Saturday

I will be going for a short, easy ski somewhere Saturday around 10, probably not at Wirth (Battle Creek most likely). If you are interested in coming, email me. We won't have a van so the first three people to confirm attendance get to go. Call (7817101558) or email to confirm.

We'll be back by the end of brunchtime.

Monday Jan 26

Here's the deal:

Please come to a meeting at 4:30, whether you plan on skiing or not. We'll meet in the foyer of the athletic center. If you have class and are a few minutes late, no worries. If you can't make it, also no worries. If you plan to ski, bring skate or classic skis, whatever you fancy. Both should be good.

I'm not sure exactly about transportation for tomorrow. I'll try to arrange for a van by the time we are going somewhere. This may or may not work. If it doesn't, I can take people in my car (might be cramped) and perhaps grab an HOURCAR for us as a last resort. We'll take a rather easy day tomorrow, maybe just a couple laps of Como, depending on traffic. We'll be back by 6:30 most likely, 7:00 if no one skiing has evening class.

To answer a few more questions which have popped up:

• We do have a place to wax. I'll try to get it set up this week. If someone has some free time during the day I'm sure that you can be of help doing this.
• It sounds like there is interest in some morning skiing. MWF mornings sound the most plausible. Plan this week on 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday to Wirth or Battle Creek. If there is a van driver amongst you who comes along and we go to Battle Creek and you can drop me at work on the way back I will love you forever.
• There should be a van driver training at some point in the next couple weeks. If you are 19 and have a relatively clean driving record, please do this. It makes everyone's life easier.
• It'll be pretty warm tomorrow (for those of you who have been in Minnesota) and pretty cold for others. Dress in layers if you aren't adapted to it.

See you tomorrow.

Thanks,

--ari

Welcome back. Dress warm. Bring skis.

We'll hit the trails on Monday. Skiing is outstanding—it hasn't been above freezing since December. I'd dare to say I've never seen it better.

Sunday: Long ski At 10:00 or 11:00 or noon or so. Somewhere fun (Murphy is calling). Call/email me if interested.
Monday: 4:45 departure from field house for ski trails. Bring skis.

SKIING

Yup, it's time. I'll be skiing every day this week. Call 7817101558 or email if you want to join me...

Skinnyski trail reports

Including:

Battle Creek Regional Park - Winthrop Street (Saint Paul):
Conditions: Rolled with pretty good coverage on bottom.
Coverage was pretty good actually. A few thin spots... a couple of which weren't really avoidable. It has been rolled. No tracks set. I used my good skis which was probably a mistake...it can be done, but be careful

Como Regional Park and Golf Course (Saint Paul):
Conditions: Fairly firm, well groomed except for the usual trouble spot under the bridge. Not enough snow for a classic track.
Stop 1 of 5, this one was the best. Como was well groomed and surprisingly firm...nice job St. Paul!

[For those of you not in the know, Como usually has crappy grooming. Perhaps this is a new leaf turned over]

Hyland Lake Park Reserve (Bloomington):
Conditions: Rollpacked, good 3-4" base, fairly firm.
Stop 4 of 5, beautiful early season Hyland skiing. They had the trail well packed and fairly firm, although I thought Como was a little better (but Hyland had a little more snow)

Bruce didn't make it to Terrace Oaks but I am going tonight to check it out...

Skiing in to break...

For this week:

1. If you have skis, get them scraped and waxed. We'll discuss at the meeting tomorrow (7:30) where and how to do that.
2. I'll plan on skiing at Elm Creek at least once this week. Probably Thursday. Leave at 6:00 back by 9:00. Striding is probably best as they'll have solid tracks there and hopefully have the whole 2.5k course open.
3. I may also ski Wednesday morning (Elm Creek or Hyland) if there is interest.
4. Next weekend is the Breadsmith-Hoigaards relays at Hyland. Saturday morning, and if you don't drink Friday night it's not so bad. The race is a 2.5k relay with teams of two so you each ski 2.5k twice. Think of it as a good interval session. It's fun, fast and close and suggested if you don't have finals looming.
5. We'll also discuss vacation skiing at some point tomorrow.

See you tomorrow. Someone (me perhaps) will be running 4:45 today and tomorrow. Not quite enough snow to ski (although Como might work if you are desperate).

Oh hey look Elm Creek is making snow

Yup for real. So no more Trollhaugen (no offense to them but Trollhaugen sucks). So we might have skiing close-ish by come Thursday or so. And if that is the case, we will make a beeline.

4:45 until then, see you there but not Monday.

SKIING FRIDAY

depart 5:45 a.m., back by 9:40. Yeah, it's fake snow. But it's real skiing!

Email ari with questions.

Otherwise, 4:45 every day this week. Speed tomorrow!