Ski Area Haters....always amuse / amaze me

[deadheadskier]

It's natural to have personal preferences of where you like to ski. I get that. I just find it amusing the vitriol some folks spew regarding places that aren't their favorite.

Some of it's Mountain design or the mountain's physical limitations

Some of it's how certain areas market themselves

Some of it's the 'people' who ski there.

It's even more amusing to me when some people push their chest out and look down upon others for where they choose to ski and somehow act as if they're a more 'core' skier/rider because of where/what they think is the best. I've gotten this a few times over the passed year as my home mountain is Ragged. (you reading this bigvert??)

I have to say, I have more respect and appreciation for folks who have a shit eating grin skiing Mt. Road at Okemo on a Martin Luther King weekend. They don't care what the mountain's stats are. They don't care that they're not skiing in a foot of blower. They're just out having fun. I've got my own mountain, terrain, condition preferences for sure........but I can also have fun lapping Polecat at Wildcat all day too.

 

[jerryg]

It's natural to have personal preferences of where you like to ski. I get that. I just find it amusing the vitriol some folks spew regarding places that aren't their favorite.

Some of it's Mountain design or the mountain's physical limitations

Some of it's how certain areas market themselves

Some of it's the 'people' who ski there.

It's even more amusing to me when some people push their chest out and look down upon others for where they choose to ski and somehow act as if they're a more 'core' skier/rider because of where/what they think is the best. I've gotten this a few times over the passed year as my home mountain is Ragged. (you reading this bigvert??)

I have to say, I have more respect and appreciation for folks who have a shit eating grin skiing Mt. Road at Okemo on a Martin Luther King weekend. They don't care what the mountain's stats are. They don't care that they're not skiing in a foot of blower. They're just out having fun. I've got my own mountain, terrain, condition preferences for sure........but I can also have fun lapping Polecat at Wildcat all day too.

Lapped Polecat all weekend long - first weekend off May a few years back, with Bobr, Snowmonster, and Snoseek. One of my favorite skiing memories. Never got bored of it and we all left with smiles as wide as you could ever imagine!

One of my skiing philosophies:
Skiing is a lot like college - it doesn't matter so much where you go, but rather, what you do when you're there!

Yep, I have favorite ski areas and trails, but it's ultimately great to just get out there. After all, how much does something like vert really matter? You can only ski a few feet of it at a time!

 

[2knees]

It's natural to have personal preferences of where you like to ski. I get that. I just find it amusing the vitriol some folks spew regarding places that aren't their favorite.

Some of it's Mountain design or the mountain's physical limitations

Some of it's how certain areas market themselves

Some of it's the 'people' who ski there.

It's even more amusing to me when some people push their chest out and look down upon others for where they choose to ski and somehow act as if they're a more 'core' skier/rider because of where/what they think is the best. I've gotten this a few times over the passed year as my home mountain is Ragged. (you reading this bigvert??)

I have to say, I have more respect and appreciation for folks who have a shit eating grin skiing Mt. Road at Okemo on a Martin Luther King weekend. They don't care what the mountain's stats are. They don't care that they're not skiing in a foot of blower. They're just out having fun. I've got my own mountain, terrain, condition preferences for sure........but I can also have fun lapping Polecat at Wildcat all day too.

you sir, are very observant!

i'll never understand it either. the hating and the getting ridiculously angry when someone does bust on someone elses' home mountain, not your observation skills......:lol:

 

[mondeo]

 

[powbmps]

Ragged? All the cool people ski at Sunapee.














:wink:

 

[riverc0il]

What mondeo posted. I think it is great that people have passion for the activity. That skiers and riders can have such divisive opinions on the same areas speaks towards how much great diversity we have in available experiences. I don't really see as much "your mountain sucks" as "I don't care for that experience and here is why I have that opinion". Sometimes you get a snide remark. But I bet those snide remarks are made even with the understanding that there are different strokes for different folks. Essentially, much ado about nothing, IMO.

