Let The Women Jump

Way back in December, 2006 (wow, has this blog been around that long?), I posted about the International Olympic Committee's refusal to include women's ski jumping in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Ski jumping is the only Olympic sport that doesn't allow women to compete. In fact, influential IOC member and FIS President Gian Franco Kasper told National Public Radio that ski jumping "seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view."

Pretty amazing, isn't it? And this is 2010 we're talking about -- not 1910.

The IOC has all sorts of reasons for its decision. So in the grand tradition of that TV show Mythbusters -- and borrowing heavily from the Let The Women Jump website, I thought I'd explode a few of them here.


Myth: There are not enough women ski jumping for it to be included in the Olympic Winter Games.

Fact: Over 130 women from 16 nations are registered as international competitors with the International Ski Federation (FIS). Hundreds more compete in their own countries at the national and club levels.


Myth: Women are not good enough to compete at the World Cup level.

Fact: The FIS Continental Cup format is used for the elite level of women's international competition. In 2004 organizers from ski jumping nations chose to forgo asking the FIS for a Women's World Cup tour in order to reduce production costs and facilitate growth in the sport.


Myth: Women's ski jumping is not developed enough. There is not enough "universality."

Fact: 16 Nations (AUT, CAN, CZE, FIN, FRA, GER, ITA, JAP, NED, NOR, POL, RUS,SLO, SWE, SUI, & USA) have women registered as international competitors with the FIS. This season’s Continental Cup tour will include 25 events hosted by 8 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia.


Myth: Only a few women athletes can jump respectably.

Fact: 35 different athletes from 9 nations have placed within the top 10 in FIS Continental Cup competition during the past two seasons. The depth of field parallels the men's tour.


Myth: There must be two World Championship competitions held before an event can be included in the Olympics.

Fact: This criterion has had exceptions made to it in the past. The most notable being the inclusion of the women's marathon event in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics after a single World Championship in 1983. The first Women's Ski Jumping World Championship will be held in Liberec, Czech Republic in 2009. By 2010 there will have been four World Junior Championships.


Myth: There is not room on the 2010 program to include the women jumpers.

Fact: Currently there are six men's ski jumping medal events (three ski jumping and three Nordic Combined) planned over six days. A single women's event could bescheduled on available days.


Myth: The cost of including a women's event on the 2010 program would be prohibitive.

Fact: Women ski jump on the identical jumps that the Men use. The venue would not be required to be modified in any way.

There's a petition about this over on the Let The Women Jump website, and I encourage everyone who reads this to sign it. Even if it's too late to get this included in the '10 games, maybe if enough of us speak out, we can hope for 2014. As they say, better late than never.

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 much for "best of" lists.

Outside magazine just came out with its top 16 ski areas. SKI magazine lists its top 50 every year . And Skiing has its own top ten.

Number one? For Outside, it's Alta. For SKI, Deer Valley. For Skiing, Whistler/Blackcomb.

They're all great ski areas. But the fact that each magazine has a different resort in its top slot clearly demonstrates: It's all a matter of opinion.

I don't know about you, but I don't pay much attention to resort ratings. The whole thing is so subjective, simply because what's good for one person may not be good for another. Everyone has different priorities. For example, you may love Okemo, VT. But for someone who wants to nail the chutes at Jackson Hole, for example, Okemo isn't going to cut it.

It really depends on where you are with your skiing and what you're looking for. My advice? Get the best match, and you'll be a happy skier.

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.

My quiver for the new season.

I'm entering the new ski season filled with excitement.

That's nothing unusual. I'm always excited for ski season to begin.

But I'm especially excited because I have two new pairs of skis this year: a pair of Volkl Auras and a pair of Tierras, also from Volkl. And I'm keeping my trusty old Fischer Vision 73's, too. I can't bear to let them go.

So here's a quick review of what my quiver looks like this season, so you can recognize me on the mountain:



The Aura has been receiving a lot of love from the women on TheSkiDiva.com, and SKI and Skiing magazines seem to like it, too. Similar to the Mantra but 20% lighter, the Aura features a sandwich construction and measures 130/94/113. It has a reputation for terrific edging on the hardpack, but its wide waist makes it great for the powder, too. I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun on this one!

