Castro Valley Ski Club Newsletter CVSC SkiZette P.O. Box 20321, Castro Valley, CA 94546 Special Events: May, 2006 CELEBRATING OUR TWENTY SECOND YEAR EVENTS CALENDAR MAY 6 CVSC ANNUAL END OF SEASON BANQUET MAY 20 LIVERMORE WINE TOUR BIKE RIDE Inside this issue: Birthdays/ Travel Table President Message/ 3 Consider This/ 4 Membership News/ Company Store Lift Ticket Return 5 Form Travel/ 6 Industry Liaison China Trip 7 2 CVSC BANQUET MAY 6 WINE BIKE TOUR MAY 20 MAY 3 CVSC General Meeting at Don Jose s LIFT TICKETS MUST BE TURNED IN AT THIS MEETING 6 CVSC End of Season Banquet at the Sequoyah (f) 7 Charity GoCart Event 10 CVSC Board Meeting at Rindie & Lloyd Chase s 13 Sunol Wine Train Ride (f) 17 CVSC General Meeting at Don Jose s 20 Livermore Wine Tour Bike Ride (f) May 22- FWSA Adventure Trip to Machu Picchu June 6 JUNE 7 CVSC General Meeting at Don Jose s 8-11 FWSA Convention at Chandler, AZ 14 CVSC Board Meeting at TBD 21 CVSC General Meeting at Don Jose s JULY 12 CVSC Board Meeting at TBD 19 CVSC BBQ at Castro Valley Community Center 29 Mexican Fiesta at the Green s Aug TBD Oct 29-Nov 11 Jan 27-Feb 3 UPCOMING Mystery Theater Dinner at Pleasanton Hotel Royal Caribbean Panama Canal Cruise (tt) 2007 FWSA Ski Week to Steamboat Springs (f,tt) Event Flyers 8-11 Avid Skiers in Control Back page
PAGE 2 MAY BIRTHDAYS Mark Read 1 Nancy Furtado 1 Maureen Oakes 4 David Cunningham 6 Pat Green 6 Ron Dennis 6 Sandy Beecher 7 Peter Hamlett 8 Steve Kallal 17 Fred Rubis 18 Wayne Ainsworth 23 Rita Hayden 27 Valerie Craven 27 CVSC SKIZETTE After nearly ten years on the job; It s time Jim Korn This job has been a remarkable learning exercise for me and it will be for you too! Our great Club needs a sparky newsletter with a newer, fresher view on the world of snow sports. The job requires computer experience which can build into desktop SkiZette Editor Wanted!! publishing. I have all the templates which will become property of the new Editor; and I will assist in turning the job over to competent hands. I hope you are interested; if so, give Walt or me a call or email. MAY 2006 TRAVEL TABLE - FWSA, BAC, Club trips featured Destination/Sponsor Dates Cost Contact What FWSA Adventure trip to Machu Picchu/ Galapagos Islands FWSA Royal Caribbean Panama Canal Cruise FWSA 2007 Ski Week SteamBoat Springs, CO May 22-Jun 6, 2006 Oct 29-Niv 11,2006 $1218-$2118 PP/dbl occ. + air Jan 17-Feb 4, 2007 $3750-$4000 Tucker Hoffmann 510 278-7660 tkhoffmann@aol.com CST# 2081040 $760 and up +air & Ground trans. Tucker Hoffmann 510 278-7660 tkhoffmann@aol.com CST# 2081040 Tucker Hoffmann 510 278-7660 tkhoffmann@aol.com CST# 2081040 RT Air from LAX, all taxes/tips, SA Air, Grnd Trans, 1st class hotels, 3 nites Galapagos cruise, 25 meals, tours, et al Port Taxes, fees, all cruise activities, meals, games, spa, shows, 24 hr room service & more Lodging, Welcome party, 3 races, mountain picnic, Apres Ski party, awards banquet, 5-7 day lift ticket SkiZette Policy NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: 22nd of the month Articles submitted by this date will be included in the following month's newsletter - space permitting. Submit articles to: Jim Korn, 15447 Heron Drive, San Leandro, CA 94579-2741; Phone (510) 357-6127, Fax 510 352-3757, email: jimkorn@value.net Didn t get your newsletter? - Contact John Fagan, VP Membership @ (925)371-1667
MAY 2006 CVSC SKIZETTE PAGE 3 President s Message T his was the last month of using the ski cabin and Lloyd Chase wrote such a wonderful letter I thought I should share it with the membership. The Cabin was a great success this year and we still have availability. Please consider this for next year. However, before reading Lloyds letter I need to remind you of the End of Season Banquet on May 6th. The Sequoyah Country Club is a great venue for us and the price is right. Only $35 for wine, dinner and dancing. Give Pat Green a call to make your reservation. If your planning on attending the FWSA Convention this year you need to get your name over to Claudia Fernandes soon. If you want to be a voting delegate the Club is subsidizing Board members the registration fee of $135 and non-board members $65. You must attend the Sunday meeting to qualify. This year s convention is in Phoenix and should be fun. In May we will have the normal two meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday but don t forget that starting in June we will be on our summer schedule of the 3rd Wednesday of the month only. Volunteering to have fun, Walt Johnson Dear Cabin member, Today we finished the preparations for returning the CVSC ski cabin to the owners. After some