Posted by Curtis Fong on Dec 30, 2023
The start of the 23/24 ski season is starting off slow, but then again, slow is okay for me entering my 62nd year as a skier… Reflecting over the years of the thrill of gathering with friends to go to the mountains to enjoy the passion of skiing… Yes, back in the day, we wanted first and last chair, getting a full day on the slopes… counting the days, numbers of runs and mostly calculating how much vertical feet of skiing one can get… It was a badge of glory for most of us, “Back in the Day”. Over the past 5 years, for me, the number of days and rides up a chair lift have been less and less important and who cares about getting 20-30K feet in a day… For me, just getting out with friends or on my own and enjoying cruising down groomed runs and having fun has taken over my motivation in skiing… just enjoy rolling the ski over and letting it carve, feel the G forces and rolling over the next edge… The True Love of Skiing! This past first weekend in December was a prime example of starting my season with my Brother from another Mother, Wayne Wong and friends… I took an early season road trip to Park City and met up with the gang at Deer Valley to ski opening weekend. Deer Valley’s snowmaking made it possible to open several lifts and runs and it didn’t hurt to have 20” of real snow fall over the weekend… Robert Hutchins, Monica Young, Wayne Wong, Vanessa Wong & Me I have always been mistaken for being Wayne while skiing around the West and in Canada and it’s fun to ski with him as it always comes up, “Who is the Real Wayne Wong?”… And, there are questions, when we stand next to each other, of Who is the Real Wayne Wong! Yes, to many of my era, Wayne is the icon of the Freestyle Hot Dog Skiing movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s and it is hoot to ski with him and other notable friends and family members… Wayne, Alicia Lauria, Pizza Guy, Monica Young, Karl Lund And, he hasn’t lost a beat and continues to arc turns with beauty and grace… The good thing is, not only challenging me to keep up in carving turns, but also frequent stops on the...
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Posted by Curtis Fong on Dec 30, 2022
In the Fall of 1970, the Sacramento City College ski club had a membership party and 3 of my college buds were excited to go skiing… and, we decided “let’s go”… So, around midnight, I drove them home in my 1963 Covair to pick up their gear and set my roof ski rack and got loaded up for an adventure… The previous winter was huge and many snowfields were lingering on the mountain tops and we decided to drive up the Hwy 88 corridor to Carson Pass… Along the way, we stopped and admired the view of Kirkwood Meadows… on the fence there was a sign that read, “Future Home Of Kirkwood Meadows Ski Area”… Viewing the U shaped Valley with Thimble Peak and all the other geological volcanic plugs adorning the ridge line, I thought, what an absolutely beautiful place to build a ski area… Fast forward to January of 1972, the ski club put a trip together to ski the new Kirkwood Meadows ski area… We car pooled up for the day and hit it just right as fresh snow was falling as drove up Hwy 88 and chains were required… There was a new highway maintenance station at Peddler Hill and road was being plowed up to Kirkwood… When we arrived, there was a roadway plowed to Main Lodge and parking lot… There were maybe 3 condominium projects under construction coming in with Base Camp across the road from the lodge… It continued to snow, but no wind and the lifts were operating… That first year, lifts were old double chairs with Chair #1, Chair #2, Chair #3 and Chair #4, only… There were no lifts on the front side of the mountain… I had started learning to skiing at the age of 12 in 1962 with first turns at Peddler Hill, then Sierra Ski Ranch and Boreal Ridge, then eventually with the college ski club, skiing at Mt. Shasta, Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley, Mt. Rose – Slide Mtn. and Heavenly… But, I had never skied knee deep cold blower powder like that day off Chair 4 in 1972… Floating through the snow like it wasn’t there… Doing laps off Chair 4 convinced me that I needed to direct my life ambitions to figure out how I could get involved with the ski industry and live and work at Kirkwood.I was working at the California State...
