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Florida Life - Lifestyle
Ski Slope Formulas
Jimmy Tate, 49
President, co-owner - Tate Capital - Miami
For generations, the Tate family has developed, built and managed more than 12,000 residences in the U.S., and developed, operated and managed about 2 million square feet of retail and office space, hotels/casinos, golf courses, buildings, motels and industrial parks throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. But when it comes to time off, Jimmy Tate likes to hit the slopes. “I started skiing when I was 9 and started snowboarding about 10 years ago,” says Tate, who usually plans three trips a year to indulge his passion. “Other than cliffs and avalanche chutes, there’s not much terrain I can’t ski well or board.”
Favorite spots: Snowmass in Colorado, the slopes of France and the Swiss Alps.
Rolling in the deep: “I was snowboarding in Snowmass through the trees with my daughter. She is an expert snow boarder. I followed her into the trees thinking it was just deep powder and easy terrain. Within seconds, she was gone and I was left in the dust. Then I fell, and the snow was so deep I couldn’t push myself up. Meanwhile, my daughter finally realized that I was not behind her, so she started screaming my name. She called the ski patrol, and they came to get me. I told them that it was stupid of me to go so deep into the woods in these conditions. They laughed. I didn’t understand the humor until they helped me up and pulled me about 15 yards, at which point I was back on the groomed slope. So much for being lost and in serious trouble. My daughter was laughing to the point of tears.”
Warren Zinn, 55
President, CEO - Warren Henry Auto Group - Miami Beach
Warren Henry Zinn has been skiing since 1978 — almost as long as he’s been in the automotive industry, building his nine franchises (Lamborghini, Jaguar, Land Rover, Infiniti, Volvo, Subaru and Fisker) from Miami-Dade to Ocala. “I’d rate myself a notch below expert,” says Zinn, who takes ski trips about twice a year.
Favorite spot: Vail, Colo.
On the to-ski list: Kitzbühel, Austria. “I’d also like to ski any of the international destinations that have hosted the winter Olympics, like Turin, Italy, and Vancouver, Canada.”
Pole position: “I skied in the American Ski Classic, a pro-am ski event, in Vail for several years. One year I fell and took a ski pole to my mouth and nose, which was a bit embarrassing. The following year, however, I won five out of five races and came out on top.”
Susan Snodgrass, 61
M.D., associate professor of radiology - University of Florida - Jacksonville
Susan Snodgrass is a self-described “late-start” skier, taking up the sport at 37 because she wanted her then 4-year-old son to learn how to ski and develop a passion for the sport. “He ended up loving snowboarding instead,” she says.
Favorite spot: She and her family head to Snowmass in Colorado once or twice a year.
On the to-ski list: Gstaad, Switzerland. “My husband has skied there numerous times and talks of how wonderful it is.”
Fiasco: “Many years ago, while going down a partially groomed run, I got very frightened, as I seemed to be picking up too much speed. I spotted a huge clump of snow down and to the right, and, thinking it would slow me down, turned and skied right into it. Sadly, it wasn’t packed snow, but a loose clump. I picked up more speed, lost my balance, spun around numerous times on my back and side, and went full force with my hip directly into a huge tree stump. It was the worst experience for obvious reasons, but also because it was the first day of our vacation.”
