As I write this message, our annual "season warm-up" trip to Stratton is just days away and I couldn't be more excited. It looks as though all of our snow dances, chants and prayers are finally working. The temperatures have dropped, Stratton is blowing snow furiously and they've been getting an honest to goodness dump of POWDER all day today! As of Wednesday, 12/9 they had over 76 acres of powder-packed terrain and are now projecting as many as 40 trails will be open this weekend--which means top-to-bottom skiing and riding for all abilities. Woo-Hoo!

Just after the New Year, after what is promising to be THE perfect season kick-off, we're off to Belleayre. With nearly a month to go before the January 10th trip, Paul and JR already have 45 people signed up. Wow! Could this be a new WASC record? At this rate we might even have to run a second bus for the first time in ages! How fun would it be to have 60+ Chungers take over Ernie Bieser's home mountain for the day? To that end I would like to extend a personal invitation to the rest of our "long-term" members (you know who you are--you with the fancy gold pins!) Come along with us to Belleayre and let's make this bus trip one that will go into the WASC history book. Kick it up with us on the bus, ski a run or two if you like and share all those incredible stories with us about past trips and "old" members.

I'm also thrilled that WASC will once again be competing in the New Jersey Ski Council Wednesday night racing league. The league is set to kickoff on January 6th with a Giant Slalom race format and there is no limit on the number of club members that can race on any given night. So far, we have about a dozen members who have expressed interest in racing, but I am hoping that many more of you will come out and give it a shot. If you want to join the fun, just let Craig Anctil or me know. We will continue to provide information (and encouragement) to get more of you out there racing with us!

And speaking of races, our "Granddaddy" of all races, the WASC Annual Club Outing and Race (which, by the way, has been held annually since 1940), will be held January 22-24, 2010 at Mount Snow. Larry Thomas has put together a really terrific trip this year, and the Mount Snow folk have promised to make this a really memorable weekend for us. For those of you that haven't signed up yet I have just one question, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? It's a great deal and a fantastic opportunity to stay with, ski with, eat and drink with, hot tub with, race with, and cheer on your fellow WASC members. Don't miss out on the amazing camaraderie that the Club Outing brings to us all!

So, just in case you didn't pick up on let me be clear, I'm REALLY excited about the ski season and what looks to be an incredible start, and I hope that you are too! It's going to be a dynamite year for WASC--see you on the slopes!

Mark Mintz
President, WASC
Phone: 908-305-1965
E-mail: Mark Mintz

P.S. Keep doing your snow dances, chants, etc... they seem to be working!