It's All Downhill: Last winter

[View web version]( [It's All Downhill. The latest from the slopes of New England and beyone by Matt Pepin] Friday, September 28 | [Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter]( Good times It's hard not to let your thoughts wander north these days as cool air arrives, one ski movie trailer after another drops, and Ski magazine starts landing in the mailbox again. So I spent a recent train ride reviewing my photos from last ski season, escaping both the city and my concerns. Seven photos stood out, and they tell the story of last winter for me. Enjoy. As usual, first tracks were made at Killington. What a day at Magic, on a bitter day in January (I'm rather proud of the text exchange between my son and I the week before). Went on my annual buddy trip ... ... and we ended up enjoying what many said was one of the best days of the year at Killington. The ski venues at the Olympics in South Korea were pretty interesting, and I was struck by the depth of the snow at Jongseon Alpine Center, a ski racing venue I pray to Ullr to be able to hit someday. The view from a ridge at YongPyong Resort, with the Olympics ski jump tower in the distance, right in the middle of the photo. Me and my crew at Mt. Sunapee for our final day of the season. CLICKWORTHY HISTORY LESSON: The stories behind ski trail names are always fascinating, and Jeff Blumenfeld wrote [a compelling feature that looks at trail names around the world]( for the International Skiing History Association's website in August. It's an entertaining and informative read, sure to make you think twice next time you're pondering a ski map or trail sign. TRUTH IN ADVERTISING: It almost sounds too good to be true, but Ski.com [is entertaining applications for its "Dream Job"]( where one lucky winner will be sent around the world, expenses paid, to check out a bunch of the places included in the Epic Pass. Applicants must make a 60-seconds or less video to show why they're the perfect candidate. Good luck with that. A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: Tom Kelly, the recently retired vice president of communications for the US Ski Team, shared his favorite moments from a career of watching ski racing [in a recent article for SkiRacing.com.]( His criteria was that he had to see it firsthand to be on the list, and it had to have some emotional connection for him. It's a fantastic read. On a side note, here's a pole-tap for Kelly, who is one of the all-time greats in sports media relations, and a personal thank-you for all the information he's passed on to me from our interactions at events like big air at Fenway Park, the World Cup at Killington, and February's Olympics in South Korea. The Park Record in Park City, Utah, [had an excellent story about Kelly and his career after he retired in June.]( FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE: A [Freeskier magazine video that has been out for almost a year]( landed in my Twitter feed this week, and it was a perfect diversion from the cityscape that surrounds my Boston office. Titled "Return of the Turn, Part 2," it focuses on the joy of carving groomers, which happens to be one of my favorite things to do on a mountain. Tip: Stay tuned for the out-take at the end. IT'S ALMOST HERE: You know the ski season is getting close when the "what's new" articles start appearing. [Here's SkiVermont's look at what's new at its member ski areas]( from new lifts to new lodges to new management, it's a pretty thorough roundup. STOWE WHAT? General manager Bobby Murphy tried to set the record straight about the various chatter that surrounds Stowe in Vermont, including the parking situation and possible upgrades to the lodges, [in an interview with VT SKI+RIDE,]( although he dodged the big one about if Stowe's parent company was trying to buy Smugglers' Notch. FACT-CHECK: The Farmer's Almanac annual winter predictions were [put to the test by OpenSnow.com meteorologist Sam Collentine](. The pre-season predictions for last year were compared to what actually happened, and, well, let's just say there's room for improvement. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: The annual Boston.com Ski & Snowboard Expo is Nov. 8-11 at the Seaport World Trade Center. [All the details are on the event website](. GOOD VIBES: Killington unveiled the entertainment lineup at the World Cup races there Nov. 23-25. Paul Oakenfold performs Friday, Nov. 23 at the bib presentation/opening ceremony, KT Tunstall and Michael Franti perform Saturday, Nov. 24 at the giant slalom races, and Guster will perform Sunday, Nov. 25 after the slalom event. Details and premium seating ticket info (general admission is free) [are available on Killington's website](. CONGRATULATIONS: Al Fletcher, the founder of Nashoba Valley Ski Area, will receive the New England Ski Museum's Spirit of Skiing Award on Nov. 17 at its annual meeting and dinner. [Ticket information and more details are available on the organization's website](. [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. 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