SIA Demo Days.

This post is somewhat delayed. I actually tried all these skis back in February at the Snowsports Industry Demo Day at Stratton, Vermont, and then, well, I got busy skiing, living, etc., and neglected to post. My apologies.

The SIA Industry Demo Days is a fantastic event. Equipment manufacturers come together to display their gear for next season. And retailers and people from the press (that’s me!) get to try them out.

Unfortunately, I only got to attend for one day. A monster snow storm made driving to Stratton impossible for day #2. So sadly, there were a lot of skis that I wasn't able to try. A clear case of too many skis, not enough time.

SO. Here's my reaction to a few of the skis that I had the privilege of trying. Not all of them are new for next season, but they were new to me, so I guess that counts.

Salomon Diamond: This is the female version of the Tornado, and the highest end women's ski that Salomon has to offer. It's designed by Wendy Fisher, former Olympic skier and member of the US Ski Team. I found it very stable and easy to turn; a versatile ski that can take you all over the mountain.

Volkl Kenja: This is similar to the Aura but with an 88 waist, making it more of an All Mountain Ski. Unlike the Aura, the Kenja features the Biologic profile. This means that the tail is a bit more tapered so it can snap out of the turns more easily. This ski does it all – it skis the ice like it’s on rails, and it'll bust through powder, too. If you're looking for a ski that can take you everywhere, the Kenja will do it.

Dynastar Active: Even though the Active isn't new, I thought I’d try it, anyway. An intermediate ski with a 70 waist, the Active features Autodrive-W technology to concentrate pressure over the tips for better turn initiation, and under the foot for maximum edgehold. A definite recommend for an intermediate skier. It's lightweight, easy to turn, quick, and fun.

Blizzard Viva Magnum 7.6 and 8.1: Blizzard has a great line-up of women’s skis: the Blizzard Magnum 7.4, 7.6, and the 8.1. I skied the 7.6 last year and took it out again because, well, I could. I'm not sorry I did. The 7.6 is a fantastic ski. Blizzard hasn’t changed this at all from last year, which in this case, is a very good thing. The 7.6 will everywhere, do anything you want. However, they did change the 8.1; they removed some of the metal from it to make it a little less stiff. Nonetheless, it’s still a strong, expert level ski with terrific energy. Highly recommend.

Nordica Infinite: This was one my favs of the day. The Infinite replaces the Nordica Victory. It’s a little wider underfoot and has a new profile. I found this ski extremely energetic with great rebound, yet very stable, too. The Infinite is a little wider underfoot than the Victory and features a more modern sidecut profile.

Nordica Nemesis: These are great on powder, ice, crap, you name it. It's a terrific great all mountain ski. If I didn't have the Auras already (not that I'm unhappy with them), I'd get this in a heartbeat.

K2: News flash -- ALL the K2 skis for 2011 are rockered. This means the skis bend up a bit fore and aft of the binding. The result is supposed to be better performance in powder and a smoother ride in crud. The Lotta Luv is included it this. I've been hearing a lot about the Lottas from the women on TheSkiDiva.com, though I didn't have a chance to give them a try. These are definitely on my list, though.

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 end is near.

I'm afraid it's just about that time. Ski season is definitely winding down here in Vermont. Bare patches are starting to appear on the slopes, and conditions are gloopy by noon. Yesterday I saw flowers blooming outside my favorite bookstore, Northshire Books in Manchester, VT (where, BTW, you can still order signed copies of my book, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY. Just go here.).  And the snow has nearly disappeared from my front yard.

So it's just about time to address the question: what do you do with your skis during the off season?  Do you put them in your garage? Stow them under the bed? Hide them in the attic?

To keep your skis in the best possible conditions, there are a few measures you should take when you put them away for the season:

• Clean your bases to remove any old, hard wax, make sure they're completely dry, and then cover them with a heavy coat of wax so they don't dry out over the summer. If you don't want to do it yourself, find a ski shop that will do it for you.
• Avoid storing them in any environment that experiences temperature extremes and moisture, like an attic, basement, or garage. Instead, put them some place where the temperature is fairly constant.
• Separate your skis, but don't lay them flat. And this is very important: Do not bind them closed with the camber compressed.
• Be sure they are not in contact with a concrete floor because there can be a reaction between the chemicals in concrete and the aluminum in skis.
• Lock the heel of the binding in the up position and lower the release setting to the lowest setting. This will take the tension off the springs in the binding and allow it to recover from the stress of a season's use.
• Store your boots with the buckles closed. Plastic has a memory, so this is important to help them retain their original shape. 
• Make sure your boots are completely dry, then stuff them with paper towels. This will prevent mice or spiders from using them as a summer home.

