Warren Miller Brings His Wintervention to Pittsburgh

With snow in the forecast for Saturday there is no better way for the snow-obsesed to kick off the winter then with a little Wintervention!

Wintervention is the 61^st film for industry icon Warren Miller. His films have a cult-like following because his films celebrate seasons past and set the stage for the season to come. This edition tackles the tough issues of snow-diction. Narrated by Olympic celebrity Jonny Moseley it features 26 athletes as they travel from Argentina to Antarctica chasing epic moments in terrain parks, on lift-access slopes and exotic descents in the far corners of the globe.

Catch Wintervention in Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Library Music Hall November 6th, 2010 at 7:00 pm.

Jungle Creek Trail: Dryland Training at its Best

Winter is not the only time you will find us in the mountains. Summer months are an equally great time...we call it Dry land Training instead of skiing.

This past weekend found us in the Teanaway outside of Cle Elum in Washington. We were lucky enough to catch a break in the unseasonably cold weather and had a beautiful day on the Jungle Creek Trail.

As it was intended to be a short day we simply trekked up to the ridge line just past the Way Creek Trail junction and were rewarded with a through-the-pines view of the Stuarts, which are still snow-covered.

While the trail itself was not long it was varied in terrain. It was steep in places and made its way over the Jungle Creek several times, skirted past a bank side washout and scrabbled over scree patches so it provided plenty of opportunity for aerobic and proprioception training.

Not all training is physical - the wildflowers were in the early stages of their summer blooming cycle and provided an added dimension to the hike. Beautiful weather, wonderful views, dynamic trail and amazing wildflowers...this is dry land training at it's best!

Whether there is snow or not...See Ya on the Slopes!

Seven Springs Begins the 2009-10 Season Tomorrow

You may wonder what skiers and snowboarders do in the winter before the season starts...well, we wait...

and wait...

and wait...

We try to entertain ourselves the best we can. On this particular, near summer day in late November, we enjoyed a day at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. With the weather cool enough to enjoy, the animals came out to play and it was truly an amazing day (click here for the full web album).

The waiting is now over...

and as of tomorrow the 2009-10 season is in full swing at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. We have some amazing events planned so I hope you will come to join us!

See ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

Nordica Unveils the New Park Boot

As I am writing this entry the count down on the unveiling of the new, top secret Nordica Park Boot is at 4 Days, 21 Hours and a little over 6 Minutes. Greg Klein, my awsome husband and wonderful boss is heading over to Europe in a little over 21 Hours for the big unveiling party and has promised to provide me with up-to-the-minute, insider information.

He will be posting on Twitter and Facebook throughout the wine-and-dine trip so be sure to follow him on our The Jib Shop page on Facebook and at @thejibshop on Twitter for all the saucey details!

Kicking Off the Season: Day 2 of the Pre Season Sale

It is Day 2 of our annual Labor Day Pre Season Ski and Snowboard sale. For me it is like Homecoming - I see so many of my favorite people in one weekend and it really gets me excited for the upcoming season.

One of the best parts this year is that our Monroeville sale is in the new Monroeville Convention Center. It is a great facility and moving in was really easy because of how it is set up. I have to admit I was a bit worried about people finding us in the new location but given how busy we were yesterday I guess there was no problem.

I love unpacking the merchandise - it is kind of like unwrapping holiday decorations "Oh, I love this jacket!" or "This is one of my favorite sweatshirts".

Loading the skis and snowboards into the Convention Center I thought of how great each one of them performed when we were out testing them.

I am always amazed at what we are able to find to bring to the sale and the great prices we put on the merchandise. The snowsport industry is one of the last great places for true craftsmanship and quality so when something is on sale like this it is truly a great deal - not a mark down of previously overpriced merchandise.

Even though it is Day 2 and we were really busy yesterday there is still great merchandise left.

We have racks of great t-shirts and hoodies.



Pants and jackets from some great snowboard lines,



even great fashion merchandise.



Accessories are one of the best reasons to hit the sale - hats, thermals, socks and gloves are at their lowest prices of the season. Even if you don't ski or snowboard - in Pittsburgh EVERYONE needs warm gear.

So whether it is for yourself or gifts for this Holiday Season or just to say Hi, we still have two days left today and tomorrow, Sunday and Monday 10am to 5pm.

As I help people prepare for the coming season the number one question I get is how to fit children. Even if the child is there to try the merchandise on it is often hard for the untrained eye to determine if gear fits well enough to meet the performance needs while still being big enough to get fit for two seasons. Two seasons may seem an optimistic dream but is often quite doable if the child is fit properly and doesn’t go through an abnormal growth spurt.

