Little Swizerland To Reopen!

By: In: News, Resorts, Skiing

Great news:

Our sister hill Little Switzerland in Slinger, WI will be reopening next season. “Like” Little Switzerland’s facebook page so we can keep you updated on the progress. Click Here for info on Gold Passes which includes unlimited access to Blackjack Resort, Little Switzerland & Nordic Mountain for next season!
http://www.skiblackjack.com/rates/season_passes

I thought the place was closed for good and was bought out by some environmental group who were letting the place go back to nature, well I’m glad the Nordic-BlackJack group is resurrecting the place! I am happy to be adding pins (back) to the Wisconsin Skier Map!


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Another Sony A55 Crticism

By: In: Media, Photography

 
 
 
As I have noted on this venue, I recently purchased a Sony A55 camera. I have been using it for a mix of still photography and video recording and this post focuses on the video recording aspect of the camera.

I really dislike the fact I can not fix the exposure when recording video. I suppose it is not a purpose-built video camera but trying to add the video to what is a purpose-built still photography camera. I guess I have to work with that weakness and or purchase a purpose-built video camera.

However, it appears most of those are (at least in the price range I am looking at) are also rather limited and come with lots of built-in assumptions I would be unable to override. Oh well.


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Bode Miller’s Bansko Crash!

By: In: Competition, Skiing

 
 
 
Bode Miller is always interesting no matter what he is saying or doing. Even skiing you never know how it is going to end for Bode:

Video courtesy of Universal Sports:

Yes, he did officially complete the run, he avoided the dreaded DNF. Pay particular attention to the comments made by the commentators, wonder if that was a stock phrase (you will know which one) or if it was something he came up with at the moment. I guess not, the phrase refers to a skating move innovated by Dorothy Hamill.


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Search Page Added!

By: In: Site Related

Finally, you have a page setup to search The Wisconsin Skier. Either pull it up via the page links on the right hand side (and under the advertisements) or simply visit: http://www.wi-ski.com/search/. I have run some tests on it and it has done good uncovering some posts I had written that I have completely forgotten about, that is, it does what I intend it to do.

The search does not utilize Google search and I may convert it to that in the future, but, searching this site just became a lot more convenient!


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Watching Skiing Not Skiing

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Skiing, Writing

Lorie poses in front of hte Copper Peak sign

Lorie and I at Copper Peak


Today, I am watching skiing instead of skiing.

That is okay, last weekend I got three days in, SA, SU, and MO. I was thinking of getting some runs in on TU but I decided that would make things a little too hectic and that was the last thing I wanted. Instead, we got in the truck and started to drive around.

So, Lorie did not get a pose in front of Blackjack’s hill so we stopped there and she struck a pose and so too did I. Then we moved on and went to Copper Peak which is impressive from a distance but is kinda underwhelming there. I suppose if we visit in the summer and take the tour up to the top of the scaffold my tune will change. Copper Peak is neat and the obvious neglect is a shame, that venue by its very nature is world-class but it needs some upkeep and maintenance.

From there we moved on and stopped at Big Powdherhorn Mountain to see the new lodge. Impressive, we can finally walk into a ski lodge without feeling like we have time-traveled to the 1970s. I have photos of that on my camera (and not my phone) and will dedicate an entire post to it later.

From there we hit US HWY 2 back to our cabin and did a thing or two and then went to our friends at the Chain O’ Lakes Campground in Eagle River.
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The Auto-Biography of The Wisconsin Skier

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Writing

Not going to go tell all here, but want to give you all a glimpse into some of the events that have shaped and molded myself.

I was born in 1967 in Green Bay Wisconsin and my brother arrived on the scene in 1969, that is all I have for siblings right at that American average. We moved around a little bit but not a whole lot, my first memories were in Manitowoc WI and summer working vacations (working for Dad & vacation for the rest of us) out to New York. I think it was at this time I also have very foggy memories of skiing for the first time at Hidden Valley I don’t remember too much about those first ski trips, just I did them and some runs down the bunny hill.

We then moved out of Manitowoc to a spot in the country just outside of Manitowoc, it isn’t so country anymore but my parents still reside there.

We grew up there and I did not ski again until I was in high-school. Of course, I recall more about the skiing and I was starting to get competent on the greens and and when that season ended we did not pick it up again the following season, no particular reason.

I spent my youth exploring the nooks and crannies of the surrounding farmlands and woodlots, imagining myself off in Alaska or some real wilderness, scouting out furbearing critters.

All during this time, we would go “UpNort” mostly camping & fishing trips in the summer time, but eventually my folks bought a lot on a lake up there and our camping trips turned into camping at the lot or staying at nearby cabins. Eventually our cabin went up and the camping came to an end. Still, the trips up there were mostly summer trips with the latest stays being around the end of November which is when Wisconsin’s deer hunting season occurs.


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You Can Only Prepare So Much

By: In: The Sharp Edge

Not too long ago via Twitter I saw a tweet on a video of a tree well rescue.

Tree wells are formed in deep snow around trees where the snow does not pack tightly around the tree, and a rider can fall into that well and the kinetics of the crash often times cause the rider to sink into the well headfirst. Imagine, falling into a hole headfirst with your skis or board on your feet and have the snow reducing your mobility and air supply. Very dire situation and even if you have a buddy or friends on the scene immediately afterwards the outcome is not certain.

Here is a YouTube video showing a gang back country skiing in British Columbia (eh) and one of the gang gets trapped in a tree well:

Isn’t this the way life works? You can practice and prepare all you want, but when the real thing happens Murphy comes along.
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Putting a Hit on Life!

By: In: The Last Ride

English teachers try to teach their students the difference between passive and active voices. What voice is that?

Our English teachers tried to teach us the difference between passive and active voices. How about that one, what voice?

This is not a writing lesson though, this is an attempt to try to encourage you to do to life, instead of having life do to you! Do not worry about life doing to us, life will get its licks in, how about you, will you get your licks on life in?
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Skiing on the Edges Cures Many Ills

By: In: Skiing, Technique

 
 
 
Recently I wrote about skiing on ice and how I barely notice when I ski on ice. I remember seeing ice and mentally freezing (pun intended) and putting on the brakes. Skidding on ice is something best avoided.

However, skiing in the opposite snow conditions can be equally challenging to the skidder. If you are not on edge, skidding through fluffencrud can be perilous, you feel every bump, every irregularity and they all work to throw you off balance.

However, the solution for both ski challenges is the same: be on edge. If it is fluffencrud, the edges cut right through it, and if it is ice edged skis can sink a good bite into it.

Think of a knife, move it across a pile of mashed potatoes and then move the knife through the potatoes edge first. Which way gets you to the solid of the plate much more easily? Then take that knife to butter, a flat knife does not give any direction control through the butter whereas a knife edge will engage the butter.

If you are comfortable on skis, but don’t think you have carving down yet here is a good video with some drills to give you a feel for what you need to do:


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Practice Skiing All Year Long

By: In: Skiing

 
 
 
I can not recall where I read it and I can not find the story via Google. However, I recall a story about a concert pianist who was imprisoned in some Communist country. He was, of course, denied his love of playing the piano and his music.

He was in a bad situation and in one of those moving stories, it made no difference for him. What did he do, he pretended he had a piano in front of him and pretended to play that pretend piano.

The article noted he was eventually released from that prison and came out a better piano player than he was when he went in.
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