Idaho Falls Ski ClubNewsletter

February 2016

President’s messageI hope everyone is having a fantastic snow season!Thank you for joining the ski club. I hope you have been able to take advantage of some of the great activities andbenefits offered through the club. If not, it is not too late! There are plenty of events and activities left this year.The Ski Club offers something for everyone who is eager to get out on the slopes and trails!Volunteers Needed– The Ski Club will be having elections in March and we would welcome candidates interest-ed in helping plan our events, sign up members, organize the ski sale, and developing relationships with ski resortsand merchants in our area. If you can help, please give me a call or drop me a line.Kelly Canyon Nordic Area – The conditions at the Kelly Canyon Nordic Area great. I am pleased to report thatthe trails are being groomed and are ready for skiers to enjoy. The hut at Morgan Summit is available for day use.The Forest Service has been helping with the grooming, and we appreciate their support. If you go, let us knowwhat you think!Grand Targhee Instructionals – these lessons are a fantastic way to learn or brush up on your technique. Thisyear, we are excited to add terrain park lessons! The kids should love this, so sign up to reserve a spot by March 1There is just one more weekend scheduled for the Instructionals, on March 5 and 6.Pomerelle – this fun day trip offers a great price for lift ticket and lesson. You will enjoy exploring this hill, and Ihear the snow is great! Sign up by February 22.Big Sky – sign up by February 12 for this weekend trip that includes lots of food and fun, plus the convenience ofa bus!Sun Valley – you have your choice of lodging and days to ski at this world famous resort at fantastic rates. Signup by February 14.Share your photos – Do you have some great photos or videos from seasons past or maybe already some fromthis year? Post your photos and videos on Instagram #downhilltherapy.Member benefits and discounts – we have great discounts and benefits for this year. You will be able to save onlift tickets, gear, lodging, food, drink, and services. Check out the member benefits at www.ifskiclub.comI look forward to seeing everyone on the slopes. If you have any comments or questions about the club or are in-terested in the Ski Club board, please contact me at peggy_hinman@yahoo.com or 520-3064.Peggy HInmanPresident

www.ifskiclub.com

Jackson Hole Weekend 2016Clarene and Creed Law, owners of the Antler Inn in Jackson Wyoming, went all out again this year to welcomethe Idaho Falls Ski Club for our annual Jackson Hole Weekend. The Antler provides rooms at reduced rates forour group, along with a fantastic barbeque elk dinner and the Mountains provide the excellent conditions andscenery. Barb and Glen Hayes did an outstanding job making the arrangements for the weekend and getting allthe goodies for the wine and cheese party. Whether you were riding “Big Red” to the top of Rendezvous Bowland Corbert’s Cabin, quietly gliding past the Teton Range in Grand Teton National Park or enjoying a beer atthe Snake River Brewery, the weekend in Jackson is outstanding, and don’t forget the Cake for dessert. Thisyear’s weekend saw the largest number of members in attendance in several years, many being first timers onthis trip.

New this year at the Village is the Teton Lift high speed quad chair. This lift opened up 1,650 vertical feet ofterrain, which has been open to those that wanted to hike it in the past. The lift is located between Casper Bowland Apres Vous Mountain. Although much more terrain has been opened for lift skiing, you still need to climbif you want to ski or ride Shot’s 7, 8, 9, and 10. Jackson Hole Ski Resort has a five year plan for further expan-sion, but there is no indications of a lift going to the top of the Head Wall coming anytime soon. However, theywill be starting a second gondola, starting somewhere near the current gondola and climbing up into the CasperBowl near the Casper Lodge.

Thanks to Clarene and Creed Law for another fantastic stay at the Antler and we are already looking forward toour January 2017 Ski Club Trip.

