SKI COUNTRY

Looking Good

by Leon Hall

Photographs by Constance Ashley



Skiwear, 1975-76, promises to be the stretchiest, the brightest, the dapperest it’s ever been. There are more bright, clean colors available than you could find in a Rocky Mountain rainbow: crayon colors like lemon yellow, lusty scarlet, spruce green. Black and white are still very strong, either together, or as a complement to the brights.

Parkas, bib-pants, overalls, warmups, pants and suits will have more stretch than ever before. The new jackets are short and sharply tailored; one-piece looks can be easily accomplished by wrap-around zippers; blouson waists and ombre shadings add European touches.

Wools and wool-blends appear in most lines, but for special stretch and fit, look to lycor, hand knits, antron, and a special, lustrous nylon/antron blend, Supertron.

Skiwear this winter offers planned details to combine fashion and performance. For warmth, there are downhills, fitted hoods, fur trims and contrast quiltings. For comfort and safety, there are oversized pockets, top quality zippers, stirruped pants and velcro closures.

Remember, you can only ski as good as you look.

PACKAGE DEALS



To reserve your airline tickets, lodge and rent car all with one phone call, call the Ski Reservation Company toll free at 1 -800-592-7005. Located in El Paso, the free skier’s service has a special Wats line for Texas. Now in their fourth year, the “Call Girls” will help you plan package trips for individuals, families or student and church groups.

The most economical way to get to ski resorts in New Mexico and Colorado is to drive straight through. This means leaving before dawn and getting there after dark. If you stop only for simultaneous gas and rest stops and eat lunch in the car, you can make it to Ruidoso in about nine hours, Santa Fe in 12, Denver or Wolf Creek in 13, Red River or Taos in 14, Vail in 16 and Aspen in 18 hours. Be sure to take into account icy mountain roads and snow storms.

Ski Clubs



Ski club trips are a great way to ski with a group, and to take advantage of money-saving group rates on transportation and acco-modations. Call for additional information:

Dallas Ski Club: 2714 Bomar, Dallas, Texas 75235; 357-5781; Bob Cox, president; dues $15 (single), $20 (family); six trips this season.

Mountain People Ski Club: P.O. Box 452 25, Dallas, 75235; 692-7693; Rob Moore, president; dues $10 (single), $20 (family); trips, 11 (air), 10 (road).

Sno Mad Skiers: P.O. Box 7540, Dallas, 75 209; 350-9026 and 521-7229 (evenings); Gary Caffo, president; dues $10 (single), $20 (family); 17 trips.



Staying There



Colorado

Aspen: a quaint 1880’s silver mining town with four fabulous ski mountains in a 12-mile stretch; 200 runs, 300 miles of well-groomed slopes; free shuttle bus service among four ski areas.

Aspen Mountain: tough and magnificent; trails 75 percent advanced, 25 intermediate. Gretl’s, Sundeck offer great Bavarian food on the mountain.

Aspen Highlands: a fun mountain with terrain for all levels of ability; features the highest vertical rise in Colorado (3800 feet), the world’s longest double chairlift; rentals, ski shop, restaurants, bars and lodging.

Buttermilk/Tiehack: a most popular family area; beginner and intermediate trails; A la Crepe Suzette, Cliff House, good restaurants in area.

Snowmass: the big one with 1,400 acres of runs. Four restaurants on the mountain; Snowmass Resort, rental shops, boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, bars, child-care centers, ice skating, 14 swimming pools, saunas, a theater and extensive lodging facilities.

Rates: Full day, $11. Half-day, $7. Young-at-Heart (65 and older) and children (12 and under) at Buttermilk, Snowmass and Aspen Highlands only, $3.

Ski Rental: Available at the base of each ski area and at two dozen other sports and retail shops throughout the area. $6.50 to $8.50.

Ski School: Ski school on every mountain with a total of 300 full-time professional instructors. All day group lesson, $12. Children, $10. Private, $20 per hour (each additional person, $5).

