by Stephen Templeton | Feb 8, 2025 | Trip Report
By Kirsty Jardine
Breaking New Ground: A Weekend of Firsts at Miramar Ski Club
When the mercury plunged to a bone-chilling -5°F in Vermont last weekend, you might think we’d hunker down by the fire. Instead, Miramar Ski Club members and an unprecedented wave of 21 guests (including 16 first-timers!) bundled up for an adventure that would prove unforgettable.
Our weekend kicked off with what’s becoming our signature style – rolling up to Sugarbush on the Hampton Jitney, already a highlight for our newcomers who quickly learned why this hassle-free transport is legendary among Miramartians. As one first-time guest put it, the level of organization and seamless execution of the weekend exceeded all expectations.
Saturday morning saw our group split between Mount Ellen and Lincoln Peak, with five intrepid Miramartian women joining Sugarbush’s coveted Women’s Series. What followed was pure Vermont skiing gold – one lucky participant even scored an impromptu private lesson when she found herself the sole survivor of her group! The other cluster dove deep into mastering Vermont’s notorious “natural ice skating rinks,” perfecting their turns under the guidance of an instructor who had a delightful revelation: “Wait, Miramar are the ones who come on the Hampton Jitney? I’ve always wanted to know who that was!”
Despite the arctic blast (a balmy high of 9°F), spirits remained unshakeable. Even a rebellious ski binding that decided to call it quits early in the morning couldn’t dampen our enthusiasm, thanks to the swift intervention of Dr. Alpine Options with an emergency replacement.
The evening brought its own magic. Between birthday celebrations and swapping tales of the day’s adventures, our creative trip leader introduced us to “Waitsfield Wally” – our very own staff member David, transformed into a prognosticating groundhog. In a moment that will live in club lore, Wally/David surveyed the lodge dining room and, finding no shadow, gave the green light for Sunday’s venture to Pico Mountain.
And what a venture it was! Breaking a 30-year hiatus, our return to Pico Mountain proved to be the weekend’s crown jewel. While we may never reach consensus on whether it’s “pike-o” or “peek-o” (the debate rages on), everyone agreed this was a hidden gem. To quote our trip leader “think Mad River Glen meets Mount Ellen with the best attributes of each”. Wide cruisers for the speed demons, narrow winding bump runs for the thrill-seekers, all centered around a single, charming base area. Best of all? Not a lift line in sight.
The cherry on top? One of our first-time guests dominated the Saturday night Left, Right, Center game, proving that beginner’s luck is alive and well at Miramar!
As we packed up on Sunday, the sentiment was unanimous – whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned Miramartian, there’s simply no club like ours. Pico welcomed us with open arms, and we might just have found our new favorite mountain. Though we still can’t agree on how to pronounce it, we can all agree on one thing: this weekend reminded us why we brave the cold, chase the snow, and keep coming back for more.
See you on the slopes!
by Stephen Templeton | Feb 8, 2025 | Trip Report
By Maureen Cavanaugh
Race Weekend Recap: A Huge Success!
From January 24th-26th, we had an incredible Race Weekend filled with competition, camaraderie, and fantastic skiing conditions. A huge thank you to our leader, Amy Smitherman, for keeping everything on track, and to Kirsty Jardine, Staff for her dedication behind the scenes. Matt Gogoj took on double duty as Staff-In-Training and Race Coordinator, ensuring a seamless event. Shoutout to Al, our trusted Hampton Jitney bus driver, and our dynamic kitchen duo, Matt and Maddie, who served up delicious meals to keep us fueled for the weekend.
Race Day Highlights
The race took place on Racer’s Edge at 10:00 AM on Saturday. Each racer had two runs, with their best time recorded for medals. The energy was high, and the competition was fierce!
Men’s A Race
1st Place – Michal Szymanski
2nd Place – Paul Banks
3rd Place – Ethan Strell
Womens A Race
1st Place – Ciara Nestor
2nd Place – Linnea Spampinato
3rd Place – Shari Michels
Women’s Invitational Race
1st Place – Lauren Franck
2nd Place – Jodi Garner
3rd Place – Kirsty Jardine
Super Invitational
1st Place – Azra Krek
2nd Place – Blythe Austen
3rd Place – Karen McFarlane
All Miramar contestants had a fantastic race, with some proudly wearing their racing bibs all day at Sugarbush to represent Miramar!
Beyond the Race: A Weekend of Adventure
Most of the group skied at Sugarbush on Saturday and at Mt. Ellen on Sunday, enjoying firm, hardpack conditions with great snow in the upper mountain . East Coast skiing at its best!
Meanwhile, Rob Coppersmith explored the trails as our cross-country skier, and Carola Massimino embraced the snow as our snowshoer. Both ventured to Ole’s Cross Country Ski Center for a scenic winter adventure.
Standout Moment of the Weekend
Every great ski weekend comes with a few inevitable mishaps, and this time, we had three. Linnea Spampinato went above and beyond in a true act of selfless sacrifice, crashing into a tree just to ensure we hit our quota. Thank you, Linnea, for taking one for the team. We salute your dedication!
Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and helped make this weekend such a success. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!
by Stephen Templeton | Jan 19, 2025 | Trip Report
By Karen McFarlane
On the bright, cold early evening of January 10, 2025, 24 hearty souls boarded the Miramar luxury limousine (aka bus) for a wonderful trip up to the lodge. 6 equally hearty souls were already ensconced in the lodge. At the helm was our driver, Mike, filling in for Al, who had the nerve to be spending the weekend working in sunny, warm Florida, instead of freezing his patooties off with the rest of us. Our trip leader was Blythe, ably assisted by Kaz as staff and SIT’s Laura and Alan – on his first trip as an official member!!.
We woke up Saturday morning to a balmy temperature of 15 degrees, plus the sight of beautiful snow, drifting down upon the trees, meadows and mountains. We all had a lovely day of packed powder skiing, followed by a fabulous happy hour, during which Bill Bernsten stopped in directly from his world tour to say hello. As usual, our chef, Matt, prepared a spectacular dinner of vegetable soup, salad and rolls freshly warm out of the oven, followed by giant sized slabs of delicious chicken parmesan, creamy pasta, succulent squash (I’m guessing a lot of butter and garlic,,,???!!!) and chocolate pudding cake for dessert. The evening’s entertainment was a rousing game of left, right, center with 14 participants and a lot of spectators. Ethan Strell emerged as the victor, coming home with $39, which he generously decided to donate to… oh well, maybe I got that wrong…!!!
As is lately sometimes the case, Miramar apparently did not shtup the Killington overlords enough, so we were not granted a parking pass for our bus for Sunday. Instead, after another 4 star breakfast by Matt, we had dropoffs/pickups at both Sugarbush and Mount Ellen. Everyone had a great time in the frosty 18 degree weather, which included gale force winds at Mt. Ellen (note to self: next time, check the weather conditions before saying, “oh, it doesn’t seem windy, so I won’t wear my facemask…!!!”). With everyone safely packed up on the bus, we proceeded home. At our happy hour, we had a Miramar innovation (so hard to come by sometimes…): Janice decided to eschew making the usual bottle of screwdrivers and, instead, surprised us all with Tequila Sunrise, which went down very handily and was much appreciated by all!! This was followed by our delicious dinner, carefully curated by chef Daniel Boulud at the gourmet kitchens of Panera.
A lovely time was had by all and it was discovered by some (and secretly known by others) that when the bus parks on 24th. St. to avoid the cops, we can actually enter through the 24th. St. door to get to our locker. Thanks again to Blythe and her crew for a great weekend!!
by Stephen Templeton | Jan 19, 2025 | Trip Report
By Evelyn Konrad
FIRST 2025 MIRAMAR WEEKEND
My son Robert drove us up to the lodge a few days before the bus trip on empty highways until we got to the mountain road, at which time we would have loved to have someone’s red brake lights to follow. The road was icy and lousy. Snow came at our windshield horizontally in a thick, white-out blizzard. I was panicked. Rob was thrilled. In fact, he even took pictures of the snow coming in wind-speed assaults on our car. “It’s snowing,” he said, cheerfully, as the car lurched dangerously close to the snow-covered ditch alongside. “How beautiful,” he added. “How dangerous,” I said.
Others, who had also had the misfortune of hitting the mountain road in the storm, agreed with me, but we were all thrilled to pieces to see the full cover of Sugarbush Mountain the next day. But, the snow was sticky, and I was unsteady after my three-week trip to Thailand, Lagos, Cambodia and Vietnam. My lengthy trip was terrific, but how the hell do you get back down to earth? The first day on skis, I didn’t, except for an embarrassing fall, due to lousy skiing.
My friend on the mountain sharpened my edges and wiped hot wax on my skis. The next day, the snow was packed and no longer sticky, but I was heading downhill like a bat out of hell. Didn’t know where I was going nor how to get there, but boy, my skis were fast.
Over the weekend, we had the usual number of terrific guests, who introduced themselves at dinner. They were a cheerful lot and took part in all the club activities, from bussing their tables, to skiing or snowboarding, to drinking at our cocktail hour, and inhaling our wonderful new chef’s terrific hot appetizers. I seem to have been done of my usual crudité-cutting chore by his generosity, one of my rare domestic skills. (The other is packing and unpacking extremely well and fast, which came in handy in Southeast Asia, where we did not stay in any hotel more than three nights, and a couple of times, just one night. I kept remembering with gratitude the years of training for efficient group activities that I have in 25 years of Miramar membership. P.S. Guess what? One of the Southeast Asia groupies was a former Miramartian! We do get around.)
On our last day, the snow was especially fast and terrific. Nonetheless, I wimped out because I can’t take the wind when I’m on skis. I was blown up the mountain one windy day and have never forgotten it. Anyhow, no apparent injuries to members or guests on the weekend, except to my pride.