 

[dmc]

Well said. I may add that some people say they dislike a mountain because they can't ski it.
Some hills are geared to advanced skiers.

 

[St. Jerry]

IceFace is the place I love to hate on. Partly becuase it is such crappy skiing and more so from the fact that the IceFace lovers blinldy love the place.

 

[deadheadskier]

IceFace is the place I love to hate on. Partly becuase it is such crappy skiing and more so from the fact that the IceFace lovers blinldy love the place.

exactly what I'm talking about. Being biased is one thing. Being a hater is totally lame in my book.

 

[Puck it]

:razz:Is this the place to praise or pounce on Sundown?:razz:

 

[witch hobble]

"Ain't no time to hate..."

 

[campgottagopee]

IceFace is the place I love to hate on. Partly becuase it is such crappy skiing and more so from the fact that the IceFace lovers blinldy love the place.

No kidding---place sucks-- You’d think the World Cup and Olympic committees would know that too. Geez:roll:

 

[mister moose]

I think a corollary to this is being able to enjoy a day of skiing with a friend that can only ski easy blues, or a large group of very mixed abilities. That sometimes also gets you on a mountain you'd never otherwise be on.

Skiing doesn't have to be always about the steepest, fastest, tallest. Try picking up one foot, keeping it picked up, and ski turning in both directions, and see how far you can go. Your goal should be at least 300 feet vertical, or at least 15 turns before putting your foot down. That will make the easy blues a lot harder for most. Play with pure carving, zero skid. Drill on precise technique. See how sharp you can turn at the slowest speed possible. See how fast you can turn, which means the most turns per minute on a gentle slope. Not only are these very challenging, but they improve your skiing. And you won't be bored on the easy blue. (Of course a few times a day you take the same lift and a different trail and meet at the bottom.)

 

[mondeo]

:razz:Is this the place to praise or pounce on Sundown?:razz:

Both?

It's a great mountain, but only complete herbs ski there.

What mondeo posted. I think it is great that people have passion for the activity. That skiers and riders can have such divisive opinions on the same areas speaks towards how much great diversity we have in available experiences. I don't really see as much "your mountain sucks" as "I don't care for that experience and here is why I have that opinion". Sometimes you get a snide remark. But I bet those snide remarks are made even with the understanding that there are different strokes for different folks. Essentially, much ado about nothing, IMO.

exactly what I'm talking about. Being biased is one thing. Being a hater is totally lame in my book.

Actually, that picture came up through an image search of "haters gonna hate." I thought it was funnier than any the actual "haters gonna hate" ones. So I used it, intending the same meaning.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

what gets me the most is the "i hate xyz area because conditions there are really cold, icy, scraped off and suck...." yea, well welcome to skiing in New England and every area has those conditons at any given point...i guess except for your area thats always bluebird skies, 40 degrees and just dumped a foot everynight.....its all good man, its skiing!!!

 

[SkiDork]

I think a corollary to this is being able to enjoy a day of skiing with a friend that can only ski easy blues, or a large group of very mixed abilities. That sometimes also gets you on a mountain you'd never otherwise be on.

Skiing doesn't have to be always about the steepest, fastest, tallest. Try picking up one foot, keeping it picked up, and ski turning in both directions, and see how far you can go. Your goal should be at least 300 feet vertical, or at least 15 turns before putting your foot down. That will make the easy blues a lot harder for most. Play with pure carving, zero skid. Drill on precise technique. See how sharp you can turn at the slowest speed possible. See how fast you can turn, which means the most turns per minute on a gentle slope. Not only are these very challenging, but they improve your skiing. And you won't be bored on the easy blue. (Of course a few times a day you take the same lift and a different trail and meet at the bottom.)

or try skiing backward all day (if you have twin tips)

A great ski instructor I once had said: Anything you do on skis is a good thing.

 

[Mapnut]

Well said. I may add that some people say they dislike a mountain because they can't ski it.
Some hills are geared to advanced skiers.

Does this imply that it's superior to dislike a mountain because it's too easy, compared to disliking it because it's too difficult?

