Nisei Ski Club

by Armand Gutierrez, President  

Presently I’m on my annual FWSA International Travel ski week in Tignes and Val d’Isère, and will be here from 28 Feb – 8 Mar. And after that I’ll be in Marseille and Nice France for the extension week. There are six other NSC members heading to France for a week of skiing in the French Alps. I first skied Tignes in 1980 (yeah, that’s a real long time ago) and it has really grown with more lifts, more terrain and, of course, more lodging and people. A skiing day in Val d’Isère is also in the plans

Membership Report

There have been no new members and our total remains at 86.

2025 NSC Sun Peaks Ski Week

The Sun Peaks team has returned and everyone had a great time, despite the very, very cold temps (-5° to 10° F). And yes, that is the coldest I have ever skied. The cold temps kept the snow in great condition and the sunny skies made us feel a little warmer.

2026 NSC Ski Week

Park City for 2026 was announced at the Sun Peaks Farewell Dinner. Date is still TBA and I’ve got true ski-in/ski-out condos lined up (tentatively). Park City is on the Epic Pass and you might want to consider getting an Epic Pass for this trip. This season’s lift ticket prices are not exactly user-friendly and group rates might not be available. So, stay tuned for further developments in the coming months.

Board Nominations

Now that it’s March it’s time to think about Board Nominations for the 2025-26 season. If anyone has an interest in joining the board for the next season and has questions about what it entails then just drop a note to any of the current board members, or perhaps you have someone in mind to nominate for the board or can nominate yourself. Please keep in mind that the Nisei Ski Club relies on volunteers to be on the board and undertake the running of the club. It’s not all work and no play and Board meetings have been online using Zoom. It is a convenience to attend a Zoom board meeting from the comfort of home, but I do miss the face-to-face interaction and the lunches afterward.

Questions: contact president@niseiskiclub.org

QotM: A library is a hospital for the mind. – Anonymous

by Patti and Art Moore, New NSC Members

Art and Patti live in Wenatchee, Washington and joined the Nisei Ski Club at the invitation of the President, Armand Gutierrez. We were excited by the opportunity to come to Sun Peaks in February for the wonderful eastern British Columbia snow.

Despite the VERY cold Canadian temperatures Patti was able to accumulate 5 ski days at Sun Peaks. During that time, Patti skied on every chair at the resort. Her favorite run was either Sundance or Crystal. She had a fantastic time and, at the end of the trip Patti had a total of 28 ski days under her belt.

Meanwhile, Art was busy trying to heal from injuries suffered in early January while skiing at our home ski area of Mission Ridge, Washington. I spent most of the trip with a heating pad or an ice pack on my back.

The Crystal Forest Condos were wonderful and our roommates David Tom and Bill Lee were fun and very sociable. Another new friend who we also greatly enjoyed meeting and interacting with was Carolyn Wong. We really enjoyed all their company and all of the other Nisei Ski Club members who we met and spent time with.

The Sun Peaks village was within easy walking distance and offered many distractions and wonderful places to eat, drink and shop, of which we took advantage as much as possible.

Part way through the trip we heard that another Nisei Ski Club member, Wendy Sam, had suffered an injury in a fall and needed to be taken to higher level Emergency Care than was available at the ski area. Since we were there with our car it just made sense not to wait for an ambulance to come out for Wendy and so Art loaded Wendy and Sheldon up and drove them into Kamloops for treatment.

The trip was very well organized with just the right mix of organized social activities and free time to explore on our own. All in all, we made many new friends and had a wonderful time with the Nisei Ski Club at Sun Peaks!

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Check out Bill Lee ‘s photos and videos from the recent NSC Trip to Sun Peaks. B.C.

Thank You Bill for creating great memories for us.

PHOTOS:

(2-01-25 Sat. to 2-08-25 Sat.) Photos of NSC’s trip to Sun Peaks, B.C.

