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	On The Slopes (Regular Column) - Editor/Publisher Joe Blenkle has been writing his column "On The Slopes" since the 1980s when he began the column in Sacramento Sports magazine and later at the weekly newspaper, The Orangevale News. Here is a collection of some of his past columns that have been compiled from the print edition of Sierra Ski News which was published from 2000-2007, as well as current columns from the online edition of Sierra Ski News. Columns are ordered from newest to oldest.  Read More...
	Health Benefits of Skiing and Boarding (Oct. 25, 2007) - SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Skiing and snowboarding are often compared to running, swimming, biking, skating, surfing, wakeboarding, etc… as a cardiovascular workout.  It is a form of aerobic exercise exerting physical effort utilizing a lot of oxygen to keep moving creating health benefits that are very similar to any other physical exercise.  Read More...
	How to Make Your Boards Slide Faster (March 2007) - SACRAMENTO, Calif. - This article's goal is to show you a simple and effective way of waxing your ski or snowboard. Waxing can be simple to very complex depending upon the results you want to achieve. You can spend as little as $2 -- to hundreds or even thousands to wax a ski or board if you are an Olympic skier or rider trying to shave that extra 1/10th of a second off your time! Read More...
	Toni Tennille (November 2005) - It’s been 10 years since Toni Tennille and husband Daryl Dragon released a recording as the Captain & Tennille. Their CD, 20 Years of Romance, in 1995 celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. The Captain & Tennille debuted in 1975 when they released the best-selling song of the year, Love Will Keep Us Together, and a long string of hits and a TV show followed.  Read More...
	Boardin' With Louie - Part V / Louie battles the evil O-Rangs (March 2004) - As the multi-colored haze cleared from in front of me, it took a second for me to realize where I was -- headed downhill at Donner Ski Ranch. I stopped to get my bearings, looking briefly uphill, and eeeeeeekkkk!!!! Suddenly two dozen snowboarders raced past me. Only my great agility saved me from getting run over.  Read More...
	Boardin' With Louie - Part IV / I'm off to Jamaica for a movie (February 2004) - Well, once again my Tonight Show appearance was delayed. It’s now looking like February before Jay Leno and I can get together. Be sure and watch the Sierra Ski News web site for updates.     Meanwhile I’m off to Jamaica to shoot scenes for a new film. It will be good to get away from the cold for awhile.  Read More...
	Boardin' With Louie - Part III / Well, that's showbiz! (January 2004) - Well, that’s showbiz! I was all set to appear on the Tonight Show last month when Jay Leno called me up and said, “Louie...would it be okay if we pushed your appearance back to January? I hate to do this to a big star like you, but you know how those network execs are!!! They think it will be better for the ratings.” I replied, “Jay baby...anything for you...no problem-o.”  Read More...
	Boardin' With Louie - Part II / Have you heard the one about...? (December 2003) - Have you heard the joke about the 500-pound gorilla? You know the one...it goes... “Where does a 500-pound gorilla snowboard? Nowhere!!! Gorillas don’t know how to snowboard!!! Hoooo hoooo hooo hooo hoooo...I’m funny when I’m in a good mood...and I’m in a good mood because I went on my first boardin’ trip this past week.  Read More...
	Boardin' With Louie - Part I / Hi! I'm Louie the Chimp (November 2003) - Hi folks! I’m Louie. You may not be able to guess it by looking at me, but I’m a movie star. I play a character named Jack who gets into all kinds of exciting adventures (think of that dog that played in the Air Bud movies - only cuter and more intelligent - that’s me). I’ve got my own series of movies - the most recent of which is called MXP: Most Xtreme Primate.  Read More...
	Rain's George Harrison - Joe Bithorn (November 2002) - Some people have great jobs. Joe Bithorn is one of them. Not only does Joe live in the Tahoe area where he can ski all day, at night he gets to sing and play guitar as a a member of RAIN - a Beatles tribute band that can be seen at various casino/resorts in the Tahoe/Reno area. I got a chance to see RAIN last year. It was like I had stepped back in time to the days of Beatlemania.  Read More...
	Kickland Author Kevin Hayes (November 2002) - Kevin Hayes is a lawyer by trade, but his interest in cross country skiing prompted him to write KICKLAND, a fictional adventure of an aging Olympic cross country skier trying to make a comeback. Kevin granted Sierra Ski News an interview from his home in Michigan to talk more about KICKLAND and his passion for XC skiing. Read More...
	Folk Singer Steve Gillette (March 2001) - Steve Gillette and his wife Cindy Mangsen are America’s premier folk duo. Steve has written songs for Garth Brooks, John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt, Waylon Jennings and Tammy Wynette to name only a few. He’s the author of Songwriting and the Creative Process - and he also loves skiing! Gillette lives in Vermont, but he began skiing in California where he grew up.  Read More...
	Actress Susan Egan (December 2000) -  In one of her songs called "It’s A Good Thing He Can’t Read My Mind," actress/singer Susan Egan tries to impress her boyfriend by doing everything he likes (and she doesn’t). In one verse, she tells of her distaste of all things snowy.   "Look at me I’m skiing, when I do not like skiing, but he loves his skiing and I love him. I rent the boots and poles, I shiver in the cold..."  Read More...
	RollerJam's Mark D'Amato (November 2000) - He’s known to RollerJam fans as "The Most Dangerous Man on Skates." But Mark D’Amato, Captain of the New York Enforcers, trades his quad skates (he claims inlines are for sissies!) for skis every so often and hits the slopes for a day of skiing. D’Amato has been skating professionally since his teens. How did he get started? "I got hooked on Roller Derby at a very young age..."   Read More...
	Actress Stephanie J. Block (January 2000) - As Sacramento-area theatre fans know, Stephanie J. Block has graced the stage of Sacramento’s Music Circus on a number of occasions. Her most recent appearance under the tent was in “Bye, Bye Birdie” last summer. Block is also an avid skier and she finds the majestic views she sees while skiing one of the most captivating experiences in life.  Read More...
	Iain Fraser (January 2000) - Iain Fraser, player-coach for the Sacramento Knights of the World Indoor Soccer League, has had a busy past few months. Fraser was named as the WISL’s Defender-of-the-Year and Coach-of-the-Year as the Knights recorded a 17-5 regular-season record. Posting a 7-6 win over the Dallas Sidekicks at ARCO Arena on Dec. 12, the Fraser-led Knights captured the WISL Championship.  Read More...