2011 K2 Women's Weekend at Pajarito Mountain (at Taos Ski Valley)
Some of the participants of the 2011 K2 Women's Weekend at Pajarito Mountain gathered for a group photo after raising $10,000 for charity!
K2 and Pajarito Mountain teamed up again this year to host the 3rd annual Women's Weekend, a 3-day charity event to raise funds for men & women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. Despite numerous unfortunate events that occurred days before our Weekend - La Nina struck Pajarito Mountain causing it to close the weekend before our event and residents of Northern New Mexico suffered a multi-day gas outage causing a state emergency & FEMA response - over 60 women came together to support our cause and to ski in celebration! In our inaugural year, we raised $2900; last year we raised $6500; this year we raised over $10,000!! A generous thank you goes to Adriana Blake, Taos Ski Valley Marketing Director and K2 Women's Alliance Member, for welcoming our group at Taos, and to all the local vendors and volunteers who made this event possible.
~ Amy Bauer (K2 Women's SW Region Alliance Member)
WOW loves Freshies
Crystal clear skies, crisp morning temperatures, and 3+ feet of fresh powder greeted Squaw Valley's WOW session on Sunday morning. The ladies were part of Squaw's Dawn Patrol program, which takes a tram full of guests up to High Camp for first tracks and a scrumptious breakfast before the masses descend upon the mountain.
El, Nancy, Maura, Fran, Kim, and Julie bathed by the morning light & ready to rip! We had pristine corduroy runs down Shirley Lake and chalky cut up powder off Granite Chief, before waiting for patrol to drop the ropes on Silverado. We had two glorious runs of fresh, deep, light powder - Oh. My. God. Probably the best morning. Ever.
Posted by NorCal Alliance Team Member, Julie
Babes Bonding in the Blizzard
It's been snowing heavily in Lake Tahoe for the past two days and we couldn't be happier! We are measuring the snowfall in feet, and the deep, fluffy stuff is a welcome sight after a long dry spell.
Today, the K2 NorCal Alliance Team and Bobo's Ski & Board hosted a demo day at Mt. Rose in Nevada. The ladies were treated to a light breakfast from Mt. Rose, and free demo skis & goody bags from Bobo's. We headed out on the mountain and were greeted by endless acres of fresh, light, deep powder that got everyone hootin' and hollerin' and grinning from ear to ear! We could not have asked for better ski conditions (although driving was a bit sketchy at times), a more enthusiastic group of ladies, or a more well organized team from Bobo's to get us out on the slopes. We also raised over $900 in donations today for K2's partner, BCRF (Breast Cancer Research Foundation).
Linda and Aimee getting fueled up for the morning!
Big thanks to Mary, Deborah, Joe & Robert from Bobo's Ski & Board...you guys are amazing and really know how to put on a great event! Thanks also to Mt. Rose for hosting our group and for your awesome team of women instructors who joined us. We are really looking forward to expanding this event next year and bringing more women out to rip around in the pow!
Posted by K2 NorCal Alliance Team Member, Julie
Demo Day at Alpine Meadows
Yes, it's only February but we are already thinking about next year! The K2 team was out in force at Alpine Meadows for the WWRSA demo show and the unveiling of 2012 K2 models.
Tyra, Elle, Heidi....you girls have nothing on our Super Models: Super Burning, Super Stitious, and Super Free! A super fun and exciting line of new skis for all to love. Here are NorCal Alliance Team Members: Julie, El, and Fran doing their best "face" in front of the K2 tent!
Rob Furtney interviewing demo participants as they returned from testing the new line:
We have a great crew in the Tahoe region - thanks to everyone who came to help and say "HI" and had a maple bacon cupcake!
Posted by NorCal Alliance Team Member, Julie
So Much Fun Taking it to the Next Level ... on K2's!
Another fun Women of Winter session went out on February 2, 2011 led by Norcal Alliance members Fran and Julie. Despite a recent snowstorm that improved conditions a lot., we faced challenges ... but all the women were up for it and charged like goddesses!
Four of us randomly got on one chair ride and we were K2 strong.
