Nice to Find

[Frankly]

I stumbled upon this looking for race gossip and I did! I like what I see as it doesn't seem to be so large it's confusing but there is enough critical mass to carry on good threads.

I'm a 57-year old skier near Rochester, New York. I prefer to ski at Holimont in Ellicotville but often hit Bristol as it is an hour closer. I also like Holiday Valley, Killington, Stowe, and I love Alta (although it's been years since I've hit it with powder). I'm thinking of driving up to Sugarloaf this Winter, please talk me out of it.

I'm a professional photographer, mostly I do my own art now but will do interesting assignments. I used to be in advertising, owned a small agency and worked as a creative director for some dot.coms.

These days I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and a catalog of older injuries that have curtailed my skiing somewhat (I stay out of the bumps and ruts). I'm now into a softer boot and cheater GS skis so I can fake it OK. My feet are the weak link, many spurs removed, structurally unsound, I was Miguel Azcarate's biggest boot fitting challenge.

My background is starting to ski at a rope tow hill in 1975, went nuts for it and tried to race in college (Clarkson), later became and instructor then race coach. Spent a year at Alta, Utah and two at Sugarloaf, Maine, plus two Summers at Timberline, Mt. Hood. Coached the University of Oregon. This all ended with a climbing accident that broke my lower body so I went back to college, got married, moved back East, etc. Three kids who are not serious skiers, two wives who never took to it. So I steal my pleasures where I can ;-p Went to the Mahre Masters Camp at Mt Hood last year and found I couldn't keep up with them... doh!

10-15 days per year, I can only ski 3-5 hours before my feet go to Hell. Better than not skiing, I am a confirmed duffer. Really, a NASTAR Silver would be an accomplishment.

Website is http://frankpetronio.com and it is NSFW and not for snowflakes. You were warned.

 

[Philpug]

Welcome to the site, @Frankly. We have a few here from western NY, in fact my son went to RIT. Miguel is about as good as anyone and I am glad to hear he is taking care of you. I am glad to hear that you are a comfirmed duffer, we still have many here that are still unconfirmed that are working on their conformation credentials.

 

[coskigirl]

When did you coach at Mt Hood?

 

[Frankly]

When did you coach at Mt Hood?

At Hood I was a ski bum who carried salt around and slept in my truck, sometimes I was a maid at the lodge... I learned to set courses and informally nagged at some unaffiliated racers in exchange for lift tickets. A couple of real coaches showed me stuff and encouraged me. Back then I kept a bundle of my own bamboo and carried it around the country. At Sugarloaf I got my level II coaches certificate and full PSIA cert and went back and forth between the ski school and race program (which took some politicking)1980-82, this was before the school opened and Forest Carey was an awesome rugrat who could out ski all of us at age 9.

Prior to that 79-80 at Alta I smoked a lot of weed and skied and got into awesome shape living at 9000'. In hindsight I probably should have just stayed there and not spent my Winters on blue ice that was ocean damp even when it never got above zero for 45 days... but I thought doing time at a hard Eastern area was important if one was to have a career in the ski industry but I was a dumb kid. All I know is that in spite of partying at Alta I was in the best shape of my life from all the hiking and wiggling in deep snow.

I don't think people do this career path anymore, you probably have to get a masters in kinesiology and know four languages to be a real ski coach these days.

 

[graham418]

You're probably right about the career path. I don't think it works the way you went anymore. Nice works on your website.

 

[Erik Timmerman]

So did you know Brownie and Razor at Sugarloaf?

 

[Drahtguy Kevin]

@Frankly, I would like to swill some beer and tongue bourbon with you sometime. Venture west.

 

[Frankly]

So did you know Brownie and Razor at Sugarloaf?

Absolutely. I saw Razor at Stowe a few years ago. Geez Art and Cindy, etc. Sugarloaf was always interesting and full of drama.

I remember I was 21 years old and the bastards made me the Safety Officer for a FIS downhill they held. I thought that was impressive but now in hindsight I realize that they hung that on me because if somebody died I'd be the first person sued. Every hit a frozen haybale at 70mph?

 

[coskigirl]

I sent you a pm.

 

[Jilly]

Welcome from across Lake Ontario!!

 

[Tricia]

Glad you found us. Something tells me, you're going to fit in juuuuust right.