(Click on the images for a closer look)
The shop is pretty much fully operational - I went ahead and put the grinder in place, wired in the power, plumbed in the air, built additional racks, cleaned some stuff up, and started grinding skis (thanks to Chris and Jesse for helping with various parts of the project). I’ve got a big batch in process and will be moving skis through in a hurry for the next couple of weeks. The first skis will ship out Saturday or Monday.

Now that everything is operational I’ll be leaving town on November 14th. I’ll make a ski-picking stop in New England, and then will fly to Norway for the World Cup distance opener in Beitostolen. I’ll stay for the following weekend in Kuusamo as well, and then will return on December 3rd.

The travel is part of a contract agreement with the US Ski Team. I’ll be working on a testing and development project for the Callaghan Valley Olympic Venue between now and the 2010 Olympics. As part of this program I’ll be making some trips to work with the USST service staff at World Cup events. It’s important to be integrated with the service staff and their operating procedures in order to make my work compatible.

This contract travel means that the shop will be closed for the second half of November. I’ll be back in the shop on December 4th or 5th, and will be working again immediately.