olympicvillageinn.com

Got the post Olympic withdrawals? I have the answer.

First, a look at the weather. It was a beautiful spring like weekend, but that’s all about to change as a very cold air mass is dropping down from the north with some very cold air. The problem is there’s not a lot of moisture so we won’t get much snow. What does fall will be light and fluffy. It’ll be just enough to put a fresh coat on what‘s already on the ground. We should get a few inches tonight and then a similar system follows Tuesday into Wednesday morning with snow levels almost as low. Thursday looks to be a beautiful ski day and the end of the week is still in question. The latest snow survey found we were at 107% of normal for this time of the year, so that is good news after several drought years with marginal snow conditions.

If you’re like me, you spent the last few weeks glued to the TV set watching the Olympics. They were fun and exciting but ended last Sunday, and I found myself going through withdrawals. While watching the cross country skiing events, I remember thinking how beautiful it was watching the athletes gliding through the snow covered trees with a smooth, efficient motion that’s so different from running or snow shoeing.  When a friend and her daughter asked if I’d like to join them cross- country skiing Sunday, I decided to try it.  I was feeling pretty cocky because, after all, I’m an excellent downhill skier, so how different can this be? I clicked the toes of my boots into the skis, gave a hard shove on the poles, and headed down the tiny hill in front of the lodge. I quickly discovered these skis aren’t like my downhill skis, they don’t have edges!  I careened wildly out of control, swaying forwards and backwards trying to keep my balance, and aimed for a flat spot in between a tree and a small child, neither of which did I want to use to break my fall. It was like my first day on skis all over again. Feeling humbled, I took a few minutes to compose myself and then headed slowly and carefully down the rest of the slope and onto the trail. Before long I got the hang of it and I loved it! The idea is to glide forward in a fluid motion with a minimum amount of effort. It feels great when you get it right. I recommend you try it if you haven’t and, guess what? No more Olympic withdrawals.

More things to do.  We’re in the midst of SnowFest, which started March 5th, and goes for 10 days. Olympic Village Inn is a great place to stay to take in all the events. There are too many to list here, but you can see the full schedule at The Weekly; SnowFest Events. To inspire you to get out on the trails yourself, there’s the Tahoe City Golf Course  8 mile cross-country relay race on March 13th. Make a plan to try something new and have a great week!

It’s been quite a week……

It’s been an emotional week. The last week of the Olympics was overshadowed by the tragic news of the death of Truckee’s C. R. Johnson, who was killed in a skiing accident Wednesday at the Light Towers area near the Headwall at Squaw Valley. He was 26. A pioneer in the freeskiing movement, C.R. was well known to many as a genuine, happy, and positive person who loved to ski. At the age of 15, he was the first skier to land a 1440, which is four rotations, in the halfpipe at the Winter X games. In December 2005, he suffered a severe head injury in a freak accident while filming at the Brighton Ski Resort in Utah, and spent 10 days in a coma. He literally had to learn to speak and walk again, but never gave up his fight to make it back to the top doing what he loved, skiing. I had the privilege of hearing him speak at the Truckee High School graduation, where he gave the most uplifting, inspirational speech I had ever heard. His account of his struggle back from his accident to pursue his passion, with his infectious positive attitude without a trace of bitterness, truly moved me. He will be missed.

It was also an emotional roller coaster for American skiers at the Olympics, especially for Squaw Valley’s Julia Mancuso. She learned of the death of her good friend C.R. Johnson the morning of the Giant Slalom. She was the defending Gold Medalist in the event and a favorite to win a medal, but a bizarre set of circumstances took away any real chance for her to defend her title. Julia was stopped partway down the course and forced to start over after teammate Lindsey Vonn crashed in front of her. She ended up 18th after the first run and eventually 8th overall after posting the third fastest time in the second run. While it certainly wasn’t Lindsey’s fault that she crashed, recent reports of friction between the two added to the drama and just made the whole situation more ironic. The loss of her friend C.R. put everything in perspective and Julia was philosophical about the situation saying “It’s just funny how the universe works”. When asked about the loss of her friend and their motivation to do what they do she simply said “It’s all about skiing”. She came home with two Silver Medals, an impressive result.
 
Another inspirational story came in the Four Man Bobsled when the 2009 World Champion US team, headed by Steve Holcomb, took the Gold Medal and broke a 62 year old drought. The last time the US took gold in the event was back in 1948 in St. Moritz on a natural course made in the snow. Steve had suffered from a degenerative eye disease, which had gotten so bad he was ready to quit the sport for safety reasons. He was persuaded by his coach to undergo risky eye surgery which resulted in instant 20/20 vision. He actually found that now he could see “too” well and was not “feeling” the course. He had to slightly blur his vision as he went down the run so he would not over think it. That’s a lesson we should all think (or not think) about as we let ourselves flow on the snow. Have a great week on the slopes and let the force be with you!

