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Hawaii Ski Club – January, 2011
!!!!MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
AND
!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!
EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Toby Kravet – 808-224-1065
Vice President – Kevin Okawa
Treasurer - Geof Chu
Susan Murata
Wayne Fujihara
Jenna Surwilo
Jon Kleinschmidt
Momi Kleinschmidt
-----------------------------------------
Club Historian
Jo Yee
Newsletter Editor
Toby Kravet
(Click on Contacts for e mail addresses)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Every Monday evening (except on holidays): 4:30 P.M. A group of ski club members and their friends play tennis at Keehi Lagoon courts, off Lagoon Drive. Stay in shape and share refreshments afterwards!
January 14 (Friday) 6:00 P.M. Pre-Ski Week Packet Pickup Party at the Wai'alae Nui Recereation Center, 2203 Halekoa Drive (Same location as Chili Cook-Off). This will serve as/be in lieu of a formal January General Membership Meeting. All Ski Club members are invited. See Article below.
January 21 (Friday) Off to Telluride: HAWAII SKI WEEK.
February 10 (Thursday) Board Meeting at Henry Loui's.
February (Time and Date to be determined) Post Trip Party at Sylvia "Sam" Wright's condo's Recreation area. This is the Esplanade, across from Kaiser High School, on Lunalilo Home Road. All members, regardless of whether you were at Hawaii Ski Week, are invited. This will serve as/be in lieu of the formal, February General Membership Meeting and will include the second round of voting for Ski Week 2012.
February 25 (Friday) Off to Snowmass.
March 24 (Thursday) Board Meeting at Henry Loui's.
April 7 (Thursday) General Membership Meeting/Board Elections at Sam Sneads.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
In unity there is strength!! Sounds like an old labor union message from the '30s and '40s, but it just came true and gave us, and skiers across the Mainland, an early Christmas present. Very few of you knew this but, up until about a week ago, American Airlines was about to change it's policy, mirroring that of most other airlines, to count a ski boot bag, together with a pair of skis in a ski bag/case, as 1 piece of luggage. The change would have had the boot bag considered a 3rd and, therefore, excess piece of luggage with an added charge of $100.00 ($200.00 additional roundtrip). The fear was that, once the new policy was in place with American, the other airlines would soon follow suit. Following notication of this change from the Northwest Ski Club Council (NWSCC), to which we belong, we, along with other individual clubs in the north and south west, a ski tour operator, and, probably, other entities got together to implore American Airlines to rescind their decision---and it worked. Back in September, we were invited to join the NWSCC but declined because we didn't see any tangible benefits for us, 3,000 miles out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean: The Council gave us a 1 year free membership, anyway, just so we could try it out. I guess there was a good reason for membership after all--------which brings me to our trips.
Every year, in order to keep a group of anywhere from 40 to 70 people together for comeraderie, exercise, lots of laughs, the unparalled thrills of skimming down slippery slopes, more laughs, added activities at the hotel such as the welcoming and the trip-ending pizza party, and the unparalled convenience of "ski-in/ski out," or close-to-it, accommodations at a reasonable total price, we place ourselves in the hands of a tour operator who, we feel, can deliver. They can't make package arrangements for groups as big as ours without plenty of advance notice, but sometimes, which, unfortuantely, is becoming increasingly more frequent as airlines try to save money by cutting out the "middle man," they can't get the advance airfares as cheaply, per person, as individuals can, further along the timeline, from internet sites and/or jobbers. This is a 180 degree reversal from the past when tour and travel agencies got the choicest prices. Also, many times these cheap fares only show up later because the airlines, at the last minute, want to fill vacant seats at almost any price. I can't take anybody to task for booking their own, cheaper air travel if they can. I have done it myself (and can remember once taking a lonely, 4.5 hour shuttle ride from Boise to Sun Valley to join the Club when I couldn't get myself into Boise before the chartered bus left). Our tour operator couldn't do it for the group because there would be no way to guarantee everyone a seat and get everyone "to the show on time." it I think that the total cost benefit of our air and land package, especially considering the type of accommodations we get, is still competitive. We only get these prices, with these accomodations, because we have a minimum number in the group--- which is why we have a CLUB in the first place.
