First practice!

Well, we now have one practice under our belts and no idea when the next practice will be!  It has been such a struggle for the mountains around here to make snow, the temperatures have been so warm.  The first team practice was last night but they're not doing night skiing anymore for the time being so no practice tonight and we'll see what happens next week.

So we left the house and it was raining!  The good news is that the sun was peaking out when we got down there.  Sweet Pea got some of her gear on at the car and we walked down so she could get her boots on.  She met some of the crazy boys on the snowboard team and two of the coaches.  The rest of the group slowly gathered.  Last night there were 11 kids total, 9 boys and 2 girls.  The coaches thought that was going to be about everyone.  There's one more coach who wasn't there last night.  At 5:30 they set off to do some get to know you things then headed up the mountain for some boarding and evaluating by the coaches.  I got to hang out in the lodge, where it was warm and dry.  There were a few other moms there waiting; I'm sure by the end of February we'll know each other pretty well.

I didn't really get to hear much about what they were doing on the mountain but it sounds like Sweet Pea had a good time.  The other girl is about her age (nice) and it sounds like one or two of the boys are as well; the rest are much younger (from what I could tell).  The Wednesday night practices are an hour and a half, so she was done by 7:00, slightly wet, and starving.  We loaded up the car and stopped for dinner on the way home.  Not going to happen after every practice but it was what we needed last night.

Here's hoping that we get a long cold, snowy spell!  We need cold to make snow and having some real snow would be a bonus.

To the mountain!!

And so it begins.  We went down to the mountain today.  We picked up the girls' season passes and they had a chance to get on the mountain for a while.  The girls had a chance to ski for about 2 hours before we had to head home to get Rosie Jane to dance.  I knew it wouldn't be for long today but they have season passes so it's ok.  Funny thing was that Rosie Jane, on her first run, dropped her mitten from the chairlift.  Fortunately, she knew where she dropped it (near the base) so she could walk up and get it.  No fun in ski boots!

The ski area opened on Tuesday, although they've only got three runs open.  They're looking rather skimpy by now though.  They had great snow making weather at the end of last week and early this week but today when we were there it was about 60*!  The snow they did have was slowly melting along the edges.  Didn't matter, the girls had a good time and Sweet Pea was really happy to be snowboarding again.  It's supposed to get cold again tomorrow and tomorrow night so they should be able to get making snow again. 

Sadly, they decided to cancel Saturday's practice. The good news is that I don't have to get up at 5:30 to get Sweet Pea down to the mountain.  The bad news is that the first practice keeps getting pushed out (no fault of theirs though, they're just about the only ski area open in the Mid-Atlantic).  I gave the girls the option of heading down on Saturday anyway, but I think we'll stay home, do some cleaning, wrap presents, and make some cookies.  We'll get in enough ski time this winter, I could really use the day on these other things.

Got the gear, still waiting on snow

We ran down to Massanutten today.  Not exactly a quick trip around the corner or anything.  We went down one way, just over 2 hours; came back the scenic way, just under 2 hours.  The biggest difference, at least come the depths of winter, will be trying to get over the mountains taking the scenic drive.  Probably won't be going that way too often.

We went down to pick up her jacket and hoodie.  We didn't realize that they had separate jackets for the ski team and the snowboard team so she's got a board team one.  Brand spanking new even.  They actually got some snow the other night and have been making snow, so there was some on the ground, which made Sweet Pea oh, so happy, but not enough to ski on yet.  They're still hoping for the first practice to be Saturday but they've got a ways to go before the slopes are going to be ready.

Drat! Still waiting...

Got the official word today that the ski resort won't be opening this weekend.  Guess that's what we get for living in the mid-Atlantic area.  The good news is that after this pouring rain moves out, it's going to leave by changing to snow and then get COLD.  Hopefully the mountains will get some snow and will be able to make plenty more. 

So the plan for now, head down on Saturday to pick up the team jacket and hoodie.  The resort is probably opening on Tuesday so we'll go down Wednesday afternoon to take care of getting pictures and season passes.  Maybe if they're lucky, the girls will be able to get a couple of runs in before we head home.  Saturday (12/17) will be the first team practice.

Almost...

