Lost friends

I lost 2 long time ski friends in the last 2 weeks. It makes me sad. Both were passionate about the sport. Both needed to find some peace. Both were very sick. Both were not old. Brandon was hired by our ski school (me) when he was 16 years old and a sophomore in high school. He was happy then, great with the kids and one of a bunch of high school students working on the ski school staff. I guess looking back at it, he was a bit overshadowed by 2 younger brothers who ski raced. They were exceptional, one ridiculously so. It was slightly before the ski academy era so athletes from small clubs could and did win eastern championships. One of Brandon's brothers was, as a teenager, arguably the best ski racer in the east. But Brandon was a great athlete. He was a an exceptional swimmer, lacrosse player and skier. After college and some years out west, he came back to the race club and coached the JIV group (11 and 12 year olds). Again he was great with the kids and did a really good job. He was passionate, funny and energetic then. While I realized he couldn't quite figure out his place in life, I did not realize how huge his struggle with mental illness was. Brandon spent 20 years fighting the battle to get healthy. I always felt that taking your own life was a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Brandon has taught me how naive about this I have always been. When my own father decided on hospice after a long struggle with lung disease he said he was tired of the fight and wanted more than anything to be rid of the pain. Brandon was in the same place as my father; just as ill, but unfortunately as a much younger man. I did not see Brandon in about the last 10 years of his life but I have good memories of a young man with an engaging smile and passion for his endeavors. I will miss him.

Ron was my friend since college. He fought hard against a horrible disease that no one should have to have to fight and few survive. We were both hired as new ski instructors in 1975. It turns out we also wound up renting apartments in the same house just off campus at college. We skied together, partied together, and generally hung out until we graduated and went our separate ways. In the early nineties, I had this yearning to get out of middle management as a ski school director and started race coaching. Ten years into that, I ran into Ron again. This time he had small children that were ski racing. He had spent the years in between skiing at another small mountain close by. After a couple of seasons seeing him at races he moved his family over to our mountain and program; not because of me but because of the program. Over the years he grew quite close with our head coach and his wife. Ron was unique. He was really opinionated and liked to argue but he was kind and generous. He had a sincerity that, while not that obvious when you met him, ran really really deep. He always seemed to be enjoying the moment whether telling you like it was or slipping a race course for the 10th time that day, or just taking a run or talking about his family. He has left a beautiful legacy; his 3 children. They all show the integrity, intelligence and values that were so important to their father. The really cool thing about Ron was he remained the same and was true to himself for the 38 years I knew him.

Peace gentlemen, you have earned it.

Is it changing?

I know the winter has been with us for a while and I have been meaning to update my blog. I have skied at many small areas this winter; Song Mountain, Holimont, Bristol, Holiday Valley, Labrador and a few bigger ones; Gore, Hunter and Whiteface. I have reported on many of these areas in the past and not too much has changed other than the year. The industry in New York seems to be changing. I have not seen big crowds this winter. To be fair, I was at Hunter during the week and it was really cold. Hunter is not often crowded during the week. The skiing was great, they were making snow as hard they were able. I have never been there when the conditions were better. They moved the old high speed quad to the back. It now takes under 4 minutes to get back up when you ski the west side...talk about getting some vertical in fast!


Night ski

Bristol and Whiteface had good crowds. I was at both of these areas on weekends when there were ski races which usually adds lots of racers plus an entourage of coaches, race volunteers and parents. Holimont is private but allows public on weekdays and I assume they are fine. There are many very wealthy members and I think, a waiting list to get in for the US member list (it is close to Canada so there is a Canadian list as well). When I was at Holiday Valley, there seemed to be the smallest weekend crowd I have seen there.. and the skiing was great. I have skied at Labrador many days, and nights. There has not been a really good crowd yet. The night business seems really off too. Is it economy, weird winters, marketing..what? I am concerned because in my lifetime we have lost tons of small ski areas. Three in central NY and six if you go way back to the rope tows set up on hills inside the city of Syracuse. For that matter we have lost tons of small dairy farms, small grocery stores, hardware stores, amusement parks, and on and on. Maybe the industry should copy the buy local that is driving good food. One problem is that many people see longer and steeper as the key to determining good. Small ski areas have this humble, friendly, familiar thing that gets the sport to many more people with less travel and cost. This country and probably the world is full of great skiers that trace their beginning ski days to small ski areas. The first time I was at Brantling many years ago, I immediately understood how the tiny hill produced a world and Olympic champion; Diane was on the short lift or in the course and nowhere else. Small areas are a great part of our sport. I will keep watching to see if it really is changing ..and skiing!


Happy small mountain skiers (on one ski)