Snowboarding/Skiing Catch-all

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Loveland, the resort I usually get my pass at, opened on Tuesday. We got a decent bit of snow here at the house too, so it's time to transition from two wheels to one board. I think I might get a new board this season, but I need to see if the budget allows. This is going to be the first season that I get the whole family out so it's going to be a lot more expensive. Anyone else got snow stoke going yet?

[size=3]I just know the skiiing roadies are going to take over this thread like my Biking Catch-all. Buncha telemarkers.[/size]

Assuming it means what I think, I have snow stoke year round. Unfortunately, yesterday was the first day the mountains got snow at all, this morning is the first valley snow, and it's mostly rain, so I've still got some waiting. But, got my Alta passes already, and getting Solitude this weekend. Now I just need snow that isn't rain.

I've got your back:) Snowboarder here.

I'm trying to plan a trip with 2 of my old classmates, we are probably going to hit Utah this year. It's predicted to be a good year for CO/WY/UT, hoping for good base. We did our last trip in 2011, closed the season at Whitefish Mountain for a 4 day powder fest. Was epic:)

I'm thinking about putting my older son on skis at the end of the season, as well. He'll be almost 3, and i think we'd do some spring play days.

Snow's just started to fall at my local resort. Didn't get out much last season, although Washington was actually pretty good for snow compared to the rest of the country. I could do with a new board this year, but also not sure my budget will stretch. I should probably check that my snowpants still fit...

I'm actually more excited to get some snowshoeing in this winter, and learn to cross-country ski. Thinking about signing up for a snowshoe race in the first quarter of next year as an early goal to kickstart my cardio training.

I've been thinking about grabbing some snowshoes myself, at least when I see them pop up on SteepandCheap. Not for racing, but just for recreational snow hiking. Maybe I should change the thread to "snow sports".

I'm getting excited for snowboarding season again. I bought a new board last year, looking forward to beating it up some. I'm hoping to spend some time in the parks learning to jump this year.

Wifey is still fairly new, just getting comfy riding blue runs. Riding with her is a good chance to spend time riding switch. I'm good with it if I take my time, but get uncomfortable as the speeds increase.

Oh yeah, and my friends have been talking about doing a long weekend trip up to Whistler for years. I might actually don the Hat Of Organization +5 and bully them all into it.

fleabagmatt wrote:

I'm getting excited for snowboarding season again. I bought a new board last year, looking forward to beating it up some. I'm hoping to spend some time in the parks learning to jump this year.

Wifey is still fairly new, just getting comfy riding blue runs. Riding with her is a good chance to spend time riding switch. I'm good with it if I take my time, but get uncomfortable as the speeds increase.

Two recommended things: Wrist guards, and a helmet.

I had a goal a few years ago to hit every jump/feature in the park at Whitefish, and those saved me from wrist fractures/concussions so many times.

To be fair, you put it in the title.

Count yourself lucky. We're a good Month and a half out from skiing startup.

They'll usually have enough blown to open one run in mid December.
Sometimes the weather plays nice.

Good news!

The wife started to learn to snowboard ooh, 3 or 4 years ago, and loved it. Which is obviously an enormous bonus - she was nagging me to get out more that year.

Then there was two sequential calf surgeries and a knee surgery, followed up with a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which basically means that she has weak joints that are more susceptible to dislocations.

She's just gotten the all-clear for winter sports from her doctor, with the caveat that yes, she will be at increased risk for injury, so she should mitigate that by not being cavalier and wearing knee/ankle supports.

I'm still a little nervous about it, but I'm also excited to have a buddy to go up with again.

Well better that she's into snowboarding rather than skiing in that case. Enjoy! I'm hoping my wife takes to it as well.

We haven't been able to get out lately, our last trip was to Big Sky two years ago. The group we usually go with is doing Whistler this year but I think we're going to have to sit out again.

Someday finances may recover. I hope.

Didn't even get out last year since we had a 6 mo. old and the year before only once in January when we did a trip and found out we were pregnant the day we left for the weekend trip. Wife didn't do too well on the slopes either...

Yep, it's my 25th season

LiquidMantis wrote:

[size=6]I just know the skiiing roadies are going to take over this thread like my Biking Catch-all. Buncha telemarkers.[/size]

[size=6]Telemarking. If it was easy, it would be called snow boarding.[/size]

My skiing season is completely in the air. My skis are all packed up with the rest of our household goods from our move from europe, and that's all sitting in storage until the wife and I know where the heck we're going. Currently hiding out at my folks place in Montana until she lands a job.