And for my next ski.....



the Volkl Tierra, which features the company's new Bio-Logic Technology. Volkl's raised the toe in the binding, which they say puts a female skier in a more neutral stance. They claim it improves the balance of the hamstring and glutes to result in more efficient muscle use. They’ve also tapered the tail angle so it releases more readily at the end of a turn. The tip is a bit wider, and they gave the ski a more consistent flex pattern. The Tierra's dimensions: 129/78/99

And here's ski #3....



My Fischer Vision 73's. I've had these skis since 2007, and they've served me well. They're fun, lively, snappy, happy -- just tons of fun for carving, making short turns. They're great on soft snow, plowing through ice cookies, and hold a terrific edge. A great East Coast ski. Love 'em. They're 118/73/105.

So that's where I stand, on the brink of the '09/'10 season. Now if only I could get out on these babies!


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.

You are not alone.

One of the most common questions we get over at TheSkiDiva.com has to do with which ski to buy.

It's a good question. The type of ski you select, in my mind, is as personal as the type of jeans you wear or the toothpaste you like. Everyone has different preferences. What I like to ski on, you might hate, and vice versa. Mix that up with different abilities, the types of conditions you ski, and the amount of money you have to spend, and you could end up jabbering to yourself in a corner.

But there are some things you can do to decide which ski you might want to choose, before you plunk down the big bucks:

1) Talk to people. Talk to people who you know ski the way you do under similar conditions, and see what they like. No, they're not experts, but it's a starting point.

2) Talk to the equipment experts in your ski shop. Don't lie about how you ski or what you're looking for. You won't do yourself any favors if you do.

3) Visit the websites and read the reviews. Okay, these are not exactly objective. But they will let you know if a ski is for beginners or experts and something about its technical specifications: construction, dimensions, etc. All this is valuable information.

And 4) If at all possible, demo. I can not stress how important it is to try before you buy. It may cost a few bucks, but some shops will subtract the cost of the demo from the purchase price, if you decide to make a purchase.

Of course, we always welcome conversation about selecting skis on TheSkiDiva.com, but this advice can go a long way in making your task a little easier.

One final thing: If you don't get the ski of your dreams, don't sweat it. Sell it and try again.

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.

K2 Race for the Cure

If you're like me, you ski because it's fun, it's great exercise, and it's a wonderful way to enjoy being outdoors in the winter.

But now there's another reason: to help facilitate a cure for breast cancer. Because on December 12, K2 Skis is sponsoring the K2 Pink Chase, where teams of three women each will compete at Keystone Resort, Colorado, to see who can ski the most vertical.

Sure, there are prizes. And sure, it's fun. But it's also a great way to help beat a disease that kills thousands of women every year. In 2009 alone, more than 190,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. These are our mothers, our sisters, our friends, and our daughters. And it could easily be you or me. Because even though great strides are being made all the time, it's pretty clear that we still have a long way to go.

Some of the women on TheSkiDiva.com are forming their own team. I'm very proud of them. They'll be raising money for the cause, and I hope you'll be kind enough to donate. I'll post more about that, as info becomes available.

Kudos to K2 for organizing this event. And kudos to all the great women who'll be participating. Even though I can't be with you physically, I'll be with you in spirit.

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.

Allow me to toot my own horn.

Yep, it's an advance reader copy of my book, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, coming out January 5 from Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press.

What's an advance reader copy? It's a copy of the book that's sent to the sales force and reviewers, to promote the book before actual publication. Yes, there are typos. And yes, it's in soft cover, even though the book will actually be coming out in hard back.

I'm pretty excited. This is my first novel, and seeing it in book form is pretty amazing to me. Even though I've been down this road before with my husband's first book (FINN, Random House, 2007), it's a little different when it happens to you.

Here's a quick synopsis, straight from the book jacket:

In DOUBLE BLACK, Boston’s twenty-something Stacey Curtis ditches her cheating fiance and heads for a Vermont ski town. She’s looking for the life she’s always dreamed about, but she stumbles instead into financial intrigue, bitter family warfare, and murder. Populated with quirky characters, loaded with New England atmosphere, and starring a young woman with nerve, spunk, and a sense of humor about it all, DOUBLE BLACK is an exciting run down some treacherous mountain trails.

I had a lot of fun writing DOUBLE BLACK, and I think you'll enjoy reading it, too. And in less than three months time, you can!!!! But who's counting......

BTW, for more about the book, check out my web site at wendyclinch.com.

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.

Have you ever cat skied?

No, this has nothing to do with kitty cats on skis, with their whiskers blowing in the wind and their tails streaming behind them. (Though I'm sure that would be a sight to see!)

