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At the beginning of the season it’s once again appropriate to bring out a familiar reminder: Friends don’t teach friends how to go snowboarding.

Not that learning how to ride is a bad thing. Far from it. And hanging out with your friends on the mountain is good, too.

But if you know how to ride and your friend doesn’t, it may not be the best thing if you try to teach your friend how to ride. It could be much better for your friendship–and your friend’s riding future–if you instead encourage your friend to take some lessons.

The Rocky Mountain News reminds us why this is the case. One, you’re probably going to teach your friend some bad habits. Two, it may strain your friendship, since the teacher/student dynamic is very different from the friend/friend one. (And worse, don’t teach your spouse or significant other!) Another reason for leaving the teaching to someone else is that there’s a benefit to specialization. A snowboard instructor has a lot more experience than you do in teaching people how to ride–which means that he or she has the tools to help your friend avoid nasty slams and wipeouts. You probably don’t.

Now all this is general information and you’ve got to apply it to your own situation. If you’re already an instructor yourself, you may be just fine teaching a friend. (I taught a close relative of mine two years ago and things worked out fine.)

Of course not all instructors are equally competent. It might help to ask for an instructor with AASI certification, though I know from experience that’s not a guarantee that everything will go swimmingly. But whatever you do, think twice before trying to teach a friend.

A trail map is a handy companion for your visit to a ski area. But what if you need something more? Enter the specialized guide.

The Aspen Ski and Snowboard Guide, written by Neal Beidleman, promises advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders “150 plus runs not on the trail map.” I won’t be making my annual trip to Aspen this season, so I bought the book with the idea that it would let me fantasize about what I’ll be missing. As it turns out, I should have had this a long time ago.

Beidleman offers an overview of the four mountains in Aspen: Aspen mountain (sometimes called Ajax), Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. Each of the mountains, which are accessible by a common lift ticket, have their own personality or reputation. Ajax is the home of the rich and famous; Highlands is defined by its legendary bowl, with steep pitches and lots of powder; Buttermilk is for learning, cruising, and watching the Winter X-Games and Snowmass is a giant that offers something for everyone.

Each mountain gets a chapter, which starts with an introduction offering some historical background. (The first lift in the region was installed on Ajax in 1937. It used old boats!) Each mountain also gets an overview photo. Since Snowmass is so big, its overview photo is labeled with various peaks or areas.

The various areas of each mountain get their own overview map with red lines overlaid onto the photograph to indicate a each trail. (The easier trails are typically not included unless they are essential for getting from one part of the mountain to another.) The trails in turn are numbered to descriptive paragraphs. Some lines get more thorough descriptions than others, but all are graded on a single scale that goes from A (typically groomed trails) to E (those that require a significant amount of air).

The universal scale allows for a comparison across each mountain. So, for example, even though Buttermilk has its black diamond trails, all colors of trails at Buttermilk are given an “A.” This scale is based on typical conditions, though snow coverage and snow condition can turn a treacherous trail into a fun casual ride—and vice versa. The universal scale of difficulty is one of the best parts of the book.

So how many new trails does the book offer up? When I compared the photographs and descriptions with a trail map for the 2007-08 season, I counted a total of 118 trails that were mentioned in the book but not included on the official trail map. That’s short of the advertised 150, though the difference may be human error on my part. I found 44 unmarked trails on Highlands, 39 on Ajax, 35 on Snowmass, and none at Buttermilk. Given the relatively small acreage of Ajax, the book does more to expand Ajax that it does any other mountain. Keep in mind, though, that the term “trail” can in many cases be misleading, as in the case of a bowl. But still, there are many new routes to find.

The book is not a substitute for a trail map. The focus on specific part of each mountain make it easy to forget the big picture, which a trail map can provide. The book does reprint segments of the map, according to each area being described, but the reprints are fairly small and sometimes hard to read.

The person who can handle anything the mountains offer, including hero air, will gain the most out of this book. But even those riders not willing to throw themselves off the cliff bands in Snowmass will benefit, if for no other reason they will know where not to go.