Even after I've put my skis away, I'll still be thinking about skiing all summer.  If you're a woman, you can join the rest of us ski addicts who talk about skiing all year long at TheSkiDiva.com.

On the Edge.

There are a few women in ski racing who become household names: Andrea Mead Lawrence, Picabo Street, Suzy Chaffee, and more recently, Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Vonn.

But if you're an American, you may have missed someone else who really stands out:

Nancy Greene.

In Canada, Nancy Greene is a pretty big deal. With good reason, too. Nancy won Gold and Silver medals at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France, and overall World Cup titles in '67 and '68. Her total of 13 World Cup victories is still a Canadian record, and she's won 17 Canadian championship titles in all disciplines. Since retiring from racing shortly after the Olympics, Nancy has been instrumental in promoting ski tourism in Canada, and in 1999 was named Canadian Athlete of the Century.

Not bad, right?

Not bad at all.

I just finished watching a very interesting documentary called "Nancy Greene, On the Edge." The movie traces her racing career and has a lot of terrific old footage (how did they race on those long, skinny skis and leather lace up boots?), along with some fascinating interviews with Nancy and her coaches, family, and teammates.

For me, the best thing about the movie was the way it showed Nancy not just as a racer, but as a human being, as well. Her competitive drive, her concerns, her spirit are well documented, giving us a more rounded picture of a person who's more than just an athlete. It was also an interesting portal onto a different era. Seeing how she raced on that equipment is pretty incredible. But more than that -- after she won the Gold, the City of Vancouver gave her a ticker tape parade. Children were given a holiday from school. I can't imagine this happening today. Times have definitely changed.

Nancy was also one of the first Olympic athletes to capitalize on her Olympic medals. This is pretty standard stuff now, but groundbreaking when she did it back in the late '60's. The movie addressed this and showed how she grew into the businesswoman she is today.

There's no question that Nancy was, and continues to be, an inspiration to skiers everywhere -- more particularly, to women skiers. You might want to check out "On The Edge." If you're not a Nancy Greene fan, I think you'll become one.

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.

NASTC clinic, revisited.

I know I've been out of touch for a while.

Well, there's a very good reason. I was in Tahoe, skiing with members of TheSkiDiva.com during our annual Diva Week, and attending the first ever TheSkiDiva/NASTC clinic.

All I can say is WOW.  Meeting members of the forum that I've only had the chance to communicate with online was an absolute delight. These are athletic, empowered women who love skiing as much as I do, and who aren't afraid to get out there and kick some skiing ass. If you're a woman who loves to ski and you're not a member of TheSkiDiva.com, I strongly encourage you to join.

I also have to announce the beginning of a new love affair. Yes, this Vermont skier absolutely fell head over heels  with Tahoe. So much to ski, such terrific terrain. We managed to hit Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl, Northstar, and Squaw, each one incredible in its own special way. I'd have loved to have skied Homewood, Heavenly, and Kirkwood, too, but those will have to wait for another trip. And I WILL be back.

And the clinic was everything I hoped it would be. We spent three half days with instructors from the North American Ski Training Center, a first rate ski clinic headquartered in Truckee, CA.  Run by Chris and Jenny Fellows, NASTC has a reputation as one of the world's foremost ski clinics. We worked in small groups of four or five skiers per instructor, tackling one task at a time, each run building on the one before it. We were even fortunate enough to get a huge dump during our day at Squaw (mid-thigh, people!),  which our instructors took as an opportunity to turn into a powder skiing lesson.

Here are pix from this amazing trip:




This was truly an incredible experience. Hope you can join us next year!

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.

Love Winter, Hate The Oil Sands.

Like anyone who loves to ski, I love winter. So imagine a world where there's no cold weather. Where it's become too warm to snow. Where we're not able -- perish the thought -- to ski!

So imagine if there was something we could do about it.

There is.

The Sierra Club recently launched a campaign called Love Winter, Hate The Oil Sands, to halt the drilling for oil sands in Canada. Oil sand production emits three times the pollution of conventional oil and requires clear cutting ancient forests, wasting and polluting water, and leaving behind massive toxic lakes. By accelerating climate change, the oil sands threaten to bring more drought, receding glaciers, and early snowmelt to the planet, creating a bleak future for sports like skiing and snowboarding.

The industry has proposed expanding into the US via a sprawling network of pipelines and refineries that would crisscross Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota and Illinois, in many cases using substandard pipe and threatening drinking water and farmland.

