All the signs are there: Ski season is near

As soon as the months start ending in BER, I start to get that feeling - you know, where your heart rate picks up just a little bit at the thought of imminent powder fall.

I know, I know, September seems far too early to be thinking about winter, but for many that's when the snow fever begins.

It starts with the season-pass sales. Much like election season, we are bombarded with the ads and the billboards. The five Inland Northwest Ski areas are all vying for our votes of allegiance, our season-pass purchase.

In October, the ski swaps start happening. They are usually hosted by the local ski patrols and race teams at each of the areas. It's a great way for them to raise funds and it's a great way for you and your family to get deals on used equipment.

Then the ski movies start coming to the region. Warren Miller is the godfather of ski movies. Just one look at those pillowy powder fields with the skier or snowboarder dropping in the perfect line to the dramatic music is enough to get me outside and snow dancing. Teton Gravity Research (TGR) and Matchstick Productions are the other major players in the annual ski movie industry. TGR was here last weekend at the Met with Soul Purpose. I hope you were able to catch it.

You'll have to trek up to Sandpoint to catch Matchstick Productions' showing of Yearbook at the Panida Theater. To make it worth your while, Schweitzer is giving away a season pass (see time/ price in "What's happening").

So, you're mentally ready. How about your gear? Let's face it, you don't want to show up to the hill on opening day at noon because it took you so long to find your gear.

Let's take time now, while it's cold and rainy (in other words, it's snowing up in the ski areas) and dig out the gloves, the hats, the goggles - you know, they're located in the crate in your closet. Get both gloves. The other glove probably fell down behind the shelf so it might be in the summer crate by accident. Grab the boots - they aren't out in the garage are they? Bring them inside. Go ahead. Put the skis/snowboards on the rack now. It just gets the snow gods working sooner. It encourages them and it saves you time in the morning of opening day.

THE MAIN EVENT

All five local ski areas - 49 Degrees North, Mt Spokane, Silver Mountain, Lookout Pass and Schweitzer Mountain Resort - hope to open Thanksgiving Day. All we can do from here is pray to those snow gods and watch the skies - and oh, yeah, get our bodies physically ready for the season. We'll talk about that next week.

See you on the slopes.

And remember, you can always visit www.ski-inlandnorthwest.com to find out more of what's happening in the ski community locally, sign up for e-mail snow reports and find links to the local ski areas.

SIDEBAR:SNOW SPORT REPORTWHAT'S HAPPENING -- This weekend is the Spokane Snow Show. If you are reading this column, it means you have an interest level in snow sports that ranges anywhere from curious to diehard powder dreamer. It also means you have every reason to attend the Snow Show Sunday at the Spokane Convention Center from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Plan your annual ski vacation, pick up your season pass, dream and salivate - you know, the usual. Admission is $4 or free with a Warren Miller ticket. Warren Miller's Impact will be showing in the Opera House at 5 and 8 p.m. that night. Tickets are $18.50. - - 49 Degrees North, Mt. Spokane and Silver Mountain have already had their ski swaps. However, there are two on Saturday. The WSU Ski Team Swap will take place on campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ( www.urec.wsu.edu/ski swap). The Schweitzer Alpine Racing School Ski Swap, also on Saturday, is at the Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- Matchstick Productions presents Yearbook at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint tonight at 7:30. Tickets are $8.

Lisa Gerber's column will appear every Friday during the ski season. If you have an event or story idea, contact Lisa at skiinglisa@bigleapcreative.com.

Copyright c 2004 The Spokesman-Review
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.