Pet Peeve

There is a certain breed of skier who insists on taking trails many
levels above his ability. There is nothing wrong with pushing the
envelope; that's how you get better. But hacking one's way down an
advanced trail simply to brag that you "ski blacks" helps nobody. I'm
not talking about wide radius turns on a steep hill, I'm talking about
TRAVERSING the trail from left to right on skies or skidding it on a
snowboard. These people help make the trail interesting but in the end,
they are an annoyance.

My two cents: master the greens before you move to the blues. Then
master the blues before you move to the blacks, etc.

Jeff

(From the Department of Redunancy Department, please note: I'm not
ripping anybody for taking wide radius turns.)

Jeff wrote:
There is a certain breed of skier who insists on taking trails many
levels above his ability. There is nothing wrong with pushing the
envelope; that's how you get better. But hacking one's way down an
advanced trail simply to brag that you "ski blacks" helps nobody. I'm
not talking about wide radius turns on a steep hill, I'm talking about
TRAVERSING the trail from left to right on skies or skidding it on a
snowboard. These people help make the trail interesting but in the end,
they are an annoyance.

My two cents: master the greens before you move to the blues. Then
master the blues before you move to the blacks, etc.

Jeff

(From the Department of Redunancy Department, please note: I'm not
ripping anybody for taking wide radius turns.)

I'll go with you on this one to a point. I think
the beginner/low intermediate on Outer Limits
(Killington) is both stupid and laughable. He is
putting himself and others at risk big time.

But someone who skis Cruise Control (Killington)
should once in a while attempt Vertigo or the
bumped up side of Needles Eye. These can be
difficult at times. Needles bumps is a very long
bump section but you can bail if you want to.
Vertigo is several VERY steep sections separated
by relatively flat areas. You can get in trouble
but you won't go very far, it a good sobering
experience. It's where I take folks that seem
to be talking the talk while not really walking
the walk.

Vertigo is interesting and of interest to you
western folks. We had an avalanche on it. The top
section is around 45 degrees and the mountain
decided to REALLY pound it with snowmaking since
we've had a pitiful amount of snow here in the East.

The new snow was made on a blue ice base. The
snowmaking mound was 5 or 6 feet high. It started
to slide, picked up more snow and REALLY slid
and stopped a couple of hundred yards down where
the trail flattens out again. Neat to see a slide
path here in northern New England. Though I've
been through the passes in the White Mountains
and have seen folks skiing what can only be
avalanche chutes there.

I think you need to push a little bit to learn.
If you push too much you won't learn a thing
except maybe how much it hurts to have a tree
stop your slide.

VtSkier

VtSkier wrote:
Jeff wrote:

There is a certain breed of skier who insists on taking trails many
levels above his ability. There is nothing wrong with pushing the
envelope; that's how you get better. But hacking one's way down an
advanced trail simply to brag that you "ski blacks" helps nobody. I'm
not talking about wide radius turns on a steep hill, I'm talking about
TRAVERSING the trail from left to right on skies or skidding it on a
snowboard. These people help make the trail interesting but in the end,
they are an annoyance.

My two cents: master the greens before you move to the blues. Then
master the blues before you move to the blacks, etc.

Jeff

(From the Department of Redunancy Department, please note: I'm not
ripping anybody for taking wide radius turns.)


I'll go with you on this one to a point. I think
the beginner/low intermediate on Outer Limits
(Killington) is both stupid and laughable. He is
putting himself and others at risk big time.

But someone who skis Cruise Control (Killington)
should once in a while attempt Vertigo or the
bumped up side of Needles Eye. These can be
difficult at times. Needles bumps is a very long
bump section but you can bail if you want to.
Vertigo is several VERY steep sections separated
by relatively flat areas. You can get in trouble
but you won't go very far, it a good sobering
experience. It's where I take folks that seem
to be talking the talk while not really walking
the walk.

Vertigo is interesting and of interest to you
western folks. We had an avalanche on it. The top
section is around 45 degrees and the mountain
decided to REALLY pound it with snowmaking since
we've had a pitiful amount of snow here in the East.