The oil sands project is being opposed by many top winter athletes, such as Alison Gannett, world champion freeskier and founder of the Save Our Snow Foundation.  I'm not in her league, but I'm against it, too.  If you want to join me in taking action against the oil sands, you can go here to sign a petition to President Obama.

For more information about oil sands, go here. Or for more about Love Winter, Hate The Oil Sands, go here. 

Let's all do what we can to save a sport, and a season, we love.

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.

Gear Review: Opedix S1 Ski & Snowboard Tight

I have a number of friends who suffer from knee problems, so I know the damper it can put on a good ski day. Some of them try to get by with ace bandages or braces, but these can be bulky and difficult to fit comfortably under base layers.

Enter Opedix S1 ski and snowboard tights. In full disclosure, Opedix's PR firm sent me a pair to review. I can't say I'm necessarily the best choice to do this. As of now (knock wood), I don't have any knee problems. But  I do find the concept and technology behind the Opedix products quite intriguing.  So I figured I'd give it a go.

First, some background: Opedix developed the S1 was in conjunction with the Steadman Hawkins Foundation, a world renowned orthopedic clinic in Vail, Colorado. According to the company, the tights feature a patent pending anchor and sling design to provide support to the outside of the knee. This, they say, promotes proper alignment, which can lead to less strain and fatigue.

You can see the sling design as soon as you pull them out of the package. There's a circular fabric cup that centers on the knee -- sort of like a bull's eye.  Slip them on, and you can feel the support right away. I think the idea is to distribute the stress around your knee, to keep it away the knee, itself. The tights are also quite snug fitting, with a "four way compressive fit" that the company says keeps your muscles fresher longer.

So I took these tights skiing. Even though they're fairly thick, I supplemented them with another base layer. I'm always cold, and the wind chill was well below zero today. I'm sure the tights would be fine out west where it's usually warmer. But it can be brutal here in New England.

How did the tights perform? They're extremely well made, very comfortable, and quite supportive. You can feel the compressive fit against your muscles right away. But their strong suit is definitely knee support. I don't know if they'd eliminate the need, say, for an ace bandage or a brace -- I think that would depend on your individual situation -- but for moderate support, I think they do a good job. Did it make my muscles feel fresher longer? That I honestly can't say. But I'm sure it couldn't hurt.

The S1 tights aren't cheap, retailing for $190. But if it helps you ski longer, I'm sure it's worth every penny. That's a decision you have to make, yourself.

BTW, Opedix is offering a 15% discount if you use the promotional code "skistrongerdiva." 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.

Why you can't order a copy of DOUBLE BLACK on Amazon. And where you can get one, instead.

It figures. My debut novel, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, comes out on January 5, and the publishing world goes insane.

Here's what's happening:

Amazon and Macmillan have disagreed over e-book pricing strategies, and Amazon has suspended the sale of all Macmillan titles — electronic and hardcopy versions alike — as a result. This includes books published by Henry Holt; Picador; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; and my publisher, St. Martin's Press.

That doesn't mean you can't get a copy at your favorite bookstore or other online sites, like BarnesandNoble.com or Indiebound. Better yet, you can order a signed copy through my favorite bookstore, Northshire Books in Manchester, VT.

I still have a few author events lined up, too, so stop by to buy a book, or just to say hi:

Friday, February 5, 3PM
The Book Nook, Ludlow, VT

Saturday, February 6, 3-6PM
Aspen East Ski Shop, Killington, VT

Saturday, February 13, 4PM
Passholders Party, Mount Snow Resort
West Dover, VT

Friday, February 19, 7PM
Phoenix Books, Essex, VT

Saturday, February 20, 11AM-1PM
Spruce Peak Ski Shop, Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe, VT

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.

Back from Schweitzer

Yep, I'm back from four days in north Idaho. Not the easiest place to get to from Vermont, but definitely well worth it.

If you haven't heard of Schweitzer, you're not alone. A lot of people haven't. I'd mention to someone where I was going, and they'd give me a blank look and say, "Where??"

But that's not a bad thing. Because this way, it remains a nicely kept, kind of off-the-beaten track secret. At 2,900 acres, Schweitzer is definitely not hiding (compare that to 632 acres for my local mountain, Okemo). And there's plenty to keep you busy. You like trees? There are tons. You like steep? You got it. Moguls? Got them, too. And the view? Incredible. From the front side, you look out over Lake Pend Orielle (pronounced Pond Oray):

Here's the view from the Outback, or the back side of the mountain, where there's a ton of great skiing, too:

Schweitzer averages 300 inches of snow, and it's way down this year. Still, there was a lot of snow and zero ice. And with temps in the low 30's, no wind, and BLUE skies (I understand that's very unusual there. But it's unusual in Vermont, too), it was especially pleasant skiing weather.

