SKIING -- "Wasted" is the most common term I'm hearing from downhill skiers as they wind down their holiday weekend begining to the 2010-2011 ski season.

The powder was knee deep and light as instant mashed potatoes before adding water at most resort in the region. Skiers who practiced pre-season fitness training reaped the results as the season launched from the starting blocks.  Everybody else is aching, but it hurts good.

If this is the pattern for the rest of the season, maybe there's a bright side to unemployment.

See a video of Bill Jennings, ski columnist, getting Thanks giving day first tracks on a slope before the chairlifts opened. The best snow was still to come.