12-18-07
Hey friends and fans, merry Christmas and happy holidays.
First I want to thank all of you who sent me mail to encourage me through this
time of challenge. My kids and I am doing well, thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
I am learning how to lean on my maker and not try to do as much in my own strength
And it is working. God grace will get us through anything. Bless is the broken hearted and broken in spirit because they receive mercy. I meant that is a good way. It’s a good thing to be broken before God. With out my efforts in the way He has room to work on my behalf. I thank you for your prayers.The season is progressing well. It seems old man winter has visited the east cost with cold weather for good snow making and he also tossed in a few dusting of natural snow. My daughters and I headed up to Hunter for a very cold day of skiing. But it was great. I plugged into a Rossignol Scratch 167cm. This is a fine ski, it’s a quick snappy twin tip with nice edge grip. My girls were right on and did not miss a beat, skiing as if they never took six months off. We took our time and skied around the mountain taking breaks to get warm. It was a good time. I love sharing that experience with my daughters. The following week I headed up to Hunter to put in my first work day as an ambassador. After a department meeting with some new season guidelines it was time to hit the slopes. I was blessed with a Volkl tiger shark 170cm w/power switch. So I was eager to got on it. It works, the switch causes the ski to be stiffer. And you can really feel it. I skied it stiff and carved some nice turns. You have to stay with it the ski wants to run. But man does it hold. On the softer setting you get a little more flex and can link up some nice tight turns. Way to go Volkl! Now we are getting somewhere in versatile ski technology. Wax and tune your skis if you have not already. The season is going to be a great one. Keep the positive vibe coming you guys and galls are my extended family and I thank you. Have a Happy New YEAR!
11-26-07
Well Gang, here we go again. The 07-08 season is here. I can not burn the candle at both ends this season and so I will stay based out of Hunter NY working as a mountain Ambassador. I went up to fill out my paper work and get me pass. The mountain was open top to bottom. Just the main line on the day I was there. But they made a lot of snow and the conditions were great. By time I got to the summit it was after 10am the bumps were starting to form. What a great day, sunny, cold enough to make snow but not freezing bitter cold. I finished off last season on my Volkl AC-4 and the Nordica Speedmachine. I chose the speedmachine to start off. It’s a great ski strong fast with a nice side cut. But I put a few scratches in it and figured I would do the same if I got into some thin cover on opening day. I almost missed my first load. I just did not lift high enough. But I quick hand on the E-stop and I was saved. I loaded on a stopped chair and off to the summit. My first run felt great. I just took it easy to get the feel for the mono again. No problem top to bottom with a stop at mid station to take it all in. Tunes blazing to drowned out the snow guns and there I was in my giant white room carving a line on the hill. The next run I took another line and just switched up my turns. Long for a few then short. The third run I was back in the saddle. Hit it from top to bottom launching off bumps giving my shock a work out and linking some nice turns. After a hand full of runs I started to get tired and headed in for a break. After some lunch and a rest I headed back out. It was a bit colder and the conditions did go south. But it was still a lot of fun.
The Speedmachine is a good ski. I am using mine with out the Nordica binding plate so it is a little softer then with the plate. I am using an old Salomon 747 binding mount right to the ski the old fashion way and it is very strong and works great. It was great to head up north see some good friends and clear my head. Every summer I go over my rig and check for lose bolts, straps and whatever. I did not this summer and I noticed a few things I have to tighten. So take the time and do it now. It’s better then breaking parts on the mountain. Ok sit skier friends and fans. Wax up those boards air out the ski bag and hit the slopes.
Happy Thanksgiving! We all have something to be thankful for.
09-17-07
I want to first thank all of you for your support and encouragement over the years. As most of you know life can throw us a curve sometimes and it can be devastating like personal injury. Many of us have suffered a traumatic injury after which we had to rebuild our life's. We had to face life head on and fit back in, be it a wheelchair or missing a limb, or something that set us apart from our “normal” life style. But we reach deep inside and find that spark of life and regain a sense of “normalcy” to our life. Finding love and relationship, work and play. Each persons life touches another hopefully for the better and in a positive way. I am blessed and get so much reward in my heart knowing my efforts through this web site has helped some of you and brought joy and freedom to many around the globe. But with that I am torn, my life has not effected my wife in a positive way. There was tension from the start and after 17 years of marriage she wants out and filed for divorce. I have to admit I do not want to keep living the way we have been, but I would sooner go through another spinal cord injure then do this and put my kids through this. Those of you who have followed this site from the beginning might have noticed a change in my excitement over the years. Truth is I have been very depressed about my marriage for years. It has taken it's toll on my personality, and even my health. The word of God is so true. "How can two walk together unless they agree" We come from two very different upbringings, different faiths and simply do not see eye to eye on anything. We struggled through this over the years but with raising kids and working to pay bills we went through the motions for a long time but were never able to work it out. Counseling can work only if you both believe you need counseling. So as sad and hurtful as this time is, this too shall pass. Even after my injure life was once again good, fun and exciting, with purpose and meaning. And I know as I go thought this valley, life will once again, like a new season, be good and purpose driven as I once felt. My sustaining strength in this is my faith in Jesus. He is more real to me today in this then ever before. I posted a video a few seasons ago called "One day at a time" The words to that song grow stronger and closer to my heart every day. Thanks for supporting me and this site. You really are the only support that I get and your letters and comments really help. I will keep you posted as I can.
It's sad but some of the very basic fundamental qualities to make a relationship work, like communication, raising children, passion, trust, money management, agreement, and respect
were always points of tension for us. We have not been happy for a long time, just going through the motions and trying to do what it best for the kids. What is best for the kids in my opinion is never give up go to counsel apply what you learn but that takes work.
Keep the faith. Pray for my family and thanks!
Hello Gang,
09-17-07
I am looking into setting up an eastern mono-ski clinic. It would be great to make this an annual event. This will be an intermediate to advanced, all mountain clinic. The goal is to improve skiing skills on all conditions and learn some new skills. Improving basic skills, then moving those skills into various terrain. Skiing bumps, carving, terrain park, and all mountain freestyle. The clinic will be held at Hunter Mountain NY. I am working on a package for accessible lodging, lift and maybe even lunch. But I need an idea of how many might want to attend. Please let me know if you are interested ASAP!.
I posted some new images here on Flickr.com
Sitski Vidoes are also posted on YOUTUBE HERE www.youtube.com/sitski
Please contact me by email with your contact information at sitskitom@hotmail.com
Or call me at 908-313-5590. Thanks Tom