I'm referring instead to being transported up a mountain by a vehicle known as a "snow cat," then skiing down through fluffy pillows of powder. And yes, it's done by people, not cats.

I haven't done this yet, though I've always wanted to. From what I hear, it's an experience not to be missed!

Catskiing works a lot better for me than heli-skiing. I have a real fear of going up (but more especially, of coming down) in a helicopter. Cats never leave the ground; a definite plus, in my book.

A number of resorts offer catskiing. Monarch, Powder, and Copper, to name a few. One operation I've heard great feedback about is Powder Cowgirls, a three-day, all women's catskiing tour that operates on the Western slope of the Lizard Range of the Rockies, in SE British Columbia. I've heard that the Lizards have amazingly deep, dry snow, as well as fantastic terrain and tree skiing. Nothing wrong with that! Plus Powder Cowgirls sends along a Level 4 CSIA instructor to give you powder skiing tips (which as an east cost skier, I could definitely use!). They also provide lodging, meals, even powder skis, if you need them. I'm Diva enough -- and old enough, I guess -- to prefer a little of the creature comforts in life, and Powder Cowgirls looks like the mix of comfort and kick-ass skiing that appeals to me.*

Is catskiing for you, and does it mesh with your ski ability? My understanding is that there are catskiing operations for a wide range of abilities, from intermediate on up. A conversation with a tour operator can give you a better idea of whether or not your ability jives with what they have to offer.

There's a thread about catskiing going on now at TheSkiDiva.com. If you're a woman who's a member, log in to talk about it. And if you're not a member, register so you can.

*Full disclosure: Power Cowgirls advertises on TheSkiDiva.com. But that doesn't mean I don't really think it's cool!

Great deals. No kidding.

Getting the kids interested in skiing is a win-win situation. It gets them out into the fresh air and involved in a sport they can enjoy throughout their lives, and it gives you an excuse to be out there, too ("But honey, the kids have to ski this weekend!").

To keep costs down, a number of state ski organizations are offering some pretty killer deals. Take a look:

New York: Fourth Grade Ski and Ride Passport. For $19. a booklet, you get three lift tickets to each of 35 resorts. There's a Learn to Ski Passport, too, which offers one free beginner lesson and 20% off a second. Go to 44Free.com

Colorado: Fifth & Sixth Grade Passports.: Fifth graders get three free days at each of the 21 participating resorts. Sixth graders get four days at each resort for $99. Go to coloradoski.com

Michigan: Cold is Cool Ski & Ride Passport: Fourth graders get three free lift tickets to each of 22 participating resorts. Go to goskimichigan.com

Utah: The Fifth Grade Passport offers three free ticket at each of the state's 13 ski reosrts. The Sixth Grade Snowpass gets one free day at each. Go to skiutah.com.

Vermont: Fifth Grade Passport offers three passes to each of the state's 21 resorts. Go to skivermont.com

New Hampshire: Fourth Grade Earn Your Turns Program. Fourth grade students must research some aspect of the history of skiing in New Hampshire, and summarize the information in a report to their teacher. If the teacher finds it satisfactory, the student gets a book that gives him one free lift pass to each of the state's 37 resorts. Go to skinh.com.

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.

What you need to know about NASTC.

A few weeks ago I announced the first ever TheSkiDiva/NASTC clinic, which will place March 1-3, 2010, at Lake Tahoe.

I am so excited about this! NASTC, or the North American Ski Training Center, is one of the best clinic organizations out there. And it is going to be a real blast skiing and learning with the fantastic women from TheSkiDiva.com.

To give you a better idea of what NASTC is all about, I recently spoke with Jenny Fellows, who heads NASTC with her husband, Chris.




Q: What is NASTC, and what makes it different from any other ski clinic?

A: NASTC is an independent ski school with a proven unique philosphy and methodology towards ski improvement. NASTC offers full immersion, multi-day ski improvement programs at some of the best mountains in the world. NASTC ensures that your ski training experience is rewarding both physically and spiritually. Our goal is for you to have the best time on and off the snow.

Q: Tell me about the history of NASTC. How and when did it get started? Do you have a particular philosophy for the clinic?