Great Skiers ... Great Skis ... California Sunshine and lots of the white stuff. Need we say more?
Fran Tone, Norcal Regional Alliance Team Member
Skiing on K2's and Beating Breast Cancer
I had the pleasure of spending a week in Colorado skiing with my friend Katherine who wears pink in celebration of her beating breast cancer. The first woman to use genetic testing to determine whether chemotherapy would help her (finding it wouldn't and didn't use it), she is a survivor and lives life to its fullest. We skied the slopes of Colorado, her on her K2 Lotta Luvs and I on my new and fantastic PayBacks. Thanks K2 for supporting the search for a cure! Thanks Katherine for always reminding me that life must be lived to the fullest every day!
Fran Tone - Norcal Regional Alliance Team Member
Garmont's new women's NTN boot: The Priestess
K2 Paybacks with NTN bindings.
During the 2009-10 ski season, I was disappointed to discover that none of the boot companies were making a women's NTN boot. See blog post. As promised, in 2010 Garmont released a women's specific NTN boot called the Priestess, which accommodates sizes 23-27.5.
After watching my husband ski the NTN's and work out some of the kinks (details below) last season, I garnered my new K2 Paybacks, NTN bindings, and Garmont's Priestess NTN boot size 25.0 and hit the slopes this year with a whole new setup. Previously I was on the K2 Dawn Patrols with Karhu's 7tm Power bindings and Garmont's Elektra women's boot size 24.5.
Garmont's Priestess.
I'm using the green power tubes in the NTN bindings with the tension set between 1 and 2 depending on the snow conditions (1 for powder and 2 for hard pack). As expected, the fit of this Garmont boot is narrower than their traditional telemark boot. After some boot tweaking: thermo-molding the liners and some ankle padding to fill in the volume added by the bigger size, I was surprised how easily I adjusted to the new system. I find the NTN system very responsive and the Priestess boot was easy to flex right out of the box. I'm also a ski patroller and NTN provides a greater level of stability while pulling a toboggan. In short, these bindings and the Priestess rock!
One main kink: the NTN bindings may accumulate ice and snow underfoot.
~ Amy Bauer (K2 Women's SW Regional Alliance Member)
WOW loves Doug Stoup
Squaw Valley's "Women of Winter" program hosted guest Doug Stoup for a morning of tactical tips, inspirational adventuring stories, and great skiing with wonderful friends. Doug lead the ladies as they charged around the mountain, in search of California sunshine and runs to challenge and thrill!
Doug created Ice Axe Expeditions (www.iceaxe.tv) not only to lead North and South Pole skiing expeditions, but also to pursue his passion to explore the world and educate the world about what is happening around the globe. Doug has also formed the Ice Axe Foundation to reach out to children around the world, teaching them about the world and inspiring them to pursue their dreams. Doug carried a United Nations Flag to the North Pole to commemorate and celebrate the United Nation’s Millenium Goal #3: To Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women. THANKS DOUG! We need more guys like this!!
Posted by NorCal Alliance Team Members, Julie and Fran
Spring Skiing in January
After an early season of snowstorm after snowstorm, it's been nice to see the sun again here in Lake Tahoe! Today we had an abundance of sunshine, corn snow, and beautiful skiers as the NorCal Alliance team gathered for a morning of turns together at Alpine Meadows. Thank you to the team members and our guests for making it out today. It was an inspirational sight to see these ladies rippin' around the mountain!
Posted by NorCal Alliance Team Member, Julie
A Little Hike Paid Off
Squaw Valley's WOW (Women of Winter) with K2 Regional Alliance Members Fran and Julie kicked off the new year with smiles, laughs and powder giggles. Titled "Burn Off the Holidays," a brief hike up Granite Peak burned off a slice or two of holiday pie and was rewarded with a fluffy powder stash even though it hadn't snowed for several days. With regulars returning and new participants joining each session, more friendships were forged as the WOW team of rippin' women skiers at Squaw keeps growing - women who want to ski, ski, ski and go, go, go! Damn - I LOVE skiing!
Fran Tone, Norcal Regional Alliance Team Member
