Ski Europe Now

Drunken Skiers = Dumbshits.

I recently got a link to a newspaper article emailed to me by a friend about drunk skiers and insurance coverage.  I thought the topic was very appropriate, especially for today since I will be in an investigation clinic put on by our ski resort insurance company all day.  The newspaper article appeared in the online edition of The Telegraph on November 29, 2010 discussed how a lot of British skiers on vacation in Europe are drinking to excess at night and still being legally drunk the next day while skiing.  Some 20% of those interviewed for a study of traveler's insurance admitted to drinking more than twelve units of booze in a single night.  Jesus.  What a bunch of drunken sots.  Not only is it illegal in many jurisdictions to be skiing impaired (either by drugs or alcohol), skiing impaired makes it that much more certain of hurting yourself or others.  In Colorado, drunk skiers face fines of up to $1000, and here in Wyoming it is crime to be skiing while impaired.  According to my friend the local county prosecuting attorney, God help you if you are skiing drunk and hurt someone else.  Jail time is in your future, and not just a single weekend.  He's gonna throw the book at you.  I know that many European resorts have the same views either skiing drunk or hurting someone else while skiing drunk.  Just look at the draconian drunk driving laws in Europe; do you think it will be any easier on the slopes?  Think again.

The main point of the article was not to highlight drunk skiers, but to highlight the fact that ordinary medical coverage normally does not cover ski accidents in terms of transport on or off piste to a medical facility, rescue costs, or repatriation to your home country.  Traveler's insurance does cover this BUT the coverage can be denied if it is shown the accident is a result of skiing while drunk.  So, not only are you much more likely to get hurt skiing/snowboarding while drunk, your traveler's insurance ain't gonna cover your expenses.  That's going to come out of your pocket.  Not a good situation by any stretch.

 So, what to do?  Simple: DON'T SKI WHILE DRUNK; and if you are stupid enough to do so, HOPE TO GOD YOU DON'T GET HURT OR, WORSE, HURT SOMEONE ELSE.  I personally don't like skiing while drunk or very impaired because of the loss of control.  After ski patrolling for sixteen years, I am a huge stickler for maintaining control at all times in all conditions.  I am aware of the weather conditions, the folks skiing around me, the slope configuration, choke points, safe stopping spot, etc.  This is not to say I don't enjoy a drink or two while skiing; I simply don't drink to excess.  I also have an advantage in living at altitude (1935 meters) so while skiing in Europe the altitude doesn't have as much effect on me while drinking as say someone from London.  Who sound like complete pie-eyed drunks if the article is to believed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/8162432/Drunken-skiers-could-forfeit-their-insurance-cover.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4cf1b4c190feab43,0

Don't be a stupid shit and think about others and the possible consequences for your actions.  I will now hand the soapbox to someone else.

Happy Day.

It is a happy day because I heard from my friend Alex von Salad that he came back to town.  He was in the throes of selling his pizza place and thought he had sold it, but the new potential owner backed out or the deal fell through for some reason.  Bad news I guess but it means he is going to keep running the pizza place over the summer.  Good pizza tonight.  Yay!  Cafe Ponza lives!

Comment on Candy Reviews.

I recently received a comment about the quality of the Swiss chocolate and how it melts in your mouth.  Well, of course it melts in your mouth.  Chocolate that doesn't probably wouldn't taste very good.  Regardless of my snarky response, Swiss chocolate is the best, followed by Belgian.  I really like the Guylian sea shells from Belgium.  I am eating most of my Swiss chocolate now so I can stock up again.  Whee!

My Favorite Candy Part II.

Some of my favorite candies are the chocolate bars from Europe.  I have had chocolate from Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland and I have to say Switzerland wins for variety and taste with France a close second.  The best selection is in the Zurich airport at a COOP store.  Great stuff.  Couple pics of said chocolate.  I prefer the white chocolate.

However, one of the best things I found in Europe was the booze-filled chocolates.  There are a few producers but Camille and Bloch is the best.  Great variety, excellent chocolate, and good quality brand name booze fillings.  The filling is a syrup based filling, and one of the drawbacks to these chocolates is the fact that you have to eat them fairly quickly (within 6 months) and be careful with them otherwise the liquor filled bubbles pop open or the booze crystallizes and no more fun.  You also don't get drunk on them by any imagination unless you totally abstain from booze but then why would you eat these?  They're only about 8% alcohol at best.  Hard to find the Camille and Bloch brand.  Www.worldwidechocolate.com has an extensive selection for sale on their website.  Yay boozy chocolate!

My Favorite Candy Part I.

After tasting the bland Yorkie bar recently, I decided a short segway into something new might give me a break from the frenzied activity of writing about skiing. 

After being to Europe a handful of times our chocolate in the US kinda sucks in comparision.  Every once in a while a Hersey's bar is good and there are some boutique producers out there who make great chocolate on a somewhat mass scale (Flyer Chocolate is one of my favorites) and the small producers here and there.  Here in Jackson we have a world class chocolatier from Mexico who make some astounding chocolate (his expresso chocolates are fantastic).