A: My husband, Chris, and I started NASTC in 1994 to offer the general public a "ski academy" alternative to the quick-fix, one hour or half-day lesson. NASTC was modeled in part on the European ski school model for instructors, the Austrian Bundessportheim, which Chris had been chosen to attend for a season in 1989. We wanted people to have the chance to truly improve, to bring their skiing up a full level. Or, if they had "plateaued," to get off that intermediate or advanced plateau and up into the next realm of skiing. We felt, and still feel, that one only improves at a sport via a total immersion, multi-day approach where you have the chance to breakdown old movement patterns and rebuild with new ones. We also feel that by following and learning from the best pros in the ski business, your skiing will improve much faster and more permanently. The name we chose for our school, NASTC, or the North American Ski Training Center, contains the original vision of a home base, a "training center." We even had lodge plans drawn up by an architect friend. But we quickly saw that our clients wanted to go to different resorts, not be stuck at just one. So we now offer 28 clinics at 18 resorts in Tahoe, the US, and worldwide.

Q: Tell me something about your staff. What does it take to be a NASTC instructor?

A: Our staff is comprised of some of the top instructors in the United States. Our trainers are all Examiners and National and Regional Demo Team members, who have gone through a rigorous certification process and made a career of helping skiers like you have a better time on the snow. We handpick our instructors based on their excellence as skiers and coaches and their ability to create a fun and welcoming environment.

Q: How do you envision TheSkiDiva clinic? Levels, group sizes, skills taught?

A: We envision TheSkiDiva Clinic as a really good opportunity for women to come and improve their skiing, and also as a really good time with lots of laughter and smiles! Our NASTC Women's Team is excited to work with such an enthusiastic and passionate group of women. We will likely have several groups of different levels. Skiers will be grouped according to their skiing level and goals for the clinic. Each group will have about 7-8 skiers and will have their own focus based on the needs and goals of the group. The clinics begin with a short orientation where we split into groups and discuss our goals for the clinic. We head out to the snow and take a couple of warm up runs and make sure that everyone is in the right group. We ski all the way up to lunch. After that, you can head back outside for more free skiing and practice. We also take footage of everyone skiing, and your trainer reviews your footage with you. After the video review sessions we generally have a short tech talk on a topic that enhances your performance and knowledge of the sport. Typically the whole group gets together and goes out to dinner at one of the many wonderful local restaurants.

# # #

This is truly something not to be missed. The cost for the clinic is $790., which includes three half days of instruction, three days of lift passes, and one group dinner. Lodging packages are available at the Cedar House Sport Hotel.

And get this: if you register by November 1, you'll get 5% off!

To sign up or for more information, go to the NASTC web site or email NASTC at ski@skiNASTC.com.

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.

To buy or not to buy?

That, indeed, is the question.

Last season I vowed I'd buy nothing. Nadda. Zip. No new ski equipment at all.

Yeah, right.

Aside from skis, I bought all new everything: gloves, boots, poles, jackets (2 of these, actually), ski pants, base layers. You get the picture.

It's really shameful. But the deals were just too good. I just couldn't pass them up.

This year I vowed the same. After all, after last season, what else could I possibly need? Except I blew it already. During my visit to the outlets at Freeport, Maine (home of LL Bean), I succumbed. I ended up with a North Face Thunder Jacket (but it was just what I was looking for! And at such a good price!) and a classic ski sweater (perfect for book signings!).

Did I need these things? No. But skiing is my weakness, and need had nothing to do with it.

Anyway, my intention when I started this post was to direct you to a listing of the many ski swaps you can find this time of year; excellent sources for gear that's either used or just left over from last year. Follow this link to a thread over at TheSkiDiva.

And happy shopping. Like me, you may find a deal that's just too good to pass 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.

40 miles and 7 lighthouses.

That was the theme this morning, when my husband, Jon, and I did the Maine Lighthouse Ride, a fundraiser for the Eastern Trails Alliance in Portland, Maine. We came to Portland from Vermont especially to do this scenic ride.

Well, that and to eat lobster rolls, of course.



















It really was a lot of fun. The coastline of Maine is beautiful. The ride took us along the shore, where we could see the islands of Casco Bay and enjoy the boats and ships going in and out of the harbor.

About 300 people registered for the ride, some for 100 miles, some for 62, some for 40, and some for 25. We opted for 40, and for me, it was enough.

Here are a few of the lighthouses we saw:





































































What does this have to do with skiing? Well, if skiing starts in the middle of November -- and hopefully, it will -- it's important to concentrate on getting in shape. And biking is a great way to do it.

This was a great day.

Now excuse me -- it's time for more lobster roll!

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.

Is three too many?

