As an assignment for a course in e-commerce, I have been asked to publish a blog dealing with something I am passionate about. I recalled an article in Ski Magazine I read last year (turns out it was in the August 2005 issue and it was two articles instead of 1) regarding the "soul of skiing" and, more or less, whether or not it was alive, dead or somwhere in the middle. The article "Soul of Skiing" describes the author's (Jackson Hogen) introduction to skiing and how skiing was more a journey of self discovery and actualization "comprised of desitnations, of special places that ignite and sustain a lifelong love affair with sliding on snow."

I immediately and vividly remembered my introduction to skiing at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire. It's not the biggest mountain, not the steepest, but it has, well, soul. It had a j-bar and a t-bar, at least when I was there. No magic carpets or detachable lifts.

It had friendly lifties, like the one that saved my fingers when I somehow snuck out of the lodge to try and ski in 10 dgree weather without my gloves.

It was chock full of 50+ year olds on Hexcel 210's that could rip.

The lodges and the buildings were quaint but serviceable with real fires. I grew up a lot on the mountain in the three trips we took there over three years. And, I didn't just leanr to ski - I learned to love to ski.

Since then, I have skied in a lot of different places. Some had soul and now don't. Since Intrawest bought my home hill, Vernon Valley Great George in New Jersey, Its better in every meaningful way - snow making, snow quality uphill capacity, etc. But somehow, it doesn't seem like the same place that had the rickety old red and blue painted wood chairlifts. Others never had soul - love the terrain and features of the Canyons, but the constant construction, forced base villiage and relentless timeshare sales pitches do tend to limit the soul quotient.

So, this blog, through a few posts and hopefully some comments form a reader or two, will explore the "soul of skiing." I hope you find it interesting and post a few of your own stories and thoughts.