Double Black: A Ski Diva Mystery

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Give me some leeway here....

It's the off season. So permit me to brag a bit:

My husband's novel, Finn, has been named a Notable Book of the Year by the American Library Association. They only name about ten books for the year, and of those ten, invite maybe three authors to address their annual convention.

Jon is one of them.

He's off to Anaheim, CA, this weekend to receive this tremendous honor. And I couldn't be more proud.

Finn was also named one of the year's best novels by The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and The Christian Science Monitor. And it was a finalist for the John Sargent Sr. First Novel Prize, and the recipient of Philadelphia's Athenaeum Literary Award.

So if you're looking for a great read, look no further. Hey, you gotta fill up those off season hours somehow, right?

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.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Raise your hand!

Want to volunteer at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics?

The Vancouver Organizing Committee is looking for up to 25,000 enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers who can help out before, during, and after the Olympic Games. A couple things to keep in mind, however. You must be 19 years old before September 1, 2008. It's strongly recommended that you have your own accommodations. And you'll have to pass a background check and numerous security clearances, before you're accepted.

Still, imagine the opportunity to be right there, in the midst of all the athletes, the games, and the glory!

Anyone interested must register with VANOC (the organizers of Vancouver 2010) before the end of June this year. Go here for more information.

Do we have any takers?

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.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

It's always ski season somewhere.

I know an instructor here in Vermont who spends half the year instructing at Okemo, and the rest of the year teaching in Australia. For her, it's endless winter.

It is possible. You could ski all year round, if you like. While we're sweltering in the heat, ski season is getting underway in New Zealand and Chile.

But if you're looking for something really exotic, how about Africa??

One doesn't usually put skiing and Africa in the same sentence, but this morning I read about Afri-Ski, a ski area in Lesotho, an African kingdom surrounded by South Africa. The area features a single slope a kilometer long. It's been open since 2005, and bills itself as the largest in Africa. Some 10,000 guests visited Afri-Ski in 2007, and 15,000 are expected this year.

So how about a trip combining a visit to one of Africa's Game Parks and some African turns? Would that be cool or what?

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.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Will The High Cost of Gas Put A Crimp In Your Skiing?

A very good question, indeed, with gas already over $4. a gallon in many areas of the US.

I live within five miles of my home mountain, so for me, the high cost of gas won't keep me away. But most people don't live that close. For them, it could push skiing out of their reach, especially when you combine it with the high cost of the sport, in general -- equipment, lift tickets, and so on.

The effect this will have on the ski industry can't possibly be good. Ski areas depend on ski visits for profits. And if people cut down on their visits, it'll make it harder than ever for resorts to make money. What's more, ski areas need fuel, themselves, for basic mountain services. Could we be seeing more cutbacks? Even higher lift tickets? Forced closures?

I shudder to think.

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.