I don't know if they're still making snow or not.  It's been pretty warm during the daytime here (60*) so I'm sure at the mountain it's pretty warm as well.  At least later this week it's going to get colder again but I'm not sure that there's enough time to get snow made to open this weekend.  Guess that means we're in a holding pattern for now.

On the bright side (and I mean the really bright side!), Sweet Pea got her new board pants today.  She couldn't find ones she liked at Dick's Sporting Goods so we went straight to the source and ordered from Burton.  She couldn't decide what color she wanted and finally went with "Aloe Fade Out Plaid" and I'm not sure it's "fade out" anything!  They're really much brighter than the picture shows.  We won't be losing her on any ski slope!

  

Obviously I'm not a techy person, don't know how to get her standing upright!

Guess we're in the "hurry up and wait mode" right now.  Until the weather gets cold enough so that the resort can make snow or so that it actually snows, there won't be any boarding.  Someone is getting very impatient!

Waiting on the snow!

Got all the paperwork turned in, paid the season ticket and team fees, just waiting on the snow.  Sounds like things are looking up in that department!  I saw they started making snow last night so hopefully it'll be ready next weekend.  We have to head down to pick up the team jacket and hoodie on Saturday.  While we're there the girls will hit the slopes for a few runs to check it out since they've never been there before.  Kind of funny since it's one of the ski areas that I learned to ski at growing up.  Then we'll be heading down on Sunday for the first team practice for Sweet Pea and just a day of skiing for Rosie Jane; they'll spend the day there as it's a Girl Scout ski trip as well.

Pray for cold and snow!!

Got the snowboard, just need the snow

I stopped by the ski shop today to get Rosie Jane's skis.  Sweet Pea's snowboard was ready so we picked that up.  She needs to try on her helmet and make sure it still fits, we need to get her new pants (the others got worn out), then I think we're set as far as gear goes.

I'm about to scan her paperwork to email in her team registration.  Once that's done (and paid for) I'll just need to get her down there on Dec. 10 to get her team jacket and hoodie and have her picture taken for her season pass.  She's got her first team practice on Dec. 11, but we were going to be there anyway with a Girl Scout group that's going skiing that day.  Hope they have snow then!

Back story and team meeting

As I sit here at home, I wonder how I ended up a snowboard mom.  You know, like those hockey moms and soccer moms, I'll get to spend my time driving and waiting.  I'll be driving to ski mountains, spending time waiting in ski lodges (hopefully some with a nice big fireplace, good wi-fi, maybe Starbucks, and a great view of the mountain), then after a long day or evening on the slopes driving back home. So here I'll blog about our journey to the mountains.  After all, I've got to have something to do while I sit and wait.

We encouraged Sweet Pea to take up skiing.  After all, growing up in the great northern state of Virginia I had learned how to ski.  I went to college in New Hampshire so I could hit the slopes every once in a while between classes.  Met my native New Hampshire husband there and taught him to ski.  So, yes, we encouraged both girls to ski.  Now I'm wondering if that was such a great idea after all.  The first time they went Sweet Pea decided to give snowboarding a try; she didn't want to even look at a pair of skis.  She fell in love!  And really, the whole snowboarding culture is way more her style.  So she's snowboarded for 4 years now and wants to take it to the next level.  New this winter, instead of going to Whitetail every couple of weeks, she's going to join the snowboard team at Massanutten. That's where snowboard mom comes in.  Since she's only 15 she can't get herself there so I'll be driving her down two or three times a week for team practices and to who knows where for competitions.

So Saturday was our first introduction to what we're getting into.  I'm really glad we're starting at a smaller mountain in Virginia rather than a huge one in New England.  It's a smaller community and it'll be easier (I hope) to fit in.  Bob, Sweet Pea, and I went down to the Nut (as they lovingly call it) for the Ski and Snowboard Team meeting.  There we were introduced to the woman who runs the program, some of the coaches, and lots of details. The main thing we need to do right now (even though there's no snow on the mountain) is to get her paperwork in, pay for her season pass, then get her team coat and hoodie.  The first practice is Dec. 11, assuming that they are open by then. I need to pick her snowboard up from the rental place tomorrow and then she'll be set.  Just need the snow!