The new snow was made on a blue ice base. The
snowmaking mound was 5 or 6 feet high. It started
to slide, picked up more snow and REALLY slid
and stopped a couple of hundred yards down where
the trail flattens out again. Neat to see a slide
path here in northern New England. Though I've
been through the passes in the White Mountains
and have seen folks skiing what can only be
avalanche chutes there.

I think you need to push a little bit to learn.
If you push too much you won't learn a thing
except maybe how much it hurts to have a tree
stop your slide.

VtSkier

I agree. It's absolutely importantant to push the envelope. But if
your progress down a steep hill looks more like mountaineering than
skiing, then maybe you should reconsider your trail selection. A good
rule of thumb, IMO, is this: if you're using *some* of the lessons
you've learned, then you're probably on the right hill. If all technique
is out the window, then maybe you ought to find another trail. And
please, if you're using a snowboard to flatten the mogul field ...

Jeff
(just venting - it was crowded this weekend)

Vertigo is interesting and of interest to you
western folks. We had an avalanche on it. The top
section is around 45 degrees and the mountain
decided to REALLY pound it with snowmaking since
we've had a pitiful amount of snow here in the East.


45 degrees? I hope you meant 45 per cent.

Still a funny story.

TCS (The Colorado Skier)
Colorado Springs - Gateway to Colorado Ski Country

TCS wrote:
Vertigo is interesting and of interest to you
western folks. We had an avalanche on it. The top
section is around 45 degrees and the mountain
decided to REALLY pound it with snowmaking since
we've had a pitiful amount of snow here in the East.



45 degrees? I hope you meant 45 per cent.

Still a funny story.

TCS (The Colorado Skier)
Colorado Springs - Gateway to Colorado Ski Country

No, I meant 45 degrees. It's steep, but short.

45percent is only about 24 degrees, a decent blue trail.

VtSkier

TCS wrote:
Vertigo is interesting and of interest to you
western folks. We had an avalanche on it. The top
section is around 45 degrees and the mountain
decided to REALLY pound it with snowmaking since
we've had a pitiful amount of snow here in the East.



45 degrees? I hope you meant 45 per cent.

Still a funny story.

TCS (The Colorado Skier)
Colorado Springs - Gateway to Colorado Ski Country

I can't imagine getting much of an avalanche
going on 24 degrees.

"Jeff" wrote in message
news:OpLNd.10221$ya6.9978@trndny01...
There is a certain breed of skier who insists on taking trails many
levels above his ability.

"I can get down anything"! How often have you heard that one?

ant

In article OpLNd.10221$ya6.9978@trndny01, says...
I'm
not talking about wide radius turns on a steep hill, I'm talking about
TRAVERSING the trail from left to right

Dumb question - what's the difference between traversing and wide-radius
turns? Just how many times you do it?

--
Jay Levitt |
Wellesley, MA | Hi!
Faster: jay at jay dot eff-em | Where are we going?
http://www.jay.fm | Why am I in this handbasket?

"Jay Levitt" wrote

In article OpLNd.10221$ya6.9978@trndny01, says...
I'm
not talking about wide radius turns on a steep hill, I'm talking about
TRAVERSING the trail from left to right

Dumb question - what's the difference between traversing and wide-radius
turns? Just how many times you do it?

In a turn, the legs are always actively turning the ski.
In a traverse, you are going straight across the hill, and only when the
next turn happens do the feet become active again.

ant

In article ,
says...
In a turn, the legs are always actively turning the ski.
In a traverse, you are going straight across the hill, and only when the
next turn happens do the feet become active again.

OK.. so why is traversing more annoying/disruptive than wide-radius
turns? I can see the biomechanical distinction, but it seems both will
put you back and forth across the hill in roughly the same manner.

--
Jay Levitt |
Wellesley, MA | Hi!
Faster: jay at jay dot eff-em | Where are we going?
http://www.jay.fm | Why am I in this handbasket?