cleaning and clearing it looks great. You members share the credit for preserving the quality of our cabin environment. Thank you!. For over two decades we have, to the best of my knowledge, never had a significant complaint from the two cabin owners from whom we have leased. This accounts for the low rental rate we get from the owners and the trust they give us in managing their large investment. Avid skiers like us are great clients for the owners. I want to thank some of the cabin members who contributed a lot of their time to making this year a very successful one. Barb and Booth Myers helped my wife and I for two days in getting the cabin ready for the Club. They also spent over two days helping us get the cabin ready for return to the owners. This involves a lot of work with scrub cloths, vacuum cleaners, sponges, etc., etc., and expertise with computer equipment. Give them a pat on the back (and maybe a margarita) at the next club meeting! During the year, we had some defects develop in the cabin. One such situation was addressed by Jim and Diana Gartland, who discovered bad caulking in a bathtub, bought some caulking, and did the caulking. They are an example of the cabin members who went above and beyond the cabin rules to keep the ship afloat. Above all, I want to thank Erlyn Lucas for her exceptionally demanding task of scheduling, billing, collecting, and documenting of the cabin occupancy and revenues. I hope that you all realize what an effort this is for a volunteer. Buy her a few margaritas! We hope to see you all next year!!! Best regards, Lloyd Chase, Cabin Business Manager
PAGE 4 CVSC SKIZETTE MAY 2006 Consider This Consider This Consider This... Out with the old, meaning skiing, and in with the new. I see in my future and I hope yours too -- bike rides, winery tours with some wine tasting, BBQ meetings, and a dinner dance at Sequoyah Country Club. For many, the list also includes travel to exotic places. Castro Valley Ski Club rocks; the fun just never stops! With lift ticket returns deadline fast approaching, I ve outlined below the gist of what you need to ensure those unused tickets are properly credited toward the repurchase of ticket for the 2006-2007 season. You will find the ticket returns form in this newsletter and of course some will also be available at CVSC meeting. Wednesday, May 3rd is the deadline for submitting unused tickets/vouchers and returns form no exceptions! Only tickets/vouchers purchased through the BAC Discount Lift Ticket program will be accepted. Returning a ticket/voucher grants you credit toward the repurchase of a comparable ticket/ voucher for the 2006-2007 season. The replacement ticket/voucher is not automatic. You must order the replacement ticket by completing the Discount Lift Ticket Program order form that will be distributed later this year around October. No fees or money is due with the ticket/ voucher return. My telephone numbers and email address are below. Please contact me directly if you have any questions about the purchase or return of discount lift tickets. I ll be happy to fill you in. I look forward to seeing you at the May club meetings and the CVSC End-of-Season Banquet! Meanwhile, I hope you re having fun. Best regards, Paula Kinahon BAC Benefits Director 415 983-7145 (day) 510 357-6147 (evening/weekend) Paula.kinahon@mckesson.com From Membership: A sort of quiet month of April as far as membership goes. No new members to report. The ski season is winding down for the year. Coming up in May, on Sat the 13th, Ralph Sherman gets us aboard the Sunol Wine Train. And on Sat. the 20th, we'll be tasting some wine and biking through Livermore wine country. Flyers in this issue. Have fun!!! Change of Address? - Contact John Fagan, VP Membership @ (925)371-1667 The Company Store The following Castro Valley Ski Club promotional items, with logo, are available to members Black Ball Caps $10 Gold Key Rings $5 Logo Luggage Tags $1.50; 4/$5 Logo Fanny Packs $20 Club Patches $1 SEE DEAN OR JOLENE MICHAEL TO PURCHASE ANY OF THESE GREAT ITEMS
CVSC Lift Ticket Return Form DEADLINE TO CVSC: Wednesday, May 3, 2006 MAY 2006 CVSC SKIZETTE PAGE 5 Ski Area Number of vouchers Voucher Serial Numbers Alpine Meadows (Write club & member name on face of each returned ticket) $40.00 credit Bear Valley $37.00 credit Heavenly $58.00 credit Homewood $32.00 credit Kirkwood ADULT $49.00 credit Kirkwood YOUNG ADULT $40.00 credit Northstar/Sierra ADULT $51.00 credit Northstar/Sierra YOUNG ADULT $42.00 credit Squaw Valley $53.00 credit Sugar Bowl $35.00 credit Total Vouchers Returned: Name: Address: Phone: Email: To claim credit for returned tickets, you MUST pay applicable fees, submit a lift ticket order for the repurchased tickets for the 2006/2007 ski season, and be a current member of Castro Valley Ski Club. Signature:
PAGE 6 CVSC SKIZETTE MAY 2006 TRAVEL NEWS Steamboat springs January 27 - February 3, 2007 Located in the Colorado Rockies, Steamboat Ski Resort is one of North America's largest ski mountains. With 143 trails, 3,600 vertical feet, and nearly 3,000 skiable acres, Steamboat provides a variety of terrain for every level of skier. The trail classification is 13% beginner, 56% more difficult and 31% advanced/ expert. There are definitely runs for every skier. Steamboat is a complete mountain range with Mt. Werner, Sunshine Peak, Storm Peak, Thunderhead Peak, Christie Peak and Pioneer Ridge. Steamboat s six peaks are filled with groomed cruisers, bumps, steep, open meadows and legendary tree skiing. The phrase "champagne powder snow" was coined at Steamboat. During the 2004-05 season, Steamboat invested over $1 million improving their chairlifts. Their uphill capacity is over 32,000 skiers per hour. They have a total of 20 lifts including an 8 passenger gondola and high speed quads. This trip is almost full. We only have a few spots left. See flyer and get your $200 deposit in soon if you are interested in going with the club. - CVSC CST # 2081040 Tucker Hoffmann CVSC Travel Director 16969 President Dr. San Leandro, CA 94578 INDUSTRY LIAISON Dave Cunningham industry@skibac.org We have had a very snowy March in 2006. The Sierra s have had record snow fall courtesy of a chain of storms out of Alaska. 17 feet of snow fell over the first 17 days of March at Kirkwood. I have listed a number of Events happening in April. Check them out and experience what our Ski Area s have to offer. Take a look at the links below and see what s happening at our local ski hills. *Alpine Meadows: www.skialpine.com. Alpine has their Spring Pass on sale now. $99 lets you ski for the rest of the season. Alpine is currently planning to stay open till May 22. Alpine set a record for snowfall last month at 197.5. Snowbomb will be hosting concerts on the deck Saturdays till Alpine closes. *Bear Valley: www.bearvalley.com. Bear plans to close on April 23 rd. They have their 2006-2007 season pass on sale now. Check out their site for lodging deals as well. *Boreal: www.rideboreal.com. Boreal plans to close on April 16 th. Season passes for 2006-2007 are on sale now. Boreal is hosting Snowmobile races the weekend of April 22 nd and 23 rd. *Diamond Peak: www.diamondpeak.com. Diamond Peak plans to stay open till April 23 rd. 2006-2007 season passes are on sale now. Save over $100 by buying your pass early. *Donner Ski Ranch: www.donnerskiranch.com. Check out Old School Thursdays. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 6-12. 2006-2007 season passes are on sale now. Save $50 before Nov. 17 th 2006. *Heavenly: www.skiheavenly.com. Heavenly is planning to close on April 23 rd. 2006-2007 passes are on sale now. Adult passes are only $319 til June. *Homewood: www.skihomewood.com. Closing day is currently April 23 rd. They may stay open longer. Lift Tickets are only $27 Monday thru Thursday. *Kirkwood: www.kirkwood.com. Projected closing date is April 30th. A spring pass is available for $149. 2006-2007 passes are on sale now. Check their website in May for a possible Memorial Day Ski Party. *Mount Rose: www.skirose.com. Closing day is set for April 23 rd. There is a Dummy Downhill planned for April 15 th.. *Mammoth/June Mountain: www.mammothmountain.com. 2006-2007 Season Passes are on sale now. Mammoth is planning to stay open til May 31 st or later. Lift Tickets are $56 for adults during Spring Fest. *Northstar-at-Tahoe: www.skinorthstar.com. Closing day is planned for April 23 rd. 2006-2007 passes are on sale now. Prices will go up after May 31 st. *Sierra-at-Tahoe: www.sierratahoe.com. 2006-2007 season pass on sale now. Prices will go up after May 31 st. *Soda Springs: www.skisodasprings.com. Closing date is April 16 th. Soda Springs has minisnowmobile rentals for kids 6-12. 2006-2007 Season Passes are on sale now.. *Squaw Valley USA: www.squaw.com. Squaw plans to stay open till May 29 th. Squaw is planning a welcome home party for Olympian Julia Mancuso Saturday April 15 th. 2006-2007 Season Passes are on sale now. Save up to $400 before July 15 th. *Sugar Bowl: www.sugarbowl.com. Sugar Bowl is hosting a Ski Instruction Clinic April 17 th 20th. There is also a 3 day skill improvement clinic from April 21 st 23 rd. Restricted pass holders can now ski any day from now till closing day.