I'm starting to feel the bug again though, we've had some snow in the valleys here. Currently focused on hunting season, but I may sneak off to Spokane this weekend for the ski swap and see if I can't find some new used planks.

Also, excited to get my 3 y/o niece out skiing for the first time this year. Helped out my neighbor two winters ago introducing one of his girls and it was a blast. My boy just passed the one year mark, so I anticipate some backpack time on the slopes next year.

Don't know that I'll be able to afford much downhill this winter but I'm definitely looking forward to some cross country skiing. My goal is to get in good enough shape to do some skate skiing without killing myself.

Jonman wrote:

Oh yeah, and my friends have been talking about doing a long weekend trip up to Whistler for years. I might actually don the Hat Of Organization +5 and bully them all into it.

I work at a hotel in Whistler that has 2 bedroom suites, some with additional bunk beds, so they sleep 6-8 people pretty comfortably. If you (or whoever is reading this) do wind up coming to Whistler and this is something that you'd be interested in, shoot me a PM and I'll look into a rate for you. If you're looking for something else, there's a sale on around much of the village that expires on Nov 15.

They're saying that the mountain will be opening up in about a month, but we've had snow falling in the village for a week or two (and longer on the slopes) so hopefully things get going sooner than that.

peedmyself wrote:
Jonman wrote:

Oh yeah, and my friends have been talking about doing a long weekend trip up to Whistler for years. I might actually don the Hat Of Organization +5 and bully them all into it.

I work at a hotel in Whistler that has 2 bedroom suites, some with additional bunk beds, so they sleep 6-8 people pretty comfortably. If you (or whoever is reading this) do wind up coming to Whistler and this is something that you'd be interested in, shoot me a PM and I'll look into a rate for you. If you're looking for something else, there's a sale on around much of the village that expires on Nov 15.

They're saying that the mountain will be opening up in about a month, but we've had snow falling in the village for a week or two (and longer on the slopes) so hopefully things get going sooner than that.

That's cool. My brother works on the mountain as a ski patroller in the winter, and in the bike park, also as a patroller, over the summer.

90 million years ago I ran Jupiter Lift at Park City for a season. We got at least 20" the night before my day off for a month straight. That was fun. Now I live in Minnesota.

Just returned from a day up at Ragged Mountain in NH, and stumbled across this. I wish I lived where there was powder like this -- and I think I may need to learn to telemark ski!

Free your heel, free your mind.

Or you could get some AT bindings for your backcountry ventures. The guys I would ski with in Germany were all about the Fritschi Freeride. The AT technology the past 10-15 years or so has really opened up the backcountry to a lot of resort skiers.

Ack! Powder roadies!

As a guy from the east, I'll take a stiff slalom ski over telemark technique. I never actually need to go up under my own power; and we only get to ski at all by the grace of snowmaking technology

I'm not allowed to ski until the end of February, said the orthopedic surgeon. I expect to be able to stay away for about two more weeks.

Ghostship wrote:

As a guy from the east, I'll take a stiff slalom ski over telemark technique. I never actually need to go up under my own power.

I'm not allowed to ski until the end of February, said the orthopedic surgeon. I expect to be able to stay away for about two more weeks.

I'm from the east, too, Ghosty - Yankee, born and raised. I clicked into my first parabolic skis this year, having finally conceded that my 1986 Atomic 3D straights needed to be hung up for good. If we had powder like those guys were in, however, I'd be all over the telemarking.

LiquidMantis wrote:

Ack! Powder roadies!

It's OK, Liquid. I'm sure you can find a gangsta' pre-teen to do whatever it is you boarders do with. Grind, or something.

(I keed! I keed!)

TheHipGamer wrote:

I clicked into my first parabolic skis this year, having finally conceded that my 1986 Atomic 3D straights needed to be hung up for good. If we had powder like those guys were in, however, I'd be all over the telemarking. :)

I joke.

Awesome!

Remember to update your technique. That will really allow you take advantage. Parabolic is now a given. Rocker is the next innovation. I haven't skied and rockered skis yet.

Find an instructor and ask him about "long leg, short leg". Soon you'll be drawing two pencil lines the entire run, and having a blast. Hardpack? Here we call it Ontario Powder.

Ghostship wrote:

Awesome!

