The Skiing/Boarding Thread

General Discussion
#1

so as I lament the snow melting and plan my last weekend of skiing for the season I figured I’d start a thread for all the snow junkies on AR.

Feel free to post anything skiing/boarding; mountains you hit this year, favorite trails, discussions on equipment, deals you’ve found.

For me, the 2011/12 season was kind of a let down given the lack of snow. I hit Wachusett a bunch of times, Bretton Woods, Cranmore, Ragged, Loon and I’m planning on hitting whats left of Killington Friday and doing Ski Mania (free skiing) at Sunday River this Sunday to close the year.

I ran a set of 170cm Head’s all year I got in a ski swap, had them stone ground and they served me well. 17m side cut radius with a 124 tip/70 waist/110 tail, super stiff, definitely a fast ski great for GS carving. But I was having trouble manuvering the length (I’m 5’10ish so a 170cm is almost my height) and the long carving tendency of the ski in the glades/back country.

So I’m looking for something more in the 155-160 range with a super tight side cut, 10m-12m range, and a strong construction because they are gonna get beat to fucking hell. Any suggestions? I’ve always used traditional cambered skis, but I’m considering a set of 155cm Ninthward Henrik Harlaut Pro since I can grab them pretty cheap on The Clymb right now, spec below:

Features:
• Length: 155 cm
• Dimensions: 114 | 75 |103
• Turn Radius: 11.7m
• Core: Poplar
• Topsheet: PA12 (left)
• Base: TH CENE (right)
• Sidewall: 5.5mm
• Edge: 45HRC

My Heads:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i293/beemercer/2012-03-29_19-11-20_896.jpg

^link for unfucked picture: http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i293/beemercer/2012-03-29_19-11-20_896.jpg

View on Bretton Woods, Mt Washington in the background:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i293/beemercer/bretton_woods.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i293/beemercer/bretton_woods.jpg

#2

That’s an awesome view, is the scenery always that picturesque around your area

I have been/seen snow three times in my life and I have skied once.

The first time I went skiing I was about 11 years old and on a school trip, first they showed you the basics and then sent me up the beginners hill. I thought sure I can do this and head on down the slope only to smack straight into a ski lift pole, just like cartoon characters hit poles. It only went downhill from there (excuse the pun) I managed to make to the bottom of the hill once without falling over.

#3

yeah the white mountains in New Hampshire (about 150 miles north of me) are beautiful. The big peak in that picture is Mt Washington which regularly has 200mph+ winds (highest recorded wind speeds in the world for a very long time).

I’ve hit my fair share of stuff, typically trees occasionally people sometimes other stuff. I do a lot of glades trails which are just thinned out trees so you learn to hug the trees lol

#4

Last day of work here in Tahoe is Sunday. Kinda bittersweet. Working at a resort which is smaller, and more geared for the park rats, kind of what I leaned towards most of the year.

I did do a bunch of snow shoe trips up to a few of the higher peaks around us, and ride down. Castle peak, ASI, and lake run from sugar bowl for those who know the donner summit area. I’ll post pictures later.

#5

so I did what was left of Killington yesterday, they got 19" of powder earlier this week and reopened 35 trails. It was a good time, but the moguls down every single trail really wore me out… sunday river to probably close out the season tomorrow.

some crappy cell pictures…

http://img.tapatalk.com/aefc3c71-8d11-3273.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/aefc3c71-8d22-6a45.jpg

what do you do at Tahoe? I was considering trying to be an instructor part time, but idk if I could deal with teaching people plus I have some unorthodox techniques.

#6

Here is me at Lake Louise about a week ago. I had a couple of epic days at Fernie this year, fall over an spend 6 hours getting back up the snow was so deep kind of days. Don’t get out too too much due to little kids (4-6) but they are both in snowboarding coaching at Canada Olympic Park which is about 5 mins from our house so I’m there a couple of days a week.

