October 7th, 2009 kicked off one of the earliest ski seasons that the United States has seen. From here on, there will be a ski lift running somewhere in the country, potentially until June. From the very first day, expert skiers, competition skiers and novices will be sharing the slopes, creating a pronounced speed differential and unpredictable direction changes, all on a narrow strip of snow, approximately the width of three school busses, known as the "white ribbon of death." As the temperature drops and the snow begins to fly, more runs open up, but other factors, such as bad weather, holiday crowds, surprisingly difficult terrain, and equipment issues, arise that can spoil one's ski day. Unfortunately, no one feels the brunt of these snafus more than the beginner skier. |
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