Page 4 - Jan_14

publisher commentary
by Angelo Lynn

H
atsoff to Ian town in winter months (and anything to ignite the spark that drives That’s the essence of winter sports
Dwelling. He’s the summer) to do an errand in- our imaginations, however quixotic they in Vermont: wind, ice, snow and cold
48-year-old Franco- stead of taking a brisk walk may be.
paired with a sportsman enjoying the
nia, N.H. resident who has in the winter cold. Yet Dwell- ••••••••••• challenge.
logged more than 100 con- •••••••••••
ing launches out in the dark Dwelling’s transcendent quest ties
secutive days hiking, biking, of morning with the tempera- into the Nordic Ice Skating feature by Ever wanted to try the biathlon?
running, snowshoeing and tures often plunging below photographer Herb Swanson and report- The Ethan Allen Biathlon Club in Jeri-
backcountry skiing his way zero for the simple purpose of er Evan Johnson if not for anything else cho welcomes beginners and is reputed
to the top of Cannon Moun- to be an excellent training ground for
sticking to a pledge he made but uniqueness.
tain as part of a quest to to himself five months ago.
Nordic Ice Skating, at least in this this growing sport. The club is coached in
make it to the summit every How easy it would be country, is not your everyday hobby. The part by a former Olympian from Lithu-
day for a year.
to bend that pledge. How dif- enthusiasts crave cold weather, and the ania, Algis Shalna. He offers tips, drills
That’s commitment.
and encouragement, as noted in the story
ficult it is to stick to what is little more earlier bitter cold strikes the better. Ten
He started his quest this fall after than a challenge to yourself, yet to do inches of ice is good, 20 is better, if only on pages 10-11.
his kids left for college and, being single, so because you understand how much so you don’t have to wear your dry suit By the way, Shalna encourages
he had extra time on hand. He also decid- strength of character is gained through underneath your other clothing, as well those athletes who are better at skiing
ed to raise money through his pledge to than shooting targets. “It’s easier to get
help the Adaptive Sports Partners of the fulfillment. To get out of bed on those as carry ice claws, a life preserver and a top-level athlete if they’re a good skier
mornings when it’s below zero, strap length of rope for those days when you’re
North County where he is a volunteer. He on the skis or snowshoes and head out, skating solo. No fooling, it’s right there in first and then have to learn to shoot.”
hopes to raise $10,000 by year’s end. He’s again and again, toward the 2,200-foot the story (Pages 8-9).
That’s good news for those of us who en-
at $400 now and has a way to go.
joy skiing, but have never really hung our
But what makes this story (page 12) summit where the winds can howl and Yet, talk about a pure sport.
spurs next to the rifle range.
send the wind chill plummeting is a test
Strap on those long skates with
resonate is that his task is beyond the or- of fortitude. razor-like edges and upturned tips and •••••••••••
dinary. It’s past his comfort zone. It’s a Dwelling’s story is all the more re-
set sail with a powerful kick and glide. And there’s the story of Stephan
reach, even a stretch to see if he has the Gellman skiing down the slope on his ski-
will to carry through each day.
markable when compared to the routine. Those who do it well describe the feeling bike. What’s that? Take a mountain bike,
Dwelling, mind you, has a full-time How many of us struggle to do our daily as Nordic skate skiing, but smoother and take off the tires, replace them with skis,
run, to get to the gym three or four days a at greater speed. That makes the 4.5-mile
job, volunteers, has his groups of friends week, or use the excuse that a hectic day loop on Lake Morey almost seem reason- and head down the slope. It’s that simple.
and community activities, and is even rais- Well, not quite, but you can read about it
ing a puppy — and yet he didn’t let any at the office has us beat and we’ll do those able, though that’s not to say we’d gladly on pages 22-23, and then ponder how he
of those activities stop him. He simply said exercises tomorrow?
venture on the longer treks skaters make could ski the upper slopes of Tuckerman’s
So, hats off, Ian, for pushing the on Lakes Champlain and Memphrema- Ravine on it. Hey, Gellman says, it’s just
he could, and then has gone about accom- limit, breaking the routine, inspiring gog. Bob Dill of Burlington will skate
plishing what he set out to do.
like riding a bike.
Think about that. We all know new thinking and encouraging others to 15-20 miles in a day on Lake Champlain Maybe, but then again, I wouldn’t
folks who drive a couple blocks down-
launch their own personal challenges —
— sometimes solo.
take my bike down the Headwall.

