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February 2015 Newsletter

Published on 2/4/2015

For a downloadable and complete version of this newsletter, click here: February Skiddoo 2015

 

President’s Message

1/31/15

Wanted: Blond, brunette, redhead, black, orange, or pink haired (but not gray) pre-forty snow skiers or boarders who enjoy the sport and like mingling with other powder hounds to join the ranks of the East Iowa Ski Club.

President Bob of East Iowa Ski Club

 

This would be the ad I would put in the Gazette to encourage younger skiers and snow boarders to join our club.  If you look around the club now you would be hard pressed to find much color in most of our member's coiffed manes.  Some of us are folliclely challenged or depleted even and what curls that show are often white.  What I'm trying to imply, not too subtly, is that the membership is growing old.

 

There is some hope and we have seen it during the last two Midwest trips to Sundown and Granite Peak.  On the Granite Peak trip, we had four young snow boarders (Anthony, Ryan, Nate and Devin) join us and actually seem to enjoy schussing side-by-side with the older folks on two slats.  Devin Lombardo is one of our new club members and carried a GoPro camera to record our group skiing.

On one of chairlifts up at Granite Peak, Kathy Takes reminisced that when she was a little girl her father used to lace up her ski boots and I remembered that my first set of skis and boots included wooden skis, with metal edges and plastic bottoms, and also lace up boots.  I must have been in 10th grade because I remember driving over to the Sitzmark ski shop by the U of M to get fitted for my new Molitor dual lace up boots that I had gotten for Christmas.  They were a bear to get them on and laced up tight.  And of course I had cable-release bindings with a swivel toe piece on my new Northland skis.


The first major ski trip with my new skis was with another novice skier across the river to Dresser, Wisconsin.  It had snowed heavily the day before and during our trip so when we got to the top of the Trollhaugen “rope tow” the snow was six inches deep and difficult to make “snow plow” turns. The hill we skied was not much steeper than the park hills we were used to in South Minneapolis but much longer.  I thought that I was flying when we got to the bottom of the hill and saw the lift line like a fence right in front of me.  I knew that I was going to wipe out the whole line but I used to ice skate and play hockey a lot so I just turned my skis sideways and slammed on the brakes with a cloud of snow spraying the lift line.  Some of the people were impressed with me stopping like that but others were not so much and I just thought how lucky those people were that I didn't hurt someone or myself.  I went back to Trollhaugen once on an EISC bus trip many years later and couldn't remember anything about the place.  I did find the run we had skied years before and remembered thinking it was not so steep and intimidating as I once thought.


Anyway, I’m glad to see younger faces using our club and hope more of our elder members will encourage their children and grandchildren to take up the sport we all love.  I’m just afraid that the next generation will be satisfied with some ski app for their “smartphone” then decide to stay home and not get their toes cold.  The other big issue these days is the cost of skiing: in this country, law suits and insurance companies have made it a rich man’s sport.  These days equipment costs are not so bad but the price of a lift ticket is about ten times or more as when I started skiing.

 

~Bob

 

Family News

Rhonda Bohrer’s father, Wayne E. Youngblut, of rural Lisbon, died Sunday, Jan. 11. Our condolences go to Rhonda, Dale, and their families.

 

Nothing Nights - Wed Eve

A long time tradition is to socialize on Wednesday nights, since there is nothing going on!   We will meet for supper and drinks at 7:00pm and see what’s going on. 

Our venue will stay at CJ’s Bar and Grill, 62 17th Ave SW, in Czech Village.

We have been having great turnouts at CJ’s.  The food and prices are good.  

Watch here each month for the location or check the East Iowa Ski Club website calendar.

Come on down!  You don’t want to miss out!

 

EISC Cross Country Ski Schedule 2014 - 2015

Join us Saturdays at 1:00pm Contact- Kim Betts

 

Dates in red are when a ski trip coincides, blue are member meeting days.  This schedule is found on the ski club website calendar which provides a map.

 

These are in Linn County Iowa.  We expect the grooming crew will get Morgan Creek then Ellis, then Squaw creek

 

February:

Jones Park                            2/7/15

Ellis Golf Course                  2/14/15

Morgan Creek                       2/21/15

Squaw Creek Park              2/28/15

 

March:

Wickiup Hill Park                 3/7/15

Matsell Bridge                       3/14/15

Jones Park                            3/21/15

Ellis Golf Course                  3/28/15


April:

Morgan Creek                       4/4/15

Squaw Creek Park              4/11/15


EISC Roughriders Hockey Night – Friday, April 11th

  (New Date)

Trip Leaders:

Dan Lombardo, Mary Kay Lombardo

 

Game on! Plan to join your fellow EISC members for a Hockey game to see and Cedar Rapids Roughriders take on the Chicago Steel.

