Skiing

[Maksutov]

Anyone on here into skiing?

I've not skied since moving to the South 16 years ago, and due to recent medical problems, will not ever again.

Nevertheless, I think back to my favorite ski areas and smile.

For liftless skiing Tuckerman Ravine (http://www.tuckerman.org/) on the SE side of Mount Washington, NH can't be beat. If you can ski the headwall you can ski anything.

For western lift skiing the best place was Crested Butte, CO (http://www.skicb.com/page.php?pname=winter). Not the tallest or most difficult but what atmosphere!

For eastern lift skiing Sugarloaf USA (http://www.sugarloaf.com/camfull.html?id=2133) was the favorite. Only above-treeline lift skiing in the east, plus very isolated, challenging, and State of Maine atmosphere. BTW, the photo in the link was taken earlier today.

Anyone out there got other favorites?

[cjl]

Oh man.

I LOVE skiing http://monster.traxxas.com/images/smilies/wub.gif

I have season passes to Copper Mountain and Winter Park, and I go there as often as I can. We're going up for 5 days in a couple of weeks, and I can't wait :D

[mickal555]

Water skiing!

I've never seen snow so I dunno about snow...

[Maksutov]

Water skiing!

I've never seen snow so I dunno about snow...Board (or boards) on water while being pulled by a boat?

That's not skiing!

:doh:

Meanwhile for the real skiers out there, what's your favorite place and why?

[Maksutov]

Oh man.

I LOVE skiing http://monster.traxxas.com/images/smilies/wub.gif

I have season passes to Copper Mountain and Winter Park, and I go there as often as I can. We're going up for 5 days in a couple of weeks, and I can't wait :DIf you can't detect my envy, then your senses aren't working!

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/566/iconwink6tn.gif

[cjl]

Favorite place: Copper Mountain, CO (www.coppercolorado.com). They have GREAT steeps and glades, and some pretty decent moguls too. If you're willing to hike, Tucker Mountain is absolutely sublime. Spaulding Bowl can be good too, though it usually takes a little while to build up enough snow to not be rocky...

I also know the trails there like the back of my hand - I've been skiing at Copper since I was 5, and can find my way anywhere on the mountain, no trail map required.

Close second: Winter Park (www.skiwinterpark.com). Not quite as familiar with the trail layout, and IMO not quite as good for steeps, glades, and powder. However, if you want moguls, there is NO PLACE like winter park. STUNNINGLY good mogul runs over in mary jane, and the powdery glades over by the Timberline lift are pretty darn good. Not quite as good as some of the stuff at copper (Spaulding glades and Union Meadows in particular are AMAZING), but still great.

This season, I have some Ten Eighties that I can't wait to try (I rent demo). Really looking forward to getting out on the slopes :D

[mickal555]

Board (or boards) on water while being pulled by a boat?

That's not skiing!

:doh:

Meanwhile for the real skiers out there, what's your favorite place and why?
Or cable skiing! (for a greater challange)

Fun fun fun! :D :D

[cjl]

I think BAUT should start a donation fund to show mickal what REAL skiing is like ;)

[Tog_]

When I was a kid, my dad was on the ski patrol and my mom was a lift operator. I spent the day at the resort day care place which included a ski school. When I was 4 I tried to do one of those fancy "hockey stops", over-rotated, and went down a little hill backward. I gave a little hop, spun back around t the front, then stopped. The teacher was so impressed that the next day she took me up to the 1/2 way point of the hill to ski down the intermediate runs. It was a blizzard, I was miserable a whiny, and she never offered again.:p

By the time second grade rolled around, I would get off school, then ski for about 4 hours until my mom got off work. I think I've been three times since.

May favorite place was Park City. It was my playground for a lot of my childhood.

BTW, you can't steer those orange cafeteria trays, but they go fast. Really fast.:D

[Maksutov]

I think BAUT should start a donation fund to show mickal what REAL skiing is like ;)Agreed.

Here's my contribution (http://www.friendsoftuckerman.org/INFERNO%202007/information_2007_mainpage.htm).

[farmerjumperdon]

Did Flagstaff once when I lived in Phoenix, otherwise just do the local small hills in the MN/WI area. Good fun, but short runs. Another year or so and the kids will be ready to head west.

As an aside, I've was thinking of having a little fun with an old pair of skis hanging in the garage. Maybe attach them to the bottom of one of the old couches in the barn. Got a nice little hill on the property. Should be a gas. Steering might be a problem though; better wear helmets and wetsuits.

[Laguna]

I want SNOW!!!
Much too warm around here for the season.

[Delvo]

I've never skied before. How does one go about learning? And what equipment do you need to own before you can even get started (and find out whether or not you'll like it eonugh for it to be worth buying equipment for!)?

[Tog_]

You can rent skis, poles, and boots. Most resorts will have a ski school to teach you the basics, some are free. For stuff you will need, it's pretty much just layers of clothing. Stuff you can get on and off easily. UV blocking goggles are a huge help if it's sunny, as is sunscreen. The main things that was drilled into me more than anything else is keep your hands in front of your hips. If you fall, try to fall up hill. If yuo crash bad and start to tumble, relax as best you can and hope you get knocked out on the first hit.

[Laguna]

I've never skied before. How does one go about learning? And what equipment do you need to own before you can even get started (and find out whether or not you'll like it eonugh for it to be worth buying equipment for!)?
I started last year and learned it from a friend.
So look for someone who knows how to do it. He can explain.
Or book a course.

To beginn you can lend your equipment to see if it is fun for you.
At first you will fall, again and again and again, the fun starts later...
You will need a pair of ski, two ski poles, shoes fitting to the ski, ski clothes, ski goggles and the will to stand up again even if it hurts :D.