guest commentary

by Biddle Duke

uphill battle
The painful truth for those of us who like to access currently ban uphill skiing during operating hours.
ski areas on our own steam is that the era of do-what- That’s a missed opportunity. Plenty of people, many of
Mountain life
you-want-when-you-want is pretty much over. The them with season passes and lift tickets, want to spend
sheer numbers of people now skinning in bounds make the day at the mountain with their friends or children,

IN-BOUNDS UPHILL SKIING — better known as that approach untenable. Those numbers, however, are but might want to skin for a portion of the day. Resorts
all skiers — in other words, good ski industry business.
are increasingly showing them the ways to do just that,
skinning at the resort — is now officially a central Killington recently saw the light, recognizing that recognizing that skinning is part of the mountain expe-
part of the sport of skiing. Comfy, rubber-soled “skinners” are their customers, too. Like Sugarbowl in rience (and has been in alpine regions forever).
“walk-mode” boots, bindings with a “climbing func-
tion” and skins are all front and center at ski shops and California, Killington formalized its relationship with The resistance to embracing skinning can be lik-
with ski gear customers. It is one of — if not the — fast- uphill users, requiring them to sign a liability release ened to the resistance to snowboarding years ago. Rid-
and get an uphill pass. The pass is free for season-pass ing was prohibited at many areas until resorts simply
est growing aspects of the sport.
and ticket holders, but carries a small fee for everyone couldn’t say no to their customers any longer.
It’s a wonder it took so long to catch on (or to else. Both resorts have designated uphill routes, and Traditional skinners, who for years have been
come back around, since this is really the roots and es-
sence of skiing): you get both a little exercise on the way clear and explicit rules for uphill traffic that — take climbing where they like when they like and simply
up and a thrill on the way down. Perfect, except that note — is allowed all day long.
dodging conflict by stealth and awareness, will likely
One of the sources of tension with resorts, perhaps bristle at the uphill pass idea. But working with the re-
resorts aren’t really loving the uphill thing just yet. But the main one, is safety. It’s dangerous to have uphill sorts, getting them to embrace skinners as the custom-
they will. They’ll have to.
The resort response to the popular new facet traffic in areas where there is downhill skiing going on. ers they are, will ensure uphill resort access is preserved,
of skiing has been mixed: some, such as Sugarbush, And if uphillers are moving around during grooming which, among other things, is essential during periods
squarely prohibit it; others, such as Stowe, allow it with and snowmaking operations — even worse, at night — of marginal snow cover and poor backcountry condi-
they’re at risk of being run over by a snow cat or a snow- tions.
limitations, and yet others embrace it. Skiing blogs and
websites are ablaze these days with commentaries and mobile, or clotheslining themselves on a winch cable. It bears reminding, as editor Alex Kaufman wisely
opinions on how well or poorly resorts are handling the They’re also sometimes making tough, cold, nighttime said recently on the Ski The East website, “resorts make
growing hordes of “skinners.”
snow-farming work more complicated for resort em- the snow, groom the snow, plow the lots and flush your
But, without question, embracing uphill skiing is ployees. The answer is to mark off an uphill route, and poo. They also save your butt when you make bad calls.
even include a few routes in the woods where grooming In return they’d like a couple bucks, and to know you’re
the future, and Vermont resorts, as industry leaders, are
bound to get out front on this. The only suitable ap- and snowmaking don’t take place.
not out there accidentally playing chicken with heavy
proach is: clear rules and routes, and even passes.
For those safety reasons, some resorts in Vermont
equipment.”

4 VtsPorts.coM
FEbruary/March 2014