Reservations: Aspen Reservations, Inc., P. O. Box 4546, Aspen, Colo. 81611; (303) 925-4000. (Some lodges demand Saturday to Saturday only during holidays and high season.) Snowmass: Call toll free (800) 525-4205 or write Snowmass Central Reservations, P.O. Box 220, Snowmass, Colo. 816 54.



Breckenridge: two interconnected mountains, equipped with one triple and seven double chairlifts serving 640 acres and over 56 miles of expertly-groomed runs and back bowl powder. Shops, cross country tours, ice skating, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, nurseries, restaurants, bars and rental shops; lodges and condominiums within easy walking distance of the lifts; 17 restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisine ranging from Belgian waffles to country cooking.

Rates: Full day, $7.50. Half-day, $6. Children and over 65, $3.

Ski Rental: Seven ski shops rent skis, boots and poles for $7-$8. Children $5.50.

Ski School: Hans Garger heads a staff of 55 full time and 35 part time instructors. All day class, $7.50. Half-day, $5. Private, $12 per hour. (Each additional person up to three, $5).

Reservation*: Breckenridge Resort Association, P.O. Box 1909, Breckenridge, Colo. 80424, (303) 453-2368.



Copper Mountain: Colorado’s newest and fastest growing resort; 38 trails for 35 miles of skiing; skier restaurants at top and base of mountain; Copper Village is a totally new village with five restaurants and bars, gift and clothing shops and nursery; ski touring, ice fishing, sledding and ice skating; luxurious condominium units at base of Copper, $23 to $40 a night; lower-priced motel accomo-dations available in nearby Frisco.

Rates: Full day, $10. Half-day, $6.

Ski Rental: $6-$7 per day in three ski shops. Cross country rentals, $6 a day.Ski School: Sixty instructors are trained in both alpine and nordic instruction, and a day’s lesson may be divided between the two. Copper has one of the best children’s ski schools in the country. Alpine: two-session class, $9. Single session, $6. Junior, $7 and $5. Private, $15 per hour. Touring: two-session class, $8. Single session, $6.

Reservations: Copper Mountain Resort Association, Copper Mountain, Colo. 80443, (303) 668-6477.



Crested Butte: 35 miles of runs for all classes of skiers; ski and gift shops, bars and restaurants, medical clinic, nursery, ski rentals, delicatessen and a health club; lodging, 2,500 at base resort, 300 at Crested Butte.

Rales: Full day, $10. Half-day, $7.50. Children, $5.

Ski Rental: Adults, $8. Children, $7. Ski touring, $7.

Ski School: Robel Straubhaar heads a staff of 40 instructors. Half-day, $8. Children, $7. Private, $15 per hour (each additional person, $5). You can see yourself in action on the ski school’s new closed circuit tv.

Reservations: Call toll free (800) 525-4220 or write Crested Butte Resort Association, Box 565, Crested Butte, Colo. 81224.



Keystone: Ralston Purina’s plush family resort; lodges – Mountain House, Summit House, Keystone Lodge, three Continental restaurants, lounges, nightspots, shops and condominium units on an elevated pedestrian mall.

Rates: Full day, $9. Half-day, $6.50. Children, $4.50.

Ski Rental: $7 per day.

Ski School: Full day lesson, $9. Half-day, $6. Private, $15.

Reservations: Call toll free (800) 525-5897 or write Keystone International, Inc., P.O. Box 38, Dillon, Colo. 80435.



Loveland Basin and Valley: the closest major ski area to Denver, 55 miles west on Interstate 70, with no passes to cross or tunnel to go through. A new chairlift connects the Valley (especially designed for beginners) with Loveland Basin, a half-mile west, with skiing for every ability. Groomed slopes, augmented by a complete network of snow-making equipment; ski shop, five restaurants, rathskeller, nursery, open weekdays only (except holidays and Christmas week); overnight accommodations and excellent dining, 15 minutes away in either direction, at quaint Georgetown or Lake Dillon.

