'd like to note.

1. I didn't anticipate the number of student drivers we had in the club so the tv studio parking lot was too full for the bus to pull into.  We made a last minute change and had the bus park across the street.  With chaperon help, we had the kids cross in the crosswalk in bunches so as to not tie up 106 at an already busy time.  Let's do the same again moving forward.  Students, if you don't see a chaperon out there don't cross until you do please!

2. One of the first things I'll ask when we get back on the bus at the mountain is whether or not anyone has an injury or banged their head.  If you have something hurting, you need to let me or another chaperon know so I can let your parents know when we get back.  If you banged your head at all, I expect you tell someone - even if it doesn't hurt that much at the time.

3. Ralph's Run and Conifer Connection are designated as family trails.  This means slow skiing and riding or a staff member can pull your badge for the week.  They have zero tolerance for this so stay slow on these two trails.  I'll say more about the responsibility code in the next post since this one getting a little long.

If anyone has any comments (students or parents), please let me know.  Your feedback is crucial to running a fun, safe club so let me know about the good and if anything needs to be improved or changed, make the suggestion.  I'd like to know how lessons went, how the trails were, any good stories?  Don't forget to keep a dollar for the tip (nice job from most of you last week) and if anyone has a suggestion for this weeks movie, let me know (keep it clean).  Finally, if anyone has pictures or video, send them to me so I can post it here.  Don't be shy!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Less than 48 hours!

Last post before our first trip!  The storm coming down from Canada still looks like it won't bring much accumulation.  The eye is out on the water so while it may snow all day Friday, we aren't expected to get more than an inch.  Since the mountain is west of us, nothing worse happening there either.  One more quick reminder not to forget your goggles - a lot of people don't wear them for night skiing but you'll want them with the snow falling.  I know some people have extra equipment so if you might have a pair of goggles to let a ski-mate borrow, that would be awesome.

Now onto Friday.  Students should be dropped off in the morning over by the tv studio parking lot; I'll be there by 7am.  All gear and bags will be stored in the upstairs area in the studio safe and secure.  Please be on time for your first class, I will NOT be giving late passes.  All student drivers should be parked in the tv studio parking lot so you can jump right into your car when we get dropped off later that night.

At 2:05, get down to the studio, get your gear and get on the bus.  All gear goes under the bus but don't forget your book, iPod, sleeping mask, etc.  If you want to leave your school bag in the studio, you will be able to get it afterwards.

At the mountain the bus will drop us off and pick us up at the same spot.  THE BUS LEAVES THE AREA COMPLETELY SO DO NOT FORGET ANYTHING!!!  Students need to be back at the bus by 8:15.  Don't try to squeeze in an extra run and make sure you leave yourself enough time to return rentals.  If you're late, you'll sit out a portion of the next trip.

Anyone interested in the snow park?  Don't forget to bring an extra five bucks.  You'll pay for the 6-week pass inside ($5. for the whole 6 weeks) and you'll have to watch a quick video at the park before they allow you in.

Last but not least, don't forget dinner money if you're eating at the mountain and a whole dollar for the driver tip.  See you all soon!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Almost snow time!

So first things first, we do indeed have some snow on the way and it looks like it'll hit us right on time for our first trip.  At this point, it looks like snow showers and nothing that will accumulate until sometime on Saturday.  Of course it is New England and anything can change.  I'm in touch with the bus company and if the weather worsens by the time Friday comes around, we will cancel and make it up on the back end.  As it stands right now we're still on and everyone will be treated to some fresh powder!  Don't forget your goggles!

Time for some feedback from students.  We have the luxury of a dvd player on the bus so we'll watch a movie on the way up and finish it on the way back.  I'd like students to reply to this posting with a movie they'd like to see.  It has to be PG-13 or better and not for mature audiences.  Let the voting begin!

Don't forget to subscribe to this blog on the right side.  More info on the way in the next day or two but if you have any questions at all, don't be shy!