Let me introduce myself: My name is Steven Erlanger. It would be my pleasure to teach or coach you to ski so that you, like me, can enjoy the mountains, the freedom, the challenge and delight that skiing brings you.

I learned to ski at the young age of ten, when my family relocated from Los Angeles to the mountain community of Lake Arrowhead, in the San Bernadino Mountains of California. It was the pine trees, the lake, and in the winter, the snow that I have grown to enjoy. The year was 1960 when I first began my life of skiing. It was a child's world of sledding down hills, snow ball fights, cold red noses, wearing the bulky gloves and jackets, snow flakes of all sizes, and hot chocolate. I began with only a pair of wooden Northland skis, cable bindings, black leather lace boots with rope toe gloves and the children's ski school. A typical Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post winter scene, and it was my dream.

High School in Lake Arrowhead was where I joined the ski-race team. I continued my education at, what was then known as the California State College in San Bernardino. It was at this time that I became an apprentice ski instructor at Snow Valley, a small, local ski area not far from our home in the mountains. In 1974, I passed my Level II certification and graduated college in 1974.

After graduating with a B.A Degree in Political Science and International Relations, I decided to move to Mammoth Mountain in 1977 to improve my own skiing and teaching skills. My Level III certification was achieved in 1978, and in the mid-80s I received my Level I in coaching. I am currently instructing full time at Canyon Lodge.

Today, I am living my dream and trying to pass my love for skiing to all the students I coach; this includes not only the fundamentals of the sport, but a love of the very unique aspect of this wonderful winter wonderland. I believe a good skier needs reasonable mastery of every possible skiing method if he or she hopes to cope with expected but unpredictable changes that arise continuously met while skiing any slope.

I am motivated and very enthusiastic with the classes that I teach. I smile every day on the hill and am well known among the guests for my famous "Hi, How are you?" Some of my clientele are already third generation. If you were planning a ski trip to Mammoth this winter, I would greatly enjoy skiing with you and assisting you in having a great vacation in the High Sierras. Arrangements can be made by call the ski school at (760) 934-2571, ext. #3287.

Oh yeah, before I go let me pitch my other business:

• Shipping
• Warehousing
• Distribution Services

I hope you enjoyed learning about me, and I hope to see you this winter.