Ski-Blog.comDecember 30, 2011
Depressing Possible End to Second Straight Season
Explaining my absence from the blog the last year and a half, I offer more info about the sinus surgery gone bad last February. On December 19, I had a second surgery to repair the hole in my skull base that has been causing the headaches and the bouts of meningitis.
Doctors advise me to take the next three months off of any strenuous activity including skiing.
Brian Head is 100% open but with such a sparse amount of early season snow that I am very hesitant to ski without a solid deep base and some soft on top, if I do get out before the three month deadline.
I will post updated info about Brian Head and Wolf Creek as these will be the only places I will likely go this season.
Hope you have a great New Year!
Posted by Justin at 02:10 PM | Comments (1) | Categories: Personal
October 25, 2011
Brian Head Trip Last Weekend
Just got back from Brian Head this weekend. Bad news is that Bump and Grind went out of business. Sky was one of the good guys in Brian Head, but eventually, you gotta earn a living and Bump and Grind just was not getting it done.
Spent some time at the Grand Lodge, where the food prices are still way too high, but it has a great and much needed atmosphere. Local Businesses are hit or miss. Waiting to see if this winter, skier visits will rise to the 140k level.
The weather was beautiful, though you can really see and feel the change of seasons coming. Leaves were almost all gone and a little bit of snow was still left from the storm a week and a half ago.
Couple big trips planned for the season, but the best will be when Hayden comes up for a week and teaches private lessons for Tera, Jess, and the kids. 22 year old ski instructor who is in college and no longer instructing. Skied with him last season and he has a remarkable way with teaching and I offered to put him up and pay him what his day job does plus cover costs. Hell of a deal. And I get private lessons for everyone. Tera has decided to give skiing another shot this season. If Hayden can get her competent and to enjoy it, it is worth any cost.
Side note--I also get Hayden to ski with me in the afternoon after the lessons are done. And to hang out in the evenings and talk football and enjoy life. That is the best part.
Anyway, couple posts upcoming for the season. I am getting back into my groove. Feeling a little better. And planning for the upcoming season.
Posted by Justin at 07:00 PM | Comments (2) | Categories: Brian Head
September 20, 2011
Brian Head Preparing for the Upcoming Season
I got a note from the good folks at Brian Head Resort about their annual season pass sales where they bring the sale to you. Usually they have special deals just for that day, especially during their pass sales in Vegas. Not sure if this year will be the same story.
In their Press Release, they had a blip about Childhood Obesity. Got me thinking about how great the sport has been for my own kids and what the real impact of our love of skiing has been on them growing up.
It is not about the health aspects of the sport for us. It is about bonding and escaping the grind of the city. The smog. The crowds. The noisy chaotic lifestyle.
A day skiing is simple. It offers peace. You put away your blackberry. You have the snow that absorbs the noise of the world. And for me personally, it is my break from the reality of my life.
For my kids, it is a break from school and rules and classrooms and teachers. It is a chance to challenge themselves and to exhaust their bodies and senses.
Buy your season pass for Brian Head. In St. George, you can do it all this weekend at Findlay Subaru. I am excited to have another season on the mountain and excited that Brian Head is such a family friendly mountain. If you want to enjoy a family experience, skiing is my personal favorite. It is expensive as hell if you don't prepare in advance. But with a season pass and your own gear or even a season rental, it is pretty reasonable.
Posted by Justin at 11:15 PM | Categories: Brian Head
September 19, 2011
Life is Finally Stablizing
I have never neglected my site for consecutive months. This was a first for me. Jonathon Lawson at mysnowpro has been posting on his new gear and it has me stoked for ski season to start. I am so ready.
2010-11 was cut short due to the sinus surgery and accompanying meningitis. I am still slowly improving my health and working out trying to get my strength back.
Lots of squats and lunges. Working to stabilize my core and working out hard.
It makes me appreciate skiing so much more after missing most of the season. Thankfully it wasn't a torn ACL or a major injury that would impact me long term. This should be behind me shortly.
Will be posting some more information, stats, and the usual preseason stuff shortly.
Posted by Justin at 11:33 AM | Categories: Personal
June 29, 2011
Summer Preparations
I am finally getting back to normal after my sinus surgery and subsequent cerebral spinal fluid leak / meningitis. All I can think about is the ski season coming up and getting through the miserable Phoenix summer.
Not a lot new going on, but the Southwest's ski resorts are all in trouble, at least those that got abnormally low precip amounts this last winter due to La Nina.
Pray for the communities including Alpine, Greer, Eagar, and Springerville that are in the path of the Wallow Fire. Sunrise is very close to the fire area, but the containment is almost complete. Over half a million acres.
Posted by Justin at 12:58 PM | Comments (2) | Categories: Personal, Sunrise
April 07, 2011
PreSeason Brian Head Pass Sale
Brian Head is having their annual pre-season pass sale:
Brian Head Resort 2011 - 2012 Pre-season Pass DealsFree skiing and Snowboarding for the rest of the year, with purchase of 2011-2012 season pass
With each 2011-2012 season pass purchase you can ride free for the rest of this season. What a deal...that's over a month of free shreddin. Not only that, but right now season passes are at the lowest price they will be for the entire season. There is no better Brian Head deal!
2011-2012 Season Pass Prices
Until June 2ndBuddy Pass 2 adult passes purchased together
$739Adult 26-61 years
$429
Young Adult 18-25 years (out of High School)
$339K-12 Student Kindergarten-12th Grade - Must Show ID
$199Family Plan K-12 Student
$159Valid with purchase of regularly priced Adult pass or Buddy Pass to make a family package. Must be a dependent child (i.e., you must claim them on your tax return).
Sr. Silver 62-69 years Must Show ID
$199Sr. Gold 70 + years Must Show ID
$129
Freedom/Corporate Fully Transferable
$769Iron & Garfield County K-12 Student
$129
Must show current student ID or enrollment papers - NO EXCEPTIONSIron & Garfield County Student Rental
$89Adult Rental Package
$199Child/Sr. Rental Package
$129Prices Subject to Change: Passes are non-refundable, and except for the Freedom/Corporate pass, non-transferable
Get your passes now. I made the mistake last year and won't again. Cost me a couple hundred extra bucks.
Posted by Justin at 12:21 PM | Categories: Brian Head
March 05, 2011
Ski-blog Status Update - Health Problems
OK, so I wasn't posting nearly often enough this season anyway, but January was a horrible snow month in the Southwest and I was down with a recurrent Sinus Infection most of the month anyway.
On February 9, 2011, I went in for Sinus Surgery to clean things out and fix a deviated septum. During the surgery, the Doctor cracked the cribiform plate that separates your brain from your sinus cavity and I ended up with meningitis, an air bubble under my brain (pneumocephalus), and a cerebral spinal fluid leak.
So here I am, a little cracked out on Morphine, having headaches, feeling pretty crappy, down 20 lbs, trying to think about what the lifelong impact of having a hole that is tenuously closed solely by some scar tissue keeping my noodle separate from the outside world.
Reality is that there ain't a damned thing I can do by bitching about it and I am going to head to Brian Head for a couple turns next weekend if I can handle the altitude. My ENT Doc cleared me to start returning to normal activity and there is nothing more normal or necessary for me than getting another ski day in.
On the plus side, on Feb 5, we went to Sunrise and it was an Epic day. Best ski day of the year and one of the best I have ever had. Powder and Double Blacks all day with my son, brother, and friend Hayden. Skied til 4PM which takes a pretty special day at Sunrise.
