By Laura Bryan and John Schultheis          Photos by Laura

The weekend of June 11 through 13, a delegation of 21 Après members attended the annual Far West Ski Association convention in Reno, Nevada. Hosted by the Sierra Council and held at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel and Casino, it featured a theme of “Sierra Nights and Winner Days” and, true to form, when the bulk of the delegation were not attending “official” FWSA events, they were tearing up the gaming tables in the casino below. But more on that later.

Après arrived by “planes, trains and automobiles”. Several of the delegation - Martha Giannini, Helga Campbell and Jeff Ducker - got in to Reno on Thursday night to attend the dinner dance and cruise aboard the M.S. Dixie II as it paddled its way around Lake Tahoe. Après members Wanda Ross and Tim Fergon placed third in the Golf tournament on Friday. The tennis tournament was cancelled for lack of entrants.

However, the bulk of the delegation arrived on Friday afternoon for the welcoming pool party and other get-togethers over cocktails. The pool party included a mini “Olympics”. John Schultheis was on the winning team for the “Whale Races” and was in a 4-way tie for first place in the “Underwater Limbo” contest. (I could have gone lower, but the organizers couldn’t hold the bar any lower without drowning.)

Friday evening’s chief activity was the Silent Auction and Dance, at which Après revelers hobnobbed with ski industry representatives, ski racing stars and fellow Far West ski enthusiasts. Austin Parlette was seen that evening staring around with a crazed gleam in his eye, murmuring “More trips. I need to bid on more trips!” while Dee Askew exercised her networking skills amongst the industry vendors.

Laura Bryan, Janice Melena and Linda Indreboe draped themselves over Billy Kidd, ’64 Olympic Slalom Silver medallist, who was at the convention representing Steamboat Springs Ski Resort. We even have the photo to prove it!!! And it’s going to hang proudly in the tuning shed up at the Lodge, along with the Steamboat poster that Billy, our best buddy and newest toy boy, obligingly autographed for us.

Sandy Saadi and Ray Muggli were seen tearing up the dance floor while others scrambled around bidding on trips and tours and scheduling Travel Expo interviews. Several members scored great deals on ski resort deals.

Lured by promises of a kick-butt afterhours cocktail party on the 29th floor hosted by the Sierra Council, those of the Après delegation who actually found the party (yes, there are TWO towers at the Nugget, and this party was in the WEST tower) attempted to liven up this disappointingly quiet affair. Despite lampshades being worn and booze spilled, it still closed down at the stroke of midnight. I think the Sierra Council reps were actually ripping drinks out of the astonished hands of the Après contingent. The nerve! The only solution for this party-less situation was to go down to the Casino and throw some money at the betting gods.

Saturday dawned far too early for most of the delegation, but some of us diligently made our way down for the Continental breakfast and the Opening Session of the official meetings. After a brief series of FWSA reports, and introduction of candidates, the meeting was adjourned for the Travel Expo.

The Travel Expo provided opportunities for each delegate to attend 10 separate 10-minute meetings throughout the morning with ski industry vendors of their choice. In exchange, these vendors signed our “dance cards” and at the end of the morning all the completed cards were passed in for the big drawing - a trip-for-one to the 2005 Far West Ski Week in Aspen/Snowmass. Unfortunately, no one from Après won the big prize this year, but some lesser prizes were won throughout the rest of the weekend.

Saturday’s lunch featured speeches, candidate introductions, award presentations and mediocre food (isn’t spaghetti supposed to have sauce on it?) and, in general, was pretty forgettable.

Saturday afternoon the delegation participated in a series of Ski Club Leadership Seminars, on subjects ranging from “Charities and Volunteerism” to “Marketing Your Club” to “Website Design”. Après’ Scott Bowker led the marketing seminars, which were quite informative and well received. Some Après delegates attended other special meetings or volunteered for special judging sessions.

Following the seminars, the delegates attended a BAC member caucus at which each of the FWSA candidates up for election gave introductory speeches and then the field of candidates was discussed by the Council. Those interested in the political process would have found this session very interesting indeed, although we have it on the QT that some Après delegates skipped this session to get a few minutes’ beauty rest before the big “Tahoe Boogie Nights” Awards Dinner/Dance that night.

Speaking of the Dinner/Dance, I just want to say that the Après delegation were decked out in their finest and, boy, did they shine! We may all know what these people look like with ski-hat head and no makeup, but they sure do clean up good! Sandy Saadi was wearing a bright red feather boa with her black and white polka-dotted frock. Janice Melena was wearing a “goddess” dress that would’ve made Marlene Dietrich green with envy. I had on this little backless red number, a dress I had to keep reminding myself to ”stand up straight” in. But I’m almost certain I heard someone say “Hubba-hubba!” as I walked by, so I’m not displeased with the effect. Oh, the pains we women endure for fashion!

The keynote speaker for the evening was Dave McCoy, founder of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort. Dave shared some stories of his life and times. Dave was a true pioneer of skiing in the West in the 50’s and 60’s, and a staunch supporter of skier development and ski racing throughout the years.

John Schultheis, BAC’s Man of the Year and candidate for Far West Man of the Year, was narrowly defeated (Robbed! He was ROBBED!) by Emilio Trampuz of the Northwest Ski Club. Yeah, I know. Who the heck is HE? But true to form, John had nothing but nice things to say about Emilio, and accepted his defeat with good grace.

At the awards dinner, there was more mutual congratulation and ebullient praise, all of people and by people most of us had never heard of, but the food was outstanding (the filet mignon really was rare and fork-tender) and when they finally cleared everything away, most of us wore glazed, dazed expressions denoting complete satiety. But we weren’t so full that we couldn’t dance the remainder of the night away to the lively music of “Papa Clutch and the Shifters”. Everyone danced with everyone else. Sandy and I even took a turn around the floor, which incited many interested stares from the men around us (what IS that, anyway?).

The band was shut down at midnight, leaving the remaining partiers to fend for themselves. Some headed off to make some more donations to the Nevada State Economy, while others headed back up to the 29th floor for more cocktails and hanging out at the Sierra Council Hospitality Suite. That finally would down around 2:00am when the hostess fell asleep still wearing her party dress.

Those that could rise with the sun were invited back to the Sierra Council Hospitality Suite for the “Eye Opener” party Sunday morning. There was lots of good nibbling food, but it was mostly a different group than late the previous night, for some reason.

Most of the Après delegation made it down to the reconvened meeting session Sunday morning, although there were a few notable absences (mea culpa!). The call to order was at 8:30, with elections throughout the next two hours. Predictably, our numbers fleshed out considerably when they brought out the food at mid-morning.

Following brunch, the ski club awards for Best Newsletter, Best Website and Best All-Around Club were given out. I in our class of AAAA (the largest ski clubs), Après generated a CLEAN SWEEP, winning first place in all three categories! Huge congratulations to Dorothy Pantel, Ed Martin and Connie Burdette for their outstanding work which made these first place wins possible.

After the awards, most of the Après delegation said their goodbyes and went to check out of their rooms and begin the trek home. We came away from this wonderful, fascinating experience with new friends, renewed energy and greater focus on the challenges ahead. I am confident that this coming year will be another winning year for Après.