VIDEOS:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/e8TJ1WKEun2bkFTGA

ENJOY!!

by Karen Soo, Trip Director

While 22 NSC members endured freezing weather at their weeklong trip to Sun Peaks, BC, another 6 NSC members planned a week trip to Vail, Colorado, February 1st to 8th.

We didn’t get any of the fresh stuff but we had nice weather and the snow held up for the week.

Our lodging was located at the Lionshead Village. The walk to the Gondola took about 10 minutes. So no local Vail shuttle bus were needed.

A lot of home cooked dinners were planned for the week. Thanks to Amy and David, BBQ Grill master Jim Sanchez and Janice Malena.

Overall, we had a fun time skiing and eating with good company. No accident to report.

See you all next year at Park City with NSC in 2026!

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Welcome to Nisei Ski Club Social Calendar for 2025

April 6, Sunday – Bowling Event – Jeff Honda

4^th Street Bowl

10am – 12pm

Lunch at 4^th Street Bowl after Bowling

May 10, Saturday – Hiking Event – Joel Hayashida

Location and time to be announced

 May 17 or 31, Saturday – Hydro-biking – Angela Ren

          Monterey Bay – Elkhorn Slough

June 14, Saturday – Bike Ride – Roland Lee

          Tiburon Loop

          Time to be announced

June 28, Saturday Mahjong – Judy Hom / 3 hours                                  

July 26, Saturday Mahjong

August 30, Saturday Mahjong                                           

To Be Announced

July 13, Sunday – SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers – Tina Woo

15 tickets reserved tickets so far

August 9 or 10, 16 or 17 – Karen Soo

Annual Membership/Luau Picnic

Date to be announced

 September 6, Saturday – Pickleball/ Potluck – Tina Woo

                    9:30am – 3:00pm

September 20, Saturday– Bike Ride – Curtis Otaguro

                    Location and time to be announced

October 23 – November 3, 2025 France 12-day Trip – Jeanne Katsuro

          23 signups

          15 openings

 January 17, 2026, Saturday Martin Luther King Weekend

          Potluck and Games

          Miraido Village Party Room

          550 N 6^th Street

          San Jose, Ca 95112

by Jeff Honda, Board Member

Join Nisei Ski Club and try out your bowling skills on Sunday, April 6th. Lunch to follow at Fourth Streel Bowl. Check out their extensive breakfast / lunch menu. https://4thstreetbowl.com/coffeeshop/

by Tina Woo, , Board Member

BEAT LA!   BEAT LA!   BEAT LA!

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks,

I don’t care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for GIANTS (OR DODGERS),

If they don’t win, it’s a shame.

For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,  at the old ball game.

Come see the 2024 World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the San Francisco Giants. See the players: DH Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Will Smith, Max Muncy, to name a few, including Most Valuable Series player, Freddie Freeman. They beat the New Work Yankees 4 to 1 in an exciting final win!!

Would you be interested in joining fellow Nisei Ski Club members in the classic battle between the SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers.  If so, please complete this survey.  How many tickets can we order for you:  Sunday, July 13, 2025  at SF Oracle Park.  Game time:  12:45 pm.

Name & Contact Info_________________________________

____ # of tickets you need? 

Please email Tina Woo for if you are interested at baseball@niseiskiclub.org

She would like to start the process of ordering tickets for the game.  View Reserved Section 313 beginning with Row 12.  Go Giants!  Go Dodgers! 

Sign up now!

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

Sign Up Soon! We have 20 people who are interested in signing up for the France Trip. October 23 – November 3, 2025 Reservation is for 38 people.

Signup with this hyperlink for the France trip here deposit $698

https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1286433

Here are the answers to most of your popular questions for the France Magnifique Vacation.

1. The deposit of $698 is completely refundable up to April 24
2. The insurance refundable of $549 is completely refundable up to April 24
3. April 25 or after if you purchased insurance, the amount you paid minus the insurance.
4. Collette insurance you can cancel for any reason – no medical excuse necessary.
5. Sign up for the France now & sign up for the Pre and Post Trips Later
6. You can sign up for the dinner at the Paris Latin for a champagne flowing can-can kicking music driven cabaret later. Value: $225
   This is the event I am hoping that Nisei Ski Club can pay for from our commission it will depend how many people sign up.
7. Bonus Information! Collette is giving us more money back!

