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Bill's Official Info /Babbling Dec 21, 2022
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Wednesday, 21st December, 2022
14:15pm

December 21, 2022

Bill’s Official Sky Tavern info/babbling.

Happy Holidays

A little more than “just the facts”.

A slightly deeper look at what is going on at Sky Tavern purely from my point of view as the executive director, chief bottle washer, janitor, grandfather of a SkyBridge kid, and fixer of all things Sky Tavern. My life revolves around snow.

Thanks for taking a look.

It is official. Winter is here, as of 1 pm. It is what we (me) have been waiting for. Time to get out and create something, Sky Tavern for the kids. The season is coming although in many ways it is here.

Snow. Google says wet snow weighs 51.82 lbs. per cubic foot. Sky Tavern’s main parking lot is 550 by 125 ft. We got over four feet of snow. That is 225,000 cubic feet or 14,250,500 pounds give or take a few tons. Six or so of us cleared it. Big deal you say. You have a loader and snowcats. Well, the snowcats didn’t have tracks on them and at least a third of the lot had so much stuff, like silly expensive terrain park features we didn’t want to hurt buried out there, that shovels and snowblowers were the tools of choice.

Great fun for the last ten days. Half the snowcats are running now, and the pavement is visible. It’s a good thing too since all the Mt. Rose employees park at Sky Tavern for the holiday week. It is going to be a little full. (You can find coffee and donut stands out there at 6 am some years. Let’s see what pops up this season and pass the Advil, please).

Managing the snow by clearing or grooming what needs to be done gives a weird sort of satisfaction. My grandfather use to look at his wood pile the same way I look at the parking lots and slopes. Arms folded and happy.

There are still digging tasks by the lodge. Stairways and ski racks are under there somewhere. If you are concerned about a post-Christmas dinner waistline, we have a workout for you! Shovels can be found by the front door.

If you have been following the issues of our main lift, Sky Ridge, you will know we had to rebuild two towers this off-season. Much of the work had to wait until after the snow came because we needed a snowcat to hoist the parts up 40 feet. It is done. All better. We ran the lift for racers and were good to go. Mike, Richard Corban, Dave, and Lars did good. You could congratulate them with a hardy slap on the back if they were not so sore.

The new super coach, Mike Savage, has had his first training sessions. Bringing his race training program to Sky Tavern is a huge deal. He is an amazing guy with huge plans and the ability to pull them off. Sky is putting kids on the Olympic Teams sooner rather than later. You wait and see. Speed suits are going to be everywhere at Sky this season and he has a smile bigger than life. You can slap him on the back.

To be honest, having the holidays on the weekend puts a crimp in the process of getting open. We need to get all the Moms and Dads up to speed either running the ski area or being superstar instructors. That is vitally important. We can’t open until we can make “it” happen. Right now the plan is to have a big training weekend on Jan 7/8th. It is going to be up to the membership department heads to say if we are ready. I might have the keys to the door, but they make the call on GO time. It is important to attend this if you are new to Sky but seeing Grandma is more important. We are all family and understand.

The plan right now is to have never-ever kids on the snow in the morning (Dryland Training) and parent instructors and support members learning their new crafts each afternoon. Is this enough time to get ready? We will see. We have a long winter ahead, hopefully, and doing it right matters. Watch emails.

The job list for support members is coming out soon in an email all by itself. Sign up for something. It will have all the instructions and explanations in it. Better yet sign up as an instructor. It is what we do. We will teach you to teach. I promise that we do not toss you out to the kids with nothing more than a lion tamer’s chair and whip. We give you real tools to change a kid’s life for the better.

Gear rentals: We are trying to get caught up. I am making the calls for other supplies if we do run all the way out. Curtis at Top of the Mountain Sports has some in smaller sizes. He is across the parking lot from us. Except for tiny snowboards, Colin has not turned anyone away yet. We will keep outfitting through winter break. Size 4 ski boots needed. Look in your closet and garage, please.

Passes are coming. Lythia and Rachael are printing as fast as possible while the ID printer is giving them fits. A new one is on the way.

Sky Tavern has signed a contract with TecnoAlpin Snowmakers for just over $1,000,000 in snowmaking equipment. It is going to happen.

Richard is still looking for some more lift operators for the season. It is a paid job, one of only a handful and definitely not a way to get rich. The rules say you need to be old enough to vote to do this. I say you should have voted or not complain.

I always say inertia plays a big part in the cycle of Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program. It is hard to get it going, moves with great purpose once going, and then is hard to stop at the end of the season. It is almost time to push start this great adventure but first hug the kids. It is family time with the holidays.

Have a great Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate with loved ones!

Bill

And remember, it is a great start to winter if those ski pants from last season fit again. Mine are so close!