The Vill: Stupid deep; swinehearts; stupid journalists

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

By Brigid Mander

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-“The snow was just stupid deep. Again.” This is just one more gleeful statement overheard earlier this week. It doesn’t even matter, really, what day this comment refers to. We can revel in its pure truth almost everyday. Total snowfall is rapidly approaching 400 inches…and it’s just the beginning of February. 

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Speaking of massive amounts of snow, once again, note all the hard work our JHMR ski patrol is putting into getting us out skiing the lift-served pow as quickly as possible. As we all know, no tram to use for snow control makes their job much harder, with longer hours and lift rides in the cold predawn wind, laden with explosives, so that you - passholder - can rip lines on time each day. The lack of significantly delayed openings on control days hallmarks an amazingly efficient temporary system.

“Some people think we are just out skiing powder,” said ski patroller Phil Tassinari, when asked about how hard things are this season compared to other seasons.  Phil tried to claim that isn’t the case - ah, boys and girls, we see your tracks - but deservedly so.
Speaking of props, the Sweethogs and Swinehearts Ball, ski patrol’s annual fundraiser, is at the Moose this Thursday. Maybe you need some blackmail material for the next time you get caught poaching? (This column does not endorse poaching.) Buy tickets Wednesday and Thursday from ski patrollers.

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The Jackson Hole Treehouse has finally opened its doors officially, after being preceded for many months by cryptic Treehouse stickers. The brainchild of local snowboarder Joel Handschin, the rider-owned and operated, snow, surf and skate shop moved into Hotel Terra last weekend.

Putting forth alternative, fashion-forward lines as well limited runs from well-known names, Hanschin says the soft-goods are bought with a boutique approach to individual styles, instead of racks of the same products. The same logic goes for the hard-goods, with a wall of glistening free-ski and snowboard options, the smaller, less known but high quality, progressive brands are in the limelight, like Unity, LibTech, Armada, and 4FRNT.

Set up to be a place where local athletes can come have fun, see what others are up to, post videos, or do whatever, the shop aims to become a spot where the snow community gathers during the winter, and skaters and bikers in the summer  “We’re just trying to do something fun and different,” said Handschin. Already sponsoring a team of four local athletes and with their concept and a good vibe seemingly down pat, the Treehouse scene is worth checking out.

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Last Friday’s Wall Street Journal contains a review of our local Four Seasons Resort in the Finicky Traveler column. This is too funny not to share. The writer was initially put off by the less-than-manicured surroundings of Teton Village, the run-of-the-mill shops, the institutional feel of the hotel, its incongruous sushi restaurant, and her windowless bedroom at $985 a night! Windowless?  $985? Ouch.

The best part: the author and her husband got lost on the way down after riding the gondola up, and helplessly called the concierge for help. “Is it possible that Four Seasons is actually endangering their clientele by having a hotel, right there, under the terrifying wilderness of the lower mountain resort?”

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Our Four Seasons also made the latest edition of “Sky,” Delta’s in-flight magazine. This writer speaks of the marvels of her Kahlua ‘icicle’ drink from a poolside perch and “watching less fortunate skiers schuss by.” First of all, you drink PBR after skiing.

Second of all, are the skiers coming back from those stupid deep runs in Granite and passing by the hotel the “less fortunate” ones?  I fear that, perhaps, these writers might not get it.

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The Vill: Stupid deep; swinehearts; stupid journalists | Planet JH News Article: Sports & Recreation

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