My first manufactured skis

Fifty years ago, I was skiing for the last season on the first pair of skis that my parents bought for me in a ski shop. Before that, I skied on boards handmade by my Dad. The place where we bought the new skis was in Les Gets and the shop was Berthet Sports.

The skis were a pair of 185 cm, blue Duret skis that had the “Contreplaqué” model name stamped on them. The base was hard, brown celuloid, didn't slide that well and had full width edges screwed on.

The skis were too long for me when I first got them at about 12 years of age, but they served me well and helped me learn how to ski down steep runs and get into parallel skiing.

The bindings were a combo made of a Ramy Wiki toe piece and a PS Emile Allais cable. This is by far the ski I used during the greatest number of winter seasons (at least 5) and that was a harbinger of my long relationship with Michel Duret, who would eventually take over the company and produce a wide variety of snow equipment ranging from alpine and touring skis as well as monoskis and snowboards...

Park City, the new Vail?

After World War II, the American ski resort was Sun Valley, Idaho. In the early eighties, this prestigious mantel of honor shifted to Vail, Colorado.

Shortly, I predict, it will be Park City's turn as Vail Resort, the future operator of Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons, will run the largest and most accessible ski resort in North America, planted in the midst of a genuine Western mountain town.

The equation will be extremely hard to come close to, and Park City is now positioned to ride to the top!

What makes a great artist and a great show

Last night we went to see the famous radio showman Garrison Keillor, live in Park City. Some of his monologue was expected fun and the rest was downright boring. Missing were two key ingredients: Some sparks of enthusiasm or passion and a total lack of crowd engagement.

These two elements are critical if an artist is to earn the respect and adulation of his public. Garrison Keillor failed on both counts and was just using up his dwindling celebrity momentum. Too bad, but it stands as a forceful reminder that in order to maintain anything, you need to keep fueling it or else, you just go down...

Three cold springs in a row...

For the past three winters, our Park City snow hasn't been super-abundant, but our winters have lasted well into mid -April, with steady powder skiing and cold temperatures keeping the snow close to perfect even in the late season.

Nowhere seems the “warming trends” too visible in the Wasatch Mountains. Let's hope it lasts!

Playing around

Yesterday was a day for playing around. The heavy snowfalls from previous days were still there, but only light in higher elevations, while both heavy and tricky at 8,000 feet.

It was the perfect opportunity for rediscovering tree skiing around Lady Morgan lift, exploring, cutting between cliffs and dropping down Daly Chute #4 in Empire and appreciate all the snow we've received in March and these first day of April.

A challenging, but fun ski day!

Winner take all!

… or almost. Did you know that Marcel Hirscher and Ted Ligety earned respectively 345,865 ($391,453) and 287,741.50 ($325,668) in FIS price money this winter season. This doesn't account for their personal contract and incentive schedule for equipment, special endorsements, etc.

Bode Miller did okay at 107'308.25 ($121,452), but the next American, Travis Ganong had to make do with 38,794.50 ($43,908). Tough way to earn a living for many...

Spring skiing, best season in Utah

Yesterday morning was the last day of March, my 70th ski day and was also a powder day to boot, with some 10 inches of new snow, I had a blast.

Come to think of it, the best of Utah skiing begins in earnest in April, so I'm not giving up yet!