Participants who had travelled with Collette Travel will get Loyalty Points!

5% of your land portion of your trip and insurance
For Eastern Canada Travellers, this amount is approximately: $140 to $190 each person’s Loyalty Dollars vary.

More than just travel insurance. It is Medical Insurance as well

Collette Travel Insurance Plan Covers the following

1. Cost of the trip including the deposit
2. Cancel for Any Reason ~ No Medical Reason Needed Emergency Medical Expenses Covered in France
3. Medical Needs including Hospitalization up to $50,000 Note: Your own medical insurance policy may not cover medical expenses in another country
4. Travel Delay Coverage Example: If your travel partner needs to stay in a Hospital for a medical emergency, your expenses to stay in France with your partner will be covered up to $150/day up to $2100
5. Emergency Dental Expenses ~ $75
6. With the Collette Travel & Medical Insurance there is No Deductible.

We are currently working on a pre-trip to London for 3 days and a post trip in Paris for 3 additional days.  More information to come.

by Jeanne Katsuro, Vice President

A magical island topped by a gravity-defying abbey, the Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay count among France’s most stunning sights. For centuries one of Europe’s major pilgrimage destinations, this holy island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is its breathtaking bay.

Sign Up! France Manifique Trip October 23 – November 03, 2025

Reservation is for 38. It will be fun for Nisei to fill the whole bus!

Signup with this hyperlink for the France trip here deposit $698 which is fully refundable by April 2025

https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1286433

First Come First Serve! If you want to add 3 more nights to the end of the Paris Manifique Trip, I have reserved only 6 rooms currently.

Those of you who want to go to France with Nisei Ski Club!

    I have arranged a 3 night Post Trip in Paris to stay at

        Hyatt Regency Etoile where we will be ending our France Manifique Trip.

            Price is $1140 per person which is $380 per night.

            The price includes breakfast and tax and fees.

                Tax is 8.45%

                Plus there is a 20% VAT or Value Added Tax on both the breakfast and the room.     

            Here is an approximate break out of the taxes and fees

                $275 Room

                $  20 Breakfast

                $295 Total

                $   59 VAT 20% Value Added Tax

                $   24.92     8.45% City Tax

                $378.92 Total

            If you want to try to compare the prices.

I have concluded that it is a very good price given the Hyatt Regency Etoile Location and the other extras we get.

If you take this Post Tour with Collette, it will be covered in the $549 Collette Travel Insurance.  It will not cost more money for the insurance.

Travel Insurance must be purchased at the time of the initial deposit.

For those travelers who are coming from San Jose, it will also include the travel to and from the SF Airport on the later date.

I have Reserved only 6 rooms for the group at this price.

First Come First Serve!

In order to reserve this Post Tour you have to sign up for the basic France Manifique Tour and then we can add it on.

If there are more rooms needed, as time goes by the prices go up.

Currently, the price for this Post Tour is reserved.

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Here’s an easy recipe that you can make as a side dish. Make it on a Sunday and you can eat it for lunch for the rest of the week. You can add slivers of cucumbers and carrots for a nice additional crunch.

Enjoy!

Bon Appetite – Julia Child and Karen Soo share the same birthday.

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4-5

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
•  1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon prepared chili sauce with garlic (Lee Kum Kee brand is recommended)
• 1 – 16 oz. package Chinese noodles or vermicelli
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into matchstick sized strips

Directions

1. Cook noodles in large pot of boiling water until tender but still firm (al dente). Drain.
2. Rinse under cold water to cool; drain well.
3. Transfer to bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon sesame oil.
4. Add green onions, bell peppers, and toss.
5. Add enough dressing to coat. Serve at room temperature.
6. The salad can be refrigerated.

Dressing:

Combine soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, vinegar, vegetable oil, sugar, and chili sauce in food processor or blender. Blend until well combined.