Well, I suppose it is, but why say so?

 

[HD333]

Tale of a reformed hater

It's natural to have personal preferences of where you like to ski. I get that. I just find it amusing the vitriol some folks spew regarding places that aren't their favorite.

Some of it's Mountain design or the mountain's physical limitations

Some of it's how certain areas market themselves

Some of it's the 'people' who ski there.

It's even more amusing to me when some people push their chest out and look down upon others for where they choose to ski and somehow act as if they're a more 'core' skier/rider because of where/what they think is the best. I've gotten this a few times over the passed year as my home mountain is Ragged. (you reading this bigvert??)

I have to say, I have more respect and appreciation for folks who have a shit eating grin skiing Mt. Road at Okemo on a Martin Luther King weekend. They don't care what the mountain's stats are. They don't care that they're not skiing in a foot of blower. They're just out having fun. I've got my own mountain, terrain, condition preferences for sure........but I can also have fun lapping Polecat at Wildcat all day too.

Probably like most on the board without kids the wife and I skied a boatload while we were “DINKS”, went wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted although the Threedom Pass kept us a WV/Loon a lot. I guess we didn’t give the idea of hitting smaller mountains a second thought, we were looking for the best/most skiing we could get, I guess we were haters.

Fast forward a few years.

Along came kids, skiing/riding came to a grinding halt, 1 or 2 days a year if. Kids turned 3 and we figured let's give it a shot. So we got passes at Wachusett to get the kids into the sport. If it wasn't for that year we would probably still 1-2 days on snow each year now.
Is WaWa a great "core" Mt? No but it is all relative it served its purpose for the kids first year and our first year back after a 3 year layoff. It basically introduced them to the lifestyle, gearing up, being outside, and then of course Après’ and we were usually home by 5:00 each day. We hit a few “big” mountains that year, WV, Loon, and lastly Gunstock. Sure we got to ride some better terrain but we didn’t have as much fun as the kids were intimidated by the “big” mountains, but Gunstock they were OK with, may have been the late season spring skiing with no crowds.

As a result we all got passes at Gunstock (this will be our 2nd year), not the biggest and best or most "core" but location is key for us, we share a place with family 30 minutes away, and the price point of buying passes early makes it easily doable for a family of 4 from a $ perspective. We almost hit 30 days as a family last year.

I guess what I am saying is I realize now that you gotta do what you gotta do to get out on the snow, and what works for your situation. I’d rather ski/ride a smaller, less core, mountain than be sitting on the couch any day. I am sure we will outgrow Gunstock at some point (hopefully not) and if the kids still love it the sport/lifestyle as much as they do now we will move to a “bigger, better, more core” mountain but for now we will play the hand we have been dealt.

 

[deadheadskier]

the only 'hating' I at least somewhat get is that towards Killington operations by long time K skiers that have seen a reduction in value (shortened season) compared with what they've been accustomed to.

my motivation for this thread is mainly the Waterville, Loon, Ski Top Ten and similar threads with people railing on particular mountains.

I'm really is it that bad to ski there? Do you have that awful of a time at such places that you'd rather be stuck behind a desk bitching about how much you dislike the area? Wouldn't you rather be skiing......

 

[deadheadskier]

As a result we all got passes at Gunstock (this will be our 2nd year), not the biggest and best or most "core" but location is key for us, we share a place with family 30 minutes away, and the price point of buying passes early makes it easily doable for a family of 4 from a $ perspective. We almost hit 30 days as a family last year.
.

I maybe joining you one of these years at Gunstock when I start a family of my own. Location and value will be of huge importance to me when the deadheadskier juniors come along.

Heck, I don't have kids now, but I do have a non-skiing wife. Location and value is important already. I ski Ragged as it's 90 minutes door to door. I can be on the hill at 8:30 on a Saturday morning, have four hours of fun and be home by 2 to enjoy the afternoon with my wife. I did spend half my days elsewhere last year as well to satisfy my 'core' jones. I'll do the same this year.