The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 18, 1998 - B7 SS NBEFORE Powder lines Q, By GARY MALTIN IDON’T like skiing, I love the sport. - » Throughout the season, if you ski or board, we'll meet on the hill. I’ll be the short, fat guy with the yellow suit and the big grin. Feel free to let me know of your feelings, ideas, criticisms on this column or just beefs about skiing, Skiers, boarding or boarders, My plan is to share some tales (most true), give you a few pointers now and then, US i 7 Piece Punch & Chisel and talk to a few skiers and people in the ski industry. Includes : Flat . Generally, I want to shave a passion for skiing that will get chisels, tapered, skiers to ski more and non-skiers to don jacket, boots and pe and centre skis and revel in the freedom of the hills. OuTs8007 - A bil about my background, I moved west from Drum- heller to Calgary for the skiing, from Calgary west to Tod ‘ i ' Mountain, for the skiing, Tod Mountain west to Terrace, Snap Ring Pliers Set "yes, for the skiing, What, you say — for the skiing? Well, ‘ i pneludes onl okay, the job had a little to do with it but if Terrace was heads: 48° and. situated more than 100 km from a ski hill it would not / 90° and two have been an option, straight tips The ski bug did not chomp my anatomy at an early age. ULTS0670 Other than a few childhood forays hiking up the hills in Drumheller with my big brothers 200 cm heads (circa 1965), then failing down them, my real skiing didn’t start 24 Pce 1/2” drive vious ski day, After putting on the rentals it was downhill to the bottom until I was 17. I remember it like yesterday... My buddy r Socket Set Barry Palleson and I jumped in his °70 something Dodge \\ Metric/SAE pickup. Our destination — Fortress Mountain in Metal Case Kananaskis Country, southwest of Calgary, a mere 3.5 \ Included. hours in the distance, Not a big hill (Shames has near the -~\I ULTO80018M -- vertical) but to a couple of prairie boys — HUGE. Barry we would be my instructor for the day, a veteran of one pre- |). p 3 Adjustable Axle Stands gy oo ee ENJOYING the slopes: Gary Maltin with his son, Teese it of the bunny run. Literally and figuratively. With these odd . Lift Range: 11 - 1/2” may 4 planks attached to my bottom limbs, I was helpless, The Henry, at Shames Mountain two years ago. to 17 - 3/4" AUTOPRO = — ULT72933 r . Skis had a mind of their own and it was very different from what F had in mind. My inaugural ski run took me straight into the bottom chairlift hut. What a great sport, I thought — NOT. After picking myself out of the timber and metal of the lift shack it didn’t get a whole lot better, yes I finally made it up the beginner t-bar and I likely made it down a few times without lip-stand-face-planting, but the sport did nothing but humble me, There was no love or passion for - the sport after the first day, only revenge was on my mitid, :] would beat this sport, beat it big time. _ That’s what started it for me. I decided after that first day — a skier would J become, If only to prove to myself it could be done and that one day yours truly would be schussing down the slope, fast, in control and looking good. As my skills progressed over the next few years the - sport tock on new meaning and my outlook changed, No ~ longer fighting the ski, my skiing improved quickly — the better'I got, the more I enjoyed it. My first powder run was a revelation, hiking became part of the ski day. Speed skiing (on prepared courses) entered the picture and a dis- covery that you could ski fast AND in control. A move to Tod Mountain (now called Sunpeaks Resort), did litte to stop my improvement. Nor did skiing with (read chasing) very strong skiers who started so young they have no memory of learning the sport. This was a quantum leap in my ski life. If thought my skiing was pretty good before my move to Tod, it was time for a re-evaluation. Fast forward a few legendary seasons and we arrive here, beautiful, mountainous Terrace, A backcountry playground, great people and the most snowfall of any résort in North America —- Shames Mountain, _ I'm stoked (if one over 35 can use that term), about A Shames, The skiing is superb and sure, it’s been through a few ‘managers in ‘the last while but what hill hasn’t? The thing is — the skiing, Last season we all know that Mexican ‘‘word’’ meant below average snowfalls through- | out the western worlds’ ski vistas. Was it bad at Shames? No-siree-bob. Perhaps for spoiled locals it was, but I had the time of my life boarding in those little 10, 15 and 20 cm dumps. My buddies at Tod would have killed for 15 cm, sun and no crowds. When you’re in the Coast Mountains can you really have a bad snow