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/medium/photo1103.JPG

Edit, not sure why the pic is so small, here is a bigger version:

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data/500/medium/photo1103.JPG

#7

I was a Lift Operations Supervisor. Super fun.

Being an instructor is ok. Most of them have their own style. I dont think I personally could put up with half those people for a couple of hours tho. ;D

#8

good point, I’m not patient enough lol… maybe a groomer, that looks pretty fun lol

#9

damn, I’m jealous… we had no snow here all year so it was more of a fall and smash your face on the ice kinda days

#10

We’ve actually had a perfect year here, the city has been unseasonably warm and dry and an hour away in the mountains they’ve been getting lots and lots of snow. Near record in some places.

Here is a shot of the “local Mountain”- Canada Olympic Park, from near my house. Its pretty short but really convenient and because they’ve really committed to olympic training the park is big and well maintained.

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww127/owenjp/photo.jpg

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww127/owenjp/photo.jpg

#11

so starting my season early by planning everything out

thinking about picking up this pass:
http://www.shopmountwashingtonresort.com/The_Bold_The_Beautiful_Pass_p/12-13_bold_beautiful.htm
its for midweek/early season/spring for cannon and bretton woods

sunday river for over christmas for the free day

few days at Jay peak

day trip to ragged mtn

day trip to magic mtn

bus trip to killington

going to try to swing whiteface if I have the vacation time

summit ski demo day at loon

last day of season at sunday river (free)

possibly tuckerman’s ravine for memorial day if the weather cooperates

#12

This is funny because I was just thinking about next season this week too. By the time mid sept rolls along I start getting pretty antsy to get out for some turns. This year will have a tough time beating last year for overall snow awesomeness.

#13

glad I’m not alone, I’d be perfectly fine with summer ending tomorrow. We got quite the torrent yesterday and I couldnt help but imagine the snow pile it would have produced lol.

Hoping we get hit hard early December so there is no chance for rain to wash it out and the glades/backcountry get a nice base.

#14

I looked out my window this morning and saw the mountains got the first dusting of snow. My wife is all mad at me for wishing away the last of the summer.

#15

http://img.tapatalk.com/4ac6968d-fddb-5c7e.jpg

Crappy iPhone pic.

#16

damn I’m jealous… the days have been getting cooler and shorter around here but no where near cool enough to get snow

I’ve been gearing up in the meantime catching all of the new old stock sales. Just need new bindings for my Heads, probably going to go with the same Tyrolias I got for my twin tips, and an altimeter watch (thinking a suunto core alu black).

#17

No mountains here in IL. I’ve always wanted to try skiing but all we really have is man-made hills. Plus we don’t get much snow at all

#18

I grew up in the Maritimes and we had bumps for hills at best and I skied/snowboarded tones on man made snow. We always had fun. All that poorly groomed sheet ice for landings toughens you up.

#19

yeah thats tough, wouldnt be a fair representation of how awesome it can be.

Could take a drive out to Whiteface by lake Placid. Thats probably like a 15hr drive though, same with the rockies I’d guess. Kinda smack in the middle it seems.

#20

…didn’t know this thread existed (big surprise since I dont venture out in AR much).

motorsport - I’m impressed to hear you are a lift supervisor. Are you the supervisor, or one of the many who spend the day going from lift to lift to wrangle the sometimes idiotic army of lifties?

I am damn ready for winter to be hear but like other I am pretty far from any decent mtns living in Georgia. I usually ride 5-15+ times a year, but the closest place to me is ~4hrs (one way) and sucks. You have to go ~9hrs to get to Snowshoe Mtn which is the only half-decent place in the mid-Atlantic.

I have also tossed the thought of working at a mtn again. I was a lifty at Mount Snow in VT my senior year of high school. I dropped out after christmas break to live at the base of the resort with some guys from NJ. Working at a resort is nice because you are right there in the middle of it, but annoying since you get so little time to actually ride. Also I HATE that hardly any places in the northeast have night riding. So if you’re working all day the only chance to ride is on your 2 days off (when you want to sleep).