Is it needless to say I had a great time? Well, I'll say it, anyway. I had a great time. I give it two ski poles 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.

Heading to Schweitzer.

I'm pretty excited. Tomorrow I'm traveling to Schweitzer for a few days of skiing.

"Schweitzer?" I hear you say. "Where's that?"

Schweitzer's in Northern Idaho, and though it's not as well known or as big as say, Vail or Whistler, it has plenty to offer. Schweitzer has 2,900 skiable acres (in comparison, my home mountain, Okemo in Vermont, has 632), a vertical drop of  2,400 feet, and an average annual snowfall of 300 inches. And though it hasn't had the recent big dumps of Tahoe or Jackson Hole, I have good friends who live there, so I'll still have a good time.

Hey, it isn't always only about the skiing. (Did I just say that????)

Getting there won't be easy. First we have to drive 3 hours to the airport in Boston, then fly from Boston to Spokane via Denver, and then drive another couple hours once we land. Tomorrow looks like a long day.

But today is for getting ready. Which means I have to figure out A) which skis to bring, B) which clothes to pack, and C) how to stow it all.

One thing is easy: I always carry my boots on board. I mean, I could always rent skis if they don't arrive, but boots? I don't think so. I'll stow a day's worth of ski clothes with my boots, as well, so I'll be sure to have something to ski in, no matter what. And I'll put all this in my Transpack, a backpack boot carrier, which is pretty easy to handle and fits easily in the plane's overhead compartment.

Next, skis. I'm still in a quandary about which ones to bring. A trip out west usually requires bringing wider skis, like my Volkl Auras (94 waist). On the other hand, Schweitzer hasn't had a lot of new snow and it doesn't look like there's much in the forecast. So I'm thinking of bringing my Volkl Tierras, instead (78 waist).

No matter which skis I choose, they'll be packed in my Sportube, a hardshell ski bag that provides a good measure of protection. Plus it has wheels, which makes it easy to roll through the airport.

Now on to everything else. Two pair baselayers (yes, I'll do laundry when I'm out there), two fleeces, a pair of goggles, my helmet, Hotronics boot warmers (my feet are always cold), my camera, two apres ski outfits, two fleeces, and assorted socks, toiletries, hairdryer, etc. All this goes in a suitcase I'll check with Southwest. And hope for the best.

Of course, I have to bring my computer. That comes onboard with me. No, I can't go unplugged.

Here's something interesting. Look at all the electronic crap, er, I mean wiring I have to bring along. Sheesh! Kind of makes you long for an earlier time, doesn't it?




So enough thinking about packing. It's time to do it.

Catch you later.

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.

Tick tock, tick tock.

It'll be here before you know it: TheSkiDiva/NASTC clinic!

For the first time, TheSkiDiva is partnering with the North American Ski Training Center (NASTC) for a great women's clinic in beautiful Lake Tahoe, California. NASTC is an incredible operation. 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 team 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'l 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 3 half-days of instruction, three days of lift tickets at the clinic locales (one at Squaw, one at Alpine Meadows, and one at Sugar Bowl), and one group dinner. Lodging packages are available at The Cedar House Sport Hotel.

Interested? And who wouldn't be! Contact NASTC at ski@skinastc.com for more details.

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.

It's Launch Day for DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY

Yes, I'm excited. Can you blame me? As of today, it's on the shelves and ready to roll!

For those of you who don't know, DOUBLE BLACK  is my debut novel. It's a ski mystery that features a young woman who moves to a Vermont ski town to become a ski bum. She doesn't have any money so she ends up sleeping in her car, until one day she stumbles across a ring of master keys for the area's vacation condos. Since the condos are unoccupied most of the time, she reasons, why not put them to good use? So she starts going from condo to condo, spending one night here, one night there, until late one night she opens a door and discovers -- a dead body. And that's where the book takes off.


I'll be making author appearances at some book stores, ski shops, and ski resorts. If one of these is near you, how about stopping in to say hi?

January 8, 7:00 PM
Mystery on Main Street
Brattleboro, VT

January 9, 7:00 PM
Northshire Bookstore
Manchester, VT

January 23, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Okemo Mountain Resort, Jackson Gore Inn lobby
Ludlow, VT

January 29, 7:00 PM
Auntie's Bookstore
Spokane, WA

February 5, 3:00 PM
The Book Nook
Ludlow, VT

February 6, 3:00-6:00 PM
Aspen East Ski Shop
Killington, VT

February 13, 4:00 PM
Mount Snow Resort
Dover, VT

February 19, 7:00 PM
Phoenix Books
Essex, VT

February 20, Time TBA
Spruce Peak Sports, Stowe Mt. Resort
Stowe, VT

If you can't make it and want a signed copy, you can order one from my favorite bookstore, Northshire Books in Manchester Center, VT. When you order, just put in the Comments section that you want an autographed copy.

