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Snowy goods and gifts
Because the conditions are some of the snowiest in 20 years, you should also have the Colorado Avalanche Center bookmarked on your web browser at geosurvey.state.co.us/avalanche/. And given that Santa is unlikely to stuff your stocking with the $1.5 million A-Star helicopter you keep whining for to help you beat the I-70 gridlock, you best familiarize yourself with the Colorado Department of Transportation's website at www.cotrip.org, as well. Hard to say if Santa is a snowboarder or skier—the beard would point toward a telemarker. But it's obvious with the checkered history of seasonal employment, and the year-round wearing of a snowsuit (look hard, and you'll see a Gore-Tex tag; rumor has is it that it's a one-piece Bogner) that he is, indeed, a snowslider. We also hear reports that he plans to turn the North Pole into an exclusive gated resort community ala the Yellowstone Club, and the elves have outsourced everything to China and are busy studying for their real estate licenses... but nothing has been substantiated. The bottom line is that St. Nick understands your needs as a powderhound; he knows all about the six-inch rule. He's up on the latest in breathable soft-shell technology, and because you racked up so many days on the hill last year, he won't bother to ask if you were naughty. Here are two last-minute gift items that every skier will find quite nice. Smartwool socks and apparel. If you think it's ludicrous to pay $20 for a pair of socks, then you've never owned a pair of Smartwool socks. In fact, besides his $3 million cash payout, Gary Barnett also demanded a lifetime supply of these with his golden parachute from C.U. All joking aside, by using merino wool and patented technology, Smartwool has created socks that are by far the warmest, toughest and comfiest skier stockings on the planet. Is it a coincidence that Smartwool is based in Steamboat Springs, the town that coined the term "champagne powder"? We think not. Smartwool is also now making tops, tights and base layers for their legions of fans. The Shadows Hood-y is particularly style-y. Jetboil Java Kit. Is it my imagination, or are coffee shops beginning to outnumber ski shops in your average mountain town? While a season pass may run you $500, a latté a day is going to ding you for $1,200. What to do? The Jetboil Java Kit allows you to brew your own in the Café De Parking Lot D. This nifty all-in-one portable stove/fuel container/insulated mug and French Press tips the scales at less than one pound and boils a cup of coffee in 30 seconds—which may be 29 seconds too long for your average java fiend, but is quite impressive none the less. The kit also comes with a starter pack of Newman's Own Organic coffee, which suits the sporty, hypercaffeinated, PC Boulderite in your life just right. Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com Calendar of Events Thursday-Wednesday, December 22-28
Ice Skating Rink, One Boulder Plaza, 13th and Walnut Streets, Boulder, 303-209-3722. Thursday-Wednesday, December 22-28
Guru Sports, 41 S. Main St., Longmont, 303-651-6882. Thursday-Saturday, December 22-24
Regis University, 3333 Regis Blvd., Denver, 303-458-3519. Friday, December 23
Boulder Singles Hikes, Parking lot south of 11th Street and Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, 303-579-1119. Friday, December 23
Boulder Rock Club, 2829 Mapleton Ave., Boulder, 303-447-2804. Tuesday-Thursday, December 27-29
Regis University, 3333 Regis Blvd., Denver, 303-458-3519. To list your event, send information to: editorial@boulderweekly.com; attn: "Elevation." To list your event, send information to: Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com
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I think Santa will favor the fat boards this year. Colorado
has already racked up 23 powder days in the past month, according to Colorado
Ski Country USA (CSC), and more than 12 feet of snow has fallen. Base depths
are approaching six feet at some ski areas! Schwing. Silverton Mountain enjoyed
an especially jolly 22-inch dump on Dec. 19. Check out CSC's website with the
excellent daily updated (5:30 a.m.) statewide snow report on their homepage at
www.coloradoski.com to stay current on the who, what, when, as far as the
flakes are concerned.