An amazing week at the Olympics

What a fun week it’s been watching the Olympics! There have been so many great stories it’s hard to know where to begin. We’ve seen epic battles between nations, like heavyweights Sweden and Norway in Cross Country skiing. We’ve watched the Dutch fans go wild as their athletes capture Gold in their national pastime, speed skating. There have been moments of inspiration as we’ve watched individuals dig deep, performing beyond expectations or overcoming physical injuries and mental challenges to succeed. But mostly it’s just been fun and exciting to watch people doing what they truly enjoy and are passionate about to the ultimate of their ability.

Americans have dominated, capturing more medals than any other country, with 28 so far compared to second place Germany with 18. Things started with a bang on Wednesday in the Women’s Downhill when American Lindsey Vonn won the Gold Medal, with teammate and local Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley taking the Silver. Lindsey went on to take Bronze in the Super G and Julia another Silver in the Women’s Super Combined. What a great result for Julia so far! It’s nice to see her continue the Squaw Valley Olympic tradition.

A great story of redemption is that of American skier Bode Miller. You may remember his nightmare Olympics in Torino where he was expected to win many medals and came away with none. He skied all out then, but recklessly, and seemed lost with a major lack of focus. Since then he’s become a father, with a new daughter Darcy, and that’s made all the difference in his head.  He skies smarter now, still with passion but also in control. The results speak for themselves. He won Bronze in the Downhill, Silver in the Super G and an amazing Gold last night in the Men’s Combined. What a thrill to watch and what a difference a child and fatherhood can make in someone’s life.

Have you seen Ski Cross? It’s my new favorite Olympic sport. Picture a roller coaster covered with snow and then imagine skiing down it with 3 other people jockeying for position. It finishes with a 17 foot high drop off a wall to the finish line. It’s the first year it’s been in the Olympics and the first time I’d seen it. Guess I’m going to have to start watching the Winter X Games. Many of the skiers are ex-professionals like Truckee’s Daron Rahlves who's won the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill in his career. Daron had just dislocated his hip three weeks earlier but came back to race at the Olympic Ski Cross event. Unfortunately. he crashed again in the qualifier but what a gutsy performance. Also participating was Truckee’s Errol Kerr who was skiing for the Jamaican Ski team, shades of Silent Running. He also failed to make it out of the qualifier but it was great to hear Truckee mentioned so many times on national television. It’s just another reminder of the depth of the talent in our area and the quality of the terrain and conditions that continue to draw so many top athletes here to live.

I hope the Olympics will inspire you to be better, try harder, and have no excuses as you get out and ski, skate or snowshoe in the week to come.

Triumph and tragedy, the Olympics are underway ….

The Olympic Games have always covered the full range of emotions, from the elation of winning to the heartbreak of failure, but none I can remember have begun quite like this.  My anticipation was replaced by shock and sadness as the news of the death of the Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili came over the car radio on Friday, hours before the games were set to begin. It was a reminder just how much these elite athletes are willing to risk and sacrifice to reach their goals and dreams. Imagine, for a moment, the feeling of knowing you’re the best in the world at something that‘s your passion in life. That explains a little about why these special athletes and their families are willing to sacrifice so much. The Olympics remind us of a lesson that reflects life in general. Nothing of value comes without risk.
 
The games go on as the athletes continue to pursue their dreams. The much anticipated Men’s Downhill, and practice for the women’s alpine skiing events, was postponed because of rain, fog and generally slushy conditions. The Men’s Downhill was rescheduled for today, Monday the 15th, so check your local listings. The exciting news is that local skier Shannon Bahrke of Tahoe City took bronze in the women’s moguls to add to her silver medal from the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and Hanna Kearney won America’s first gold medal in the same event by defeating Canadian Jenn Heil.  American Apolo Ohno has won the silver medal in the short-track 1,500-meter speed skating final, tying Bonnie Blair as the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian with his sixth career medal at three Olympics. In one of the most exciting races I can remember, American Johnny Spillane narrowly missed the Gold and took the Sliver medal in the Nordic Combined. He was overtaken in the last few feet by France's Jason Cappuis. It was the first time ever an American had won a medal in the event. The games have just begun so keep watching as many local athletes will be competing in the coming days.

