Mid Season Review

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Greg

Really glad to see you getting back into it. Nice job!

Thanks. I think I got the boss convinced that the bionic knee can hold-up. Should be able to start getting out solo soon, so hopefully will make some of the Sundown night crew outings.

[JimG.]

29 days.

Lot's of good ones so far. A few spectacular days also.

Hoping for more.

Best thing so far is fitness...I came out strong and have improved as time passes. Still working out 2-3 days a week early AM on top of skiing weekends.

[KingM]

Nice thread.

Days out: 12. It's not as many as I would like, although I'm twice as many as last year at this time,
when I managed ~30 days because of great Feb/March skiing. I should do better than that this year. I'm shooting for 35-40.
Grade: A-

Conditions: A-. Solid A for December and a B+ for January.

Personal skiing improvement/technique: C. I'm kind of at a plateau, which can be frustrating. Some of this is because my knees have been sore and this has thrown me off my needed work on moguls and woods.

I've had a couple of days where I felt like I was really progressing, but then there was a day at Mount Ellen in really wet, sticky snow (during the thaw) where I stank it up all the way down the bumps on Encore. Later, the same day, I glanced over my shoulder when coming out of a fog bank on Which Way, hit a bump, and did some nice, long full-body carving down the hill. Went right into the woods. A friend who is an expert skier was in town, too, so this was ego-bruising.

It could have been worse though. This was the same day that a kid from Montreal died on Organ Grinder when skiing in the same fog bank.

Skiing new places: Incomplete. I have a couple of new places that I plan to try, but haven't yet had enough time to escape from the inn for a day.

[awf170]

Days out (though never enough), are you on track for your season goal?

B+, 32 days. Already my record high for a season but a couple behind where I was hoping to be. Still hope to get 80ish by the end of the season.

Overall conditions you have enjoyed?

B+, good woods skiing, but really no bumps and missed a ton of powder out west.

Personally skiing improvement/technique?

C, I always feel like I'm skiing poorly. I got a good amount better in woods and steeps. Also, a lot better at groomers, but probably got worse at skiing bumps since I only had one bump day so far this season (Mt. Snow gathering)

Skiing new places or re-visiting those that you haven't skied in a long time?

A, MRG, Mt. Snow, Hunter, Crystal, and Mt. Baker.

[Zand]

Days so far: 17, which is almost exactly on pace with 05-06. Difference there is right about now, my season went downhill with a fractured wrist, a not-so-good spring, and ending the earliest of the past 5 or 6 years. Hopefully this year I can keep this pace going. I have a busy March planned already plus some more day trips. A

Conditions: Started off with a great day at Mount Snow, and since then I've had only one truly bad day (Mount Snow on the Saturday after Thanksgiving). No true powder days yet although I did get one in at Wachusett during some light snow. Otherwise, they've been average to slightly above average. B+

Improved Technique: The only thing I feel I've improved in so far is low-angle glades as I was very comfortable in the Trails and Claim Jumper at Mt. Snow in December, more so than I've ever been in any kind of glades. I'll have to wait till Stowe probably till I can hit some tougher glades again. Otherwise, my groomer skiing has been about the same or maybe just slightly better and my bump skiing has been a little worse. D

New Areas: None. F

[snoseek]

All A's for me-Always will feel this way in the middle of winter.

Days out: 50 +or- This seems like a good estimate, I haven't really thought too hard about this, I will later in the year.

Conditions: Started real slow in November, followed by an epic december (especially at monarch/crested butte) and damn good January. I have chased the snow around and ventured in bc a bit during slow periods for fresh snow.



Personal skiing improvement: I really could care less, but i have pushed myself pretty hard at skiing stuff that challenges me most of the time. Bumps are a ton more fun this year than ever, I blame that on Mary Jane (the mountain). I went back to skiing some long skis on powder days (watau 192, 101 center) and that has really led me to beleive long skis still truck-short skis still suck-in powder.

new places- just about everywhere considering I always spent my time in Utah. Really getting to know loveland, Winter Park, and Berthoud Pass. New also is Steamboat, Monarch, Crested Butte, Copper. I have much more exploring to do.

[riverc0il]

If I can count yesterday toward my "mid-season" total, I will upgrade conditions to an A (still short of an A+ by two more such days). Finally scored a big one with knee deep untracked all day. If the stupid freezer had not been shut down (no wind, not sure the reason), I can only imagine how even more decadent things would have been.

[ALLSKIING]

Days out (though never enough), are you on track for your season goal? A... for days out at 16 and I will be at 20 by Feb 1st....Last year total I had 20 total.

Overall conditions you have enjoyed? B- ...For conditions...I have had some really good pow days but hit a good amount of hardpack and ice as well.

Personally skiing improvement/technique? B... for technique and improvement....although I have been skiing much more natural trails which makes you work a bit more.

Skiing new places or re-visiting those that you haven't skied in a long time?D... With a place up at K I am nott getting to any new places but I got back to the Bush after a 2 year absence. I should make it up to MRG for the first time ever and that alone would grade out as an A.

[kcyanks1]

Days out (though never enough), are you on track for your season goal? 6 days -- B. My goal is 15 and I'd be ecstatic to hit 20 (very much doubt I ever have, but not sure about earlier years). Realistically, if I hit 12, I'm not out of line with what I normally do. Considering I still hope to take a week-long trip in March, and do other weekend/day trips, I am on pace for 12-15.

Overall conditions you have enjoyed? B+. Since I am far away from the slopes I want to ski, without a car, and with a busy work schedule, I can't just go and hit the good snow all the time.. So I haven't had the best powder days and it's only luck if I do. That said, my first two days (Sugarbush and MRG) were very good including great skiing in the woods. My two days at Stowe were mixed because it was after the small rain event but they got 6+" to cover it up, and the afternoon of the first day and second day had some nice skiing, even if underneath the new snow it was icy (morning of the first day was bad). Then my last two days (Gore and Hunter) had some nice on-trail skiing on manmade -- not my favorite by any means, but considering they are below average days for this year, I can't complain.

Personally skiing improvement/technique? C.My technique probably hasn't changed much in a while, and I need to exercise more.

Skiing new places or re-visiting those that you haven't skied in a long time? C. Haven't skied Gore in a few years, but I wasn't anxious to go back, at least not when all the natural stuff is closed. But while I have not been doing the new/re-visits from long ago, I have skied places that I really like to ski (Sugarbush, MRG, and Stowe). In the case of MRG, I've only been there about half a dozen times total, and Stowe I'm up to 5. So those are new enough.

[AdironRider]

So its relatively the midway point of the season, maybe just a bit before. How is your season stacking up so far? Mine is bar none the best Ive ever had. I moved out to Jackson in October and havent looked back. 47 total days, 340" total snowfall, longest stretch of time with no new snow ... 3 DAYS! Absolutely incredible. How you boys doing back east?