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.

Reflections on Snow

As 2009 winds down to a close, I thought I'd end it with a poem by my friend, Cathy Quaglia, owner of Aspen East, a terrific ski shop in nearby Killington, VT. I love the peace and imagery of it. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Reflections on Snow

Snow's origin, not so obvious

as glancing in a mirror

catching your image in a puddle

or standing at the edge of a lake.

Snow possesses more depth and magic

falling flakes slowly pile up

like minutes and months and miles

nature's glistening white story.

Each unique shape, a cold ornament

artfully decorates the forests

roofs, hillsides, brooks all transform

into one resting blanket of silence.

Sun warms and combines invisible crystals

rising moon provides a vast night light

wind pattens the landscape

and the elements play their game.

Past child imagines and excites in the wonder

creates and plays out an adventure

now skillful gliding curves renew the freedom

as we soar over varied frozen surfaces.

Drifting thoughts suggest balance found

in snow's purity, truth and promise

reveal meanings in winter's bright gift

ever grateful for mountain life.

-- Cathy Quaglia

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.

In the negative.

Ever had negative thoughts while skiing? Times when you're less than confident or when you beat yourself up for not skiing as well as you think you should?

You're not alone.

This was the subject of a thread on TheSkiDiva.com, and I thought I'd share a few of the ways our members have of dealing with this:

• Pump up the jams, baby: Listen to music. It'll distract you from feeling nervous or uneasy. If you don't have an iPod, sing! 
• Take a break, do something different: It might help you break the cycle.
• Reassess: Figure out what's causing the negativity.  If it's the cold, go in and warm up. If it's the people you're skiing with, head off by yourself for a while. In short, think of a positive way to change the situation.
• Remember that it's not a competition. You're not in the Olympics. You don't have to be the best one out there. Just be yourself.
• Repeat positive affirmations. Give yourself a pat on the back for the things you can do, rather than beat yourself up for the things you can't.
• Pack it in for the day. It's okay to quit. There's always another day.
• Take a lesson. Improving your skills is a good way to set yourself up for future success. And make it easy for yourself to learn. Don't try to learn to ski bumps when they're icy hard, or learn to ski crud when it's like a coral reef out there.
• Find a comfortable run and hang out there for a while. You don't have to ski the most challenging stuff all the time. It's okay to relax and back it down.
• Adjust your expectations: Realize you can't be an expert skier in a day or even a week. Set realistic goals for yourself, and work to achieve them.
• Visualize: Envision that you can do it, and picture how it should be done. Getting the right way set in your mind's eye can do wonders.
• Don't try to control the things that you can't: The weather is not up to you. Neither is the grooming or the light or a million other things. Accept what is and only change what you can.

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....

And so far, so good.

I'm talking about reviews for my debut novel, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, coming January 5 from Minotaur Books.

Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say:

For all its fluffy powder and Green Mountain gemütlich, Vermont's Spruce Peak has a decidedly sinister side in Clinch's easy, breezy debut. Bostonian Stacey Curtis, a grad student turned ski bum, quickly discovers that when she finds a dead man with “the jagged oily chain from a chain saw yanked tight around his neck.” Though she has headed for the hills in hopes of lessening the drama in her life (think cheating fiancé), spunky Stacey's amateur sleuthing efforts send her schussing into fresh intrigue, danger, and just maybe romance with hunky ski patroller/trust funder Chip Walsh. Clinch, a Vermont resident who runs a popular Web site for women who ski (www.TheSkiDiva.com), clearly knows—and loves—the terrain, conjuring the kind of bewitching winter wonderland and endearing New England characters that will leave readers antsy for a return visit.

There are more, too. About.com recently ran a review that partly said this (for the full review, go here):

You'll love Double Black if you ever ski bummed awhile, you'll love it more if you only wished you did. Wendy Clinch gives us the personality of a small ski town and all the personalities that live there and that the mountains draw there, and the subtle animosity of ski town locals to the flatlanders that they can't make a living without. Clinch presents neat crispy skiing times on bluebird powder days and full moon nights that will have you tuning skis even if it's summer.