The weather for the week can be summed up in one word, spring. We have a beautiful, “spring like” week ahead in the middle of February.  It’s time to get some color on your face but don’t forget the sunscreen. Long range forecasts show a return to a wet pattern possibly by next weekend so enjoy it while you can. I can’t think of a better way to spend the week than skiing during the day and watching the Olympics at night. With the deep ties Squaw Valley has to the games, Olympic Village Inn is a great place to experience the Olympic spirit and root for the local athletes that make the Squaw Valley ski area their training center and home. Have a great week!

We all need to just get away once in a while.

Before we get to our topic of the day, it’s always a good idea to take a look at the weather for the week, since it plays such an important role in our daily lives in the mountains.  No big storms are forecast, but we’re expecting snow tonight and Tuesday.  A low, without a lot of moisture, is forecast to drop almost north to south, parallel to the coast. The exact track this storm takes will have a lot to do with how much snow we get.  A little further west and we could get very little. Further east and we could get several inches.  It is expected to be cold, with snow levels tonight dropping to 3000 feet so any snow should be light and fluffy.  We have another storm moving in Thursday night into Friday but, as of now, the weekend looks good! Just keep an eye on the weather updates and the road conditions so you won’t be taken by surprise.

I took a mini vacation to San Diego over the weekend.  It was rainy and cold by Southern California standards, but it reminded me how important it is to get away once in a while.  Whether you live in the Bay Area, Sacramento, or nearby in the mountains, a few days at Olympic Village Inn, with its European feel and comfy, cozy accommodations, will rejuvenate your body and mind. When you get away from your usual surroundings and reminders of your daily chores, you RELAX!  Let someone else make your bed and fix your meals for a few days, it feels good to be pampered.  You’ll come back fresh and stress free, with some great memories for those “daydream breaks” at work.  Keep an eye on our Facebook page, our Twitter updates and our Specials page for ideas. 

We’ve talked before about the upcoming Vancouver Olympics, which start this Friday, Feb. 12th with the Opening Ceremonies. They’re not only fun to watch but did you know they can also improve your skiing? I’ve been watching professional skiers on TV for years because I love to see the best in the sport compete. But I also found myself picturing their runs in my mind as I went down the mountain and skiing better because of it. Visualization is a well know technique with the pros and it can work for you, too.  Whether you’re watching the Downhill, the Super G, the Slalom, or the Moguls, let the images of the skier’s angles and body movements sink in as they “flow” down the mountain. Relax and think back to those on your next run and see if it doesn’t help. 

Have a great week skiing, snowshoeing, or just relaxing while you work on your ski technique with a beer and chips in front the TV.

Olympic Valley’s winning heritage continues today….

Let’s take a quick look at the ski conditions and the upcoming week before we take a look at the relationship between Olympic Valley and the upcoming Vancouver Olympics. The Squaw Valley, USA ski area is reporting between a 115” and 131” base, very nice! If you’ve been following the Olympic Village Inn Facebook updates and Twitter Tweets, you know the Palisades have been open for you expert skiers, with its extreme terrain that Squaw Valley is known for. The upcoming week is still in question as far as the weather is concerned. No big storms are forecast but it looks unsettled with impulses coming through at times, each one depositing a few inches of snow. The end of the week, starting Thursday night, and next weekend look much wetter, with a more potent storm moving in. We could get a short break on Sunday, so keep checking the weather updates; it could turn out to be a great ski day. These storms look warmer but should still drop a few feet of snow at the ski areas. Sorry it has to come on the weekend but we need to have the gratitude attitude and be thankful for all we get. If you don’t have to drive because you’re already here at Olympic Village Inn, and you’re dressed in today’s amazing ski wear that keeps you warm and dry in the worst conditions, you’ll have a wonderful ski day.

We know the role Olympic Valley’s played in the past in the Winter Olympics, but I was amazed to read how many top athletes make it, and the greater Truckee-Tahoe area, their home. You can read the full article at The Weekly Powder Report but here’s a condensed list of them and their latest  accomplishments:

Shannon Bahrke of Tahoe City was third in Moguls at the Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge in Park City on Jan. 14

Arne Backstrom of Olympic Valley won the Subaru Canadian Freeskiing Championship in Revelstoke, B.C., on Jan. 12.

Nate Holland of Olympic Valley won the Snowboardcross World Cup in Austria on Jan. 10, cinching his spot on the U.S. Olympic Snowboard team. He was 10th at the Snowboardcross competition at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, on Jan. 15.

Pat Holland of Olympic Valley was 33rd during the Jan.10 competition and 10th at the Jan. 15 completion.

