Norma Jean: Skis, poles, and high heels

Didn't every woman ski in high heels back in the day? Ouch if that was the case.

I found this lovely picture of Norma Jean before the world knew her as Marilyn Monroe, posing in skis, poles, and high heels. As you can see, she is also sporting a very sassy bikini like the women do in Spain or other places where the Spring ski weather make them able to do so. Well, Norma is on the beach but we'll pretend she's on the mountain.

This picture makes me very happy.

Mammoth: Be the Bitch and Take over the Mountain

My friends and I packed our cars to head to Mammoth Mountain in March 2010. It was my first time going so I had more than excitement stirring in my ski boots. I had been living in Los Angeles since 2001 and even though I just got off my skiing sabbatical in 2008, I had been craving to go to Mammoth since 2003. The time had finally arrived!

It was snowing when we made our approach into Mammoth Lakes.  One of my friends used to live at Mammoth in the winter with her family so she knew where the spots were on and off the mountain. Anxiously awaiting the mountain the next morning, we decided to feast on some Mexican food at Roberto’s Mexican Café. Hello, margaritas. You are our friends.

 We preferred our lunch après at Steeps Bar.

It was a windy night that brought restless sleep for us all, but we eagerly got up early the next morning and made our way to the mountain. One of my expert ski friends wanted to demo some skis and boots, and after she saw my stormtrooper boots she insisted I also demo some boots. Expert skier knows best, always. Upon arriving at Mammoth, I had a feeling it was necessary for me to rent some boots since my current ones didn’t last all day and also continued preventing me to excel on the mountain but my friend sealed the sanity deal. If you need a reminder of my current boot situation, click here.

11,053 feet with "Double Black."

We skied the entire mountain in 2 days, or at least it felt like it. No, we actually did. Even though I had just got through my first Double Black Diamond run at Bear Mountain a couple weeks before, in no way was I prepared for one at Mammoth. I made it down Cornice Bowl (a Black Diamond run) with the help of my friends urging me downward. I was also determined to ride the famous Chair 23 and was pleased to find I could ski the backside, which is Blue Intermediate. Thank you Mountain Mama! However, getting to the backside was an issue for me. The icy devil run that stood in my way was, Skyline.

 Reflective point to Cornice Bowl riding on Chair 23.

 Riding Chair 23

Let me break down what skiing Skyline was like for me that wondrous day. To put it simply, it was a windy cortex of icy hell. The snow was a hard ice pack. Even though I was somewhat familiar skiing in icy conditions growing up back east, the run was steep and people were flying past me. All I kept thinking was, “There’s no snow for my skis to grip. Help me intermediate skills.”

It took me longer than usual to get down the run where one of my expert skiing friends waited for me. At least my assessments on Skyline's current tough riding conditions were not coming out of left field. My friend at the bottom (who we coined Double Black, for obvious reasons) told me conditions were bad. Oh good, I got confirmation that I wasn't crazy. I must admit, I had a fall that turned into a small yard sale on the run. The reason why? I wasn’t being the bitch.

 Action snap. C'est moi.

Being the bitch was a new skiing term we developed during this, my first time skiing at Mammoth. I was told in order to improve my intermediate skills, the first step was to be the bitch going down the mountain. In truth, if you don’t know me personally I am not really a bitch in anyway. I can be aggressive, but no one would describe me as being bitchy about anything or to anyone. Lesson learned, mountain. I will now be the bitch and take over the mountain in more ways than one.

Help me get the Ultimate Mountain Gig

Do you want to help me get the Ultimate Mountain Gig? YES YOU DO! Come on readers, I need your help! Please go to the link below, view and vote for my video entitled, "I mountain by going and doing." WATCH me. LAUGH with me. VOTE for me.

If I'm selected, I will get my mountain on for YOU. Yes, you. Win-win situation here.

HowDoYouMountain - Your Mountain - HowDoYouMountain

Sara Woomer for Mountain President. Taking on one mountain at a time.

First time at Big Bear: 1 Rock and 2 Black Diamonds

It was the end of February 2010 and I was going to Big Bear for the first time. Specifically, I was meeting a snowboarding buddy to ski Bear Mountain. Well, me to ski and she to board. My buddy had been renting a condo across the street from Snow Summit (the other big ski resort in Big Bear) with a bunch of super cool Bear Mountain snowboarding instructors. All I needed to bring for my one-night stay was some snacks. Sold!

It was snowing when I arrived on a Saturday night. It was a winter wonderland. There was no night skiing at Bear Mountain which meant the next morning would deliver fresh powder skiing. The good news about staying with gung-ho snowboarding instructors was they were also pumped to wake up at 5AM.

Unfortunately, I decided to be the driver in the morning with the plan of my buddy and I meeting the others at the mountain to try to get first chair. The unfortunate part of this story was my “light on the wheels” car caught a small patch of ice and popped us up on a rock near the entrance of the 7-11. Not the door entrance, the driveway entrance. To make a long story short (plus reliving the memory of what happened will make me annoyed again) we hit the mountain a little later than expected. However, the crew of locals who helped to lift my car off the rock and leaving minimal to no damage were so helpful, I felt as if I was back in the Midwest. Yes, Midwesterns are the best. Yes, we are.

The Rock that almost got the best of my car

Once we got to the mountain, there were still some patches of nice riding powder available. We met up with everybody and they kept harping about the amazing powder they had and that there was a lot still untouched off the groomed paths. Okay, so I admit I first thought, “Yeah, no problem. Even though I’ve never skied in the backcountry, (backcountry including the off the beaten path in the trees at a resort) I can do it.” Haha yeah, right.

We took CHAIR 8 to the top. As we started our "out of bounds adventures" with me going last, I did the first bit and stopped. I was not prepared with my boots and fear-not presence. It was steep and there was not a lot of room for making wider turns. I told those in the back with me I was going down the groomed path. THE DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND. Also knows as, Geronimo. At least this route had more room and there was no chance I would smash into a tree.

At the top of Chair 8

Since getting back on the mountain, I had yet to ski a double black. Actually now that I think of it, I don’t remember ever had skiing a double black. I know Bear Mountain’s double blacks are not as intense as let’s say a Mammoth Mountain’s double black or  those found in the European mountains, but remember I had a boot situation. The result? I nailed it! No falling and smooth cutting moves all the way down. I had conquered my first Double Black Diamond.

 Geronimo

We hit a couple more runs and then après skied on the mountain, and watched the Men’s USA Olympic Hockey Team lose the gold to Canada. Perhaps, there was too much winning that day for me that they had lose. Sorry USA Men’s Hockey Team.

Needless to say, on my first trip to Big Bear I conquered 1 rock and 2 black diamonds. Not bad if I do say so myself.

 Quick break was had at The Beach Bar. Haha, get it?! Beach Bar.