Over the next few entries I will try to walk you through the basic concepts of fit as well as the specific concerns that need to be addressed when fitting a child. Hopefully it will answer all of your questions but if not feel free to post questions in the comments area and I will address them as soon as possible.

See ya on the slopes!

Kjersitn

Prepare In Advance For The Upcoming Season

I walked my kids home from school today and it was 95 degrees. Now I realize that eventually I will have to go to the mall and buy some long sleeve t-shirts, pants, tights and the like but it just seems so remote I’m just not ready to jump in to that yet. Getting ready for the slopes, however is another story! I am already done for that. I have bins carefully labeled for each family member. Last year at the end of the season I cleaned and folded all of our gear into our bins. Had some stuff repaired, pulled out those things that no longer fit and made a list for each person as to what they needed. Over the summer I filled each persons list and carefully packed the items into their bin – come first snowfall we are ready to rally!

Now I realize that working for a ski and snowboard shop means that I have summer access to goods that others might not but keep in mind that our busiest time, the time I don’t have time to get my family ready is the time that you are trying to get your family together. So yes, I may be ahead of you time-wise but my time is over and yours is just starting. Don’t wait though, now is the time to hit the big pre season sales and catch all of the newest stuff. Ski shops aren’t like the mall stores, there is limited inventory and once it is gone it is gone. Look over the Needs Check List and review the steps for Investment Buying (Snow Deva 2007) and pull what you need together in advance because if the snow comes early you want to be able to just pick up and go and if the slopes open during the holidays you don’t want to compromise your party time by having to wash your sweaters!

Pre Season Sale is a Wrap

So the Willi's Labor Day Pre Season Sale has wrapped up in Pittsburgh for another year. I left tear down at the Greentree Sportsplex just before they cleared out the last few bits and pieces to be packed away for another year. I hear tear down at the Expomart is going equally fast.

If you missed it this year don’t worry – we have lots of great stuff in the store and there is still the Pre Season Sale up at Seven Springs October 4th and 5th. This is a great sale because there is so much going on up at the resort. We’ll be setting up in the store instead of the convention hall this year so that will make us closer to some of the festivities. It will be interesting for sure!

Hope to see you there or on the slopes,

Kjerstin

Pre Season Sale Set Up Going Well

The Sale set up here at the Greentree Sports Complex is going well. It is Wednesday at 2:00 and we are over 1/2 way done. Tomorrow we have to do this all over again on the other side of the city in the Monroeville Expomart. Friday will be saved for the loose ends and last minute details before we open at 9:00 am on Saturday.

Hope to see you there!

Kjersin

Pre Season Sale '08

Since I work from home, sitting alone at a computer for most of my work getting a chance to get out and really work and be with people is actually fun for me. I only got to unload boxes for a couple couple of hours each day but the team we have setting up the sale this year has been working like dogs. Now, Friday afternoon we are just about to lock the doors to open at 9:00 tomorrow moring for the annual Labor Day Pre-Season Sale.

The Sale weekend is one of my favorites weekends. Everyone, staff, reps and customers are all so excited for the coming season. It is as much a social gathering as a foraging expedition. The biggest problem is that with that much merchandise and confusion you can walk out with stuff you don't need and forgetting what you do need. The key is to have a list and a plan before you walk in. If you spend a little time thinking about what you need (see my previous entries about investment buying) you will be prepared when the snow flies - hopefully it will be early this season.

Hope to see you at the sale or on the slopes!

Kjerstin

Stage II of your Winter Sports Investment Buying Plan

Buying ski and snowboard equipment and apparel wisely will save you money and ensure that you are well prepared for the slopes. The technique of Investment Buying is not a difficult skill to master. It only takes a little planning and organization. The first step is to create a base of essential clothing and equipment that will cover you for most days on the hill (see September 1, 2007). Once you have the base of your Investment Buy addressed you are ready for Stage II. While Stage II is a chance to let your fashion sense and personality shine through its primary purpose is to increase your flexibility to address varying weather conditions while increasing the performance of your gear.

When making Stage II clothing choices err on the conservative side but allow yourself the fun of purchasing something you truly fall in love with. Keep colors consistent and focus on increasing your apparel options for extreme conditions. The number one item to put on your Stage II list is a down vest. It is the perfect layering option for extremely cold conditions as it concentrates warmth around your core without adding bulk to the arms. It also plays an essential role in warmer conditions as, worn alone, it leaves the arms to breath while providing adequate protection to the vital organs. A heavy hat, additional hand wear (e.g. gloves or mittens depending on what you already have), a shell jacket, shell pants or a suit all increase your choices in varying weather conditions. Additional sets of long underwear and socks are also good things to add when you are making Stage II decisions.

