Now you're talking!

Every sport has its lingo. It's no different in skiing. Hang around enough, and you're bound to hear some ski slang.

Here are a few of the more colorful terms:

White Ribbon of Death: Seen mostly during the early season, this is the thin stripe of snow present on the trails of many resorts. Riddled with rocks, sticks, and the bodies of skiers who've hit same.

Gaper: Not one of my favorite words. A "Gaper" is someone who's clueless about skiing, ski fashion, and proper skiing etiquette. I believe the word comes from the gap that can occur between one's goggles and hat and/or helmet (though if that's the case, shouldn't it be "gapper"?), and is often used to describe someone who's new to the sport.

Death Cookies: Hard, evil chunks of icy snow that can occur when grooming machines try to break up a sheet of ice. Commonly found here in the East.

Yard Sale: A spectacular wipe-out that results in gloves, poles, and skis strewn across the mountain.

Sierra Cement: The opposite to powder. Thick, heavy stuff that'll slow you down and grab your skis.

Skiing Switch: Skiing backwards. That's why there are twin tips.

Snow snake: A mythical, invisible creature who'll grab you when you ski, pulling you down and causing you to fall.

Face plant: This is what you do when you fall on your face.

Bluebird Day: The best. Used to describe a sunny day with blue, blue skies, and white, white snow. I love these!

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.

Anyone seen the Beaver Creek Ad?

Actually, it came out a couple months ago, but I'm just getting around to talking about it now. It was in the front of a recent issue of Ski magazine.

Picture this:

A two page spread. On the left hand page, large, large type on a completely white background that says the following:

Girls will be girls.

And across from that, on the right hand page, a full page photo of an unbelievable mogul field with two skiers (sex indistinguishable, but I assume they're women) making their way down the bumps.

Kudos to Beaver Creek for recognizing that there are a lot of women skiers who can really kick butt!

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.

A pain in the A__.

Yep, early last season I suffered pain in my, shall we say, derriere region. Otherwise known as my glutes.

Which I thought seemed rather odd, especially with all the working out I do. Just goes to show there's always something.

A fitness trainer I know suggested the following exercise to strengthen the area, before I started skiing this year:

Bent-leg raise
On hands and knees, lift one leg up, knee at a 90-degree angle throughout the movement. Keep lifting until the bottom of the foot faces the ceiling and the hip, thigh and knee are all in alignment and parallel to the floor. Don't arch the back and keep the neck straight. Lower back down and repeat for all reps before switching sides. Add ankle weights for more intensity or hold a light dumbbell behind the knee. Perform 1-3 sets of 10-16 reps according to your fitness level.

And here's a great stretch for apres ski (just don't do this on the floor of the lodge! Yuk!!):

Lie on floor or mat. Bend knees with feet on floor. Cross lower leg over thigh of other leg. Grasp back of thigh of lower leg with both hands. Pull leg toward torso. Hold stretch. Repeat with opposite leg.

After all, why should skiing be a pain in the A__?

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.

A learning experience.

There's always something new to learn in skiing. And this coming season, there're some great women's clinics that can help you learn it.

Here are a few you might want to check out:

Jackson Hole Women's Clinic
Just for Women at Squaw Valley
SkiWithKim
Vail Her Turns
Okemo Women's Alpine Adventures
SheSkis Women's Testing Clinic
LunaChix of NASTC

Also:
Didi Lawrence's Women's Master Extreme Camp: For information, email Didi at didilawrence@comcast.net.

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.

Get ready!

Ski season has already begun at A-Basin and Loveland. And before you know it, it'll be starting where you ski, too.

So are you ready for the season?

Here are a few things you might want to take care of, so you'll be ready on Opening Day:

Make sure to have your skis tuned: And your bindings checked. After all, safety first!

Wax 'em if you got 'em: Your skis are thirsty after a long season's rest. So give 'em the wax they need. They'll thank you and you'll have a lot more fun.