Rates: Full day, $8.50. Half-day, $6. Children, $4. Beginner lift, $4.50.

Ski Rentals: Adult, $7. 50. Child, $5.

Ski School: Serge Couttet heads a staff of 250 instructors. Full day, $9. Half-day, $6. Children, $6. Private, $12 per hour.

Reservations: Ski Loveland, Box 455, Georgetown, Colo. 80444, (303) 569-2288.



Purgatory: nestled in the San Juan National Forest; 40 trails and slopes on 400 acres; Asgard restaurant-bar, sports shop, rentals, day lodge, pub, nursery, drug and liquor store; The Lodge at Purgatory ($30 a night), resort, Tamarron, with health spa, indoor tennis, swimming, massage, saunas, steam rooms and whirlpool. Tamarron also has ice skating, sleigh rides, snow shoeing and snowmobiling. Durango has nearly 30 reasonably-priced motels and hotels.

Rates: Full day, $9. Half-day. $6. Children. $4.

Ski Rental: Adults, $7. Children, $4. Touring equipment, $5.

Ski School: Fritz Tatzer directs a staff of nearly 50 instructors. Class lesson, half-day, $6. Full day, $10. Private, $15 (each additional person, $5).

Reservation*: Durango Ski Corporation, P. O. Box 666, Durango, Colo. 81301 or call (303) 247-9000 or (303) 247-8891.



Steamboat: famed for “champagne powder” snow, friendly Western flavor and contemporary ski town; four ski mountains, 53 trails for 520 acres of skiing; guide service available at $5 per hour per person; pedestrian shopping mall, fine restaurants, night clubs, discotheques, shops, a theatre, nursery, food stores, five ski shops; luxury condominiums, economy motels.

Rates: Full day, $11. Half-day, $5. Youth, $5.

Ski Rental: Adult, $6-$8. Child, $5-$6.

Ski School: Director of Skiing is Gold Medalist Billy Kidd. Olympian Loris Werner heads a staff of 100 instructors. Adult: two-hour lesson, $8; three-hour lesson, $11. Children: five-hour lesson, $12. Private, $17 per hour.

Reservations: Steamboat Springs Chamber-Resort Association, P.O. Box 717, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 80477, (303) 879-0740.



Telluride: new resort created from an Old West boom town; five skiwear, equipment and rental shops; moderately-priced lodging at base, Telluride Lodge, with heated, enclosed pool, restaurant lounge, and three inns.

Rates: Full day, $9.50. Half-day, $7.50. Children, $5.

Ski Rental: Adults, $7. Children, $4.50.

Ski School: Full day, $10 Hall-day, $7. Private, $15 per hour (each additional person, $5).

Reservations: Telluride Resort Association, P.O. Box 127, Telluride, Colo. 81435 or call (303) 728-4316.



Vall: international village at the foot of the country’s largest, most completely-equipped ski mountain; ten square miles of skiing terrain (on south side), 32 miles on north side; Golden Peak a learner’s paradise with gentle slopes and snowmaking; ski guide service, ski touring instruction, overnight tours, racing classes for recreational skiers; four restaurants on Vail Mountain at Golden Peak, Mid-Vail, Eagles Nest and LionsHead gondola terminal; Vail/LionsHead and Golden Peak offer ski school, equipment rental, child care facilities; 72 shops and boutiques, 20 ski shops, beauty shops, grocery and drug stores, a medical clinic, 30 heated swimming pools, saunas, health club, ice skating, sleigh rides and cinema; 46 lodging establishments and rental companies for private condominiums and houses, wide price range; 57 restaurants.

Rates: Full day, $11. Half-day. $8. Children and over 65, half price.

Ski Rental: Adult, $6-$9. Child. $5-$7.

Ski School: Bob Gagne heads a staff of 170 full time and 130 part time instructors from 14 foreign countries and the U.S. Full day class, $12. Half-day, $9. Private, $17 per hour (each additional person, $7). All day private, $110.

Reservations: Vail Resort Association, Box 1368, Vail, Colo. 81657 or call (303) 476-5677.



