Do you hit the terrain park?

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

In the Blue mountain free-ride program..there were a few students in their 30s..One guy over on PASR is in his mid 40s and just bought some twins..The big debate is whether park passes should be required to keep the gapers out of the park and others who don't intend to hit the features properly..

[OldsnowboarderME]

I am too old to be a parkrat at this stage of my life ... all mountain riding for me.

[millerm277]

Originally Posted by GrilledSteezeSandwich

The big debate is whether park passes should be required to keep the gapers out of the park and others who don't intend to hit the features properly..

My answer is no, share the trail. I ski down the sides of terrain parks all the time, often there's some decent snow there, as most people are going off the features, and the only thing that I can see being at all of an issue is people getting in the way of landing zones.

[twinplanx]

If it's too loud your to old... I not going to let some silly number or a couple of knuckle dragging punks keep my away from a well maintained kicker.

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Originally Posted by twinplanx

If it's too loud your to old... I not going to let some silly number or a couple of knuckle dragging punks keep my away from a well maintained kicker.

Oark Crue at Blue mountain does a fabulous job maintaining the big mo-fo booters and rails. They have a bus with a rail on top..I'll have to find the youtube video of this girl totally eating shit.

[ishovelsnow]

Originally Posted by millerm277

My answer is no, share the trail. I ski down the sides of terrain parks all the time, often there's some decent snow there, as most people are going off the features, and the only thing that I can see being at all of an issue is people getting in the way of landing zones.

if you're able to understand that a park trail is a non-conventional trail with some different rules of engagment, then skiing down the sides is a non-issue.

people who don't understand that the entire point of seperating the trail from the population ....to create a zone where jumpers and jibbers can ride the way they'd like, and not have to worry about people who don't get it... are the ones who create hazards.

I don't believe park passes solve anything. They may aid a bit, but what I've seen is that a properly educated public serves it's self just as well.

I for one, since having moved from Vermont, find myself riding park almost every single run, of almost every single day. Having come from trees and all mountain free ride, I understand the facination of the un touched snow that lies in parks from time to time. However, it is more or less rediculous to think that the park trail is just a trail with jumps on it. As was mentioned earlier in this thread, parks are high speed zones, where a lot is going on. If you are not clued into the surroundings, you are a hazard.

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome any and all new comers to park into any mini park around the country to explore this growing segment of skiing. it's a blast, and totally makes up for any lack of vertical your local hill may have.

[Greg]

Originally Posted by ishovelsnow

it's a blast, and totally makes up for any lack of vertical your local hill may have.

As do seeded bumps!

[millerm277]

people who don't understand that the entire point of seperating the trail from the population ....to create a zone where jumpers and jibbers can ride the way they'd like, and not have to worry about people who don't get it... are the ones who create hazards.

Obviously, if you're going to be in a park whether doing the features or not, you should know the general rules of them, and be aware of what's going on. However, I also see no problem with going down the sides of the trail of most of them, typically park trails are very wide, and as long as you aren't disrupting other people's runs by getting in the way of the entrances/landing zones of the features, there are no problems/conflicts.

There is also a difference, depending on the park. The main park at Blue is not something that I'm going to ski down regularly, because of the size of the features, and the way it's set-up, but there are also many park trails at other resorts, where the park doesn't take up every inch of the trail, and skiing on the side of the trail is perfectly safe and non-disruptive, like all of the parks at Killington, which are very wide, which allows safely mixing both park skiers/riders and regular skiers/riders.

[Beez]

I just watch the park rats in awe. I usually stay out of park trails. I need to make wide turns and on the big boulder trails with park features that's not an option. I also don't need the added humilation of the super hip jib honks laughing at me when I fall. What I do hate is to see the once a year skiier family taking little Johnny into the park and letting him play on the features then wondering why he gets hurt when someone nails him.