What are good speaker topics for a ski club meeting?

[billski]

I'm planning speakers for my ski/board club's season. Like to get some input on what you'd like. We have a wide breadth of skier skills, so we need to find something that appeals to everyone.

I've got the old stand-bys:
a) Resorts
b) Ski Shops - new equipment
c) Movies

Some suggestions include:
d) "tell me a story" - club members talk about trips or other snow related activities
e) Canada resorts
f) Equipment for novice
g) Boot fitters (we did that a few years ago, not sure of an encore)
h) Conditioning for skiing
i) off season activities (we are very winter-centric)
j) On the resort consideration list- Magic encore, and others we have never had: Okemo, Stratton, Ragged. Maybe Gunstock - they really pitched hard at me last year.
Maybe Jimney? I don't think anyone would consider CT or RI. Being in the west burbs, everyone points their ski mobile north.

I'm trying to do something with FIS.

We've done
Winnchill/weather
Small little known areas in MA VT and NH plus Saddleback. Pats, Beast, I think we are running out of the small areas,
Boot fitter
Health bar vendor (don't shoot me, I didn't bring him in!)
and a bunch of stuff I can't remember

Thanks.
B

 

[Nick]

I would go for one of the big ones. Like

What did you eat for dinner?

or

Let's do a neverending word association.

But seriously.... I think you have good ones here. When I send out the ski resort challenge (2011/12 edition) in the next week, we might have some great topics that come up there that you can use.

 

[snowmonster]

I see you've brought in a ski tuner. If you haven't brought a tuner in for a while, now may be a good time. People might also be interested in learning about backcountry skiing or ski history.

 

[billski]

Good ideas sm. I'll inquire again. I tried to get Jeremy from NELSAP, but he didn't want to leave Saratoga!

 

[catskillman]

word on the street is that this season will see the most change in equipment since rear entry boots.

The rocker ski issue is sure to be a never ending conversation and Fisher has developed a totally new form fitting boot that is reportedly outstanding.

 

[o3jeff]

Invite Nick to talk about ski forums.

 

[snowmonster]

Bill, why don't you contact that woman who just wrote that book on Cannon? I'm sure she'll want to get in front of folks to promote her book. Besides, you have great material for Cannon questions based on the recent threads here...

 

[dropKickMurphy]

How about "Beyond the Resort"... backcountry skiing and ski touring topics.

 

[Nick]

Bill, why don't you contact that woman who just wrote that book on Cannon? I'm sure she'll want to get in front of folks to promote her book. Besides, you have great material for Cannon questions based on the recent threads here...

Awesome suggestion.

 

[Black Phantom]

Have you solicited members of your beloved club for their input?

Why not have beer companies like Switchback come in with a keg and loosen things up a bit?

 

[Black Phantom]

I would go for one of the big ones. Like

What did you eat for dinner?

or

Let's do a neverending word association.

But seriously.... I think you have good ones here. When I send out the ski resort challenge (2011/12 edition) in the next week, we might have some great topics that come up there that you can use.

You should present the results of the big challenge to the Club. Plenty of takers for stickers as well. Recruit some new blood.

 

[billski]

Have you solicited members of your beloved club for their input?

Why not have beer companies like Switchback come in with a keg and loosen things up a bit?

Already solicited, generally got the same things.
Can't bring in alcohol vendors, they have their own bar.

 

[billski]

Bill, why don't you contact that woman who just wrote that book on Cannon? I'm sure she'll want to get in front of folks to promote her book. Besides, you have great material for Cannon questions based on the recent threads here...

Agree with Nick. Tell me about the book. What is the author's name? I checked out of the Cannon thread months ago.

 

[billski]

word on the street is that this season will see the most change in equipment since rear entry boots.

Boots?

 

[Abubob]

Agree with Nick. Tell me about the book. What is the author's name? I checked out of the Cannon thread months ago.

http://www.amazon.com/History-Cannon-Mountain-Trails-Legends/dp/1609490436/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312915636&sr=1-1

http://secure.skimuseum.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=930&osCsid=bca6061d046a4ee7d2261c17408b59b1

 

[Abubob]

Good ideas sm. I'll inquire again. I tried to get Jeremy from NELSAP, but he didn't want to leave Saratoga!

Really? That's not what he said on SJ. NELSAP talks and book signings

 

[catskillman]

BOOTS - Yes. (this would actually make a good thread)

Fischer Vacuum

The Fischer is a full “custom shell.” The shoe and the cuff are made of a combination of plastics that truly mold to the foot and leg.

Furthermore, this boot doesn’t just get wider where it needs to be wider or taller where it needs to be taller. It actually gets smaller where it needs to be smaller. (To everybody out there who has dreamed of a boot that really, truly locks down the heel, take a few deep breaths and try to contain yourselves.) Not only does the Vacuum’s Fit process take care of shape, but it also deals with stance. The cuff is supposed to move to a more neutral stance relative to the skier’s lower leg, assuring the skier is standing flat, resulting in easier simultaneous edge initiation.


Part of the FIT process.
The fitting process is straightforward: put the boots on, measure the skier’s stance, set the stand to that measurement, and set the forward lean bar. The boots are then placed in an oven and heated to 175 degrees. It takes twelve minutes to bake them. The skier then puts the boots back on, and the technician wraps a cold pack around each boot, then a pressure bag (Think of the doctor’s blood pressure cuff). The pressure bag is then inflated, exerting an inward pressure on the boot that molds the shell to the contours of the foot.

 

[Philpug]

Bootfitting can not be over stressed. Revisit it please.

 

[Philpug]

BOOTS - Yes. (this would actually make a good thread)

Fischer Vacuum

The Fischer is a full “custom shell.” The shoe and the cuff are made of a combination of plastics that truly mold to the foot and leg.

Furthermore, this boot doesn’t just get wider where it needs to be wider or taller where it needs to be taller. It actually gets smaller where it needs to be smaller. (To everybody out there who has dreamed of a boot that really, truly locks down the heel, take a few deep breaths and try to contain yourselves.) Not only does the Vacuum’s Fit process take care of shape, but it also deals with stance. The cuff is supposed to move to a more neutral stance relative to the skier’s lower leg, assuring the skier is standing flat, resulting in easier simultaneous edge initiation.


Part of the FIT process.
The fitting process is straightforward: put the boots on, measure the skier’s stance, set the stand to that measurement, and set the forward lean bar. The boots are then placed in an oven and heated to 175 degrees. It takes twelve minutes to bake them. The skier then puts the boots back on, and the technician wraps a cold pack around each boot, then a pressure bag (Think of the doctor’s blood pressure cuff). The pressure bag is then inflated, exerting an inward pressure on the boot that molds the shell to the contours of the foot.

I agree the Vacuum is a revolution but it not needed for 80% of the skiing populous. There are still some fantastic boots out there that will do the job as good, if not better than the Vacuum, but for "special needs" feet and issues the Vacuum is a great option.

 

[deadheadskier]

What will be the list price on the Vacuums?