As you know, it has been Club tradition to discuss proposed locations for the following year's trip and vote at the trip ending Pizza Party concluding Hawaii Ski Week. Last year, we had a vote without a lot of discussion. This year, we will, hopefully, be having more discussion and will be taking only a "straw vote." We plan to hold another "straw vote" at the Post Trip Party followed by a ballot which will go out to the entire membership. Last year, we missed having people get up to stump for their favorite area. If you have an idea of where you want to go next year, do a little research, if need be, between now and the trip and be prepared to stand up and say a few words at the Pizza Party.
Finally, as I write this on Christmas Eve, Telluride has received 4" of new snow in the last 24 hours and is now 50% open.
Pray for more snow. See you soon on the slopes.
Aloha,
TOBY
UPCOMING SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
PRE-SKI WEEK PACKET PICKUP PARTY
Wai'lae Nui
Recreation Center
January 14 (Friday) 6:00 P.M.
Thanks to Susan's Murata's quick action with the sudden unavaliability of Wandi Sagum's condo in downtown Honolulu, we have been able to reserve the Wai'alae Nui Recereation Center at 2203 Halekoa Drive, the same venue as the Chili Cook-Off, for Packet Pickup on January 14 at 6 P.M. To get to the Recreation Center, turn off Kalanianaole Highway in the mountain direction onto Ainakoa Ave. just Kokohead of where the H1 Freeway ends at Kahala Mall, go up just over .3 of a mile and take a left onto Halekoa Drive. The Recreation Center is approximately 1.5 miles up the hill on the right hand side. Food will be provided by the Club, but BYOB. This will serve as/be in lieu of the January General Membership Meeting: All ski club members are invited
TOBY
SKI TRIPS FOR 2011
For 2011, the HSC is trying something new: 3 ski trips( a LOT of extra work
on your trip committee). The Telluride trip (Jan 21-29), the
offical HAWAII SKI WEEK,is full (although we still have people
asking to join us). In addition to the 46 or more members staying at Bear
Creek Lodge, we know of at least a few people who will be driving up to spend a
few days with the club. Plans for Telluride Ski Week include the Welcoming
Reception at Bear Creek Lodge on Saturday, mountain tour on Sunday for
intermediate or above skiers, a Sunday evening pub crawl in historic old town
Telluride (a free gondola ride from our lodge to old town), NASTAR races on
Wednesday afternoon, a potluck dinner, and awards/pizza party on Friday evening. In addition, there will be options for non-ski activities such as dog-sledding
and snowshoeing (additional costs). More info about rentals and lunch and
après-ski locations will be emailed soon to all who will be on the trip. If you
were lucky enough to join us on our last trip to Telluride, you’ll remember what
a marvelous place it is for ski week.
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TELLURIDE
Enclosed below is the TENTATIVE schedule of activities for Ski Week. Please be aware that these events and times may change and the final schedule will be included in participants Telluride package.
Fri. Jan 14: 6pm, package pickup at Waialae Rec
Center. ALL HSC members are invited
Fri. Jan 21: HSC Group departure from HNL on UAL
flight #42, departing HNL at 1055PM
Sat. Jan 22:
HSC Group arrival in Montrose at 1222PM. Shuttle to Telluride resort and Bear
Creek Lodge. Welcome Reception, Bear Creek’s Great Hall, 5PM, food and
drinks provided by Rocky Mountain Tours, distribution of lift tickets and
discounts for lessons, final sign up for NASTAR on Wed and snowshoeing on
Thursday
Sun. Jan 23: Mtn Tour (minimum of
intermediate ability level), 10am, top of lift #7. Pub Crawl of Old Town
Telluride, meet in Great Hall at 5:30 pm, gondola to old town.
Mon. Jan 24: Lunch at Gorrono Ranch at 12 noon.
Après-ski, Hop Garden (bottom of lift #4)
Tues. Jan 25:
group photo, 8AM, Gordon Ng, photographer, location to be determined by Gordon;
Wed. Jan 26: NASTAR 1PM; potluck dinner in Great
Room 5:30pm
Thur. Jan 27: OPTIONAL : Snowshoeing,
10am (2-3 hours) Eco-tours (need special directions), $10 discount off regular
price; those with lift tickets may ski or snowboard in the afternoon
Fri, Jan 28: awards and pizza party, 5:30pm Great
Hall
Sat, Jan 29: shuttle departs at early in
the morning for Montrose; HSC group flight on UAL #6943 departing Montrose at
1035AM, Final arrival HNL at 825PM
Lunch locations to be listed on final schedule. All après-ski locations will
be at Hop Garden so that non-skiers can join skiers and boarders at the end of
the day. Other optional activities include dog-sledding and ice
skating.