Winter Park: homey area with a 35-year skiing tradition; new 350-acre Mary Jane area increases the total ski area by 80 per cent; 18 trails, 100 acres of powder skiing; cafeteria, ski shop, rental shop, ski patrol room and ski school; 52 trails; children can learn to ski on their own six foot “mountain” or check into a modern seven-day nursery; restaurant/bars are located at the base and midway up the mountain; snowmobile and snow cat tours, sleigh rides, ice skating under the lights; many small lodges and motels down the road in Hideaway Park; accommodations furnish bus transportation to and from the ski area; 20 restaurants.

Rates: Full day, $9. Half-day, $6. Children, $4.25.

Ski Rental: Adults, $7. Children, $5. Ski School: George Engel, ski school director since 1946, heads a staff of 150 instructors. All day class, $9. Half-day, $7. Child, $7. Private, $15 per hour (each additional person, $5).

Reservations: Winter Park Resort Association, P.O. Box 5, Winter Park, Colo. 80482 or call (303) 726-5588.



Wolf Creek: casual family resort; best annual snowfall (425 inches) in Colorado: nine trails on 265 acres, plus 148 acres for powder skiing; “log-cabin-and-chicken-fried-steak” atmosphere pervades the moderately-priced area; lodging and restaurants are available in Pagosa Springs, 21 miles to the southwest, and South Fork, 18 miles northeast; Mariposa in South F. rk serves gourmet food in a cozy setting; a day lodge with hot meals and ski rentals is located at the ski area.

Rates: Full day, $7.50. Half-day, $5. Child, $4. Group discounts available.

Ski Rental: Adult, $7. Child, $5.

Ski School: 12 full-time and 8 part-time instructors. Class lesson, $9. Half-day, $6. Child, $5. Private, $15 per hour.

Information: Ben Pinnell Investments, 3008 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas 75235 or call 357-9166.



New Mexico

Angel Fire: located near Eagle Nest, an hour from Taos; 18 miles of slopes divided into two separate areas; Starfire Lodge ranges from $25 to $34 a day, with ski and rental shop, three cafeterias, weekly guest race, ski touring, ice skating, snowmobiling.

Rates: Full day, $8.

Ski Rental: Adult, $7. Child, $5.

Ski School: Herb Kofler, director, and approximately 15 instructors. Group lesson, $6. Child, $5. Private, $12 per hour.

Reservations: Angel Fire, N.M. 87718 or call (505) 377-2301.



Red River: in the high mountains of northern New Mexico, a casual, rustic ski resort; for up-to-the-minute information on snow conditions, call toll free (800) 243-5250; three good, graduated practice slopes, a great place to learn. Restaurant, ski shop and rental shop are located at the base of the mountain; Ski Tip restaurant on top, sandwiches, drinks; sleigh rides, ice skating, sledding, ski touring, snowshoeing and snowmobiling; hotel rooms, modest apartments, slightly more expensive condominium apartments; prices range from $12 to $54 nightly for double occupancy; 19 restaurants, nine shops, seven ski shops.

Rates: Full day, $9. Half-day, $6.50. Children, $6.50.

Ski Rental: Adult, $6. Junior, $4.

Ski School: Drew Judycki directs a staff of 24 instructors. Half-day group lessons, $6. Private, $12 per hour.

Reservations: Red River Ski Area, Box 303, Red River, N.M. 87558 or call (505) 754-2444.



Ruidoso: close to Dallas, nine hours by car; medium-priced lodging in town; closer to the ski area, Swiss Chalet and High Country Lodge; several eating places in town, but the Silver Dollar, a steak house with an excellent wine cellar 30 minutes down the road to Roswell, is a must.

Rate*: Full day, $10.

Ski Rental: Average $7.50 a day.

Ski School: Full day, $10. Child, $8. Private, $16 per hour.

Information: Call the Sierra Blanca Ski Area, toll free, at (800) 545-4313, or write Box 220, Ruidoso, N.M. 88345.