The advanced rider will find lots of challenges, including steeps, bumps, trees, and even areas that combine all three. And even the intermediate rider can enjoy the book as a way to keep in touch with the sport in the off season. The photos of skiers and riders in glades, in powder, and elsewhere conjure up good memories, and help anticipate new ones. A few photos of world-class skiers and riders getting air—and I mean huge air—inspire awe.

Advanced riders can new ways of looking at the mountains. For example, I learned that at Snowmass it’s possible to ride from the top of the Big Burn to the bottom of Campground area all in a single descent of 3,600 feet. Though I’ve been to Snowmass about 12 different times, I’ve seldom been to Campground, and never knew of this super-long option, which, the author says, was planned (but never used) as the route for World Cup ski races.

The chapter on Ajax—a mountain I’ve ridden only once—demonstrates the usefulness of knowing some history. “The Dumps” section of Ajax got its name from the tailings left behind from the silver mines. The pock-marked nature of the Dumps is something you should take into consideration in planning your ride.

Oddly enough, if there’s a place where the book comes up short, it’s in the photos. They lack compass points, which would be useful, especially when the text describes the east and west sides of various locations at Ajax and Highlands. And while we get an overview photo of the Highlands Bowl, the bowl’s various zones—B, G, R, and Y, to be specific—aren’t called out on that photo.

While the Aspen Ski and Snowboard Guide isn’t perfect, it is useful and a joy to read. It’s small enough to fit into a jacket but it opens up big vistas to the skier or rider.

How many ski areas have a blog? Seven Oaks of Iowa is the first one I have come across to have a blog. Granted, I haven’t been looking for ski area blogs, but still, it’s an interesting find. This particular site goes back to January 2007. Rick Bryan, the president of the area, writes the entries.

The blog is simple and uncluttered, so it’s easy on the eyes. During the season it’s a place to show off new photos from out on the hill, letting customers know that yes, there is snow out there. During the off season it has had updates on various elements of the area, such as the construction of a new lodge. Check it out right now and you’ll see photos of the work required to install a new lift.

For those who enjoy the terrain park–most likely a large portion of Seven Oaks’s customer base–the site provides updates on what features have been constructed. It’s a great way to connect with customers and would-be customers.

In addition to keeping local riders informed of recent developments and happenings on the hill, Bryan also uses the site to solicit comments from the public. For example, Seven Oaks periodically stays open until 1 a.m. Towards the end of this last season, Bryan used a couple of posts to ask people to make comments (in the “comments” section, naturally) about their interest in late-night riding.

I’m glad to see that a ski area uses blogging. If blogging isn’t killed off by social networking (MySpace, Facebook, etc.), perhaps more areas will use it as a marketing tool.

While updating the pages of the Grays on Trays resort listing, I noticed that Fun Valley Iowa is now defunct as a ski area. (The web site says that the place will continue as a motocross area in the summer.)

The site mentions that a triple chair has been moved to Seven Oaks Recreation. The “About Us” page for Seven Oaks tells the story of how hard it can be to run a mom-and-pop area. Edwin and Kay Bryan opened Fun Valley in 1970. Rick, one of seven children, took over after his father died two years later, and the other children helped run the place. The family opened Seven Oaks in 1997. A few warm winters and the opportunities of Seven Oaks apparently made the family decide to dispose of Fun Valley.

The Fun Valley site points to a liquidation sale. I don’t know how old that information is–the page is not dated–but it is rather interesting to troll through the photos of stuff for sale. There’s a lot more to running a ski area than collecting money and renting gear. So the site offers snow-making equipment, groomers, a couple of bulldozers, various pieces of lift equipment, and rental gear for sale.

Being based in the Midwest presents certain challenges for the snowboarder, especially the adult not interested in becoming a freestyle champion. There are the short pistes, of course.