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Posted by Curtis Fong on Dec 20, 2022
The Bull Wheel By: Curtis Fong “The Guy From Tahoe” December 2022 The start of Winter came early with a couple of early season storms that led to Mammoth, Mt. Rose, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood opening before mid-November and perfect timing for Warren Miller’s 73rd film, DAYMAKER, that premiered at Harrah’s on November 12… Must have been my 30th year of emceeing the show, with Robbie Huntoon producing the annual Tahoe area premier for the past 40 years… Yes, “Winter Starts Now” and “If you don’t do It this year, you’ll be one year older, when you do.” It’s hard to believe that I will be as old as Warren Miller Productions has been making films…And this marks my 61st year as a skier… In my Ski Bum life, I recently tabulated skiing at over 120 different ski hills in U.S., Canada and in Europe… Funny – Not Funny… I have been solicited to be a contributing columnist for SeniorSkiing.com and don’t know if I should be honored or upset… LOL -Ha Ha… The Good news is that I now qualify for Senior Ski Passes… Okay, I’ll take that! By Thanksgiving weekend, Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw & Alpine Meadows), Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch (weekends) also opened their slopes to skiing and riding… And, even though there hasn’t been another major storm, to date, they were all able to open more terrain… And, thankful that we not subjected to the usual Thanksgiving openings on machine made snow, aka… White Ribbons of Death. I made it out to Kirkwood for a couple of days of making turns on early season offerings as they are planning their 50thyear celebration to go off on December 17… I was there in the early -mid 70’s as the first on-hill photography concession and served as the Advertising and Public Relations Manager in the late 70’s – early 80’s… I will be attending this special day with lots of folks who also called Kirkwood their home in the day… So, skiing at DA Wood brings back so many great memories of fun with friends and helping to build the resort to what it is… And, Oh, Northstar will also be celebrating it’s 50th year… What’s new this year? Lot’s of improvements and investments at our local resorts coming out of post pandemic winter years…To start with there’s an updated Skier/Rider Responsibility Code… Now up to 10 points: On Slope...
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Posted by Curtis Fong on Mar 19, 2020
MOUNTAIN RESORT REPORT© DATE: Thursday, March 19, 2020 FROM: Curtis Fong – “The Guy From Tahoe” Good Morning Lake Tahoe Skiers & Riders! All Lift Service Resorts in and around Lake Tahoe are CLOSED! Check Back Country Avalanche Advisories… XC & Snowshoeing are still options. Road Controls posted & Emerald Bay Road CLOSED. STAY HEALTHY, Buckle up and Be Safe! WEATHER: Unsettled Weather for the Remainder of this coming week. Today: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Chance of snow. Highs 33 to 38. Light winds. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows 12 to 22. Light winds. Friday: Partly cloudy in the morning, then sunny with a slight chance of snow in the afternoon. Highs 37 to 42. Light winds. Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows 17 to 27. Light winds. Saturday: Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs 41 to 51. Light winds. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming clear. Lows 20 to 30. Sunday: Sunny in the morning, then partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Highs 44 to 49. Sunday Night And Monday: Snow and rain likely. Lows 24 to 34. Highs 40 to 45. Monday Night: Breezy. Snow and rain likely. Lows 23 to 33. Tuesday And Tuesday Night: Snow likely. Highs 35 to 45. Lows 18 to 28. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs 36 to 41. BACK COUNTRY ACCESS… “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!” For more info: https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/advisory Wind-loaded near and above treeline terrain still holds fragile cornices and slabs of wind drifted snow. People can still trigger wind slab avalanches in these areas. Triggering a deep slab avalanche is becoming unlikely but may not be impossible in some isolated near and below treeline terrain where old weak snow lurks below the storm snow. MODERATE avalanche danger exists at all elevations. WHAT TO WEAR: Dress warm, in layers with your windproof-waterproof Jacket or Shell. Take warm gloves, a hat or beanie, and wear a Helmet for Safety. Also wear Yellow or Bronze lens Goggles – (100% UV protection). Don’t forget to stay hydrated at altitude. SURFACE CONDITIONS: Surface Conditions are Fresh Powder. SAFETY MESSAGE: Stay on designated Opened Trails only. Respect all rope lines & area closures.Keep an eye out for marked and unmarked obstacles. Slow Down and observe safety signs on trails with high concentration of skiers and riders… Know the Code! Always stay in control. Be able to avoid...