Taos Ski Valley: eight European-style lodges, fine continental cuisine, fantastic skiing; 56 runs, including some of the most challenging expert runs in the country; a haven for expert skiers; Powderhorn, Porcupine and White Feather recontoured to make skiing easier and maintenance more effective; Idiot Hill and Fanny Hill safe for beginners; five restaurants, ski and rental shops, nursery, gift shop, small grocery store; eight lodges, European chefs, rates ranging from $26 to $36 for double occupancy, including three fabulous meals a day; seven-day packages include 21 meals, six morning ski lessons, seven nights of lodging and seven full days use of all lifts, for $275 to $330, double occupancy.

Rates: Full day, $10. Children, $6. Over 65, $2.

Ski Rental: $8 per day or $48 per week.

Ski School: Ernie Blake, ski school director for 20 years, heads a staff of 45 instructors, including star teachers, Jean and Dadou Mayer. Morning class, $8. Afternoon, $6. Private, $16 per hour (each additional person, $8).

Reservations: Taos Resort Association, Taos Ski Valley, Taos, N.M. 87571 or call (505) 776-2206.



Utah

Alta: 26 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, the grandaddy of U.S. ski resorts for almost 40 years; among the most demanding runs in the country; ten intermediate, five novice runs; ski touring, four full-line ski shops, an intimate village, highlighted by the Shallow Shaft nightspot; four lodges, one condominium, from the budget-minded Snowpine Lodge to the medium-priced Rustler Lodge to the luxurious Hellgate.

Rates: Full day, $6.50. Half-day, $5.

Ski Rental: $7.50 to $9.50 a day.

Ski School: The Alt Engen Ski School teaches the American Technique and special deep powder instruction, staffed by over 100 full and part-time certified ski instructors. Two hour class lesson, $5. Three class lessons, $12. Five class lessons, $18. Private, $14 per hour.

Reservations: Alta Travel and Reservation Service, Alta, Utah 84070 or call (801) 742-2040.



Brighton: a small, friendly, family-type area; half of the skiable area, intermediate, the other half divided between beginner and expert; Woodhaus Ski Shop provides a complete line of clothing, accessories, equipment and rentals, including GLM, touring equipment, ski bobs; village store, ski gear, gas, groceries, two cafeterias, a restaurant, gift shop; inexpensive lodging, Mount Majestic Manor and Lodge ($13-$18 per day, double occupancy), the Merback Manors, rustic cabins equipped with kitchen and fireplace ($125 per week for four to $200 per week for 16 people).

Rates: Full day, $6. Half-day, $4.50.

Ski Rental: $7 per day.

Ski School: 35 professional certified instructors. Two hour group lesson, $5. Private, $14. Combination day pass and group lesson, $10.

Reservations: Phone (801) 364-3382 for lodge reservations and (801) 359-3283 for snow report.



Park City Resort an intermediate skier’s dream; 56 trails; beginners have an entire mountain (The Three Kings); ski touring; “Learn to Ski Week” program for beginners; deli, cafeteria, lounge, restaurant, nursery, four ski shops; condominiums, hotels, lodges, chalets, new and restored saloons and shops, entertainment; 22 restaurants offer everything from home-made stew to flaming shish kabob and pheasant at Car 19.

Rates: Full day, $9. Half-day, $6. Children, $5.

Ski Rental: Adults, $7 to $7.50. Children, $4.50 to $5.

Ski School: Stein Eriksen, Olympic gold and silver medalist and three-time world championship gold medalist, is director of skiing. Ski school director Phil Jones heads a staff of 35 full-time and 80 part-time certified professional instructors. All day group lesson, $9. Children, half-day, $5. Private, $16 per hour (each additional person, $5). Half-day ski touring lesson, $6.

Reservation*: Park City Resort Reservation Office, Box 38, Park City, Utah 84060 or call (801)649-8200.