Remember to update your technique. That will really allow you take advantage. Parabolic is now a given. Rocker is the next innovation. I haven't skied and rockered skis yet.

Find an instructor and ask him about "long leg, short leg". Soon you'll be drawing two pencil lines the entire run, and having a blast. Hardpack? Here we call it Ontario Powder.

Aside from it being a bit easier to carve with, my background (having learned in the 80s/90s) and style haven't changed much yet - I tend to keep my feet relatively close together, and by and large carve nicely down the slope.

I've not heard much about rockered skis yet. What do they bring to the table, especially for east coasters? My understanding is that they're really good for powder, but we don't tend to see much of the good stuff out this way.

Modern rocker shape isn't full rocker. Unless you're on a powder ski.
It's more like changing where the camber starts and stops, I think.

I think the idea is better versatility, and easier control in many conditions.

We have pretty consistent conditions where I ski and a small hill on mostly man made groomed snow. There are very few days a year that cambered slalom ski isn't ideal.

As I said, I've never used them, so I'll reserve judgement until I try them.

RE technique:
Get those feet apart. No more unweighting. Movement is (almost) all lateral now.
Nobody in Western society ever wants to admit they need lessons. It doesn't make you less of a skier. It does quite the opposite. Your ski buddies will be impressed with the control and confidence you carving out turns on "ice" while they're doing the "bambi on ice".

I've been teaching for 15 years, and I need more lessons. We train twice a week with CSIA 4's. Well, I do when I'm allowed to ski.

If you spend $800-$1200 on ski equipment, you want to be sure you're getting the most fun out those things.

I'm going crazy. This is the fourth year, total, in the last in the last 33 years that I haven't skied. There were a few years before that where I was pre-occupied with other things. I was learning a new language and culture.

TheHipGamer wrote:
LiquidMantis wrote:

Ack! Powder roadies!

It's OK, Liquid. I'm sure you can find a gangsta' pre-teen to do whatever it is you boarders do with. Grind, or something.

(I keed! I keed!)

We roll some phat blunts in a warming shack and chug some Red bull, pull our pants down, then alternate between bombing runs and sitting in the middle of them. GNARCORE!

Damn, son.

Put a new pair of boots and bindings on my decade old board, and it's like riding a different beast. Tight and crisp don't even cover it.

Ghostship wrote:

RE technique:
Get those feet apart. No more unweighting. Movement is (almost) all lateral now.

...why? I mean, there's something to be said for doing whatever feels natural, but for the last 25+ years of skiing, skill meant being able to crave tight, fast turns, with your feet close together. Wider stances are more stable, but stability can be accomplished through body position as well, and a powerful skier was seen as someone capable of zipping down the fall line with pencil-perfect arcs, turning from their feet and keeping their legs relatively close together. It's beautiful, efficient, and highly functional.

Has the introduction of shaped skis really changed things that much, or is this just a stylistic difference?

Ghostship wrote:

Nobody in Western society ever wants to admit they need lessons. It doesn't make you less of a skier. It does quite the opposite. Your ski buddies will be impressed with the control and confidence you carving out turns on "ice" while they're doing the "bambi on ice".

I don't care about impressing anyone, but I've no ego tied up in taking/not taking lessons. I've been a martial artist my whole life, which may be part of that -- there is always someone better than you, and you learn by adopting a beginner's perspective. That said, I enjoy hitting the slopes and skiing as is; I'm sure I could improve with lessons, but I'm generally accomplishing my goals and having a good time. The return on investment isn't really there, I don't think.

TheHipGamer wrote:
Ghostship wrote:

Nobody in Western society ever wants to admit they need lessons. It doesn't make you less of a skier. It does quite the opposite. Your ski buddies will be impressed with the control and confidence you carving out turns on "ice" while they're doing the "bambi on ice".

I don't care about impressing anyone, but I've no ego tied up in taking/not taking lessons. I've been a martial artist my whole life, which may be part of that -- there is always someone better than you, and you learn by adopting a beginner's perspective. That said, I enjoy hitting the slopes and skiing as is; I'm sure I could improve with lessons, but I'm generally accomplishing my goals and having a good time. The return on investment isn't really there, I don't think.

Pretty much this. I have absolutely no doubt that lessons would result in me being a better snowboarder. But my primary goal on a board is fun, not proficiency. A significant part of the fun I derive from it is self-mastery. It's quite possible that lessons would result in less fun.

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