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Posted by Curtis Fong on Mar 3, 2020
Skiing the Land of Enchantment It’s been 20 years since I’ve skied resorts in New Mexico and NASJA, the North American Snowsports Journalists Association, set their annual Western Winter Summit to ski Santa Fe, Taos & Angel Fire Resorts in the Land of Enchantment, January 26 – 31, 2020. Dan Giesin, 40 year ski bud and former sports editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and myself, along with Hula-Gan, the Good Luck Powder Monkey, was loaded up to set off on this year’s road trip adventure… Saturday, January 25, 2020: On the Road The Subaru Outback was loaded with 2 pairs of skis each in the roof box, luggage packed with at least a week’s worth of clothing and necessities, boot bags, several ski outfits, plus ice chest of drinks and bag of snacks… Pointers on taking a successful road trip… A Reliable 4WD / AWD Vehicle with recent servicing and oil changed. Good Tires… I have a second set of wheels with Winter Master Studded Tires. Replaced windshield wipers, both front and rear… Windshield washer fluid tank filled and take an extra gallon of -20F washer fluid. Plus, inside window cleaner with a roll of paper towels. Vehicle navigation system or smart phone with navigation app. Accommodations Reservations made in advance or itinerary of time line with destinations and friends that you may crash on their couch. Hanging cross bar clothing rack. Small Ice chest to carry water and soft drinks, etc., including an optional can of Red Bull or caffeine based drink. Snack foods – chips, trail mix, fig bars, chocolate bar, jelly beans, etc. XM Satellite Radio or IPod with good tunes… audio books… A hard snow ski and a wider soft snow ski, preferably tuned & waxed. Heated boot bag with all your accessories. Accessories: Helmet, 2 pairs of goggles, or 2 lenses for bright sunlight and flat light along with lens cleaning cloth, pair of warm gloves, pair of spring gloves, face-neck gaiter, Ski-Gee, a bar of all temperature rub on wax, etc. Your season pass, Epic, IKON, Mountain Collective, Powder Alliance, or Indy Pass… After all, most road trips are predicated on what resorts your season pass allows you to ski… Don’t forget your prescription medications, ibuprofen or other pain-sore relief meds. Blue skies and a great travel day as this would be a long haul south from the Carson Valley on...
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Posted by Curtis Fong on Mar 7, 2019
Road Trip to Rehab Chapter lll Thursday, February 7, 2019 – Continued: Still being upset about losing my credit card, Dan took the steering wheel as we headed out of Gunnison on Hwy 50 east, over Monarch Pass and down to Salida… We have driven over this pass many times and in both directions… It was snowing over the pass and visibility was near white-out at times, but with studded tires and fog lamps, the Subaru pushed through to crest the continental divide, passing the entrance to Monarch Ski Resort and down the east side to Salida where we turned north, heading to the front range. Our destination was Eagle, Colorado, west of Vail and Beaver Creek. We drove through Leadville and took the turn, passing Ski Cooper and down to Minturn where we hit westbound I-70… And, finally arriving and checking in to the Eagle River Lodge (formerly a Holiday Inn Express). We would stay here for a total of four nights. I did not get a return call from Garlic Mike’s, so I called them again and got a live person. They confirmed that they had my credit card and I was so relieved… I asked them to mail it back and they agreed to do so… Thankful that I did not have to cancel the card and wait for another from the bank. We ended up heading to Restaurante Casa Mexico for dinner and this place was definitely authentic… They featured a 22 oz. Margarita to which several other patrons were enjoying, and I had a huge Mexican style Carne Asada burrito… It was grandioso! Friday, February 8, 2019: After a meager breakfast offering at the Eagle River Inn, we headed out east on 1-70 past Beaver Creek, Vail and all the other resorts to Frisco and onward to Arapahoe Basin… This was one resort that remained on my bucket list as in all the years traveling to Colorado and the resorts on the front range, I had never skied here… Traffic was backed up coming through Frisco as there was some kind of accident near the Keystone Resort turn off… By time we got up the hill to A-Basin, we got one of their last parking spots in their upper lot… Thank goodness they did operate a shuttle to the base lodge. Interestingly, their lower parking lot was for early...
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