Archive for the ‘Winter Recreation’ Category
The Far West team
Two weeks ago I was at Soldier Hollow, Utah cheering on our Far West Nordic Team at the Junior National Championships. These children are some of the best cross country skiers in the nation, and I was excited and inspired that my daughter, Skyler Flora, qualified for the team.
As a mom of an intensely competitive athlete, she’s cross-country runner too, I am constantly amazed at the dedication and commitment our children make to a sport. Even when it means many hours of painful training, and sometimes injuries, they continue to train year round to reach their goals. This year, the lack of snow, meant the cross-country skiers were cycling, running and roller skiing through January to stay in top form.
Peter Holmes placed 3rd
It was a blast being in Utah supporting these wonderful athletes, watching their confidence grow as well as their friendships. Interestingly, during the race season they compete against each other, but once they make the Far West Team they are teammates and are working together for the benefit of the team. These children learn more than just skiing, they learn about themselves, their strengths, weaknesses and how far they can push themselves.
Our Far West Team is small, 30 kids compared to some teams that have more than 50, but they turned in great results this year. They brought home 7 medals for top 10 finishes. Top finishers included Austin Meng, Katrin Larusson, Annika Taylor, Sam Zabell, Skyler Flora and Bria Riggs from Truckee/Donner area schools, and Dylan Syben, Peter Holmes and Patrick McElravey from North Tahoe.
To top it off, Far West coaching staff includes two past Olympians, and several who have trained with the US Ski Team. All are committed skiers who love the sport and working with our children. Far West also brings two talented chefs to the JO’s with them and the kids absolutely love the food.
Skyler Flora
Skyler makes me humble and very proud. I am blown away by her focus and determination. When I was her age, 15, I don’t know if I could have achieved her level of excellence. Her confidence is absolute in her ability to reach the top of her sport.
Next year the Junior Nationals will be in Alaska! While I probably won’t be there to cheer them on, hopefully both of my children will make the team, and I will be here in Truckee glued to the computer, happy that our Tahoe/Truckee kids have the opportunity to become involved in cross-country ski racing, a sport that brings out the best in them.
Gabi, Savannah and Skyler
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You want to see Tahoe-Truckee folks cry?
Nordic trail at Tahoe Donner
You should have seen us last week when the big storm came in and instead of the much needed snow, we got buckets of the dreaded four letter word that starts with an R. Finally, once a good soaking rain had passed through, we did manage to gather in about 5 inches of snow, but the conversation in town was all about that lost moisture that should be frozen up on the hill.
Then a few days later it finally happened. A foot of wet snow at lake level, with a good deal more higher up. Enough snow to liven things up at the downhill ski areas, actually open the cross-country ski areas for the first time this season, and hopefully turn this into a real winter. We need a lot more, but finally near the end of January it’s a good start. And we are very happy.
So assuming winter has finally begun, what do you say we actually make plans for doing some winter type activities?
Here are a few of the best : Wednesday nights in February,7 PM in Squaw Valley. Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series. View awesome photos and listen to the incredible stories of our mountain adventurers. http://http://www.squaw.com/lake-tahoe-adventure-slide-show-series
February 25th, The Children’s Glowstick Parade and Carnival, at Tahoe Donner Ski Area. Kids get to ski down the hill in the dark carrying glowsticks. Gotta be fun. www.tahoedonner.com
March 2-11th, throughout North Tahoe and Truckee, Snowfest. This event has something for everyone from The Great Ski Race, to the parade, fireworks, and polar bear swims. There are dozens of other fun events and parties in this Largest Winter Carnival in the West. www.tahoesnowfestival.com.
For lots more events go to www.gotahoenorth.com and www.truckee.com
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Folks who live in Tahoe and Truckee all know that snow is a big part of the Tahoe economy…but we didn’t realize how big that impact was until this winter. It is not unusual to go through long periods without much snow in the winter, but usually these periods of quiet come in-between long snowy periods when the feet of the white stuff stacks up and brings us what we need. This year that hasn’t happened.
Here we are January 17th and people are hiking into Desolation Wilderness to go ice skating on Eagle Lake or mountain biking on the Emigrant Trail north of Truckee. They are driving over usually long closed Tioga Pass into Yosemite, where they post pictures on Facebook of going ice skating on Tenaya Lake…in bikinis. On the east shore of Tahoe some have been swimming on warm days, and surfing the waves on the windy days. It’s all about creative Sierra locals making lemonade out of the no-skiing lemons. It’s all fun, but one of the reasons you see all these folks doing all these things is because they have lots of free time…the ski areas they work for haven’t hired them yet, or laid them off after the Christmas holidays until the snow flies again.
While the downhill ski areas are still open, they are limited by what sort of artificial snow they can put out, and the skier numbers and thus ski area employees are way down. The cross-country ski areas have taken it even worse, as they have not been able to open yet this season. The Nordic centers, which usually sell a third of their trail passes over Christmas and New Year’s, have got zippo so far this year. Vacation rentals have dropped dramatically as well. While many of the Christmas/New Year’s rentals had non-refundable deposits, new bookings will be practically non-existent until the snow flies. Hotels, restaurants, gift shops, gas stations…the list goes on and on of who is impacted when the snow doesn’t fly in the winter.
Everyone’s business is dependent upon people from the Bay Area, Sacramento and around the world coming to enjoy the pow at Lake Tahoe. Other than praying for snow and washing our cars is there anything else we can do? Support Tahoe and Truckee Businesses! If you are a Sierra local, dig deep and go out to dinner at one of your favorite haunts (check the local papers, some are giving discounts to attract customers) or buy yourself some new ski gear that you will eventually get to use. If you are from out of the area, come on up even if there isn’t snow…eat, drink, be merry. Go for a hike, gander at Donner Lake or Lake Tahoe…it’s all good.
Storms are threatening. We may still get a healthy dose of snow. And when it happens and winter life returns to normal you will see some very happy campers that are ready to enjoy what nature has to offer. Bring it on.
Did you miss the 2011 Sales Summary on my last blog? Be sure and take a look.
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