Precondition now! If you haven't been working out, it's not too late to start. Otherwise you run the risk of being in a lot of pain your first day out (and maybe a day or two after, too)

Check out your wardrobe: Go through last year's stuff. Does it still fit? Do you need anything new? Better take care of that now, before you find out you're missing something when you want to go ski.

Get your season pass: There are still some good deals to be had. Check out your local hill.

Get a helmet: If you don't have one, make it a priority. Helmet hair is a small price to pay for a potentially serious injury.

Register at TheSkiDiva.com, the internet discussion forum for women who ski, for some great talk about all things ski-related.

The Foundation of a Great Skier.

What makes a good skier great?

When they go above and beyond. When they see skiing as more than a sport, but as a way to help people, too.

Which is why today's post is about Kelly Brush of Charlotte, VT - a truly amazing young woman.

A skier since the age of seven, Kelly worked her way up the national rankings - particularly in the fast speed events of Downhill and Suger G - and qualified to race in the US National Championships during her junior and senior year of high school. She then went on to Middlebury College (VT), where she became a valuable member of the ski team.

But on February 18, 2006, Kelly's world changed forever. While competing in the Giant Slalom, Kelly had an accident that seriously injured her spinal cord, paralyzing her from the chest down.

Did this stop her? Not by a long shot. Since her accident, Kelly has not only started skiing again, but has established the Kelly Brush Foundation. Its mission:

To promote safety in ski racing;

To further spinal cord injury (SCI) research;

To purchase adaptive sports equipment for individuals with SCI;

To support the U.S. Disabled Ski Team.

Kelly spoke with me from the campus of Middlebury College, where she's currently in her senior year.

Q. How did you decide to start your foundation?
A. After my accident I was in rehab in Colorado for two months. And during this time I decided I wanted to do something to make ski racing safer, so that what happened to me wouldn't happen to anyone else. The other goals came along with it.

Q. What's the scope of the Foundation's activites?
A. We're mostly working on fundraising. Last season we bought back protectors for the Middlebury Ski Team, and we also donated to the Green Mountain Valley School (this was high school I attended), the Mt. Mansfield Ski Club, and the Vermont Alpine Racing Assocation -- all to improve skier safety. Our last donation was to the Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado, for research in the area of spinal cord injuries. This was the rehab hospital I was in after I got hurt.

Q. What type of fundraising activities does the Foundation do?
A. This past September we held our second Century Bike Ride. About 200 riders took part. This is something we want to do every year. We plan to use the money we raised to help buy fencing for mountains who request it to make their trails safer.

Q. Are you involved in skiing again?
A. I am. Last November I went out to Vail over Thanksgiving break and took four days of lessons on adaptive equipment. Surprisingly enough, the techniques I used in conventional skiing did not help at all. Some of the things are the same -- feeling the snow, for example -- but it's really completely different. I had to learn all over again. But aside from those lessons, I'm pretty much self taught.

Q. How was it to be back on the snow?
A. Fine. After I got hurt, I was never in the mind set that I didn't want to ski again. Obviously, I'm more aware of safety. But I was never nervous or scared.

Q. What other activities are you involved in?
A. I have a hand cycle so I can bike. I rode 25 miles in the Century Bike Ride in September. And I have an adaptive golf cart that stands me up so I can play golf.

Q. What's your major in school? Any plans for after graduation?
A. I'm majoring in Film and Media. And no, I don't know what I'm going to do yet (she laughs.)

For more information about The Kelly Brush Foundation or to make a contribution, go here.

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.

I'm very proud.

WARNING*****This has nothing to do with skiiing*****WARNING

Can't help myself, though. You see, my husband's book, Finn, has been shortlisted for the John Sargent, Sr., First Novel Prize, which honors the best first novel of 2007.

The Sargent Prize was created by the Mercantile Library Center for Fiction as part of its mission to promote the art of fiction in the United States. Marisha Pessl won last year for Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

This is not a first book award; it's a first novel award. So some of the other nominees are some pretty heavy literary hitters.

