When we made those first turns at Sunday River last weekend, the snow was surprisingly good and, even though we left the new skis at home, cover was sufficient to have used them.

I didn’t hit any rocks or have to dodge any bare spots as I followed my wife down the slopes at South Ridge. We never left that beginner terrain since we were there to pick which skis she preferred to replace her old ones.

Her old skis still work fine, but at 177 cms, they are now longer than mine, which makes no sense. My 175s are giant slalom models, which, thanks to technology, have all the stability of the 209s I was on a decade ago. Unlike those old skis, the new ones are so easy to ski that working one’s way through a lot of skiers is no problem.

The only problem came from skiers who don’t understand the demo concept.

The demo vans are always at Sunday River on Thanksgiving weekend. While I have already skied most of the new models, I use the opportunity to check in, and in this case, find skis for my wife. We had already selected a brand and narrowed the models down to two in discussions with a rep at the ski show. We had no intention of going skiing on the upper mountain. This time was devoted strictly to choosing a ski to purchase.

As always, while a several models were available, there was only one in each size. We started with a 168 and it performed fine, but we wanted to check the next size down (161), but it was out. We made another run and it was still out so we opted for the other model we were considering in a 161. This ski didn’t have the solid feel of the first, but we wanted to ski that in a shorter length. After a trip inside the lodge it was still out so we waited. The ski finally came in after being out close to three hours.

Ski reps ask for the skies to be returned in half an hour. That’s time enough to make three runs at South Ridge or swing over to Spruce Peak for a longer run. This young lady had simply gone skiing on demos others were waiting to try. My wife took a run on the 161 and wasn’t sure, so she took another run on the 168 she had skied first. That turned out to be the ski, and soon she will be skiing on a pair.

I mention this experience because next weekend the demos will be at Sugarloaf, and skiers need to keep in mind that it’s not fair to those who are seriously looking for the right ski, to grab a pair and go skiing. Do yourself a favor. Check with your ski shop as we did to narrow down the possibilities. By doing this, you can quickly identify the right ski for you. Then if you want to go skiing, do it on your own skis.

This time of year, it’s also important where you ski. A friend mentioned the lack of cover and said he might just use demos. I know he will treat those demos with care, but it’s still an important point. The next person to use those skis will expect top performance and if they have been trashed on rocks he won’t get it. Skiers should also remember that the forms they signed make them responsible for the skis. Stick to the runs with good cover and treat the demos as if you owned them.

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Message to Bode … Shut up and ski!’ This was my message before Sun Journal columnist Kalle Oakes so eloquently addresses the topic, but I want to add my perspective.

By now everyone knows that Bode Miller’s season is not off to a great start. And we also know that since winning the overall World Cup, Miller has had a lot to say. This is nothing new. The CVA grad has always been outspoken, and most of it has been harmless, the kind of things that simply endeared him to the press.

Then he spoke out on drugs. Bad move.

I have read several versions of his remarks and I have no doubt some were taken out of context. I suspect that he also said some things in ways that needed more explanation. As I understand his ideas, he simply wants athletes who need certain drugs for conditions such as asthma to be able to use them. As it is now, there are prescription and over the counter drugs that are banned. I don’t pretend to know all the details. What I do know is that for Bode, this is a no-win situation.

FIS is not going to change policy, because one skier, no matter how good, says it should be changed. And according to reports, they are now performing more random tests on Miller. There is no evidence or even suggestions that he has used drugs, but people ask why he is speaking out. Coaches and U.S. Ski Team officials cringe, and sponsors wince when they hear athletes speak about OK’ing drug use.

No matter how it is meant, the press and readers will make up their own minds.

A year ago, Bode won the first six races. This year he has a 2nd, 22nd and 18th in three races and is 6th overall. After last year’s performance, the spotlight is on him, and the Olympics make the light even brighter. The drug dialogue and the attention it receives are distractions he doesn’t need.

I do agree with him on the start order issue, but his coaches are fighting that one. I know it’s not his style, but it would seem to be in his own best interest to “shut up and ski.”