I can’t remember an opening as great as this one! The weather was perfect, the Celebrity SkiFest was a blast and the skiing was typical Deer Valley style. I took part in the Deer Valley Celebrity SkiFest and got to visit with my ex teammate AJ Kitt (who commentated) and ski against childhood idols Phil and Steve Mahre and ex teammate Tommy Moe. We all had a good time skiing with the guests and showing them some tips for racing. Although the courses weren’t very difficult, they were challenging enough to demand some good skiing and make us be on our game. One of the highlights of the weekend besides beating the boys on the race course was the concert by KT Tunstall at Saturday night’s dinner benefiting the Waterkeeper Alliance. Take a look at http://www.waterkeeper.org/ — it’s a great cause and registers close to me since one of their first water cleanups was the river behind my house in Pittsfield, MA.

As I mentioned in my last blog, the first couple days of skiing always seem to find muscles that haven’t been used all summer. I’m sore and tired! I am looking forward to the rest of the season after this great start. Come ski the conditions are wonderful.