A mandatory tribute to one of my favorite Miramar skiers, a very pretty lady. Lo and behold, she had a knee replacement at the start of last summer and has been skiing for several weeks already. She showed me her knee with its vertical scar, and she bent and stretched the leg like a ballerina. I was particularly impressed because I’ve seen other knee replacement folks who could barely bend their knee a year and more after their operation. Yes, I know that there have been immense improvements in knee surgery, but I raise my hat to determination and will power.
My friend did intensive physical therapy and urged me to go to her physical therapist, who, she says, isn’t very nice, but is damned good. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So, I’ll keep on skiing with my trusty knee brace! We have had some 25 years together, and I hope for a few more.
by Stephen Templeton | Jan 19, 2025 | Trip Report
By Jodi Garner
26 members and guests gathered at our lodge in Waitsfield, VT for an
unforgettable New Year’s midweek holiday trip. With three full days of
skiing, delicious chef-prepared meals, cozy evenings by the fireplace, and
plenty of fun activities, this trip had it all.
We couldn’t have asked for better conditions at Sugarbush, which offered up
a variety of runs for all skill levels. Whether you were carving down the
mountain, exploring the tree trails, or just taking in the stunning views,
the slopes were perfect. With three full days of skiing, there was plenty
of time to enjoy everything the mountain had to offer.
After a long day on the slopes, it was time to relax and indulge. Our
talented chef prepared mouthwatering meals each night.
Evenings were just as memorable as the days. We gathered by the fireplace
in the lodge, enjoying cocktails, stories, and laughter. Our Après Ski
cocktail party was a hit, with drinks flowing and everyone sharing their
favorite moments from the day’s adventures.
Of course, no trip would be complete without fun and games. We kicked
things off with a raucous round of Left, Right, Center—an always-popular
Miramar game. The dice rolled and fortunes were made (and lost) in an
instant.
To ring in the New Year, we hosted a dance party that was the perfect way
to celebrate the season with great friends and new faces. With tunes
blasting and everyone in high spirits, we danced the night away,
celebrating the year gone by and the exciting adventures ahead.
It’s safe to say this trip will go down as one of our best yet. Whether you
were hitting the slopes or relaxing by the fire, the camaraderie and fun
atmosphere made for a truly unforgettable experience. Huge thanks to
everyone who joined, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year!
by Stephen Templeton | Jan 2, 2025 | Trip Report
By Maureen Cavanaugh
Miramar Ski Club’s first ski weekend of the 2024/2025 season was a great start! The weekend of December 13th-15th was filled with excitement and camaraderie. Blythe Austin leading the trip showed the strength of the club’s leadership, and with Maureen Cavanaugh as Staff and Elizabeth Ernish as Staff-in-Training, there was plenty of support to go around. Al, the Hampton Jitney bus driver, was an invaluable part of the team, always ready to help.
Matt and Maddie were key players in making the weekend even more special! Matt, as our fantastic chef, kept everyone well-fed with delicious meals, adding to the overall experience. And Maddie, our new trusty dishwasher, played an equally important role in keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes—her help made the meal times easier and more enjoyable for everyone. It’s great to see such a supportive and hardworking team behind the scenes, contributing to a memorable weekend for all.
Saturday at Sugarbush was a fantastic day for the Miramar Ski Club. The conditions were solid for mid-December, and skiing with a group makes the day even more enjoyable. Ending the day with apres-ski drinks at Rumbles was a great way to unwind and reflect on the day’s adventures. At dinner, the surprise birthday celebration for Gail Tuzman added a fun, personal touch to the weekend, and her win at the ‘Ugly Holiday Sweater Party’ was a highlight, especially with her creative, hand-decorated sweater.
The White Elephant Gift Exchange was a blast, with plenty of surprises and plenty of laughter—especially with popular items like the bottle of Bourbon, the 1000-piece apres-ski puzzle, and the ski boot dryers – a hit for anyone heading into winter’s chill. What a wonderful way to bond as a group and kick off the ski season.
Sunday at Killington wrapped up the weekend perfectly, with great conditions to keep the momentum of the trip going. Big kudos to Blythe for organizing and leading the trip—her leadership clearly set the tone for an enjoyable weekend. Elizabeth Ernish also deserves a shout-out for staying on top of all the communication via WhatsApp, ensuring everyone was in the loop for each day’s activities.
With 21 people at the lodge, including six guests (four of whom were first-timers), the newcomers integrated seamlessly with the group. They were friendly and cooperative guests who respected ‘The Miramar Way’. A harmonious group dynamic always adds to the experience, and it seemed like everyone had a wonderful time from start to finish.
Lauren Haegele’s work on the mural in the lodge dining room was a wonderful addition to the weekend. Her industrious effort over both Saturday and Sunday, especially with the intricate details of the lodge doors and ski-fence and her Renoir-esque landscape – has brought a unique and creative flair to the space. It’s always special when someone contributes their artistic talent to a shared space. Lauren’s mural not only enhances the dining room but also adds to the overall vibe that the lodge is our home and Miramar is a family. Lauren’s hand painted mural is a thoughtful and lasting touch to the lodge.
Here’s to a fantastic ski season ahead!
Quote of the weekend: ‘Pro tip: Don’t follow Hildingur.’ By Ethan Strell.
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