Here's the complete list of nominees:

Finn by Jon Clinch (Random House)
Lost City Radio by Daniel Alarcon (HarperCollins)
The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander (Alfred A. Knopf)
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman (Pantheon Books)
Bearing the Body by Ehud Havazelet (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (Riverhead)

The award will be presented in New York on October 29. And I know it sounds cliche, but just being nominated is an honor.

Wish us luck!

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.

Mark your calendar....

...if you're interested in attending Jeannie Thoren events. She has "Ski Soirees" at select ski shops around the country where she talks about how women can improve their ski experience by understanding their equipment. (In the interest of full disclosure, Jeannie works with Dynastar/Lange.)

Who's Jeannie Thoren, you ask? Take a look at my recent post about her and her Thoren Theory.

Here's Jeannie's schedule for the next few months:

5 Oct: Geiger's Lakewood, OH 216-521-1771
7 Oct: Buckeye Sport Center Peninsulia, OH330- 929-3366
9 Oct: Ski Company Mountain Sports Rochester, NY 585-292-0580
11 Oct: Ski Company Mountain Sports Syracuse, NY 315-445-1890
13 Oct: Ski Chalet Arlington, VA 703-521-1700
16 Oct: Ski Haus Wilmington, MA 603-898-1722
19 Oct: Peter Glenn Ski & Sport Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954-484-3606
22 Oct: Peter Glenn Ski & Sport Tampa, FL 813-960-24536
24 Oct: Peter Glenn Ski & Sport Richmond, VA 804-527-2020
26 Oct: Princeton Sports Columbia, MD 410-995-1895
27 Oct: Princeton Sports Baltimore, MD 410-828-1127
29 Oct: Outdoor Divas Boulder, CO 303-449-3482

NOVEMBER
1 Nov: REI Denver, CO 303-756-3100
6 Nov: REI Portland, OR 503-221-1938
8 Nov: REI Seattle, WA 206-223-1944
13 Nov: REI San Francisco, CA415 934 1938
15 Nov: Bobo's Mogul Mouse Reno, NV 775-826-909
17 Nov: Sierra Snowboard & Ski Sacramento, CA 916-344-1800
27 Nov: Outdoor Divas Denver, CO 303-449-3482
29 Nov: McU's Sports Boise, ID 208-336-2300

DECEMBER
1 Dec: Sturtevants Ketchum, ID 208-726-4501
3 Dec: Berg's Eugene, OR 541-485-4065
6 Dec: REI SaltLake City, UT 801-486-2100
8 Dec: Gorsuch Vail, CO 970-476-229
10 Dec: Gorsuch Aspen, CO 970-925-3203
12 Dec: Christy Sports Location TBD
14 Dec: Christy Sports Location TBD

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.

Why don't more women ski?

Let's face it -- there are far more men than women on the slopes. It's one of the reasons I launched TheSkiDiva.com -- to give women skiers a place to connect with one another.

So what's keeping women off the slopes? I already posted about this a while ago (go here). But here are a few more thoughts about this from some of the members at TheSkiDiva.com:

When I was in college a lot of my friends skied. But as I got older, they got fewer and fewer. For some it was kids, and the whole process was too difficult. For others, it was money. And for others, it was just lack of either time or interest. I'm the only one of us who's managed to keep at it.

I think as woman age their priorities change. High School age and younger, they have no responsibility, and are able to enjoy skiing without guilt. College age there's more responsibility with school, but no families or children yet. After graduation there's jobs, thus less time for skiing, more dedication to climbing the corporate ladder etc. Finally marriage, kids, lots and lots of responsibility less and less time for skiing. Skiing isn't a priority any longer and goes by the way side.