Then there are the conditions. Grooming is an obsession at some areas. Perhaps that’s rightfully so, given the preferences of the customer base. Yet knowing that didn’t keep me from cringing when I once saw a grooming machine trample over four to six inches of new snow. (I know that’s not much in powder, but around here, that’s decent.)

While updating the resort listings pages on the main web site, I came across this description from Devil’s Head, Wisconsin:

“The ski slopes are pampered almost as much as the guests: they get groomed twice a day – the slopes that is – to make sure guests experience the best Wisconsin skiing possible.“

What’d I well you about grooming?

Devil’s Head then extols its freestyle terrain, pointing out that you can slide from top to bottom while hitting features all the way. (To me, those are things spice things up, only by being things to avoid, for the most part.)

Then there’s this oddity:

“Devil’s Head has been a longtime favorite of intermediate skiers because of its long, cruising slopes that create an exhilarating ride without the harshness of bumps and glades.”

A ski area that celebrates the fact that it doesn’t have glades?

What a shame!

Today’s Wall Street Journal has an article about a small group of marathoners, titled “Over 80, It’s Anyone’s Race.” The article talks about the women’s 80-to-90-year old division of the New York City Marathon, which will five contestants. (Meanwhile, 21 men age 80 and older will also race.)

Are these runners the cusp of a trend? Perhaps. We’re all getting older, and the population is aging, too: 25 percent of the population will be 56 or older, well into AARP territory. But the people of that age aren’t settling into rocking chairs just yet. “Since 2003, the number of finishers 80 and above for all road races has risen 23% compared with 16% for all age groups,” writes Matthew Futterman.

Though the best runner in the whole race will finish in just over two hours, winning isn’t on the mind of those women. Since their best time will be something over six hours, that’s understandable. But their enthusiasm is something that snowboarding adults of all ages can take inspiration from.

Is running good for you? Mary Wittenberg is the chief of the New York Road Runners Club. Never heard of it? That’s the group that puts on the marathon. Speaking of older runners, Wittenberg says “These are the sunniest people. Maybe you have to be that way to run marathons in your 80s, or maybe it’s just that running makes you so damn happy.”

The focus of the article is Joy Johnson, an 81-year old in San Jose, California who started running at age 58.

Running has been good for her. According to one man who has conducted one of the training camps Johnson has attended over the years, “She is someone you really can see running when she is 100. She just has that smile on her face all the time.”

Johnson, who spends an hour a day reading the Bible, cites words from the book of Isaiah as an inspiration: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

There are certainly obstacles to being an elderly runner.

Dr. Alexis Chiang Colvin, a sports-medicine expert at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said aging affects every system the body uses in long-distance running.

An elderly heart doesn’t pump as fast or as hard, so oxygen — the body’s gasoline — doesn’t circulate as efficiently. An average 60-year-old pumps 20% less oxygenated blood than a 20-year-old, Dr. Colvin said. Like all human tissue, the lungs become stiffer and less expansive. Muscles atrophy at an increasing rate and ligaments and tendons grow brittle making injuries far more likely. Muscle strength generally peaks at 30. After 70, it declines 30% per decade.

Johnson does her best to compensate, alternating walking with running during marathons. She trains regularly, putting in 30 to 55 miles a week, and runs the stadium seats in a high school football stadium, and runs three marathons (and eight other races) a year.

One of her friends says “She’s going to die doing those marathons,” which is just fine with Johnson: “I want to die running. That’s my goal.”

There are worse things to aspire to in this life. So if you think you’re too old to get physically active, just think of Joy Johnson.

It’s easy for day-only ski areas to build programs for kids. But is there enough interest on the part of adults for anything other than ski racing? One small ski area in the Minneapolis area thinks so.

Hyland Hills Ski and Snowboard area is offering to snowboarding classes that might be of interest to adults. They’re not classes, in the sense of offering instruction. They’re more like the on-snow version of an open gym: We’re welcoming a specific market, so come on in.

The Women’s Board of Directors offers “snowboarding for women in a comfortable environment,” while the Midweek Board Meeting offers “snowboarding for adults only in a fun atmosphere,” according to this year’s brochure.

