Traveling Skis in the Midwest!
I couldn’t wait to take this ski out! Just the thought of all the other women who have taken this out. Wow! Now I get the chance to put it through its paces. It made me feel great!
This was a Sunday at the end of February, you’d think being in the Midwest the weather would be cold and cloudy but on this day it was definitely spring conditions. All was good! The hill was crowded people smiling enjoying the great day! While in the lift line someone asked me why all the signatures on the skis? I explained that all the signatures on the ski were from women around the world who had tested it!
On my first run the skis performed great – sharp, quick turns, easy to initiate just what I love! Now skiing at Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin with a little over 200 feet vertical I needed to take more than one run!! So back to the lift again. I got a chance to read the signatures on the ride up – wondering where Laura and Sue tested the ski or Zena (love her name!).
If the ski comes in your area, be sure to take it out. For me not only was it great to ski the new T-Nine line but to know there are other women out there taking turns!
-Debbie. Midwest Regional Alliance member
Tele at Timberline
This past weekend, closing weekend, sob, here in West Virginia, saw our annual Local's Cup Race run in fine form. Here is a picture of Janel, our local tele/White Grass winner showing her off her new K2's. Lucky girl.
Allison, Southern Alliance Member
Hop turns for steep terrain
Staying loose and lively is key to managing steep, technical terrain. K2 Ski partner Mike Alkaitis with the Colorado Mountain School sent us this short video on steep ski training in Rocky Mountain National Park earlier this month. Mike and the CMS guides found some great steep terrain and good snow for a perfect showcase of their training.
Global planning and development meetings
Every year in March, we kick off for our annual global planning and development meetings. This year, we ended up in Stuben, Austria, the Arlberg region of the alps- just down the road from the famous St. Anton. The Stuben ski area makes for a perfect test hill with enough variety to get on a variety of different skis in all types of terrain. We stayed at the Mondschein (Moonshine in english) lodge, a family owned wine cellar and hotel, built in 1739. If you ever get over to Stuben, be sure to sample their version of Moonshine—the owner has a concoction made from pine cones. After, be sure to challenge his wife to a round of hammer/nail, and good luck.
After a couple days of meetings and testing, we took advantage of our travel day and made a trip over to Kitzbuhel, the home of the famous Hahnenkamm downhill course. Getting the opportunity to see the course was cool, but gaining the insider’s perspective on the course from former US Ski Team Member and Coach, Gordy Eaton (also a member of the K2’s All Mountain testing and development team) was an experience that none of us will ever forget. Gordy took us through each section of the course with a play by play of what goes through the racer’s head.
In typical K2 fashion, several of us showed up at one of the gnarliest world cup courses with 117mm waisted ObSethed skis, not the ideal ski for the situation. The course is one big mogul field when it’s not race day. Luckily, it had snowed a few inches, and we were able to slash through the powder on the edge of the course! All and all, it was a memorable trip; a lot of discussing, planning, and skiing to be had.
Paint for Peaks at Taos
This season at Taos we changed up the big fundraiser we do to benefit breast cancer. Because Taos is known as an art community, we decided to combine our reputations for awesome skiing/riding and art. Never Summer Snowboards along with Draven Longboards donated snowboards and long board skate boards and artists around the community and country used them as canvas' for some truly amazing art. The auction was held on March 6th, and we raised over $12,000 for the Susan G Komen New Mexico Affiliate!
Some of the most stunning are was done by students from the Chrysalis Alternative School, whose board raised over $2,000! For more visuals on the boards check out paintforpeaks.com.
Have a great summer.
Greets from Polish K2 FR Camp
WOW run on a Squaw Secret
An impromptu WOW (Women of Winter) was set up for March 24, 2010 hoping to make a run at Smoothie ... a secret at Squaw Valley open only for a short window of opportunity in the Spring. Everything went as planned and off the women went, traveling across the distant right-footed traverse from Granite Chief to the boundary, crossing the line into Smoothie. We skied it, laughing all the way, enjoying the adventure into Squaw Valley's side country - wondering, though, where Patrol stashed the wine and cheese.
Led by Fran and Julie, K2 Norcal Regional Alliance Members, the women went back to Smoothie for a second and PERFECT run ... although we still never found the wine and cheese!
