Attention CT Teams! 3rd annual F.C.S.E. (F.I.R.S.T. CT Snowboarding/Ski Experience)

[Elgin Clock]

January 1st, 2007 we will be holding the third annual F.C.S.E. (F.I.R.S.T. CT Snowboarding/Ski Experience) event at Mount Southington. For those of you who don't know, the F.C.S.E. is an activity that we started in 2004 by Team 237 as a fun event for right before Kickoff of the Robotics Season.

We try & get as many people from our team and other local teams to go to Mt. Southington to Snowboard or Ski (your choice).

This is not a fundraiser, but rather just a day that people can get together before the new season starts.

We will be arriving at Mt. Southington around 11am (All day lift ticket is from 9am - 5pm if you want to go earlier). To rent equipment and buy a lift ticket it will cost about $70-$80 for either skis and snowboards. To just rent a lift ticket it will cost about $42. Also bring money for food (which could be about $10 - $15 more dollars).

Please let me know if you can come or if you have any questions, please contact either myself, Scott: ScottShaw237, or Kevin: K.Shaw via AIM or PM.

Feel free to just show up, as we should be there from 11ish-5 all day long somewhere on the Mountain.

Mt. Southington Info: http://www.mountsouthington.com/php/

Address for finding directions: 396 Mount Vernon Road, Plantsville CT 06479

Hope to see a bunch of you there.

[skimoose]

Members of 228 will be there this year!

[KathieK]

I recently slid down a flight of stairs at my house (and still have the bruises to show for it) - that's the extent of my skiing/snowboarding skills. Sounds like fun, though, maybe I'll come hang out at the bottom of the mountain or something!

[Sara Milton]

Originally Posted by KathieK

I recently slid down a flight of stairs at my house (and still have the bruises to show for it) - that's the extent of my skiing/snowboarding skills. Sounds like fun, though, maybe I'll come hang out at the bottom of the mountain or something!

That'd be cool if you came and hung out!!! Last year I spent more time getting up off the ground then I did actually snowboarding!

[K.Shaw]

Originally Posted by skimoose

Members of 228 will be there this year!

hope we see you guys this year haha.

Originally Posted by Kathiek

I recently slid down a flight of stairs at my house (and still have the bruises to show for it) - that's the extent of my skiing/snowboarding skills. Sounds like fun, though, maybe I'll come hang out at the bottom of the mountain or something!

ouch! hope you are ok! So far it is looking like a good turnout! We have about 5-6 people going from Team 237. i hope we have nice day like last yearand years past! ahh i can't wait!

[Scott Shaw 237]

It will definitly be some fun.

[FISHER 237]

It was alot of fun last year, the more people the better

[Scott Shaw 237]

FCSE is officially cancelled for tomorrow due to the pending rains. Mount Southington will be closed so we will have no where to go. We are going to try to reschedule to do it on january 13th. Happy New Year to all.

[skimoose]

Originally Posted by Scott Shaw 237

FCSE is officially cancelled for tomorrow due to the pending rains. Mount Southington will be closed so we will have no where to go. We are going to try to reschedule to do it on january 13th. Happy New Year to all.

Hey everyone, sorry today's weather isn't cooperating. Can I suggest instead of the 13th you reschedule for Sunday, January 28th. I know its deeper into build season, but on that day, Mt. Southington will be hosting the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge!

If you've never been to a MDVC event, you're missing an incredibly fun day. Tons of FREE Mountain Dew, fun races for snowboarding and skiing, free Mountain Dew, tons of prizes, and did I mention...
TONS of free Dew!!!!

Check out the MDVC here: http://www.snocountry.com/staticpage....php/MDVC-East

We'll definitely be at this Dew event. We never miss a local MDVC race. Plus, what a better way to expose hundreds of people to FIRST!