By the time you are ready to work on Stage II of your investment buy your skis or snowboard and boots are still fairly new so I would make the jump from aluminum poles to a good carbon fiber or graphite pole. Go to http://www.thejibshop.com/Ski-Poles-C497.aspx for a great selection of high-end poles. Quality poles will improve the integration of your upper and lower body movement by quieting the movement of your arms so the torso can interact fluidly with the hips and legs.

Depending on your budget the process of Stage II Investment Buying may overlap with Building Your Base. The key thing is to start a list and make sure that it is made public before the holidays so anyone who may be hunting for a great gift for you knows what you want. Even if you don’t get everything on your list it will serve well as a guide when you have an extra bit of money to invest in your favorite winter sport.
So the Investment Buying steps outlined so far are 1. Building Your Base, where you acquire the most basic equipment and apparel to get you on the slopes and 2. Stage II Buying, where you start to build on that base to increase your extreme weather options and improve your base equipment performance. Next time we will discuss how to really let your personality shine when we embellish your wardrobe with fashion forward pieces and crank up your equipments performance with Stage III of our Winter Sports Investment Buying Plan.

Pre Season ToDo List

Now that the kids are back in school I find myself more motivated to get organized. As I do every year at this time I start to plan the year so that the things that are important to me don’t get overlooked. This is the time of year that I sit down with a pad of paper and a calendar and focus on when and where we are going to ski this year.

Planning ski trips is the most fun part of getting organized for this time of year but there are many more issues that need to be addressed so the season goes smoothly. Proper planning will save you time, money and make the season more enjoyable overall. To ensure a fun season on the slopes use this handy pre season ToDo list. Add your own notes and build on it to keep for the start of each season. When you realize how easy hitting the slopes can be you will thank yourself!

Make a Ski/Snowboard Budget
Skiing and snowboarding are often viewed as expensive sports but after I saw what my neighbor pays for her son to play hockey I think it’s quiet a bargain! It can actually be quite a value if you plan carefully and make a budget in advance then look for creative ways to stay within that budget. Your budget should take into account everything you will spend to ski or snowboard including clothing, travel, accommodations, tickets and food. Include it in the budget even if it is something like winter clothing that you will use for other things or food that you would be eating anyway even if you weren’t on the mountain.

Check Old Gear
The beginning of each pre season should start with going through your old equipment and clothing to see what needs to be cleaned, repaired or replaced. The earlier you do it the better prepared you will be for your local pre season sale. Keep in mind bargain shopping will help you keep within your budget!

Check Your Calendar
Planning weekend getaways and trips can be tricky with today’s busy schedules. Make sure to look at school, work and activity schedules and pencil in a few ski dates right away so that the time isn’t taken up by some other less important event.

Talk To Friends And Family
Coordinating calendars can be very difficult but it is worth asking around to see if anyone is interested in hitting the slopes with you. Traveling with larger groups can also bring costs down to help you fit within your budget.

Plan Trips
Trips large or small require some advance planning. Start the day dreaming early so that you have some idea of when and where you want to go. Early planning will help you to make travel arrangements that satisfy your needs.

Start Your Preseason Training
Regardless of your level of fitness everyone can benefit from some extra pre slope training.

Racers
Ski and snowboard racers have got to be prepared for the season early. Make sure you have joined the USSA and other necessary associations. Get your race schedule so you can plan other activities and trips around them. Talk to your fellow racers for carpool and training partners and follow the rest of the ToDo list to ensure that you are in shape and have the gear you need to have a winning season.

Anticipating Winter

About this time every summer I start to feel the pangs of anticipation for my favorite time of year. One may think that August is a bit early to start yearning for snow but there is a lot to think about – and for the winter enthusiast that is part of the fun.

My ruminations regarding the coming season are usually triggered by a desire to escape from the often-oppressive summer heat. My minds eye finds me swooshing down a freshly powdered slope and sooner or later my more practical side wants to get into the game and I begin making mental notes about what my family and I will need for the coming season – this mental list of new fleeces and socks, sweaters and pants serves me well as a check list for the local pre season sale and our on line wish list.

I also start thinking about how we will juggle family obligations while I contemplate our weekend ski trips and mid winter getaway so we have a clear calendar and I can score great accommodations.

Ultimately, however, the most of my daydreaming is spent on how I am going to improve this year. I think about my pre season fitness plan and the new products that will make this year even better than the last.

The truth is that just THINKING about the season gives me a chill – and it is the best way to cool off on a hot summer day.