So what is Smoothie? Come to Squaw in the spring time and find out!! It's pretty awesome <... if only we could find that wine and cheese ... Julie? are you sure Patrol stashed it out here for us?!? Hmmmm.>
--Fran Tone, K2 Norcal Regional Alliance Member
K2 Alliance at Kirkwood
The K2 NorCal Alliance Team and K2 Skis were invited to spend the day as Kirkwood hosted another Expedition:Kirkwood Women's Weekend Camp (www.kirkwood.com). A large group of skiers and snowboarders assembled to spend the weekend on the slopes under the watchful eye of their Kirkwood coaches. Demos, meals, and parties were on tap for all the participants too!
Amy McCormick, Elianne Furtney, Fran Tone & Julie Matises were "guest coaches" for the day & we had a fabulous time! Good thing we all called each other in the morning to find out which boots to bring 
Debs Herne gathers the participants on the first morning to split off into groups. What a great turnout of women!
Kirkwood patrolman Ricky Newberry and Chewy stop by the tent to say "hi" to K2 rep Rob Furtney. Rob had next year's ski models for the participants to try...and they loved 'em!
Thank you to the Expedition: Kirkwood staff for a fantastic day and camp - can't wait to go again next year!
- Posted by NorCal Alliance Member, Julie
cover shots and a few more pics
Hey guys
Here are 2 Cover shots from our teamrider Roman Rohrmoser
and a few more impressions from my last trips to svizzerland and france.
and I also performed my massive rail skills!!!
keep on shredding
roman
and also check out www.roman-rohrmoser.com for further updates
Gemsfreiheit im Schatten des Piz Palü
Viele kennen sicher das beeindruckende Panorama von der Diavolezza auf den Piz Palü und der touristisch geprägten Abfahrt über den Morteratschgletscher hinunter zur Bahnstation. Diese Variante kann man aber noch ambitionierter angehen. Nämlich über die Gemsfreiheit am Fußes des Fortezzagrates mit steileren und nördlicher ausgerichteten Gletscherhängen. Über Nacht hat es wenige Zentimeter Neuschnee gegeben und beim Bier am Vorabend war in der Gerüchteküche von Pontresina herauszuhören, dass einige Seilschaften diese Tour auf dem Zettel haben
Wir wollen aber die erste Spur legen und fahren Dank Anselmos Kontakten als angehender Bergführer mit der ersten „Bediensteten-Gondel“ auf die Diavolezza. Ein kurzer Blick von oben verschafft Erleichterung. Es ist noch keine Aufstiegsspur zu sehen.
Auf Gurt und Seil verzichten wir, da die großen Spalten von der Bergstation gut ersichtlich waren und Anselmo sich seiner Sache sicher ist. Das Gefühl in diesem riesigen Theater der erste am Tag zu sein ist schon ein ganz besonderes. Trotzdem heißt es Abstand halten und alle Sinne auf mögliche Warnsignale zu setzen. Es geht erst flach über den Gletscher bis sich dann die Gemsfreiheit mit ca. 500 hm etwas steiler anhebt. Oben queren wir noch ein Stück am Grad entlang um einen schwungvolleren Einstieg auf die anschließende 1500 Hm Gletscherabfahrt zu genießen.
Die Bedingungen sind perfekt. Wir ballern in weiten Schwüngen über einen jungfräulichen Gletscherhang und genießen den Moment des Seins. Nach einer viel zu kurzen Abfahrt queren wir wieder die Touristenroute und lassen es die letzten Kilometer bis zur Bahnstation dahin laufen.
Auf dem Ausläufer des Morteratschgletschers zeigt mir Anselmo unser nächstes Ziel. Eine 1000 Hm Nordrinne, die in dieser Saison noch nicht gefahren wurde. Wir beeilen uns wieder auf die Diavolezza zu kommen, um vom Süden her über einen Sattel zur Rinne zu gelangen. Im Anstieg ist es bereits sehr warm und vom ersten Schritt an begleiten uns eindringliche Wummm-Geräusche die mit zunehmender Hangneigung immer weiter ins Gelände ausstrahlen. Die berühmte 6. Kammer beim Russisch Roulette Revolver ist also erreicht und wir wollen den Abzug nicht durchziehen. Zumal die gestrige Hosenbodenfahrt in einem relativ harmlosen Schneebrett am Julierpass unsere Entscheidung unterstützt.