Part of the reason women fall into supporter roll is because of the way we're brought up, but I think another part of it is that "we" reorganize our lives and reprioritize our lives all the time. We tend to reinvent ourselves when things happen in our life, and adjust our priorities. If a guy is a skier when he's single, he'll likely be a skier when he's married, and when he becomes a dad..............(you get the idea), When an average woman makes those transitions her her life, I think she tends to adjust priorities more readily, and thus the lack of enthusiasm for a given activity.

It seems women get distracted from skiing by the parenting and total family expense; unfortunate more fathers don't step up and insist on hanging in the lodge and encouraging mom to get back out there. I don't live in the land of make believe -- couple of my friends husbands did encourage them to get back out there and take turns in the lodge. It makes the difference, for these friends they are still skiers -- with and without family.

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.

A conversation with Didi Lawrence.

Didi Lawrence is an incredible woman. In March, ’07, as part of a personal spiritual quest, Didi traveled to Nepal where she skied Annapurna (26,538 ft), one of the world’s least climbed mountains.

This is an incredible feat for any skier, let alone a 52-year old recovering alcoholic who suffered a broken pelvis just a few years ago. Didi also conducts a women’s ski clinic at Aspen Highlands, as well as a Masters Extreme Clinic for women. Plus she’s a gear tester for Ski Magazine (that’s her on the cover of the 2006 Gear Guide).

From her home in Aspen, Colorado, Didi talked about her trip to Nepal, as well as about her skiing legacy and her clinics.

Q. Your mom, Andrea Mead Lawrence, is the only American to have won two gold medals at a single winter Olympics. Your dad, David Lawrence, was on the Olympic Team as a coach. And your grandparents founded Pico Mountain in Rutland County, Vermont. Has this legacy been a blessing or a curse?
A. It’s been a combination of both. I grew up under my mother’s umbrella, so there was always a certain expectation from the outside that I’d follow in her footsteps. After all, everyone has so much admiration for an extreme athlete. But it’s also been a blessing, because the gift my parents gave me was skiing. But they never pressured me about it. The only pressure they put on me was to have a great life.

Q. Why did you go to Nepal and what was the scope of the trip?
A. For me, it was more a spiritual journey than about skiing – though that was a thrill, too. I was part of a group of four Americans, and even though we only skied three days and took a total of seven runs, it was absolutely incredible. We skied the north side where probably no one had ever skied before. The rest of the time – we were in Nepal a total of three weeks -- we went hiking, sightseeing, visited temples, even went to a Maoist rally. And we went parahawking, too. That’s when you paraglide with birds of prey who are trained to show you where the thermal currents are.

Q. What did you get out of going to Nepal?
A. As I said, this was a personal journey. Everyone struggles with who they are. Even though I’ve been through a lot, the universe has given me a second chance at life, and I’m so grateful just to be alive. The trip helped me realize the enormity of life and how great the universe really is. It was also about my love for my mom and what she’s done with her life. I’ve always been her personal champion. For me, it was a spiritual awakening.

Q. What was the highlight of the trip for you?
A. There were a lot of different ones besides skiing. But here’s one of the skiing ones: On the first day, two of us plus our guide went to the top of a run that was about 100 yards wide and 3,000 vertical feet. It’d never been skied before, and there was powder up to our knees. When we got to the bottom, both of us burst into tears. It was so wonderful -- like a magic carpet. We named it Mom’s Run, in dedication to our moms.

Q. Tell us a bit about your clinic in Aspen. What are you teaching, what do you want attendees to come away with?
A. I run a local women’s clinic every weekend. As you know, there are 10 levels in PSIA. I’ve added a level 12, and it's for women who want to experience steeper, deeper terrain. I tell them how to do it in an offensive rather than a defensive way. It’s extremely empowering, and it runs every weekend, January through March.

I also run a Masters Extreme Clinic for women for four days in January. This is a huge draw for women who want to experience life and grow. I see skiing as a metaphor for life and how I approach my fears. Life is about confronting your fears and getting through them. In this clinic, we move through the fear that may be blocking their growth. I take women to experience the mountain in the same way that I do. It’s both empowering and emotional, and It really opens up the whole universe for women to ski in a way they they’ve never done before, without men or boyfriends.