Daron Rahlves of Truckee was fourth in the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup on Jan. 24 in Lake Placid, N.Y., the last Ski Cross World Cup before the 2010 Olympic Games.

Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley was 25th in the Women’s Giant Slalom in the Audi FIS World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia, on Jan. 16, and 50th in the Slalom in Flachau, Austria, on Jan. 12. She was 10th in the Women’s Super G at the Audi FIS World Cup competition in Haus Im Ennstal, Austria, on Jan. 10, and in the Women’s Downhill in Austria on Jan. 9, Mancuso was 11th. She was 7th in the Moguls on Jan. 8 in Calgary, AB during Freestyle World Cup competition.

Marco Sullivan of Olympic Valley ended up tied for 18th position with his teammate Erik Fisher of Idaho in the Men’s Downhill World Cup on Jan. 23 in Kitzbuehel, Austria. He was 36th in the Men’s Downhill at the Audi FIS World Cup in Wengen, Switzerland on Jan. 16.

Travis Ganong of Olympics Valley was 43rd in his third World Cup start at the Men’s Downhill on Jan. 16 at the Audi FIS World Cup.

Scotty Bahrke of Tahoe City was 31st in Men’s Aerials at the Freestyle International in Park City on Jan. 15 and 28th in Aerials at the Freestyle World Cup competition on Jan. 10 in Calgary, AB.
Scott Horn of Truckee was 64th in the Men’s Ski Cross at the FIS Freestyle World Cup on Jan. 20 in Blue Mountain, Quebec and 77th in Ski Cross competition World Cup competition in Les Contamines, France, on Jan. 10.

Nick Daniels of Tahoe City, a member of the Squaw Valley Ski Team, has been named by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association to the Alpine World Junior Championship Team. He will compete in the Mont-Blanc region of France from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6.

We have so many incredible athletes in our area! They make Olympic Valley their home because it’s a perfect place to live and train. They’re drawn to the area for the same reason that you and I are, there is no better place in the world to ski.  Enjoy the snow and have a great week!  

A cure for cabin fever on the way....

We’ve had over a week of snow with Squaw Valley reporting a storm total of between 65 and 85 inches. That’s 7 feet of new snow, with possibly 1-2 more feet on the way today and tonight. There’s a Winter Storm Warning for the west slopes of the Sierra and a Winter Weather Advisory for the eastern slopes until 4am Tuesday. Snow levels should be around 5000 feet so drive carefully.  It’s everything we’ve wished for. Remember, it wasn’t too long ago when we were complaining about the conditions with thin, wet snow or too much ice. What a difference a little over a week’s made. I know some of you go out even when the weather’s bad. Good for you! You’re probably not suffering from cabin fever like the rest of us. After tonight, the weather’s going to clear up and be beautiful and sunny for a couple of days, perfect to get out and enjoy the new snow and the outdoors. We need the sun to avoid that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)! There’s always skiing, but Olympic Village Inn also offers a snowshoe tour on Wednesday, between 10am and 12pm. Wednesday should be clear so, if you’ve never tried snowshoeing, make this your day to discover a new way to explore the Olympic Valley in winter. It’s a very different experience from skiing, quiet and serene. Don’t miss it.

It’s hard to be at Olympic Village Inn next to Squaw Valley without thinking about the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics that start Feb. 12th. Check out the Vancouver 2010 Olympics website. They’re almost here, and they have a big problem. No snow. All the storms have been diverted south to our area and Southern California. While we’ve been lucky enough to get the benefits of the moisture plume, it’s left them with virtually no snow and temperatures too warm to make it. They’ve had to transport snow from higher elevations with snow moving equipment, dump trucks, even possibly helicopters! They plan on using wooden forms and straw, covered with a layer of snow, for some of the events. It just doesn’t feel right when you see Olympic skiers on a thin band of snow with dirt all around. It reminds me of some past winters trying to ski in the Sierras. You can read about it here.

We’re so lucky not to have those problems this year. Be grateful for what we have and get out and enjoy the snow, sun, and blue sky this week. We deserve it.

A week of storms and lots of snow

The big news this week is the weather. As of this morning, the Squaw Valley Ski Area has only had a few inches of snow, but more is on the way as early as this afternoon. We should have several feet by the week’s end, but short of the 10+ feet the National weather Service was predicting earlier. Some of it will be going to the south. There’ll be some short breaks between storms, which will be the perfect time to get out and enjoy the new powder before the next wave comes in.  If you’re staying at Olympic Village Inn, you’ll be in the perfect position to run out and jump on the lifts when a there’s a break in the weather. All the crowds from the Martin Luther King holiday will be gone and you’ll be able to enjoy the fresh new snow on un-crowded trails and runs.  I know some of you like to ski in the snow. I go back and forth depending on my mood.  Olympic Village Inn is right at the foot of the Squaw Valley Ski Area so you can ski on the worst days even if it’s dumping snow without having to drive.