And there was a feature about DOUBLE BLACK that ran in this past Sunday's issue of The Rutland Herald/Barre Times Argus. You can see it here.

Hard for me to believe the book will be out in just a couple weeks, though it's already available for pre-order at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and IndieBound.com.

And if you're looking for an autographed copy, you can order it from my favorite bookstore, Northshire Books in Manchester Center, VT. When you order, just note in the Comments field that you want a signed copy.

Happy reading!

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.

Bailing on a ski day (or how to avoid frostbite).

Have you ever bailed on a ski day?

I did this morning. I heard it was going to be cold, so I bundled up and felt pretty good as I headed out. Even though the thermometer in the car read 5°F, I've skied in worse. But the closer I got to the mountain (I only live 7 miles away) the windier it seemed to get. And when I got out of the car, the wind was blowing so hard I could hardly make it up to the lodge. Still, I did it, carrying my skis, wondering just how quickly it takes to develop facial frostbite in what seemed to be 40 mph gusts at frigid temps.

Suffice it to say that until the friend I was meeting walked in, I was the only one there. The lifts were down -- at least for the moment, the winds were whipping like mad, and needle-like particles of snow were blowing in pain-inducing sheets. We could only imagine how bad it must be at the top. A wind chill of -30° at least. We bailed.

I think if I'd driven, say, three hours to get there for my one and only ski day of the week, I might have had second thoughts. But the beauty of living so close to the mountain, having a season pass, and the ability to ski during the week makes bailing a whole lot easier. It's just not worth the risk of frostbite.

Which brings me to something important: what is frostbite and how do you know if you have it? I found this online at a site called Outdoorplaces.com, and thought it'd be worth posting here:

Frostbite is a medical condition that can happen to anyone. In the most basic terms frostbite is when the skin and/or the tissue under the skin freezes and causes cell damage. This is caused by exposure to cold, either through the air or through a chemical exposure, like to dry ice (frozen CO2) or highly compressed gasses. Under extreme conditions frostbite can occur in seconds. The elderly, young children, people with circulator disorders, and people from tropical climates have a higher risk factor of getting frostbite. People who have had previous cold injuries are also particularly at risk of getting injuries again in the same places.


Frostbite comes in three levels of severity or degrees.


First degree, also called frost nip: Most people who live in very cold climates or do a lot of outdoor activity in the winter have had first degree frostbite (just as most people have had a first degree burn when they get sunburn). Frost nip presents itself as numbed skin that has turned white in color. The skin may feel stiff to the touch, but the tissue under is still warm and soft. There is very little chance of blistering, infection or permanent scarring as long as it is treated properly.


Second degree, superficial frostbite: Superficial frostbite is a serious medical condition that needs to be treated by a trained medical professional. The skin will be white or blue and will feel hard and frozen. The tissue underneath is still undamaged. Blistering is likely which is why medical treatment should be sought out. Proper treatment is critical to prevent severe or permanent injuries.


Third degree, deep frostbite: The skin is white, blotchy and/or blue. The tissue underneath is hard and cold to the touch. This is a life threatening injury. Deep frostbite needs to be treated by a trained medical professional. The tissue underneath has been damaged, in severe cases amputation may be the final recourse to prevent severe infection. Blistering will happen. Proper medical treatment in a medical facility with personnel trained to deal with severe frostbite injuries is required to aid in the prevention of severe or permanent injury.


Just what does frostbite do to the tissues? When you are exposed to cold with the extremities including your feet, hands, nose, ears, and face being at the highest risk, the blood vessels constrict. This is a natural reaction to prevent body heat loss and hypothermia. With a loss of warming blood flow (or in extreme cases where blood flow can not compete with the extreme cold) the fluid within your cells and tissues start to freeze forming ice crystals. These ice crystals take up more room within the cells then when in a fluid state, and cause the cells to rupture. Also, sudden warming can cause the cells to rupture. This is why large blisters can form when there is superficial or severe frostbite.


Frostbite can occur in as little as thirty-seconds in extreme conditions, and even faster in the case of chemical injuries (which we won't cover here). Factors like wind chill, alcohol consumption, altitude, getting wet or being damp and how long you are exposed to the cold all impact how quickly and how severe frostbite can be. Long term exposure to moderate cold with wet boots can cause a more serious injury than a short-term exposure to severe cold with inadequate boots in the case of your feet. It is a complex equation that needs to be weighed careful when being outdoors in the cold 

There's no shame in cutting a ski day short or giving it up altogether. I hate to miss any day on the slopes. But given the real danger from frostbite today, I think I did the right thing. It takes a lot for me to bag a ski day, but this definitely would not have been pleasant.