ANITA
SNOWMASS
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, LET IT SNOW!
Everyone’s all
hyped up for the first trip of the season to Telluride but let’s not forget our
second trip to Snowmass which is scheduled during the week of February 26th to
March 5th. We currently have 22 members officially signed up for Snowmass
and "registration." has been closed. In case of vacant spots from
cancellations, however, you can contact Debbie Fujihara,
debbie@hawaiisnowskiclub.com .
Just a reminder that
Snowmass is not Hawaii Ski Week and, therefore, extra activities are not being
planned. The Crestwood is sponsoring a welcoming cheese and wine get together on
our first night, and we are also planning a pot luck get together.
As you
know, Crestwood Condo was at an excellent location, a great ski in/ski out place
with 3 hot tubs, daily cleaning service, and free laundry facilities. Your lift
tickets are good at 4 mountains - Snowmass, Aspen, Buttermilk, and Aspen
Highlands. Free shuttle service is available to get you around the town or the
various mountains and the snow was fabulous!
Snowmass, Colorado – Feb 25 – March 5, 2011 (maximum 38)
· February 25, red-eye departure from HNL to Aspen (ASE)
· Feb 26, arrive, Crestwood shuttle 15 minutes away
· Feb 26-March 5 – Crestwood Condominiums, ski in/out
· March 5 – depart
· Land package will include 5 days of skiing (option for 6 days), 7 nights at
the Crestwood condo (4 per 2 bed/2 bath condo), complimentary laundry,
complimentary shuttle, and baggage handling.
DEBBIE
TAHOE
Finally, South Lake Tahoe is the final club trip but with the number of group package participants down to 7, there may be some changes in the original arrangements below.
South Lake Tahoe, California – March 18-26, 2011 (maximum 32)
· March 18 – departure, red-eye from HNL to Reno (RNO)
· March 19, arrive, Charter bus from Reno to South Lake Tahoe
· March 19-26 – Embassy Suites
· March 26 – depart
· Land package to include 5 days of skiing (ski resorts TBA), 7 nights at the
Embassy Suites, complimentary breakfast, complimentary après ski, ground
transportation and baggage handling.
For more information on Tahoe, contact Susan: Susan@hawaiisnowskiclub.com
PAST SKI CLUB ACTIVITIES:
A COMMUNITY SERVICE THANKSGIVING
Our Ski Club has plenty of Aloha, as evidenced by the big
turnout to help Salvation Army serve a turkey dinner, complete with all the
trimmings, to the less fortunate. We even had to turn some ready volunteers
away, but not until they'd feasted on a potluck spread, mimosas, Lee's famous
(infamous?) watermelon, and plenty of Starbucks, courtesy of Toby, who couldn't
join us.
There were no food fights or inflated glove volleyball games
this year, as we saved the whipped cream to top our pumpkin pie. Nice job,
everybody! Special thanks to Helen Taufaasau for helping coordinate the potluck
brunch.
WANDA
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY IN HAWAII KAI
December 18
Mahalos aplenty to the Larges for, the 7th year in a row, inviting the Club to share their home for a Christmas Party including an "up close and personal" dockside view of the annual Koko Marina Boat Parade. Although there were fewer people (I counted 32) than in immediately past years, the food was plentiful and "onolicious" with enough leftovers to feed an army for many lunches to come, the parading boats were as colorful and creative as ever (including a spectacular Avatar boat with a Navi riding a flying dragon <or whatever they called them in the film>), and a gift exchange with the usual number of laughs (I lost count on how many times the fruitcake and massage pillow changed hands). Thank you again, Darrell, and enjoy all the leftover, unopened bottles of wine.
TOBY
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SNOWBOARD FOR SALE
Craig Shaffer still has an unused size 141 snowboard for sale. $250.00. Craig may be contacted at 261-5989.
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Contributions from the membership to future newsletters are encouraged and will be greatly appreciated: Please e mail them to Toby (see Contacts) no later than 9 calendar days from the end of the month. Thanx much.
Updated club info available at http://www.hawaiisnowskiclub.com/