I also recently got a shipment of Walkers Nonsuch toffee from England.  There is this online shop that sells all kinds of English goodies and Walkers toffee is my favorite.  I got some original, treacle (sort of coffee flavored), and roasted hazelnut.  Yummy stuff.  Great for pulling out tooth fillings.

Not for Girls? The Yorkie and Echo Adverts.

There are two very different chocolate adverts on British tv at the moment, offering two very different views about who should be eating the stuff and why. One claims that chocolate is for men only - literally, it’s “not for girls” the ads say. The other puts forward the view that women literally cannot survive without chocolate and a world without it would be a world where half the human race lose their sanity.

via www.thefword.org.uk

Interesting blog about chocolate advertising in Britain. Little more insight on the silly marketing ploy of the bland tasting Yorkie bar.

Nestle Yorkie - It's Not For Girls. Or anyone else, really.

via snacks.cyberpunks.org

Hilarious post about this non-descript candy bar. Kind of boring taste. Hoped it would have more to it, such as a beer filled cavity or something.  I like the tag line in the post "I-Can't-Believe-Its-Not-Better" for an alternative name. 

Yorkie Candy Bar: Huh?

Just had a original Yorkie candy bar.  Our local Albertson's has a small section of British foods and one thing caught my eye about the Yorkie bar: the logo "It's not for girls!"  No idea why.  Nothing special, just an ordinary chocolate bar and really not that good either.  Don't worry girls, your not missing much.

Staying Healthy.

I was working at the King on Sunday night because the person who normally works on that night injured himself Friday: dislocated hip.  If that sounds odd it is; hips are normally a very difficult joint to dislocate because of the depth of the socket and the strength of the tendons, ligaments, and muscles surrounding the joint.  His ski caught an edge and his toepiece on his binding didn't release.  I don't know how he accomplished the dislocation without releasing but he did.  Now he's done for the season.  Rough break with the only silver lining being he was on the clock at the time so worker's comp will cover his bills.

This does raise an issue I was going to discuss after wrapping up the St. Anton skiing reviews but since I left my notes at home when I did this post, I'll talk a bit about staying healthy.  This mean the normal crap: eat right, exercise daily, get plenty of sleep, nice regular bowel movements, etc, etc.  It also means being smart and knowing your limits.  I am not a young man anymore so drinking heavily, staying out late, and pushing the limits usually ends up bad so I don't anymore.  Drinking too much means a hangover and a really unproductive day so I don't drink to excess any more;  I need eight hours of sleep otherwise I am nonfunctional so there you go; and I know my limits physically and mentally so I don't push it and I don't give a shit.  I know there are young bucks and does out there who would laugh at my limits but screw em.  I'm comfortable in my abilities and don't feel the need to prove myself to anyone else, myself included.  So I ski conservatively and make sure I don't get in over my head.  I have bigger fish to fry each year in Europe and being injured won't help this.  I may get injured through no fault of my own but I try and reduce the risk as much as possible. 

Riding the wind trainer on the bike in the garage helps keep my base physical capabilities up but I will have to start working with the pilates ball to get the core back in shape.  I take an assortment of vitamins and supplements throughout the year and continue while in Europe.  I purchased a daily vitamin/medicine organizer a couple years ago and fill it up prior to a trip with my normal supplements: a daily vitamin, aspirin, cranberry extract, garlic extract, 500 mg vitamin C, triple omega 3-6-9 oils, glucosamine chondroitin, MSM, Cholest Off (plant sterols), and every other day 200 mg Selenium and a b-complex vitamin.  I also take additonal tablets of MSM and Glucosamine Chondroitin for knee pain, and a super vitamin if I feel a cold coming on.  I also take some Emergen C dry powder (a mix of flavors and types) for daily use.  Thus far I have not had any colds or illness while in Europe.  On the flights I really don't drink much booze, try to drink a fair amount of water, and get up and walk every couple hours so I don't develop deep vein thrombosis.  So far the system works but obviously each person will have to tailor something to fit your needs.

I haven't had the need to purchase any of the local meds and supplements besides the obvious:

It is a little known fact that good sausage, cheese, bread, and wine are chock full of goodness that men need.

Fondue Party!

Last week we had a fondue party at Cafe Ponza after we finished patrolling at Snow King.  Lots of fun, good drink, good friends, and drunken photos.  Andy Bergen made an Irish style fondue using Irish cheeses and dark brown ale.  It turned out really well taste-wise, but was unappealing when you looked at it in the fondue pot (it had separated).  We'll probably do another one soon, as soon as my liver recovers.

The Irish fondue master.

L to R: Kevin Johnson, Alex von Salad, his girlfriend Emily, and Galen Parke (above).

Pizza made with leftover fondue cheese and sliced apples.