Websites, that is. Because yes, I have another one.

But before you call me narcissistic, hear me out. I can explain!

First I started this blog so I could spout off about all sorts of things. Well, mostly about skiing. Then I started TheSkiDiva.com, so women who love to ski could talk to one another about anything ski-related.

But then I wrote a mystery: DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY. It's coming out from Minotaur Books on January 5, and yes, I needed a website for that, too.

The site is WendyClinch.com, and if you visit, you'll find all sorts of stuff about the book. Which -- surprise of surprises -- has to do with skiing, too.

But DOUBLE BLACK isn't just for skiers. I wrote it so anyone could enjoy it. There's financial intrigue, dirty dealings, a little bit of romance, and of course, murder. There's also plenty of New England atmosphere. And a lot of local color.

It's fun. I think you'll enjoy it. And you'll enjoy the website, too.

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.

Thanks, Ted.

I'm talking about Ted Kennedy, who died last night from brain cancer at the age of 77.

I'm sure you'll hear everything you need to know about this distinguished senator from the news media. But I wanted to pay special tribute to Kennedy here for two important reasons:

First, Kennedy was instrumental in the passage of Title IX of the Education Enactments of 1972. Even though Title IX was not initially about athletics, it did a huge amount in establishing gender equality in sports budgets and competitions. Before the law passed in 1972, girls made up only 7 percent of high school sports participants. Now, more than 40 percent of high school athletes are female, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations.

And second, Kennedy also sponsored the Family and Medical Leave Act in 1993, which guaranteed 12 weeks of unpaid leave a year following the birth or adoption of a child, or as result of a serious illness in the immediate family. This made it possible for many women (and men, too!) to address serious family concerns without fear of losing their jobs.

Today, many of us take these pieces of legislation for granted. But these were truly groundbreaking when they were enacted, and have done much to change the way we live our lives.

Kennedy wasn't perfect, and in the coming days I'm sure we'll all be subjected to the same sort of canonization we witnessed with the death of Michael Jackson. But he did do an incredible amount of good, and for that, we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

So I'll say it again, for millions of American women: Thanks, Ted. May you rest in peace.

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.

Kayaking the Connecticut

Even though we're in the final throes of August, it seems like summer's just getting started, here in Vermont. June and July were nearly total washouts: cool and rainy, without much opportunity for outdoor activities. As a result, we've had to cram a lot of our summer fun into recent weeks.

For me, this included kayaking the Connecticut River. For those of you who don't know, the Connecticut is the river that separates Vermont from New Hampshire. And the part that we kayaked -- from Hartland, VT, to below Cornish, NH -- is a beautiful stretch. No houses or buildings lining the shoreline. Just trees, a view of the mountains, and now and then an eagle soaring into view.

This was not a rapids running, heart thumping sort of a trip. After being transported 12 miles upriver, we launched our rented kayaks into water that was as smooth as glass.

Here's the view, heading down the river:


















Here we're approaching the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest double-span covered bridge in North America:


















And here I go, under the bridge:


















No, it wasn't skiing. But all the same, a great way to spend a summer day.


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.

We have a cover....

....for DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, my debut novel, coming to your favorite bookstore on Jauary 5, 2010.

DOUBLE BLACK is a ski-related mystery about a young woman who heads for a Vermont ski town to pursue the ski-bum lifestyle, only to stumble upon financial intrigue, bitter family warfare, and murder. It has lots of quirky characters, loads of New England atmosphere, and stars a young woman with nerve, spunk, and a sense of humor about it all.

Here's the first line:

“When Stacey Curtis found the dead man in the bed, she knew it was time to get her own apartment.”

Intriguing, huh?

It's a lot of fun, if I do say so myself, for skiers and non-skiers alike.

You can even pre-order it now at Amazon.com. Hey, why wait?

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.

Learn from the Best, and Ski with the Divas!

Here's your chance to ramp your skiing up to the next level and have a blast doing it!

TheSkiDiva.com is partnering with the North American Ski Training Center to offer our first ever women's ski clinic, March 1-3 in Tahoe, CA.

This is going to be fanastic. NASTC is a top drawer organization. Headed by Chris and Jenny Fellows and headquartered in Tahoe, their instructors are members of the PSIA Demo Team and/or the LUNA Ladies Team, an elite group of women instructors sponsored by LUNA Whole Nutrition for Women and NASTC. The clinics will take place during the mornings of March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd — you'll have the afternoons to practice and explore. We'll spend one day at Squaw, one day at Alpine Meadows, and one day at Sugar Bowl. Group sizes will be kept small and the instruction will be top notch.