It is easier than you might think. I made it down a shallow slope without falling after about the 8th try. Steep slopes are still a little problematic for me.
Much more embarassing was the fact that I had problems to stay in the ski-lift on the way back up.

Have fun and Break a leg! ;)

[Cougar]

May favorite place was Park City. It was my playground for a lot of my childhood.
The greatest snow on earth! I keep going for a few miles past Park City to Deer Valley. I'm a real beginner. My (expert) wife taught me a few years ago. I enjoy the beginner and some intermediate runs just fine. A major feature at Deer Valley is the breakfast. ;) And the celebrity watching. ;)

[ciderman]

Have fun and Break a leg! ;)

Yep, done both!
Mainly skied here;
http://www.cairngormmountain.com/
quite a few years back now, but I see the weather hasn't improved!!
Had to get a lift down the mountain on a snow cat once because the wind was blowing so hard up the mountain, even in a full tuck aiming down the fall line I was blown uphill!

[Laguna]

Yep, done both!
Mainly skied here;
http://www.cairngormmountain.com/
quite a few years back now, but I see the weather hasn't improved!!
Had to get a lift down the mountain on a snow cat once because the wind was blowing so hard up the mountain, even in a full tuck aiming down the fall line I was blown uphill!
You are not supposed to ski in mid of a hurrikan. :lol:

[Parrothead]

Most of the skiing I've done, is on the ski hills of Ontario. So I guess that doesn't really count ;) Spending a number of days straight ot one of the places, as relatives of a friend were part owners, was neat in getting a view of the slopes, from inside one of the grooming machines. We also had a hoot riding skibobs (bike frame on a ski) down the hills. :lol:

[Tog_]

The greatest snow on earth! I keep going for a few miles past Park City to Deer Valley. I'm a real beginner. My (expert) wife taught me a few years ago. I enjoy the beginner and some intermediate runs just fine. A major feature at Deer Valley is the breakfast. ;) And the celebrity watching. ;)

There is a long run at Derer valley, the name escapes me. About midway down is a cat road and you need good speed to make it to the end. From there it turn right and gets really steep for a bit ,then near the end it's a nice gentle slope that's very wide. On the far left sidre of this last section the trees grow in pairs just wide enough to fit between. For whatever reason, they always seem to have jumps in the middle part. That's the only run I seek there, but it's been a long time. That's also the only place other then PC that I've skied.

[cjl]

Well, this sucks :(

I was planning to go skiing tomorrow through monday, but as of right now, we have so much snow that we can't get out of the house :(

Hopefully enough will melt and the snowplow will come so that I can go friday...

The backyard looks like this (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4300931) right now, and it's still coming down hard...

[Dragon Star]

:surprised wow.

We've got one inch so far this ENTIRE year...how pathetic. My last year for the snow belt and there isn't any. :(

[Lianachan]

I haven't skiied for about the same amount of time as you, and only ever skiied in Scotland. No snow so far this year, my keen snowboarding mate is becoming frustrated. We tend not to get snow until Feb/March/April/May now anyway.

[UFO TOFU]

For anyone south of the Mason Dixon line in the Eastern US, West Virginia's Snowshoe Resort (http://www.snowshoemtn.com/index.htm) is probably the best you are going to find. There are some really nice downhill runs and some extended cross country ones too. Canaan Valley (http://www.canaanresort.com/) probably offer the greatest variety of stuff for cross country skiiers. Timberline Resort (http://www.timberlineresort.com/) is in Canaan and is a pretty nice resort for downhill folks. There are a lot of great cabins to rent all year round as well. I usually go up and stay with friends at least once a year to hike in the Dolly Sods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Sods_Wilderness) wilderness. :)

[Dragon Star]

For anyone south of the Mason Dixon line in the Eastern US, West Virginia's Snowshoe Resort (http://www.snowshoemtn.com/index.htm) is probably the best you are going to find. There are some really nice downhill runs and some extended cross country ones too. Canaan Valley (http://www.canaanresort.com/) probably offer the greatest variety of stuff for cross country skiiers. Timberline Resort (http://www.timberlineresort.com/) is in Canaan and is a pretty nice resort for downhill folks. There are a lot of great cabins to rent all year round as well. I usually go up and stay with friends at least once a year to hike in the Dolly Sods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Sods_Wilderness) wilderness. :)

I went to Snowshoe once, pretty fun. I used to live in Jackson County. :)

[Andromeda321]

My family skis because my dad is obsessed and we are more than willing to indulge him on this. We pack our bags for Aspen-Snowmass next week. :)

I've skied nearly all the big resorts so far (except Copper- my mom refuses to go there because there's no village) and the favorites on my list are Jackson Hole, Telluride, Steamboat (no lines! yay!), and Vail before everyone else discovered Vail (haven't been there in a looong time as a result of this).

[UFO TOFU]

I went to Snowshoe once, pretty fun. I used to live in Jackson County. :)

Small world huh? :)

[MAPNUT]

I ski various places in New England, including Sugarloaf that Maksutov mentioned (though not recently). I post a lot at www.Snowjournal.com, which is not a happy place these days because of the lack of snow in New England. I was planning a trip over New Year's, but there isn't much open and more rain is forecast.

[hhEb09'1]

SteamboatYep, steamboat (no lines! yay!), and Vail before everyone else discovered Vail (haven't been there in a looong time as a result of this).and how long ago was this? :)

[cjl]

My family skis because my dad is obsessed and we are more than willing to indulge him on this. We pack our bags for Aspen-Snowmass next week. :)

I've skied nearly all the big resorts so far (except Copper- my mom refuses to go there because there's no village)

That's too bad - I love copper mountain. I just got back from a 4 day trip to Copper, and the snow was AWESOME. Some of the best I've seen at this time of year.