Snowbird: a class operation; runs range from medium-intermediate to some of the most challenging; 32 designated runs; four luxury high-rise lodges, total 571 rooms, saunas, heated swimming pools, game and card rooms, ski storage, valet parking; three-level Snowbird Center, three ski shops, five restaurants, Tram Room bar and disco, enclosed shopping mall, lounges, gift shops, delicatessen, pharmacy, medical clinic, tram loading level, covered parking.

Rates: Full day, all area, $9. Chairs only, $6.50. Beginner slope pass, $4.

Ski Rental: Adult. $8.50. Child. $6.

Ski School: Director, ski champion Junior Bounous, heads a staff of 40 full and part-time instructors. One day class lesson, $12. Half-day, $9. Children, $4. Private, $18 per hour (each additional person, $6). All day private, $120.

Reservations: Snowbird Central Reservations, Snowbird, Utah 84070 or call (801)742-2000.

Gearing Up

Boots: start at $70 for a beginner, but you should expect to spend $175 or so for a good pair of boots.

Skis: beginner skis range from $100 to $150. Short skis are great tun to learn on and as a speciality ski lor steep moguls or powder. For a short ski. spend about $120. High performance short skis cost about $185.

Bindings: do not save money on bindings! Bindings attach your boots to your skis and you want them to release when you take a fall. On the other hand, you don’t want them to release in the middle of a turn or under heavy powder. Prices start at $40, but for good ones, start at $70 to $90. Some of the top, satest bindings are Look Nevada and Salomon. Spademan, and Cubco are fine for beginners, but not recommended tor hard skiers. In rental equipment, go to a step-in binding. Avoid cable bindings! Driving 20 miles to a different ski shop might prevent a broken leg.

Pole: poles are available from $10 to $35. Any $20 pole is great for the beginner to super expert. Over $20, you’re throwing your mone away.

The major ski shops in Dallas are the Ski Shatter and Cullum and Boren, NorthPark Limited supplies are available at Oshman’s and the Athletic House. Nobody in Dallas rents ski clothes. All of the major ski resorts abound in well-stocked competitively-priced ski shops

For half-price ski clothes, the Lakylike Shop in Wylie sells factory surplus parkas, pants and sweaters by a top skiwear manufacturer. They replenish their stock every year in June and sell to the public all year long. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9:30 to 6:00 p.m., open till 8:00 p.m. Thursdays. Call 442-5842 or drive north on Central Expressway to Piano, right on FM 544 and drive east tor 15 minutes.

How To Talk Ski



Angulation: a position to place the body’s center of gravity over the uphill edge of the downhill ski, as in traversing.

Avalement: absorbing terrain changes with the knees

Bunny Hill: gentle beginner’s slope.

Christy: short for Christiana – any turn with a skidding phase in which the skis run parallel.

Chute: steep, narrow descent.

Crude: undesirable snow conditions of an unpredictable or marginal nature.

Fall Line: the line straight down a hill that a ball rolling free would follow.

Flat Light: daylight conditions where terrain features are difficult to distinguish.

Herringbone: a method of hill climbing in which tips of the skis are placed outward at a wide angle forming a “V.”

Jet Turn: racing turn, in which skier rocks back on his skis at end of a turn, releasing pressure on the skis and jetting out of the turn.

Kick Turn: reversing direction while stationary.

Mogul: a bump on the hill caused by snow piled in a mound.

Poie Plant: placing the pole into the snow to achieve balance and timing on initiating a turn.

Poma lift: means of uphill transportation where a skier leans against a saucer-shaped disc and is pulled uphill.

Pawder Hound: skier who seeks deep powder conditions.

Schss: skiing straight down the fall line, generally in a tuck.

Sltzmark: indentation made in snow by a fallen skier.

Snow Bunny: beginning girl skier.

T-Bar: means of uphill transportation in which two skiers at a time are pulled uphill leaning against a T-shaped bar.

unweighting: a momentary lifting of body weight that takes the downward pressure off the skis, permitting them to be moved quickly and easily to develop a turn.

Wedein: a series of quick, continuous parallel turns down the fall line of a ski slope.