Q. What are you skiing these days?
A. My boots are Nordica Doberman 130s. And my skis are Nordicas, too: the Olympia Firefox. Nordica has done a great job with its women’s program, and I feel honored to work with them.

Anyone who wants to contact Didi about her clinics may do so by emailing her at didilawrence@comcast.net.

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.

The Zen of Skiing.

I've been hearing from a lot of people lately how skiing is a metaphor for life. And the more I think about it, the more I think it's true.

Here are some thoughts on the subject expressed by some of the women over at TheSkiDiva.com:

You can't have fun getting down the mountain if you're down on yourself.

Skiing requires that you give up control of the things that seem obvious (leaning into the hill=safe) and surrender yourself to falling. The joy that comes with that experience is astonishing.

Forget about being in control: Be in balance and you will be able to control your response to the conditions around you.

Stop once in awhile, breathe, and enjoy the view around you.

All physical discomfort is relative: There was always a colder day, a sorer muscle, a meaner boss, a more difficult co-worker, etc.

It's important to be flexible, the best laid plans can be disrupted by unexpected events (what do you mean that chairlift is not running today?).

Falling down once in a while is part of life. So what. Get up, dust yourself off, and move on.

For every down there is an up. And vice versa.

Control takes a certain measure of self-awareness, practice, and discipline. Don't just launch yourself into something without knowing what you're doing. Have the tools at hand to handle the situation, and you'll be fine.

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.

Boot up.

It wasn't too long ago that all ski boots were built the same. You had the same boots as your brother or your husband or your son. There weren't any just for women.

Now that's changed. And it's not that they're making them in pink (thank God it hasn't come to that!). Manufacturers have finally realized that women have special needs in boots, just as they do in skis. Many now offer female-specific models. And they're worth checking out.

Women tend to have lower, thicker calf muscles than men, so the cuffs may be larger, lower, or scalloped. Our anatomy may make it harder for us to get forward, so boots may include heel lifts, spoilers, or other devices. And because we're (generally) lighter in weight than men, the shell may be softer. (Look for a boot that can provide this without any sacrifice in lateral or rear support.) Some boots may even have cushier, warmer insides to reflect our cushy, warmer insides (not really; it's just because that's something we like).

Boot shopping takes time, and it takes some real expert assistance. So be sure to visit a shop where there's an expert bootfitter on staff. Your feet will thank 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.

A few words with Gold Medalist Deb Armstrong.

Deb Armstrong is a skier's skier. Winner of the Gold Medal in the Women’s Giant Slalom at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, she's been inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame and is on the PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) National Alpine Demo team.

I caught up with Deb while she was packing for her move to Steamboat Springs, CO, from her home in Taos, NM. After eight seasons overseeing the ski school at Taos, Deb is assuming the position of Alpine Technical Director at the ski school at Steamboat.

Q: Why the move to Steamboat?
A: Ski technique is my passion, and I'll have a wonderful outlet there. I've loved working at Taos, but Steamboat is offering me what I'm looking for. There's more potential for involvement in more programs.

Q: Why did you decide to instruct?
A: I'm passionate about delivering the gift of skiing. I think I can relate well to people of all levels and deal with them as individuals. That's important.

Q. Do you have a philosphy for skiing and instructing?
A: Skiing is a life long learning process. It's a metaphor for so many things, and there's always more to learn. When I instruct, I try to be accessible and very clear. I try to get everyone excited about skiing.

Q. Is there one problem you see more than others in women skiers?
A. That's hard to say. Everyone is different, men and women. For some, it might be equipment problems. For others, it might be confidence. I much prefer to treat women as individuals rather than lump them all together in one group. I think that can be demeaning and frustrating. As a woman myself, I can be sensitive to a whole scope of things that might be going on.

