Category Columns

A couple of weeks back Mad River Glen announced that it was closing for the season after only 45 days of operation. The sign at the entrance to the ski area said it all in one word: “Uncle!” Yes, it’s… Continue Reading →

It was in March 1975 that I arrived in Vail for a week of skiing with friends who were “ski bumming” there for the winter. On the first day, one of those friends, Herb, and I rode up the Lions… Continue Reading →

The 1966-67 ski season was the first for the Waterville Valley ski area and I was a junior at the University of New Hampshire. My first visit to the new area made a big impression on me because everything was… Continue Reading →

In a column last season I mentioned that the 1969 overall World Cup trophy won by Karl Schranz somehow ended up in a barn in Hinesburg, Vermont! I promised a future column explaining how that came to pass. “Ski Racing”… Continue Reading →

All through my college years I skied on wooden skis, Northlands to be precise. That was an economic decision based on what I could afford and the fact that a neighbor worked for Northland in their Laconia, New Hampshire, factory…. Continue Reading →

We’ve all been there: standing at the top of some precipitous pitch when that feeling of doubt or maybe even fear creeps over us. It could be the top pitch of Starr or Great Scott at Snowbird or Corbet’s Couloir… Continue Reading →

Last week I wrote about Natur-Teknik which promised you could learn to ski in seven days. Well, how about an approach that claimed “you will ski the mountain easily and swiftly – in complete control – your very first day… Continue Reading →

“Learn to ski in seven days or your money back!” Now that’s an offer you don’t see today. But that was the promise Jay Peak made back in the late 1950s. The man behind that promise was Walter Foeger. Walter… Continue Reading →

Stein Eriksen was a successful ski racer winning silver and gold at the 1952 Olympics which were held in his hometown of Oslo. He would follow that up by winning the slalom, giant slalom, and combined at the 1954 World… Continue Reading →

There’s an old joke that goes something like this: A skier passed away and was awaiting St. Peter’s approval to get into heaven when he spotted what looked like Stein Eriksen carving beautiful arcs on the side of a cloud…. Continue Reading →