MAY 2006 CVSC SKIZETTE PAGE 7 CHINA TRIP; by Tucker Hoffmann he first group of 34 flew out T of San Francisco in mid September for a two-week exotic journey to China and the Yangtze River. We arrived early evening in Beijing, the vibrant capital of China. The next day we would visit Tiananmen Square, the world s largest and most famous square. Followed by a visit to the Forbidden City and a glimpse of the opulent lifestyles of the Chinese Emperors and their concubines. After lunch we visited the picturesque Summer Palace on Kunming Lake. The next day we traveled by motor coach to explore the Great Wall, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, followed by a visit to the Ming Tombs and the Sacred Way. The next day we flew to Wuhan to see the Hubei Provincial Museum and then on to Yichang to board our cruise ship. During the next five days on the Yangtze River we visited the construction site of the Three Gorges Dam, went through the locks at the dam, sailed through the spectacular Xiling Gorge, longest of the Three Gorges. Took a small riverboat up the Shennongxi Stream tributary for a close-up view of the local people and wildlife. We cruised through the Wu Gorge, with its deep zigzagging valley and lush forested mountains, and the Qutang Gorge, last of the three. After departing the cruise ship in Chongqing and visiting the Panda Bears, we flew to Xian to see the world famous 6,000 Terra Cotta warriors, horses and chariots buried with the first Chinese Emperor, Qin Shihuang. From Xian we traveled to Suzhou to visit the Garden of the Fishing Net Master, the Silk Spinning Factory and a boat ride on the Grand Canal. The last couple of days we spent in Shanghai, one of the most modern cities of the world. We visited the Shanghai Museum, the Bund, Yu Yuan Garden Bazaar and the place most tourists do not get to visit, the Xiang Yang Clothing Market or knock-off market. Tommy Bahama shirts for only $10 US. Along the way we saw an Acrobatic show and a traditional Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show. As soon as the two-week group flew out of Shanghai for home, Kathy and I flew to Beijing to meet the next group of 50 coming in for a three-week trip. We did the same trip all over again except the extra week was one of the highlights of the five weeks we were there. From Xian, instead of going to Suzhou, we flew to Guilin to see the Elephant Trunk Hill and the Reed Flute Cave. From Guilin we traveled by motor coach through lush countryside to a small village to embark on a three-hour cruise up the scenic Lijiang River to Yangshou. After dinner in Yangshou the group went by bus to a natural amphitheater on the shores of a lake surrounded by mountains. of the most There we watched in awe of one The China Trip CVSC Bunch, Sep.-Oct., 2005 See anybody you know?? spectacular musical productions ever performed, with a cast of over six hundred, and all the time taking place on the lake. After shopping in Yangshuo, we traveled back to Guilin to fly on to Hangzhou that included a cruise on the tranquil waters of West Lake, and a visit to the Six- Harmony Pagoda, Lingyin Temple and a tea farm. Then on to Suzhou, ending in Shanghai where our China travel was capped by a ride to the Shanghai airport on the mag-lev train at over 260mph! Both groups had an amazing time and will long remember their adventure in China.