year? Speaking of years. A stellar year is shaping up at Shames, New operations manager, Gordon Russell, and food and beverage guru, Darryl Tucker, plan to give the hill a big energy transfusion. In pre-season chats with both gentlemen the optimism was contagious. More impressive was the knowledge and experience they possess in their respective fields. With community participation (Terrace, Kitimat, Rupert), this hill can and will rock. Opening day is slated for Dec. 3 offering free skiing to all with a dona- tion to the food bank. My Girst ski tip — go skiing Dec. 3, hey, it’s free. Second ski tip — take a lesson, if you're a novice or beginner {or any level for that matter). Had I not been so stubborn, years of self abuse would not have oc- curred with merely a few lessons here and there. This sentiment will be reflected by all experienced skiers. You will get better, faster by taking lessons, Third and last tip — do some pre-season exercise. Sure it’s only three weeks to opening day but some biking, a few squats, stretching, anything will help make day one even better, A final note - snow boarders take heart, Though many of my references mention ‘ski’, feel free to substitute the word ‘board’ wherever the former is written. In the future there will be columns dedicated to ripping it up, I love the sport. _ Gary Maltin’s ‘definition of the outdoor life network is meeting friends through skiing, boarding, climbing, tenuis”! and ultimate. He does not own a television.. 747 AIR CADETS ee ANNUAL RAFFLE 1° PRIZE: Shames mountain 2 person fomily poss (value $720.00) 2” PRIZE: Terrace Safeway gilt certificate {value $500.00} 3” PRIZE: Kalum Tira-2 hruck fires (235/75R15 TRC Edge] mounted {value'$320.00) . : DRAW DATE: November 30, 1998 @3:00 pm LOCATION: Terrace Cadet Hall Purely Natural STEAM DISTILLED WATER & Northern Healthcare tw The purest water you'll find TICKETS ARE $6.00 each 5q allon refills only $3.99 Call or visit one of our branches today and discover the difference MAXIMUM 1000 TICKETS SOLD 615-5151 in service quality and commitment to community. Youll be glad BGC UCHR AR RM ATION CALL CHARLES @635-3763 in the Park Ave medical building you did. . a "9 a . ? £N | Box 22, Stayin QM = The Dr. R.E.M. Lee Foundation IMPROVING ‘Terrace, B.C, Major Credit Cards ah NORTHERN STANDARD t our VEG 4A2 Accepted “ae SAVINGS presents ODDS V | ti D m dear AN ONES Anne Evans ahaa PRINCE RUPERT MASSET QUEEN CHARLOTTE TERRACE diennines ay, ¥ FOUNDATION | #4 KILLER 638-1966 (250) 627-7571 (250) 626-5231 (250) 559-4407 (250) 638-7822 New Orleans Style Sat. Feb. 13, 1998 Your In Memoriam gift is a lasting tribute. Please send your donation to the address above, along with the name and address and the name and address of the next-of- kin, for an acknowledgement card. MECHANICAL aie: aera AUTOMOTIVE & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY i 635-6334 632-2224 4641 Keith Avenue, Terrace, B.C. « 149B City Centre, Kitimat, B.C. - For a limited time, we are offering a special term deposit which _ pro- vides the flexibility of bonds and pays a competitive rate of interest. In addition, members who deposit $1,000 or more will be eligible iwfor a trip for two to Vancduver*. - This‘prize’includes airfare,” thor "| nights accommodation and $300 spending money. An additional prize will be awarded by each community branch. When you invest with Northern Savings, your money doesn’t leave town. It stays right here in the North to help your friends and neigh- bours purchase their homes, finance their businesses and support their families. www.narthsaye.com —info@northsave.com *§ea branch for full contest details. Some restrictions may apply. Travel prizes provided by Stay & Save and the Terrace Standard, Branch prizes (two leather jackets valued at $900) Courtesy of Blue Ridge Ventures. “Your BC TEL PhoneMart™ store has the perfect gift for anyone who works at home. Our full ~~ selection of fax machines includes the Brother 770 which uses plain paper and doubles as a multi- featured photocopier. It even has a screen that, when coupled with Visual Call Waiting, lets you see who's calling when you're already on the phone. Frequent flyer plan members: oe Earn up to 3 Aeroplan® miles from Air Canada or up to 3 Canadian Plus™ points from Canadian Airlines for every dollar you spend on equipment.! BCTEL — For BC TEL PhoneMaré”™ store locations and hours call toil-free: 1 877-877-5552 *SmatTouch™ Parsonal Call Management services are available to single residential jine customers in most areas. @ Asroplan is a registered trademark of Air Canada; Canadian Plus™ is a registered trademark of Canadian Alrines Intemational Lid. 'See in store for detalls.