They’re not going to close the area to people who don’t fit into these demographics, obviously, so the classes are probably going to be more along the lines of “Meet under the clock at the appointed time and we’ll all go hang out together.” Still, it sounds like a useful way of meeting some folks you might want to have in your snowboarding Rolodex. I can imagine some e-mails flying back and forth after these events are over: Hey Charlie, I’m heading out tomorrow. Want to join me?

For $99 you get 3 rentals and 3 lift tickets for the designated days. If you’re in the Twin Cities are, check it out.

If you’re not there, and you know of other ski areas that offer a similar outreach to either women riders, adult riders, or both, drop a line in the comments.

Pamela at Passion for Addiction clued me into a new “reality” show about ski patrollers at Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania) and Crystal Mountain (Washington). She wasn’t expecting great things from it, but I decided to give it a look anyway. Unfortunately I made some sort of mistake and my VCR failed to tape last week’s inaugural episode.

There’s a lengthy discussion of the show over at the EpicSki forum.

It’s overdramatized? Sure. It’s “reality” TV. But I’m hoping to watch a few episodes anyway.

You can buy snowboards in a lot of places. There’s online, of course. But there’s a lot of variety in retail. Low-end stuff is in your generic sporting goods stores, but you can step up the quality (or at least reputation) by going to REI.

Then there’s your small shops that focus on mountain stuff, with a summer set of gear that may include mountain bikes, small sailboats, patio equipment, or whatnot. Some of then will sell only snowboards, some will sell only skis, and some will sell both.

Put me in “both.”

Once I went to a shop where I had bought some ski poles. I was looking for I-don’t-remember-what when a thought hit me: There are lots of skis here, cross-country and downhill alike, but no snowboards. When I started talking with a clerk I realized why: I mentioned something about snowboarders and got the feeling that I had mentioned the worst kind of people who abuse children, or something even worse. I don’t shop there anymore.

On the other hand, I bought my skis as well as my first set of Flow bindings and some protective gear at a ski/snowboard shop.

Last year I went to a snowboard-only shop, and bought a Salomon Special. The young staffers suggested I talk with one of the older guys, a manager of some sort, who spent quite a while talking with me about boards and my likes and type of riding.

I went back on Saturday, to meet up with a friend and to see the latest gear. It was an enjoyable experience of talking about local conditions, and my friend pointed out some garish and ghastly changes in some of the equipment and its design. He also pointed out some innovative, promising new developments in bindings, boots, and boards.

But from time to time I felt out of place. On one side of the wall is a screen that shows a snowboarding movie, nonstop. Now, I can fantasize about making turns in powder snow as much as the next person, but there’s one thing I don’t like about snowboarding movies: The music. It’s … well, I’m not sure what it is, but it’s not my style. And in this case, it was playing all the time.

To be the out-of-step customer. At least there are ski and snowboard shops that don’t give me a headache.

Proving that yes, you can be a snowboarder and a parent as well, Shred Betties, a site that otherwise seems pitched to a younger crowd, offers some interviews with high-profile riders who are also mothers. It’s called Shred Mommies. Each rider, who had a great record as a competitive snowboarder, answers the same set of questions. But since “snowboarding while pregnant” seems to draw people into the site via Google searches, I’ll concentrate on those.

Tina Basich says of snowboarding while pregnant: “I had to take a break from snowboarding while I was pregnant. I was not willing to risk it at all. I felt like I needed to be protective of my body more than ever and even though I might trust my own riding, I don’t trust every other rider or skier on the hill. So I played it safe and stayed off the mountain.”

Shannon Dunn-Downing, on the other hand, says “I snowboarded until my last month of pregnancy. I had to ask for help buckling my bindings, because my belly was so big.”

Barrett Christy: “We’ve heard doctors advise against it, but it seems hard to go without! Yes, I snowboarded when I was pregnant.”

Go to the site and read the full interviews.