It's All Downhill: An ode to bygone skis

[View web version]( [It's All Downhill. The latest from the slopes of New England and beyone by Matt Pepin] Friday, February 9 | [Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter]( LOOKING BACK BY HAYDEN BIRD (With Matt in South Korea for the Olympics, I'll be handling the newsletter for a few weeks.) I can’t remember which movie I last saw, nor can I recall what I ate for lunch last Friday. Heck, sometimes I forget where I parked my car near my Somerville apartment. But I can recall, with certainty, every pair of skis I’ve ever owned. It’s not a thing I’ve ever willingly tried to do, or consciously committed myself to remembering. I just know. From a pair of junior [Rossignol 4S’s]( all the way through the [Blizzard Brahmas]( I currently ski on, it’s all in my brain. And it will likely be there forever. The things we remember with perfect recall – especially when compared to the things we easily forget – are inexplicable in an amusing way. Yet when I think back on the eras of skis that I’ve lived through, nothing compares to those from my youth. As a child of the ‘90s, I was infatuated with the different brands, models and colors. Of course, there wasn’t a whole lot of variation in actual design (at least not until a few years later). But for whatever reason, I’m still kind of obsessed with skis from that time. I still remember my excitement when I got a pair of 165 centimeter [Völkl P10s]( for Christmas. Keep in mind, I was in third grade, and was skiing on 165s. That’s how different a time it was. The length of your skis would horrify people in 2018. My brother, then a middle schooler in 1995, took a pair of 206 [Dynastar Coupe du Mondes]( through the moguls in a junior competition (he finished top-10). It was madness. Glorious, glorious madness. Part of me has always had a dream of finally buying a pair of red [Rossignol 5SVs]( or a true classic throwback: the [Dynastar Vertical Assaults](. I'd probably find them impossible to turn, having been spoiled by almost 20 years of shaped skis. But I would love every minute of it. I'm guessing I might not be alone in my random obsession. If there's a particular genre or era of gear that you still love to think back on, let me know either on [Twitter]( or at hayden.bird@globe.com. I'd love to hear about it! POSTCARDS FROM PYEONGCHANG The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics are off and running, and Matt is there as part of the [Globe's coverage]( in South Korea. Years of aspirations and hard work from more than 2,500 athletes culminate in a little over two weeks of world class competition. If you love to watch the skiing and snowboarding at the Olympics but maybe don't quite know who everyone is, fear not. [The Globe's John Powers]( broke down what to expect from each event, and what the US outlook is. The first week will be a busy one, with the men's downhill (Saturday), women's slalom (Tuesday), men's and women's moguls (Sunday, Monday), and the men's and women's snowboard halfpipe (Monday, Tuesday) among the many events happening. And if you want to be kept in the loop on the PyeongChang Games, [subscribe to the Globe's Olympics newsletter](. CLICKWORTHY SUNDAY RIVER'S SUPER SHOUT OUT: While Patriots fans were ultimately disappointed with the result of Super Bowl LII, Sunday River proved to be at least one New England winner. Justin Timberlake [took a selfie with a 13-year-old Hingham native]( who just happened to be wearing a Sunday River sweatshirt. He was immediately offered a free season pass. WORLD PRO SKI TOUR STOPS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: On Feb. 9-10, the [World Pro Ski Tour]( swings through Waterville Valley for some high level racing. The dual racing format creates very watchable drama. Look for the Tour to also make an appearance at Sunday River in late March. BEHIND THE CORDUROY: If you've ever wondered exactly how yesterday's skied-off crud magically turns into this morning's flawless groomer, it's worth watching this behind-the-scenes look at how Jackson Hole does it. As one snow snowcat operator puts it, he finishes his midnight-8 a.m. shift in time to [ski his own corduroy](. SOUTH RIDGE RIDES AGAIN: Killington's old South Ridge triple chair was notable for its odd separation of the up and down sides of the chair, as well as its desirability for skiers seeking to escape crowds. Known as the "triangle chair," it was partially removed in 2011. Recently, plans were announced that a fixed grip quad would be installed in its place. It appears [Killington is actually going ahead with the plan]( as an official application has been filed. CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY IN (COST EFFECTIVE) STYLE: This Valentine's Day (Wednesday, Feb. 14), you can ski Sugarbush for a lovely $14. Unlike a lot of the other deals available on this particular holiday, you don't even need to pretend that you have a significant other to get it. [As Sugarbush states]( "No catch, just head to the ticket window for your All Mountain Ticket." THE NEW YORK TIMES DID A GOOD THING: Mikaela Shiffrin is aiming to not only repeat as the Olympic slalom gold medalist, but also challenge in a few other events this time around too. In a [fascinating video tutorial]( the New York Times broke down her strategy and technique. [Subscribe to BostonGlobe.com]( [Like It's All Downhill? Tell a friend to subscribe.]( [Sign up for more Boston Globe newsletters.]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( About This Email You received this message because you signed up for the It's All Downhill newsletter. To automatically unsubscribe, [please click here.]( Please note: this will unsubscribe you from the newsletter only. 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