2017-2018 Far West Skier's Guide - 76
Balboa Ski and Sports Club has a year round Sunday morning tennis challenge. They also have a monthly tournament held either in Newport or Costa Mesa depending on which courts are available. Orange Council of Ski Clubs Vand Bakke Ski Club traveled to Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana for their annual Ski Week. Originally called Big Mountain, the area offers 3,000+ acres of accessible terrain with spectacular views of Glacer National Park. Some participants stopped to admire the views. Stephanie Delgadillo ORANGE COUNCIL OF SKI CLUBS by Sheila Van Guilder, President Since May 5, 1971, Orange Council of Ski Clubs has been addressing the issues impacting skiers in and around the Orange County and Southern California. Originating from the Southern Council (which before 1971 was LA, Orange and Riverside clubs) to better serve the high concentration of skiers and snowboarders in this area, Orange Council was established. But, our scope is much wider. Our clubs and members extend into LA, north and to the Midwest. Our council is and has always been an active member of the Far West Ski Association and is also a member of the National Ski Council Federation. Each year, our council shares the information and the opportunities that flow from these organizations with our clubs and club members. Over the years and into the future, our members also serve these organizations. Sheila Van Guilder as Council President is on the Far West Ski Association Board of Directors. George Kish, our Council Treasurer, is the FWSA ByLaws Chair. George also serves as Orange Council webmaster. Jess Gorman is the Orange Council Trip Coordinator for the Far West Ski Association's trip to Banff, as VP of Travel. Maxine Hanlon is VP of Racing and as Schusski Race League Chair, represents the league and council on the Far West Racing Association Board and 76 with ROKKA Race League. We also want to thank Anne Barneson, who serves as Council secretary. Orange Council club members attended a very well organized, fun and educational Far West Ski Association Convention in Boise in June. Well done! Orange Council is proud of Balboa Ski and Sports Club member Nancy Ingalsbee, who was awarded a Snowsports Builder Award at the FWSA Convention. We look forward to the Reno Convention in 2018, which we know will be a great experience. We also look ahead to Orange Council hosting the 87th Annual Far West Ski Association Convention, to be held at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, June 13 - 16, 2019. Judy Thurman has accepted the position of Host Council Convention Coordinator. Join us at one or both upcoming events. See the link to FWSA on the www. orangecouncil.org website. Our volunteer based organization encourages our members to: get in shape for skiing, boarding and sliding; find great travel adventures; support disabled skier programs and other charities; be informed on public affairs issues; participate in social events; and, oh yes-ski and embrace the opportunities on the recreational race course with our very own Schusski Race League. Spring and summer offers beach volleyball, mountain biking, golf, hiking, not to mention water related sports and summer concerts - the varieties are endless. This year, a number of our clubs have scheduled weekly Bay events such as kayaking and paddle boarding. Wet Wednesday is a big event for Fountain Valley Ski Club. Biking events are also great summer adventures for Snowbounders Ski Club. Check out the YouTube video of Huntington Beach Ski Club on the water inspiration. Tennis is the mainstay of Balboa Ski and Sports Club for summer activities. Gary Seaton, a Balboa Ski and Sports Club member, starred on a winning senior Olympic Volleyball team this year. We find a number of crossover adventurers who join other clubs for summer events. Being so close to the ocean (at least most of our clubs are), seaside events are high on our list of summer attractions. Summer outdoor picnics, BBQs, and so much more can be found on our club schedules. Our local weather provides us the opportunity to play tennis, to bike, and to inline skate, as well as participate in snowsports. Thus, our council is truly blessed. Add to that, the friends that we have found in our ski clubs through sharing our good times, and those blessings are boundless. Each year, we conduct a trip to the Far West Ski Association Ski Week. In the past, we have joined FWSA for Aspen, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Steamboat Springs, Jackson Hole, Lake Louise, Whistler/Blackcomb, and Sun Valley (to name just a few). February 3 - 10, 2018, we plan to attend FWSA Ski Week in Banff, Alberta, Canada. A number of our members also join FWSA on other adventure and international trips. Our council also plans to join Far West in 2019 for the Ski Week in Steamboat Springs, CO. Most of our clubs concentrate on trips to Mammoth Mountain during the winter season, and this year into spring and summer!. Some of our members took pride in skiing through the 4th of July and into August, with a wonderful, extra long season this year. Our clubs are all looking forward to a great experience on the slopes again this coming season. Other club trips are being considered for Whitefish, Park City and other designations. Check our website for more up-to-date information. Although many of our races were snowed out last year, we look forward to a great season for racing this year. Our race dates begin December 16, 2017 with a GS. Then, we continue, January 20, 2018 (S), February 10 (GS), March 10 (S,GS) and joining the Far West Racing Association (FWRA) at Mammoth Mountain Far West Skier's Guide 2O17 - 2O18 / See the Digital Edition of the Far West Skier's Guide at www.fwsa.org.