Why Bump?

[JD]

Never really understood the draw. Can someone explain it to me?
My analogy would be bumps are like the MTB trails in NJ. Fun and challenging because they are so played out and eroded. Once I realized what singletrack could be, I never really wanted to go ride the eroded mess. when I see a trail all bumped, or a tree run for that matter, I think...that's hammered, time to move on...what's the draw?

[Marc]

Like sex, military combat and high stakes casino gambling (not my examples but it sounds good) skiing bumps, backcountry skiing and alpinism can not be explained. One must experience them to understand.

[RustyK]

Originally Posted by JD

Never really understood the draw. Can someone explain it to me?
My analogy would be bumps are like the MTB trails in NJ. Fun and challenging because they are so played out and eroded. Once I realized what singletrack could be, I never really wanted to go ride the eroded mess. when I see a trail all bumped, or a tree run for that matter, I think...that's hammered, time to move on...what's the draw?

I agree. You should move on and save them for me!

[Marc]

Just out of curiosity Rusty, you're not the bike mechanic that raced in a 24 hour MTB race with Team Pig Iron a few years ago in Ashford, CT are you?

[JD]

Makes me think of PLINKO from the price is right when I see folks bumping.

[deadheadskier]

For me personally, I think it's a product of my ski upbringing. I skied Okemo 50+ times a year from the time I was 10 until I was 18. I skied a few other mountains each year, but never up in northern Vermont until I was 20 and moved to Stowe.

There's no such thing as powder at Okemo. They groom the hell out of the place the second they get a chance, so unless you are skiing during the storm, forget about it. Even at that, they don't get much natural. I had twice as many powder days in my first winter in Stowe as I did in my entire ski life prior.

So....what was I to do? Groomers got boring quickly outside of some of the big rollers you could get big air off of. There really was no such thing as a park in the late 80's, early 90's. Resorts had half pipes, but skiers weren't allowed in them. So....I fell in love with skiing bumps.

I still do love bumps, but yes would prefer a smooth run through the pow in the woods. The problem is, I now live in Maine and ski primarily at Sunday River where, like Okemo, there is little to no powder. So...I'm back to skiing bumps and digging it, well except for my lower back yesterday after my first day out and not being in good shape.

[highpeaksdrifter]

It’s more challenging and a better workout IMO. That said, anytime I can get fresh I could care less about bumps.

[andyzee]

Originally Posted by Marc

Just out of curiosity Rusty, you're not the bike mechanic that raced in a 24 hour MTB race with Team Pig Iron a few years ago in Ashford, CT are you?

I'd be suprised if Rusty can drive a car most of the time, let alone a mt bike Boy sure can ski though:

[Marc]

Hmph... must have been a different Rusty.

[JD]

Defintely makes good skiers. And I like Plinko.