March 2022 Big Bear Today Magazine

Page 2—March 2022
From the Publisher
Lindsey’s redemption,
Shaun’s retirement,
Byron’s passing
Thoughts and flashes between the
dots and dashes...
There weren’t a lot of highlights
for the United States at last month’s
Winter Olympics in Beijing. But performances
by a couple of athletes with Big
Bear connections were sure worth cheering
about...
Redemption finally came for Lindsey
Jacobellis in Beijing when she won not just
the first gold medal of her career in
snowboard cross but a second one as well,
teaming with Nick Baumgartner in the debut
of the mixed version of the event. Putting
to rest at last controversy that had
dogged her since the 2006 Games in Turin,
her first Olympics, when she was just 20.
Jacobellis was on her way to gold in
snowboardcross on the next-to-last big
jump when she hammed it up with a
method grab that instead sent her sprawling.
She still managed to nab silver after
getting back up—that’s how far ahead she
had been—but for some her career was
defined by that single mistake.
She came to Big Bear promoting
Supergirl Snow Pro a few years running
till the virus came along and I did a phone
interview with her right after the
PyeongChang Games in 2018. Jacobellis
didn’t medal that year either, coming in
fourth, just .03 seconds from bronze. Ironically,
till she took two golds last month in
her fifth Olympics, her only previous
medal was the silver that should have been
gold, as people continually reminded her.
“That’s all the media talked about at
the Olympics,” she said in the interview,
adding that she was “definitely” tired of
answering questions about Torino. “It happened
12 years ago. I just finished fourth
in the world (at PyeongChang) and no one
talks about that.”
Lindsey has 10 Winter X Games titles
to her credit, six world championships, and
perhaps most impressive, an astounding
31 World Cup victories. Not all in
snowboardcross either; when she was 18
she posted a halfpipe victory over 2002
Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark and
was bronze medalist at the 2003 X Games
in slopestyle.
None of which mattered to the media
till her Olympic breakthrough. She told me
in our interview she wanted to compete in
the Games again even though she was 32
at the time, an age many athletes have
given up competing at that level. She actually
coached teammate Meghan Tierney
at a Mt. Hood camp when she was 11!
Jacobellis is the most decorated
women’s snowboarder of all time and now
that she’s added Olympic gold to her resume,
her career is complete. Nice to see
redemption come her way.
• •
Shaun White practically grew up in
Big Bear, though his official residence was
San Diego. But he spent lots of time on
the slopes of Snow Summit and Bear
Mountain; indeed the latter had one of his
early season passes framed on the lodge
walls for years.
Beijing was White’s fifth and final
Olympics. While he didn’t podium, finishing
fourth in halfpipe, he already had his
share of gold, winning in 2006, 2010 and
2018 Games. Plus an incredible 18 medals
in X Games events in both summer and
winter (13 gold, three silver, two bronze).
Plus 10 ESPYS, just for good measure.
White is retiring from competition but
still has plenty on his plate. He’s active in
the business world, as an investor in a company
called Masters, a four-week training
regimen that lets people “train” with the
world’s top athletes including Olympians,
NBA stars, Wimbledon champs and pro
surfers. Visit mastersapp.com for details.
Those who want to train like an Olympic
snowboarder can virtually workout
with Shaun, picking up tips on his mental
health regimen, diet, even meditation rituals.
More than just a workout app, Masters
allows users to exercise together in real
time, even interact with celebrity athletes.
• •
Big Bear Oktoberfest just won’t be the
same without his distinctive handlebar
mustache and the long, loud alphorn he
played so well.
Byron Koenig passed away last month
in Palm Desert, where he and wife Carole
settled after moving from Big Bear several
years ago. The pair had the dubious
distinction of having not one but two
homes in Mississippi destroyed by hurricanes
before returning to California.
Byron and Carole continued to come
to Oktoberfest many fall weekends, serving
as host and hostess. His feet-long
alphorn was a fixture ringing in the event
each year. “Takes a lot of hot air to blow
it,” he would say, his mustache quivering
with a smile.
A fixture in Rotary, Byron left his
mark on Oktoberfest as well as Big Bear
and will be sorely missed.
Have a good one.
Marcus
ON THE COVER: Red Bull Plaza, just one of 20 different freestyle Parks for skiers and
snowboarders at the Big Bear resorts. —Photo courtesy Big Bear Mountain Resort
Volume 33, Number 9 March 2022
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Publisher
Marcus G. Dietz
Associate Publisher
Sandra L. Dietz
Publishing Consultant
Bret Colson
Technical Consultant
Charles Dietz
Photography/Distribution
Steve Dietz
John Daskam
Mark Gauger
In This Issue...
Big Bear Today
Big Bear Resorts Have Your Place to Park
With nearly 300 features between Bear Mountain and Snow
Summit, spread out in 20 separate zones, the Big Bear resorts
have your place to Park. Ride a Rail, Hit a Hip, Jam a Jump in
all shapes and sizes, for all ability levels. Especially cool is
Bear’s Red Bull Plaza (front cover), recently revamped and
with two parties this month on the snow to show it off.
Still Waiting for Pip, Peep from Eagle Eggs
Bald eagle aficionados are waiting for a pip or peep out of
eggs laid in late January as Big Bear Today went to press.
Enjoy a nest-eye view of the egg-citing show by watching the
live feed online, hopefully with better results than the past few
years when sadly none of the eggs or eaglets survived. We
have the scoop right here...
Resort Shorts—Happenings at Summit, Bear
March is always the busiest month of winter at the resorts and
2022 is no exception. If you carry a Chase Sapphire credit
card there’s a party and perks just for you, and everyone can
get in on the fun at the annual USARC Ski-A-Thon. Last
Uniform Days too plus assorted ways to save a buck.
Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Party at Wyatt’s
Wear your green and get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a
little early with Irish food and drink—yes there’s green beer.
Live music by festival favorites Kris Colt and the Black Rose
Band, Lucky Charms eating contest and more!
Hike, Bike, Skate, Stroll on Pedal Path
Just about any list of Big Bear must-dos has to include Alpine
Pedal Path on the north shore. The level, paved path hugs the
shoreline for 3.2 miles, winding through and past cool spots
like the Carol Morrison boat launch, picnic areas, Serrano
campground, even the Solar Observatory. Lake views too!
Give the forest a helping hand as
Greenthumbs days return; see page 3
DEPARTMENTS
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From the Publisher
Potpourri
Area Map/
Calendar of Events
The Almanac
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listings for recreation,
dining, and more.
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