And of course, there's always tomorrow.

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.

Ski Review: Volkl Tierra

I've spent two days on this ski now to give myself plenty of time to see how I liked it, and my verdict is in:

It's a great ski.

Why? It can do it all. It rides the ice like it's on rails. It has a huge shovel so it can go in the chop, the crud, and in several inches of pow without a hitch. It's stable, steady, but with great energy. And it has a huge sidecut, so it turns like nobody's business.

The dimensions: 129-78-99. I have it in the 156. I'm an advanced skier, 110 lbs, 5'1".

The Tierra has Volkl's new Bio-Logic system which they say puts a female skier in a more neutral stance. According to the rep I spoke with a while ago, traditional bindings have the heels jacked up. When you combine that with the higher ramp angle you typically find in a woman’s boots, you end up being tipped too far forward. To combat this, Volkl has raised the toe in the binding. The result is better balance of the hamstring and glutes and 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.

To be honest, I'd be hard put to evaluate the difference between the old and new Volkl technology, unless I skied the two back to back. What I will say is that I had no problem with it. I felt comfortable, in balance, and in control.

The ski is fun, fun, fun. What could be better than that?

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.

Rad Boob!

No, I'm not calling you a name or commenting on your appearance.

"Rad Boob" refers to a calendar put together by a group of kick-ass women skiers to raise money for breast cancer. Organized by skiers Sarah Frood, third place finisher in 2008's Overall Canadian Freeskiing Tour and the Lake Louise Freeski Competition, and Tessa Treadway, third place finisher in 2008's Canadian Freeski Tour, the calendar features top women skiers in some amazing action shots, along with personal stories of how breast cancer has affected their lives. It's a calendar that everyone -- Ski Divas and non-Ski Divas alike -- will want to own. And with the holiday season approaching, it makes a great gift, too!

Here, Sarah gives us some background on this remarkable calendar.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the calendar? How and why did you decide to do this?

A: It seems like everyone has a breast cancer story, whether it’s personal, a friend, a mother, an aunt; it affects so many people. My mother had breast cancer about two years ago and is still going strong as a survivor, but it was a terrifying experience for my family.

We had a group of girlfriends that would ski together at Kicking Horse a couple of seasons ago. We were all wearing pink one day for a promo video we were filming and we randomly came up with the idea. It took a couple of seasons of talking about it, but last year we finally went into action. The support we’ve received from our friends and families has been amazing!

Q: The women in the calendar are incredible. How did you select them? And how'd you go about getting the pictures?

A: The women in the calendar are all friends or women we’ve met through skiing. The ski community is pretty small out West so it was easy for us to think of twelve girlfriends that rip! They were all excited to be a part of the project as soon as we mentioned it. We basically sent out an email to everyone asking if they would be willing to donate photos from their ski season for the calendar. We started collecting photos February of last season and it’s been ongoing since then. It’s definitely been a learning process. Luckily the photographers were happy to donate their photos to our project and we didn’t have to organize any photo shoots. We have photos from Jordan Manley, Dave Mossop, Re Wikstrom and so many more! Holly Walker put hours and hours into the design of the calendar (she’s Ms. December too!) and she did an amazing job.

Q: How are people finding out about the calendar? What's response been like?

A: Most people are learning about it through radboob.com. We’ve been trying to spread the word through a lot of social networking. We’re trying to encourage blogs to write about us and forums like TheSkiDiva have really helped us out. So thank you for all of your support! Also, I bring it up in every conversation I have. I’ll throw in a “…speaking of….have you heard about the rad boob club calendar?” We’ve had some articles written about us on Doglotion.com, Biglines.com, and some local newspapers as well.

Q: How did you choose "Rad Boob" as the name?

A: The name "Rad Boob" actually came from a group of female skiers in Golden, BC. We used to ski with a group of guys called the Rad Dude Club who wouldn’t allow girls to join, so we started our own! We basically just ski around together and have fun.

Q: Where's the money you raise going? Do you have a specific goal?

A: We’re aiming to raise $10,000 for Rethink Breast Cancer. Here’s a short description about them from their website:

“A charity helping young people who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer through innovative breast cancer education, research and support programs. Rethink is a national volunteer-driven registered charity. We are thinking differently about how to beat breast cancer.”

We chose to donate the money raised to Rethink because we felt like it would be an effective use of the funds. They support some exciting research in the field, but they also encourage prevention and awareness. They were also very supportive of our project and gave us a lot of advice along the way. As skiers we all lead fairly healthy lifestyles and it was important for us to support an organization that would have similar values.