Truly, this is something not to be missed!

The cost: $790. This includes three half days of instruction, three days of lift passes, and one group dinner. Lodging packages are available at the Cedar House Sport Hotel.

And get this: if you register by November 1, you'll get 5% off!

To sign up or for more information, go to the NASTC web site or email NASTC at ski@skiNASTC.com.

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 Calendars!

Because five months from today, January 5, is the publication date for my debut novel, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY.

Published by Thomas Dunne, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, DOUBLE BLACK follows the adventures of Stacey Curtis, a young woman who ditches her cheating fiance and heads for a Vermont ski town to pursue the ski-bum lifestyle. Instead, she stumbles into financial intrigue, bitter family warfare, and yes, murder. It was a lot of fun to write, and I think it's a great read not only for people who love to ski, but for anyone who loves a good story.

Right now I'm hard at work on Book #2 -- DOUBLE BLACK is the first of a series -- so be sure to mark your calendars so you can get in on where it all begins.

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 Countdown Begins

Even in the heat of mid-July, some of us are dreaming of when the landscape changes from green to white.

Loveland Ski Area in Colorado has posted its snowmaking countdown.

To see when they'll start blowing the white stuff, 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.

Home is where the heart is.

I grew up on the Jersey Shore. And even though it felt like home while I was living there, it certainly doesn't anymore. Over the years the area's changed so profoundly that I barely recognize it. What was once a town where everyone knew one another has become a large, ugly place characterized by traffic gridlock, suburban sprawl, and over population.

After graduating college, I moved to suburban Philadelphia. And though I lived there for nearly thirty years, somehow it never really felt like home. To me, home is a place where you feel truly comfortable. Truly yourself. And suburban PA, with it's shopping malls, heavy traffic, and housing developments, didn't do it for me, either.

Then a few years ago I moved to Vermont. Something about the area spoke to me, unlike any other place I'd been. When I entered the state, I could feel my soul exhale. And though I've only been here a few years and will never be considered a native (the old timers will always call me a "flatlander"), to me, it is truly home.

Everyone defines home differently. My parents and sister think my move to the Green Mountain State is just short of madness. They're perfectly happy in Florida in an environment that's the complete opposite of where I live. Florida -- well, let's just say it's not for me.

A friend of mine, Jessica Brilliant Keener, has started a blog called Confessions of a Hermit Crab, where you can share your joys, sorrows, and reflections about home. And even though it has nothing to do with skiing, I encourage you to pay it a visit. Because even after we're done skiing, we all have to go home. Why not talk about it.

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.

Alison Gannett, Off Season

Here's another genuine Ski Diva weighing in on how she stays fit during the off season:

Alison Gannett.

In addition to being a world champion Free Skier, a ski film star, a ski designer, and a master instructor, Alison has dedicated herself to championing environmental causes, tirelessly working to make our planet a better place. She's worked on the environment with Al Gore, started the Save Our Snow Foundation and The Office For Resource Efficiency, teaches environmental awareness with the Global Cooling Tour, and been named one of the Green All Stars by Outside Magazine.

Q: What athletic activities do you participate in during the off season? Why did you choose these and what is it that you like about them?

A: I surf, road bike, bike tour, mountain bike, practice yoga, and run. I don't "train" per se, rather I choose things that are fun for me. I love to bike tour -- great exercise while enabling me to get exercise while traveling for work on the road. I love using different muscle groups and doing something really different -- like surfing. I love the peace of the water, working on a really hard sport, while using my arms and back more than I normally do.

Q: Is there any particular activity you do that keeps you in shape for skiing? How? How often do you do it and what does it involve?

A: I like sports that exercise my whole body. Surfing big waves keeps me in killer shape while having fun, as do all my biking sports, while yoga keeps me balanced -- especially after eight knee surgeries. I like to vary my exercise so that it is fun and different. I try to do something every day.

Q: Do you ski during the summer months, say in South America or some other location? Is this for fun or for training purposes? Can you tell me about it?

A: I used to ski a bunch in the summer in South America, but I really like the change of the seasons and really enjoy my other sports and also compete mountain biking. That being said, I live at 9,000 feet, and we can ski almost all year round here, if you want to!

To find out more about Alison Gannett, visit her web site at www.alisonganett.com

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.