Counting the days.

Are you as obsessive as I am about keeping track of your ski days? I mean, really, what's the difference if you ski 25 or 35 or 45 days per season? Isn't it all just supposed to be fun??

Well, yeah. But for me it's fun to see if I can ski more this year than I did last. So I installed the Snowbook application on my Facebook profile. It's pretty cool. Not only does it allow you to count your days, but you can put in where you skied and comments and pictures, too. And you can post your profile, too -- years on the snow, the equipment you have and so on.

You have to belong to Facebook to use it. So if you are and you love to ski, give it a try.

By the way, I had 63 days on the snow this season!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Winter on its way out.

The first picture was my deck in February.

The second, my deck on April 19.

Winter is on its way out, but there's still plenty of great talk about skiing on TheSkiDiva.com, the internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Ski Review: Volkl Aura

Today was my last day of skiing for the season, and I had a pleasant surprise: there was a demo day of Volkls going on. So I finally had a chance to demo the Auras! After all, these have received tremendous reviews from many of the women on TheSkiDiva.com. And I had to see what the fuss was about!

The specs on me: 5'1", 110 lb., an advanced skier who likes to go fast.

The specs on the skis: 163 cm, 130/94/113, with a 19m turning radius.

The conditions: Typical spring skiing: firm first thing in the morning, becoming softer as the temps worked through the 30's and into the 40's, with the snow ultimately turning into soft, sticky piles as the day went on.

With a 94 mm waist, it'd be tempting to save these just for powder days. But no -- these skis can do it all. I was able to get them up on edge and felt totally in control over the few icy spots I hit. They also did great in the spring crud, and were stiff enough to bust through the gloppy piles that built up as the soft snow got pushed around.

My only regret is that I couldn't try them in the powder. I'm sure they'd be a blast, but there's no way I could judge that today.

One think that's kind of odd: instead of the deep, solid wood-bat-hitting-a-softball "thwwwunk," the Aura had more of an aluminum-bat-hitting-a-baseball "twaaaaank" sound. Kind of weird; just took some getting used to.

And a word on the graphics: the '08's are totally different from the '07. For anyone who's seen them, you know they feature a woman in what's supposed to be some sort of traditional Asian garb, with her breasts practically falling out (I can't understand the reason for this; why would this make a woman want to buy these skis??), but I actually like the new graphics better the old ones. It's a personal thing, I know, but I think they're kind of cool.

My take on the skis: They're lively, easy to turn, lots of fun, not too heavy or stiff, but definitely not wimpy, either. I don't think I'd have any problem using these just about anywhere, except maybe on eastern boilerplate -- and I say that not from experience, just a guess. I'd LOVE to try these babies in powder.

I give them two thumbs up.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

So what did you accomplish this ski season?

Sadly enough, the ski season is coming to a close here in the northeast. The snow is softening and melting, the days are becoming warmer, and yesterday I saw my first robin. I truly hate to see it end.

Nonetheless, it's been a terrific season. The snow conditions have been epic here in Vermont all winter long -- quite a change from last year. I started skiing in mid-November and even skied today, April 9, getting in more than 60 ski days, a new record for me.

In addition to racking up more ski days, some of my highlghts this year have been:

Skiing Alta and Solitude: Never been there before, and it was absolutely fabulous. Loved the terrain, the weather, the skiing; I'll definitely be back!

Meeting more of the great women from TheSkiDiva.com: Many joined me at the aforementioned Alta and Solitude, where I spent a week meeting and skiing with some terrific women from across the country. Others came to ski with me here in the norheast. You can't imagine a more fun group of ripping women skiers! Truly a delight to meet each and every one of them.

Pushing my comfort zone: Even in skiing, it's easy to get stuck in a rut, particularly when you ski the same area most of the time. On my trip to Utah, I definitely pushed my boundaries, skiing terrain I probably wouldn't have attempted on my own -- and it was a blast!.

Definitely a season I'll long remember.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

Sex, violence, and snow sports.

Doesn't seem like they go together, but to some ski manufacturers, they seem to make perfect sense.

Take Nordica Olympia skis, for example. Great skis. But why the silhouette of a naked lady on the top sheet? It's not that I find the female form offensive (I know, I know, it's the Goddess Victory). but couldn't they come up with something better? Do we HAVE to have a naked woman on our skis to understand thet these are for women? Besides, she looks like the woman on the truck mud flaps!

What I find particularly offensive are the violent images used in some snow sport products. There's a jacket by Grenade, for example, that has the text, "Die, Die my Darling," on the back, with the image of a woman being murdered. I know, I know, it's from a Misfits song. But it's offensive on so many levels I hardly know where to begin. I actually find the entire Grenade imagry offensive. Obviously, I'm not the target audience for Grendade's products, but the message of violence this sends is appalling.

Or how about K2's Hellbent ski? Ridiculously violent. And why?? To appeal to 12 year old boys?? And if so, what's the message they're sending? Sheesh.

I think ski manufacturers can do a lot better. Don't you?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.