[K.Shaw]

sounds like a fun time... a few questions.. is Mount Southington open as regular, or is it only races and stuff? i know a few people onthe team wanted to take lessons, so if they aren't offered we may lose a few people. We also planned the 13th because we want to get as many people as possible before the college kids go back. and hey it's snowboarding haha we could always go 2 times haha.

[Kim Masi]

I didn't know you guys were doing this! I love skiing. let me know the plans for the 13th.

and Kev...there are lessons at Mount Southington. The website is http://www.mountsouthington.com/php/ and it's under "ski and board school"

[skimoose]

Originally Posted by K.Shaw

sounds like a fun time... a few questions.. is Mount Southington open as regular, or is it only races and stuff? i know a few people onthe team wanted to take lessons, so if they aren't offered we may lose a few people. We also planned the 13th because we want to get as many people as possible before the college kids go back. and hey it's snowboarding haha we could always go 2 times haha.

On any MDVC day the ski area is open as usual. So you can buy lift tickets, rentals, and lessons normally. If you'd like to try racing, you just need to purchase a normal lift ticket, then sign up at the Mountain Dew table before 10 or 11 AM. Racing is free. You might just want to sign up to race anyway, even if you don't actually try the course. Your bib number is also the number the Dew Crew uses for raffle prizes. These are FUN races, I've seen complete novices skid their way down the course, and if you'd like, costumes are encouraged. Prizes are usually very impressive; helmets, goggles, gloves, Mountain Dew Skis, Mountain Dew Snowboards, more Dew, Dew clothing, etc....

On a more serious note, The Dew Crew, holds a raffle at each event, with prizes like more skis and snowboards, with all the money earned going to Make-A-Wish to grant wishes to children with terminal illnesses. In more than 10 years of MDVC, Mountain Dew has raised over $100,000 for Make-A-Wish.

For Mt. Southington, they usually use hill 5 "the race hill", if they can get snow on it , and it's usually a 10 gate slalom course. The MDVC party is in the Mountain Room, the building to the right looking at the ski area. Racers make only one run. Fastest 3 times in each age category win the chance to go to Loon Mountain in New Hampshire in April for the season finale. That's an incredible 2 day party like you've never seen.

I understand that teammates headed back to college might miss the event, but I think that any FIRSTer who goes to a MDVC event will see the same energy and excitement that we find at a FIRST event. They might want to come home for the weekend, if their school's not too far away.

[K.Shaw]

Originally Posted by Kim Masi

I didn't know you guys were doing this! I love skiing. let me know the plans for the 13th.

and Kev...there are lessons at Mount Southington. The website is http://www.mountsouthington.com/php/ and it's under "ski and board school"

thanks kim. i knew there are lessons i just wasn't sure if there were lessons during the MDVC since it seems like a huge event.

and Art sounds like an awsome time! can't wait to check it out. i guess we will discuss at our meeting tomorrow when everyone is available and stuff. and i will post on here if we are doing 2 FCSE's or what. if we end up doing the official FCSE on the 13th im sure a bunch of people would go to the MDVC on the 28th anyway. The only problem i could possibly see with the 28th is we may start building on the weekends then, but who knows at this point.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by skimoose

. If you'd like to try racing, you just need to purchase a normal lift ticket, then sign up at the Mountain Dew table before 10 or 11 AM. Racing is free. You might just want to sign up to race anyway, even if you don't actually try the course. Your bib number is also the number the Dew Crew uses for raffle prizes. These are FUN races, I've seen complete novices skid their way down the course, and if you'd like, costumes are encouraged.

Sweet.. anyone got any cool ideas for a costume???

I can race down a hill and will be happy to dress up in some crazy costume.
Stopping isn't required to race is it??
I'm up for it.



edit:
Saturday, January 27th Ski Sundown, CT
Sunday, January 28th Mt Southington, CT

2 days in CT. Nice.

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Sweet.. anyone got any cool ideas for a costume???

I don't think my high school would be so keen on lending us the Bobcat mascot suit for a downhill ski race...