Q. Do you ever get scared when you ski?
A. When I was racing there was so much adrenalin that this wasn't really an issue. Skiing can be a mental game. You have to learn quickly that if you're fearful, you'll lose the tools that can help you succeed. When you're scared you freeze up or lean back. So you have to be smart. You can't get in over your head. And you have to ski with conviction. It'll keep you over your feet.

Q. How has your skiing changed over the years?
A. The equipment has changed a lot, and that brings in technical changes. I've had to evolve my technique. I've worked hard at that.

Q. What are you skiing on these days? Skis and boots?
A. Nordica is making amazing skis these days for women of all levels. The Olympia Firefox is fantastic. It's their highest end women's ski and it's a ripper for the female ripper skier. I love it. As for boots, I'm using Nordica's Doberman 150, which are way too stiff for the average recreational skier.

Q. A few years ago you suffered from a serious illness. How's the recovery been? Was it hard to get back into skiing?
A. I'm 100% recovered. No problems at all. I took a year off and got right back into it.

Q. When you're not skiing, what do you like to do?
A. In the off season I like to read, particularly non-fiction. And I like golf, tennis, and bike riding. I'm an active person.

Deb will be offering a series of women's clinics at Steamboat Ski Resort: January 15-17, February 5-7, and March 4-6.

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 you're looking for new skis....

If you haven't looked at women's skis lately, maybe it's time you took another look. Because to paraphrase an old ad campaign, they've come a long way, baby.

It wasn't too long ago that manufacturers would simply take their men's skis, power them down, slap on some flowers, and call them women's skis. The technical term for this: shrink it and pink it. The result was less than satisfactory.

Today, ski manufacturers have changed their tune, offering women's skis that'd give anyone a run for their money. They're making skis that are lighter and softer to accomodate women's lower muscle mass, but giving them the strength and stability we crave. (And they don't rely on cutesy graphics so much, either. Which, by the way, I always found somewhat offensive.)

Other differences you may see in women's skis include:

Shorter tips: This keeps your boots closer to the front of your ski, for better turn initiation.

Lighter, forward mounted bindings: The heels may be raised, too. All this is done to accomodate our lower center of gravity, and make it easier for us to get our skis on edge.

Waists that are farther forward: This, too, is to accomodate our lower center of gravity, as well as our forward mounted bindings.

This year there are plenty of great choices to choose from. So take another look. I think you'll like what you see.

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.

The Thoren Theory.

If you don't know Jeannie Thoren, maybe you should.

Named one of the 100 Most Influential Skiers of the Century by Ski Magazine and one of the Top 25 Most Influential Skiers of the Past 50 years by Skiing Magazine, Jeannie has had an incredible influence on women's skiing.

Jeannie developed the Thoren Theory more than 30 years ago -- perhaps the main impetus behind many of the developments in women's equipment today.

What's her theory? By today's standards, it seems fairly obvious:

Women are not small men!

We're built differently, with wider hips, narrower shoulders, smaller feet, and a different stance. All this means its harder for a woman to get forward over her skis, keep her skis flat against the snow, or get enough power out of her equipment. Which means that women's skis and boots need to be engineered to accomodate the biomechanical differences that can make a world of difference in our skiing.

For years Jeannie offered ski clinics at ski areas across the country, helping women adapt equipment to their special requirements and coaching them to become better skiers. Lately she's moved on, working to develop women's boots and skis for Dynastar/Lange.

Jeannie is a great resource for women's skiing, and someone to be admired. Truly a women ahead of her time and someone who should be saluted for making a difference.

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.

I'm off to ESWA!

That's the Eastern Ski Writers Association, to you.

Today begins their pre-season meeting at Mount Snow, Vermont. It's going to be my very first event with the group, and I'm kind of excited.

Tomorrow I'm on a panel about bloggers and blogging, exploring whether bloggers should be recognized as legitimate members of the ski press or not.