Q: Is this a one time only thing, or is it something you plan to do every year? Also, I see on your website that you're planning to travel around to raise awareness of breast cancer. What do you plan to do, and where?

A: We’re not sure if we’ll do it again next year. I think we want to get through this year, make sure we sell all our calendars and raise a big chunk of money for Rethink and then go from there. It’s been a lot of work, very rewarding but we’re not ready to think about next years project until this one is done!

As for travel plans, these are our confirmed dates:

Sat Dec. 19 Kicking Horse
Sun Dec. 20 Lake Louise
Thur Jan. 7 Whistler "Deep Winter Photo Challenge"
Sat Jan. 9 Revelstoke

We’ll also be selling the calendars at various stores throughout Whistler and Vancouver and Squamish, such as:

Surefoot in Whistler
The Zephyr Café in Squamish
Steed Cycles in North Vancouver

And more to come!

Q: Are you planning any other fundraising events?

A: Nothing as of yet, but we’ll keep you posted!

Q: Do you and Tessa coach or instruct anywhere?

A: Yes, we both coach for Girls Day Out. It’s a really fun weekend. I recommend it to all women out there! We’ve both done some big mountain ski competitions, as well. Tessa skis for Carrera, Faction and Peak Performance and coaches for Extremely Canadian in Whistler. I’m getting support from Rossignol and Smith and am still searching for that “perfect job."

# # #

To order your own copy of the Rad Boob calendar or to see these amazing pictures -- after which you'll definitely want to order this calendar -- go to radboob.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.

And so it begins.

Even though my book, DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY, isn't coming out til January 5, reviews are starting to pop up.

So I thought I'd share them here.

From Publisher's Weekly:

For all its fluffy powder and Green Mountain gemütlich, Vermont's Spruce Peak has a decidedly sinister side in Clinch's easy, breezy debut. Bostonian Stacey Curtis, a grad student turned ski bum, quickly discovers that when she finds a dead man with "the jagged oily chain from a chain saw yanked tight around his neck." Though she has headed for the hills in hopes of lessening the drama in her life (think cheating fiancé), spunky Stacey's amateur sleuthing efforts send her schussing into fresh intrigue, danger, and just maybe romance with hunky ski patroller/trust funder Chip Walsh. Clinch, a Vermont resident who runs a popular Web site for women who ski (www.TheSkiDiva.com ), clearly knows-and loves-the terrain, conjuring the kind of bewitching winter wonderland and endearing New England characters that will leave readers antsy for a return visit. (Jan.)

And from Romantic Times, which gave it FOUR STARS:

This first in the new Ski Diva mystery series set in the Green Mountains of Vermont features a smart and sassy lead character with a fun sense of humor and appealing supporting characters. Clinch captures your attention from the start and never lets go with a plot that must be similar to traveling down a slick slalom course with all its twists and turns. This is a wonderfully entertaining way to spend a chilly winter evening.

The book's already available for pre-orders at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Indiebound.com. So you can actually order it now.

I can hardly believe there's just over a month til it's on the shelves. It seems so long ago that I actually wrote it (the summer of '08), that I almost forget what it's about. Maybe you should read it and tell 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.

Walking to save our snow.

Anyone who loves to ski knows we'd be lost without our most essential element: Snow. And though many of us are aware of the dangers of global warming, not many of us actually get out there and do something about it.

That's not the case with Alison Gannett, a World Champion Extreme Freeskier and a true champion of environmental efforts.

Founder of the Save Our Snow Foundation, Alison has trained individuals, businesses, and governments all over the world -- including Al Gore's Climate Project team -- on solutions to climate change. She was recently named "Ski Hero of the Year," and Outside magazine named her "A Green All-Star," next to Leonardo DiCaprio and Arnold Schwarzenegger. (By the way, I interviewed Alison way back in September, 2008. You can see it here.)

Not content to rest on her laurels, Alison is at it again. To raise awareness and bring media attention to global warming, Alison is planning to walk over 200 miles towards the United Nation's Climate Change Conference, or Cop15, which will be held next month in Copenhagen, Denmark. The century's most important conference of its type, Cop15 will hopefully result in agreements to replace those reached at the conference in Kyoto, Japan in 1997. Throughout her walk, Alison will be carrying her skis on her back to bring ski and snow awareness to the urban landscape.

Saving our snow goes way beyond just preserving the sport we love. Snow and ice together provide almost half of the world's drinking water and irrigation for food cultivation. It's an effort all of us should get behind.

For more information and to contribute to her efforts, go here.

Oh, and just for some skiing stoke -- and more about Alison -- check this out:



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.

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.