 

We have reserved 30 tickets for the April 11th game. Ticket price is $13. The seats are located in section C, rows 7 through 11. We currently have 28 members signed up for this event. Plan to sign up and pay at the February meeting.  These tickets are going fast!

  • 5:30 – 6:30 Happy Hour in the lobby
  • Game starts at 7:00
  • Post-game food and drink

 

We will meet in the lobby prior to the game, which starts at 7:00 pm. So please arrive by 6:30 pm to pick up your ticket. If you arrive late, your ticket will be waiting for you at the will call window.

 

If anyone has a suggestion for the post game food and drink location, let us know.

Game on!!

~Dan and Mary Kay

 

Big Sky, MT - Feb 7-14, 2015

Trip Chair: Brenda Garbe

Co-Chair: Cheryl Hines      

We'll be departing for Montana in a week or two, make sure you have your itinerary, if not contact us immediately.  We'll see you at the airport or Montana.

 

IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR SKI TRANSPORTATION PLEASE MAKE NOTE

Currently Gordon Bowman is planning on driving out and offering to transport ski gear for $60 per person, please reach out to Gordon.   It will save you time and money over the airlines transport option.  And you'll be sure to have your skis at least.  Plan on dropping off skis/boots at the Nothing Night location the Wednesday prior, Feb. 4th.

 

One option to tour YELLOWSTONE is via the snow coach. Sit back and relax surrounded by winter wonders of Yellowstone and enjoy your Snow coach Yellowstone interpretive tour as you learn about everything from Yellowstone geology to wildlife to park history and the current issues affecting our nations first national park.

 

Big Sky has been receiving steady amounts of snow check BIGSKYRESORT.COM for the latest mountain conditions.

 

~Brenda and Cheryl

 

   East Iowa Ski Club at Granite Peak Wausau 2015


Granite Peak, WI - Jan 9-11, 2015

The first weekend ski trip of 2015 is now history as 32 members traveled to Wausau WI.  The cold temps and wind-chill sent our group skiers in for hot chocolate sooner than normal.  Kim Betts had reason to warm herself after the chairlift she was on stopped for an extended period burrrrrrrrrr!  Layers of clothing was not enough!  Just ask Kathy Takes about her new fashion wardrobe for midwest skiing.  The cross country group of Ange Miller, Yvonne Duggan, Mary Jean Blaisdell, and Jane Young had the trails for themselves before a scheduled race event filled the course.  There was plenty of trails to cover for everyone.  Saturday afternoon called for hot tub at our hotel, wine/cheese party and evening dinners at various restaurants.  Sunday the weather improved as the selected non skiers toured the downtown mall and store fronts for bargain buys.  The day concluded at Granite Peak with everyone having a Good Time(s) as our dependable bus driver Jeff McNutt navigated us back towards home once again.........."Rocket Man" Dan & The Big "O"


Soup and Chili Cook Off – Jan 17th

What a great turnout we had for the January Meeting/Soup and Chili Cook Off!  There were nearly 80 members and guests in attendance.  There was no snow for cross country skiing or snowshoeing but there were some folks taking walks in the park.  Both fireplaces were fired up and there was plenty of food to satisfy all.  We had 17 types of soup and chili and the winners of the day were:

Soup:

First place: Denise Langhoff

Second place: Sally Williams

Chili:

First place:

Darryl Hokanson and Kathy Takes

Second place:

Dick Means

 

Thanks to everyone who brought soup, chili, or anything else to share.  Also thanks to all of you who helped with set up, cleanup and door workers, too.  

 

East Iowa Ski Club at Hawkeye Basketball game  

Iowa Hawkeye vs Wisconsin Badger Basketball – Jan 31

EISC at Carver Hawkeye Arena … looking for ice cream and a game


Almost a win …. But the 24 Ski Club members and guests enjoyed the annual outing and thankful the game was early before the snow storm made traveling dangerous.

 

I promise not to wear that yellow sweater to the game again, it’s gotta be why we lost.

~Don

East Iowa Ski Club at Copper Mountain 2015

Copper Mountain, CO - Jan 24-31, 2015

 

Having a wonderful time!  Wish you were here!

 

Board of Directors Election - February 2015

There are 3 positions up for election in this year's election cycle, and 2 of those 3 board members whose terms are coming due: Teri Barnhart, and Gary Masbruch are interested in running once again.  Chris Kalmar has decided to retire from the board, and Larry Smith will be running for election.  If you are interested in running contact a board member.

 

East Iowa Ski Club at Copper Mountain 2015