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This winter has been fairly kind to the downhill enthusiasts. The storms have been continuous since early No-vember and the area resorts are well covered.In December, over 100 members attended the first Targhee Instructional. The slopes were well covered and thelessons were excellent.In mid-December, over 40 members took the long drive to Pomerelle for the low cost lift and lesson programthat the Club has to offer. With approximately 6 inches of fresh powder, the members enjoyed great instruc-tions and super conditions.In mid-January, over 100 member drove to Jackson, Wyoming in a snow storm for the great snow at eitherGrand Targhee or Jackson Hole. While many of us were enjoying the fresh powder at the Village, others wereenjoying the well groomed trails in Teton National Park. Saturday evening brought us all together for a wineand cheese party at the Antler Hotel prior to a wild game diner provided by the Hotel’s owner. This was a won-derful weekend and a great chance to meet up with old friends or to meet new people.For everyone looking for additional instructional events, there will be another chance in February (signup byFebruary 22) to ski at Pomerelle and in March for Targhee (signup by March 1).The last trip of the season is in late March at Sun Valley. We will be staying at the Sun Valley Resort, wherethe local shuttle bus will take us to the hills (Baldly and Dollar Mountain). The sign-up deadline is February14. At this time, Sun Valley has more snow than both Targhee and Jackson Hole. Spring skiing can be the bestskiing of the season, with warmer temperatures and some of the snowiest months of the year.Hope to see you on a future Club Trip.

Alpine Trip Updates: by Don Rasch

Anyone wanting to become a member of the Idaho Falls Ski Club Board of Directors, come tothe March 7th Board meeting to be nominated to the 2016-17 Ballot. If you have ever wonderedabout what the Board does and how we operate throughout the year, or have ideas that youwould like to see the Club do in the future, this is your chance to be heard by becoming a mem-ber of the Board. If you cannot make the meeting on March 7th, contact Don Rasch at 529-5880to express your interest in a Board position.

Harriman State ParkSun Valley

March Board Elections 2016-2017

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Alpine Trips: Dates: Deadline: Contacts:PomerelleInstructional 2 Feb. 27 Feb. 22 Kevin Skinner: 521-9636 (after 7PM)Grand TargheeInstructional 3 March 5&6 March 1 Moira Solle: 524-6323Big Sky/Moonlight Basin March 11-13 Feb. 12 Leslie Roberts: 520-6106Sun Valley March 29-April 4 Feb. 14 Don Rasch: 529-5880Nordic Trips:Nordic trips are being offered in conjunction with the Grand Targhee Instructional 3, Big Sky/Moonlight Basin,and Sun Valley trips. All trip information is the same as for the Alpine trips noted above.

Kelly Canyon Nordic Area TBD None Aaron Crary: aac@racinelaw.netHut RemovalSince many of these are at or past their sign-up deadline, you will need to contact to trip coordinators to see ifspace is still available. All specific trip information can be found on the Ski Clubs web site under trips.

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Challenges, rewards of skiing with kids by Jacie ColemanI was an avid skier before my husband and I startedour family. Now, everyone enjoys the sport. Here aresome great tips about getting your kids learning andloving the sport of skiing. Cold temperatures can be achallenge.Last weekend we were skiing Targhee with our chil-dren ages 9 and 6. We had some beautiful blue skydays, but it was cold, very cold. We had to get a littlecreative on the chair lift to keep our minds off thenumbness in our toes. We played number games andword games and even had a contest on who could findthe nicest snowflake falling from the snow coveredtrees onto our mittens.Skiing with kids is a fun family activity, but also verychallenging.At first, we would take turns watching the children inthe lodge while the other hits the slopes. Now, thewhole family skis, making it more enjoyable for every-one.Here are some tips I have found useful for skiing withkids:

•Start out slowly and with low expectations. A lot oftime was spent on the bunny hill, even more drinkinghot chocolate. Some days we only skied a few runs.

•Get to know the lift operators. Our kids have theirfavorites and know them by name.

•Stash your pockets with candy for the chair lift.

•Let your kids pick the next run.

•Pack fun lunches and take breaks often.

•Ski with friends as often as you can.

•Buy good quality ski clothing and socks. We loveObermeyer outerwear and Burton base layers. Buyhand and toe warmers in bulk.

•Always be positive, no matter the weather or snowconditions.

I received a pro tip from my uncle: “Always quit ski-ing for the day when the kids are still asking for onemore run.”It helps to end a day on a positive note. During theweek, our son asks “how many more nights before hegets to ski again”.

(Jacie’s article appeared in the Post Register under“Ski Club Corner”on February 4, 2016)

Grand Targhee

Sign up for these great trips!!!!