Liability & Guests: The sports programs are for Vail Club 50 members. A member is welcome to bring a guest; but the guest must sign a Liability Waiver at the beginning of the event. Event
leaders will have the Liability Waivers with them. We limit non-member participations to one sporting event for the season.
Opening Day,Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Vail Club 50 downhill skiing is a members only activity so don’t forget to renew your membership and sign your waiver before joining us for skiing beginning Tuesday, December 6. The opening day will be followed by the annual Après Ski Party (see separate article for details.)
We ski on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Vail and on Saturdays at Beaver Creek. Our hope is that there will be a volunteer to lead at each level on each scheduled ski day, though at times, a last-minute volunteer is needed. At the brief morning meeting, our designated leaders will be introduced and each will describe the first lift to take and
their plan for the first few runs. Each skier should select a group based on his/her ability taking into consideration weather, snow conditions, and terrain selection projected by the leader. Selecting the right group will greatly enhance your ski experience as well as the experience of other skiers in the group. Please let your chosen leader know you plan to ski with him/ her so you can all collect at the top of the first lift.
We try to identify leaders in advance. For skier safety and group management leaders can take up to 10 skiers. If the group is larger than ten, an additional leader will need to volunteer. We are trying to avoid requiring reservations in advance and limiting the number of participants at each level since the spontaneity is part of the fun. Hope you agree and will plan to lead if needed.
Our current groups are as follows:
- Double Black Diamond–“Life in the fast lane” to quote Jon Myers. This is a fast-paced group willing to take on any terrain (powder, bumps, trees, and occasional groomed.) Lots of challenge here!
- Black Diamond– “Double Black Diamond light”- Similar terrain variety, but a little less challenging and at a slightly more moderate pace.
- Blue/ Black– groomed, powder, some bumps, paced to keep the group together.
- Blue–Groomed trails, and other terrain by group consent.
- Is anyone interested in a Light Blue group? If so and we can find willing leaders we’ll try to establish another level (single black level was new in 2010-11).
Start times and meeting places:
- Meet at 9:15 a.m. (start time will change when daylight savings begins). Morning meeting by 9:25 and out the door promptly at 9:30. Please allow enough time to arrive on time.
- Tuesdays & Thursdays: Look Ma Restaurant top level at Mid-Vail.
- Saturdays: Spruce Saddle at Beaver Creek ONLY through December. Beginning in January, we will be meeting at the Broken Arrow Café in Arrowhead.
- Notice: There will be no scheduled VC 50 ski days during the Christmas Week (Dec. 27, 29, and 31st) or over Martin Luther King (Jan. 14th) and President’s Day (Feb 18th) weekends.
Ski Leaders
We communicate updates and changes via email. If you feel you are not receiving emails, send a message to Carol Ferguson, ski program, Co-Chair, at her email kalani_01@yahoo.com and ask to be included in the distribution list.
Ski Leaders Needed! Our program depends on volunteer leaders. Your Downhill Skiing Co-Chairmen this year are Jon Myers (970-331-6742) and Carol Ferguson (970-376-2210). If you enjoyed skiing with the club in the past, we encourage you to volunteer to lead a group. If all of our current leaders continue to contribute and some new people come forward, we should be able to cover 4 groups of 10 skiers each. Please be prepared to step up if you are needed. There will be a ski leader-training day before the ski program starts on Dec. 6. Suggestion: The easiest way to begin leading is to drop back one level from the one you normally ski.
Leader Sign-Up Party: Tuesday, November 29, 6 p.m. at Carol’s home, 312 June Creek Rd, Edwards (Singletree.) Call Jon (970-331-6742) or Carol (970-376-2210) or email kalani_01@yahoo.com to attend or to volunteer to lead even if you can’t attend. We will provide main course and salad; you bring an appetizer or dessert, your choice of beverage, and most importantly, your calendar. This meeting is usually both social and productive. We need YOU!
Ski Leader Training: How do I learn what a leader needs to do? We offer an on mountain, “how to” training session for volunteers. This session will be held Thursday, December 1, ski conditions permitting. Start will be 9:15, Look Ma Restaurant, top floor of Mid-Vail.
Ongoing Après Ski Parties: Will be held in Sarah’s Lounge at the Christiania Hotel – 2:30 p.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Beginning in January, we will meet for après ski on Saturdays at the Broken Arrow in Arrowhead at 2:30 p.m. There are special events for the ski program. These begin with the December 6 Après Ski at the Ski Museum, followed by a NASTAR ski race (possibly in February), the Treasure Hunt on Tuesday, March 6 (see separate article for details), and an end-of season Picnic on April 12.
Stay tuned for more information in your emails. We’re looking forward to another great season,
Jon and Carol
Downhill Ski Chairmen