David M. Shribman, Author at New England Ski Journal

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David M. Shribman

Shribman: We should treasure Black Mountain most of all for what it isn’t

The news about Black came out of the blue. And it left me emotionally black-and-blue. Black Mountain, in Jackson, N.H., was never one of the leading ski resorts of North America. Its lifts were antiquated, its grooming episodic, its lodge primitive, its terrain idiosyncratic. Almost nobody got on … [Read more...]

Shribman: Welcome to fall, the time for skier fantasy

It was F. Scott Fitzgerald—not, like Ernest Hemingway, known for skiing prowess—who spoke for all of us when he said, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” Though ours is a winter sport, we actually can ski in the fall; the Killington Cup race, after all, is scheduled for … [Read more...]

Shribman– Summertime reflections: Unveiling the romance of the mountains

This summer I’m heading to the mountains. Of course I am. The mountains that, when filled with snow, fill my heart with joy. The mountains that, each winter, I consider my playground. The mountains that — even on a frosty day, even on a windy day, heck, even on a truly lousy day — seem filled … [Read more...]

Shribman: What happened to the ‘snows of yesteryear’?

The French citizens who have shaped the ski world include Jean-Claude Killy, Marielle and Christine Goitschel, and Émile Allais. But the one whose legacy concerns us the most is the 15th century French poet Francois Villon. He was the one who asked where were the snows of yesteryear. Throughout … [Read more...]

Entry into the world of cross-country skiing isn’t as challenging as you’d think

Today’s sermon is on the virtues of the Daily Double. Not the McDonald’s cheeseburger. Not the parimutuel wager on two horse or two greyhound races. Not the bonus feature on television’s “Jeopardy” game show. Not any of those things, though what I have in mind is delicious, it’s something of … [Read more...]

Sky-high stress: Can a skiing veteran keep up with his daughter in Montana?

The days are chilly, there’s snow in the air, the lifts are turning, the hot chocolate is flowing. So why am I so out of sorts? Isn’t this the season that I’ve been waiting for all summer and fall? Well, yes. Like so many readers of this magazine, I’ve been having visions of cruising down powdery … [Read more...]

Beware of the bitter cold, skiers…just don’t run from it

Originally published in 2018. More than a half century ago, the rock group Chicago released a song called "25 or 6 to 4.’’ To most listeners the numbers meant nothing. Here, then, are some numbers that will be meaningless unless you are a skier and a cold-weather-loving skier at that: minus-10, … [Read more...]

Rain may put a damper on your skiing, but it shouldn’t ruin the day

Sometimes in ski country we just don’t ski. We don’t feel well, or we don’t feel like it. It’s too cold or it’s too warm. The light is flat, or we just feel flat. The skis stay in the closet, or in the car, or on the rack. It’s a lost day. But is it really lost? Is a day in the mountains without … [Read more...]

There’s a downside to early-season skiing, but think of the upside

I know what you’re thinking. It’s early in the season — very early. You’re the only person in your circle who is even considering going skiing; the rest of them are still playing golf and hoping the warm weather holds. But not you. You’re raring to go. You hear the hillwinds swirling, you smell … [Read more...]

Skiers need to stop moping and think of summer differently

One of the great life lessons I learned comes from an aphorism involving another winter sport. It goes like this: You learn to ice skate in the summer. That does not mean that all of us skiers should rush to Ham Arena in Conway, N.H., this summer, though the cool air inside may provide some … [Read more...]

Why spring skiing? Because that’s what we do

Finally towards spring there was the great glacier run, smooth and straight, forever straight if our legs could hold it, our ankles locked, we running so low, leaning into the speed, dropping forever and forever in the silent hiss of the crisp powder. It was better than any flying or anything else, … [Read more...]

Playing favorites when it comes to skiing is easy … or, is it?

GRAPE! I'm gonna get grape, or cherry. They're both... favorites, so either one is good, but if they have both, I'll get grape, because grape is a little more favorite. But if they don't have grape, it's like, alright, it’s fine, cause cherry's (my) favorite anyway. It's like another favorite, but … [Read more...]

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