This is a tough one. With the right equipment, moderate computer skills, and something to say, just about anyone can blog these days. The problem is separating the wheat from the chaff -- and there's bound to be more chaff than wheat.

I've had this blog for over a year now, and maybe it's time for a review. What do you folks think? Is it something you enjoy reading? Do you check it often? Has it proven helpful in any way?

Post your comments. I'd love to read 'em.

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.

The reviews are in.

Haven't seen them yet myself, but the Gear Review issues are starting to appear. Powder and Skiing are out, and Ski is sure to come, in a matter of weeks.

Gear reviews are useful. The provide a good place to start your search for new equipment. They can provide important information, like ski dimensions, point out new features, and just let you know what's new for this year and what the trends are.

All the same, it's important to remember they're exactly what their name implies: a GUIDE! View it as a source for information -- not the final word. Talk to knowledgable people in ski shops. Register at TheSkiDiva.com and take advantage of the great discussions about equipment. And more importantly, try before you buy. Hit a Demo Day at a mountain near you. Or see if you can rent it from your local shop. What's right for someone else may not be right for you.

Ski gear ain't cheap, so use all the tools you can to make the best decision possible. After all, the only review that counts is the one you make.

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.

Skiing and pregnancy.

There are lots of opinions about this. Some people say if you're a good skier, then there's no reason pregnancy should interfere with your skiing -- as long as you stop before the third trimester, since your center of gravity may be off.

Me, I don't think it's worth the risk. There's never a guarantee you won't fall or someone won't collide with you. And there are a lot of worse things than missing a ski season.

Apparently I'm not alone. Three-time Olympian and four-time US slalom champion Sarah Schleper just announced that she's going to miss the 2008 World Cup season because she's expecting a baby early next year.

Granted, she skis a lot differently than just about any other woman on the planet. And even though she's giving up racing, maybe she'll still take a run or two. The reports I read didn't say.

Everyone is different. And of course, the final decision is up to you. But if you do plan to ski, discuss it with your doctor. Stay away from double black runs. And be extra careful, okay?

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.

The high price of skiing.

No one ever said that skiing is cheap. When you figure in the cost of equipment, clothing, day passes, food, and transportation, it's amazing that anyone other than Bill Gates is able to afford it. (Does Bill Gates ski?)

Now I see that Aspen is raising its day pass to $87. for the '07-'08 season. Granted, Aspen is not my local hill. And granted that I am not paying anywhere near that to go skiing. And granted, also, that Aspen seems to thrive, no matter how much they seem to charge. (You know how it goes -- for some people, the more you pay, the more it's worth.)

Still, last season Vail charged $85. for a day pass. And many ski areas have no problem cranking their prices up and up every year.

I know costs are going up. Improvements made by a ski area can cost millions of dollars. And this is a business, not a charity. All the same, in an industry that's been lamenting a downward trend in the number of skiers, this doesn't seem the way to correct the trend.

At least that's how it seems to me.

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.

A Half Marathon, A Complete Committment

One of my favorite people will be running a half-marathon in Philadelphia on September 16th.

My daughter, Emily, along her very good friend, Wendy Levine, will run to raise funds for The Children's Tumor Foundation—an organization whose mission is to end Neurofibromatosis (NF) through research. I don't know about Wendy, but Emily's never covered that kind of distance before. So it's a huge commitment on her part—but a commitment to acting on behalf of something she truly believes in.

NF is a progressive and debilitating genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow randomly throughout the body, along the nerves and nerve endings. It can cause brain tumors, blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, learning disabilities, and more. NF occurs in more than one in 3,000 births and is more common than Cystic Fibrosis, hereditary Muscular Dystrophy, and Huntington’s Disease combined. Currently, there are no effective treatments and NO CURE for NF.

If you'd like to support Emily and Wendy and their commitment to NF, click on over to Active Giving.com and make a donation.

Tell 'em Ski Diva sent you.