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MAY 2006 CVSC SKIZETTE PAGE 9 20TH AFTER BIKING A Barbeque at the home of John & Phyllis Fagan! BYOB (some of the great wines you bought!), something to cook on the grill, and a dish to share ~5:00 P.M. at 853 Waverly Common in Livermore (925)371-1667 It s at the top o the hill; Best directions: from MAPQUEST Info: Contact John Fagan at (925) 371-1667
PAGE 10 CVSC SKIZETTE MAY 2006 SATURDAY, May 6, 2006 Black Tie Optional SEQUOYAH COUNTRY CLUB 4550 Heafey Road, Oakland $35 Per Person (CVSC Member) $45 Per Person (Non-Member) EVENING EVENTS 6:00 PM Hors d oeuvres and No Host Cocktails 7:00 PM Dinner Installation of New CVSC Board Awards for Officers & Members Door Prizes & Raffle Dancing to the Music of Moods & Tunes, Greg Antone, D.J. Until 11:30 Menu Choices #1 Steak #2 Salmon #3 Vegetarian All entrees include salad, seasonal vegetables and Chef's choice of potatoes or rice, bread and butter, coffee, tea, or decaf and dessert. DON'T MISS THIS GALA EVENT!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BANQUET RESERVATION FORM Complete reservation form and mail to Pat Green, 4655 Cope Ct., Pleasanton, CA 94566 By Monday, April 24, 2006. Enclose check payable to CVSC. Name Menu Choice # Member? Y/N Amount Enclosed $ $ Total Amount Enclosed $
MAY 2006 CVSC SKIZETTE PAGE 11 FWSA 2007 SKI WEEK Jan. 27 th to Feb. 3rd, 2007 Steamboat Springs, Colo. Almost 3,000 acres open to skiers & riders Base elevation: 6,900 Vertical drop: 3,668 To learn more, visit www.steamboat.com Package includes 7 nights lodging and amenity package: Registration Welcome Party 3 Races BAC Council Night Party or Dinner Mountain Picnic Apres Ski Party Farewell Awards Banquet with Dancing 5 of 7 day Lift Ticket Castro Valley Ski Club along with BAC expects to offer, 3 bedroom - 3 bath condos & or 2 bedroom - 2 bath condos depending on the lodging we get. The condo and amenity package starts at $760 per participant for the least expensive lodging options. Our package will be higher since we are trying for the ski-in condos. Most condos are within walking distance to the gondola base and have fullyequipped kitchens. Some are ski in, walk out to the gondola. Information on specific lodging and pricing should be available by April 2006. Price does not include air and ground transportation.. CVSC is taking $200 per participant deposits now. Priority placement will be based on first received deposits. Deposits are fully refundable until June 10, 2006. Make deposit checks out to Castro Valley Ski Club (CVSC) with Steamboat noted in the for space. Please include the following with your check: (1) copy of your driver s license or id, (2) phone number, and (3) email address to: Tucker Hoffmann CVSC Travel Director 16969 President Dr. San Leandro, CA 94578 Please send an email to tkhoffmann@aol.com to confirm that you have sent a check. For more information contact Tucker Hoffmann 510-278-7660 CVSC CST # 2081040
PAGE 12 CVSC SKIZETTE MAY 2006 2005/2006 Avid Skiers in Control President Walt Johnson 510 881-8201 granite53@aol.com Vice President Paula Kinahon 510 357-6127 paula.kinahon@mckesson.com VP Membership John Fagan 925 371-1667 phyllismay@comcast.net VP Weekend Trips Kathy Johnson 510 881-8201 kjohnson@bayareakw.com VP Sitzmark Cabin Lloyd Chase 925 447-3659 skisailloyd@comcast.net Reservation Manager Erlyn Lucas 925 922-6119 elucas702@hotmail.com Secretary Claudia Fernandes 925 462-6573 claudia.fernandes@jud.ca.gov Treasurer Kathy Hoffmann 510 278-7660 tkhoffmann@aol.com Newsletter Editor Jim Korn 510 357-6127 jimkorn@value.net Web Manager Rindie Chase 925 447-3659 clarinett@comcast.net Race Director Dave Cunningham 925 455-1333 tahoeskier@mail.com Activity Director Pat Green 925 846-7250 greendm@comcast.net Travel Director Tucker Hoffmann 510 278-7660 tkhoffmann@aol.com Past President Jim Korn 510 357-6127 jimkorn@value.net California Road Conditions: 1 800-427-7623 SKIZETTE for MAY, 2006 stamp P.O. Box 20321 Castro Valley, CA 94546 ADDRESS SERVICES REQUESTED ADDRESS LABEL HERE The Next Meeting will be on May 3, 2006 7:30 PM at Don Jose s Mexican Restaurant 3430 Village Dr. Castro Valley 510 538-3290 SKI WITH PRIDE, LET IT RIDE, WATCH ALL SIDES First With Safety Awareness Slogan award sponsored by: