The Travels of Glen Plake
Well it’s that time of the year, stuck in the middle of it. Summer is definitely headed out and winter is headed in, and my phone is ring’n – usually ending with another plane ride on the schedule taking me to somewhere – this is the working part of my life, not the skiing part.
Trains, planes, automobiles, hotels, motels and when things go bad (last night!) *still no word on my bags* maybe neither. Love or hate travel leads me to various things, sales meetings, pre-season events/promos, tv, radio, interviews, autograph sessions, ski sales and many other things that are all about one thing – skiing. No matter how bad being away from home may be or how bad the flight was when I finally get to where I am going it’s the greatest opportunity in the world.
Talking to other skiers and sharing each others experiences really charges me up for the winter approaching. It also really emphasizes the uniqueness of the communities of skiers around the world. Whether it is a group of company heads discussing market percentages, new product etc.. or watching a new film with a young crew of jibbers, we live and are driven by our dedication to the pastime we love so much. “Last year” around the world was considered a “bad” winter, I have a real hard time with that statement – I don’t believe there is such a thing, there might be a better winter, but not bad! Even though there was not a lot of snow from the sky, snow makers around the world gave us great skiing, Heavenly’s Face last year was proof of that, skiing was insane. So I ask the question – “does a bad/no snow winter mean bad skiing?” surely not! Everywhere in my travels I have fortunately been surrounded by people who share my belief. This is the time of the year that people are stoked and so am I.
Glen
For your interest:
September 12 Montreal International Ski Film Festival sold out 3 nites 1500 people
September 19 head to Zurich , Switzerland Freestyle 3-day downtown festival – 100 ft jump built – ski, skate, snowbd, fmx – *skier wins overall best trick* YES!
25,000 people attendance – makes X-games look like local football!
September 23 Elan sales meeting Croatia beautiful coast, all is great – mogul skis in production!
September 27 Dalbello sales meeting Italy – great new product, 1 meter of snow falls in alps
September 30 – death flight – extra nite in Dallas, secondary for the whole plane – miss connector, home last nite Oct 1.
October 2 – depart for Florida – Florida???? lots of skiers there, biggest ski club in the country – 3 day promo
Kentucky next week Reel Thrills filming
Glen on the road…
Glen Plake is Heavenly’s SkiEO, and a long time icon in the world of skiing and snow sports. Glen’s busy schedule takes him all around the world, but always back to where his heart lives here in South Lake Tahoe.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:52 am
You are correct 100%. I just moved to the Tahoe area and keep hearing people talking about the last few years as being “mild winters”. Well… moving from Phoenix and haven’t seen snow in 2 years (N. AZ usually has SOME sort of winter, not not recently), “mild” is good enough. Then… I had someone give me better insight into this phenomenon. “Mild” only meant 56ft of snow, not the 60-70ft kind. “Oh.” I said. “Well, that IS something huh?” I am originally from NW Pennsylvania, which is lacking in tall mountains, but our Lake Effect Snow coming off of Lake Erie has given me a good concept of winter condition driving, methods of layering clothing, etc. So I am ready for whatever type of winter we will see this year!
October 5th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Another school of thought is… we are overdue!
One word on the mountain says “an early winter”?
We have every reason to be stoked either way!
Wax ‘em if ya got’em… see ya on the hill.
October 10th, 2007 at 6:31 am
Some friends and I spent a week skiing Heavenly last feb. Two of us had the opprtunity to ski there before. I hadn’t been there since feb. of 1970!! Sunshine and enough snow to have a great time!! And one of the most beautiful vistas on earth. That’s what it’s all about. I’ve got another friend that won’t hit the hill unless the conditions meet his criteria for “good” skiing. Poor guy, doesn’t seem to get it up much. I’m 56 years old and I find myself turning a little more, but there’s nothing like pointing ‘em downhill, EVERY CHANCE I GET!!! And praise the groomers every “mild” winter they keep it skiable for us!! Good job guys!