Although we in West Seattle were bathed in sun and warmth today, the winter snow is just around the corner. Mountain to Sound Outfitters, 3602 SW Alaska St., celebrated its expansion, from 1800 square feet to 3800 square feet, this weekend, and is now heavily promoting skis and other winter items. The new space used to belong to Westside Auto Repair. See the West Seattle Herald article about the expansion here.

They offered a free BBQ with veggies donated by West Seattle Produce Company.

Ski pro Molly Baker, based in Glacier, Washington at Mount Baker, was on hand to talk shop, sign autographs, and help shop owner Greg Whittaker promote Atomic skis and accessories.

"It's supposed to be a big winter, La Nina again, and lots of snow," enthused Whittaker, whose Alki Kayak Tours & Adventure Center by the Alki Water Taxi remains open through Halloween. "I met Molly while skiing at Crystal Mountain, at the Atomic Tour De Shred," Whittaker recalled. "It was a bluebird pow day."

That's ski lingo for "blue skies and fresh powder".

While Baker was helping Whittaker field questions from customers, and showing off the line of Atomic skis, she said, "I'm really here promoting a love for the snow, mountains, and the upcoming winter. I think what's great about the ski community and ski industry is most of the athletes are skiing because that's what they love to do, and what they would be doing regardless of whether it was their job or not.

"My father put me in ski school when I was 3," she said. "I didn't care for skiing as a child. I preferred soccer and played my whole life. Soccer trumped just about anything. I went to U.C. Berkeley and wanted a way to get back into the mountains because I'd grown up in the foothills. (She was born in Tuoleme, CA. near Yosemite.) I decided to join their ski team and skied on weekends in Tahoe while attending school. Then one thing led to another and I did big mountain free skiing competitions, and pursued sponsors."

Baker, who just returned from a ski tour of Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand's South Island, said that being 27 is the perfect age for big mountain skiing.

"I feel stronger than I ever felt in my life," she said. "To do big mountain skiing, you have to put in all these years of experience, brutalizing yourself and suffering, and kind of experience this period of masochism until you can get to the right strength to do big mountain skiing. No one really wants to make their 13 year-old get up at four in the morning, climb mountains and get frostbite. It's something you have to figure out on your own and it usually comes later in life. Your values are different at 27. You want to be in the mountains, and you know why because you've lived life a little bit."