When you’re getting cabin fever after you’ve been staring out the window at nothing but white for a week, it’s nice to take a break and dream of tropical waters and warm temperatures to renew your spirit. The perfect prescription is a program put on by the Squaw Valley Institute called Scuba Diving in Micronesia. It’s Thursday, Jan 28 at the Resort at Squaw Creel and you can find out about it here.  You can close your eyes and daydream about turquoise water and colorful tropical fish as you’re riding back up on the chair lift in between runs.

The weather is always unpredictable a few days out, but it looks like we may be getting a break by this weekend before the next big storm comes in later Sunday and Monday. You know the crowds will be coming, so try to take advantage of mid week skiing if you can, or book early at Olympic Village Inn for the upcoming weekend if you can’t. Stay safe on the roads and come prepared for winter driving conditions. This week could set us up with snow for the rest of the ski season so enjoy every flake that we get.

Winter Storm Watch!

It looks like our string of wimpy winter storms is about to end as January finally ramps up with some serious snowfall. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the west slopes of the Sierra Nevada, starting Tuesday afternoon and continuing into Wednesday afternoon. We’re expecting between 1-2 feet of snow over the higher peaks with the snow level starting out rather high, at 7000’, but dropping to 4500’ by Wednesday afternoon.  This should provide some much needed snow to the ski areas like Squaw Valley, where conditions have been marginal lately. Along with the snow, they’ll be some strong winds in the 40-50 mph range, so be sure to come prepared, whether you’re driving or skiing, and check the latest weather and road conditions. The best and most exciting news is that this should open the door for a prolonged wet period, going out towards the end of January, with possibly lower snow levels and lots of moisture. These long range forecasts can always change, but signs are looking very hopeful for great conditions for the rest of the ski season. Pray, chant or meditate for snow!

Don’t forget the Olympic Heritage Celebration is going on at the Squaw Valley USA until Jan 17th. It commemorates the 50th anniversary of the great 1960 Winter Olympics and is the official launch of the Squaw Valley Ski Museum, which should provide some great memories of the 1960 games and reminders of just how far skiing has progressed since then. You can find out all the details at Squaw Valley 1960 Celebration and view the Event Calendar here.

Another entry in the list of things to do indoors when the weather’s bad is the Adventure Slide Show series every Wednesday at 7 p.m. through Feb. 10, hosted by Bar One and The BackCountry. This Wednesday features Todd Offenbacher on “Scratching the Void,” a humorous look at the vertical world in the mountaineering world. I just finished watching “Touching the Void”, which I’m sure this was based on. If you ever get a chance to see it, it’s an incredibly beautiful, disturbing, and inspiring story about two mountain climber’s disastrous climb and the strength of the human drive to survive, highly recommended and totally spellbinding.

Have a great week and enjoy the snow!

A beautiful week ahead to enjoy the blue skies and snow

It’s a new year and the weather is in a holding pattern. There are no big storms on the horizon, but it is January, so hopefully it won’t be long before the snow returns. We need more snow, not just for skiing, but also for water next summer. The state Department of Water Resources just released its first snow report and found the snow pack contains about 85% of the normal water content for this time of year, suggesting that we may be heading for a fourth year of drought. Not good news, but there’s nothing we can do about the weather so why not embrace what it offers?

Some of my best ski experiences have been at times like this. There’s plenty of snow on the ground, with Squaw Valley reporting between a 40” and 70” base, with groomed packed powder and most of its lifts open. Skiing mid week, between holiday periods, with sunny skies and comfortable but not too warm temperatures, it just doesn’t get any better than this. You ski down a long run until you’re out of breath and your legs burn.  With no lines you ski right back onto the lift and you’re on your way back up. You grab hold of the lift bar and close your eyes, basking in the sun, replaying your last run in your mind and visualizing the next. You’re hooked. Don’t miss your chance to make ski memories.

If you’re looking for something to do after the sun goes down, there’s what sounds like a great movie at Olympic Movie Night at Bar One, put on by the Squaw Valley Institute. The movie is “Olympic Holiday”, a chronicle of the 1960 Winter Olympics held at Squaw Valley.  It’s on Jan 11th at 6:00pm, free with donations accepted. You can find out all about it at Squaw Valley Institute events . Have a wonderful week and enjoy the sun and snow!