A_Z Trip Logistics

[billski]

So tell me more about the A_Z trips. Ski discussion groups tend to fill with "braggin' rights" stories. Are the A_Z trips filled with high-end, high-test, high-rpm runs?

Tell you why I ask. I have sking "moods" if you will. I have days when I want to ski flat out, other days when I want to enjoy the scenery, the weather, burnt out from the day before or just want to make it a blue-run day.

I also ask this question on behalf of the many lurkers who might be just considered Joe/Josephine average skier. You might get more participation if you set the expectation level correctly.

I'm rather sensistive to these issues as I used to run a fairly large ski club in the northeast. We had the full gammut of skiing abilities. It took "critical mass" to be able to segment out, which was often done by self-selection based on ability.

For me, I sometimes like to go full tilt for a couple of hours.

I'm not a good one for organizing things at this point in my life, since I'm into skiing for the fun of it. For me a big part of the fun is in the unpredictability and ad-hoc discretion I can play into. That's why I don't like straight-down-the-fall-line trails. Too boring when I can see the bottom.


Do you segment up into top-guns and then the rest-of-us groups? What about the poop-out factor? Do you just abandon them? What about breaks? Do you ever stop for potty breaks? You get the idea. I anticipate your answer will be "it depends on what the mix is". So what I'm saying is that by setting expectations you'll probably get a better "yield."

 

[BeanoNYC]

That's a good question. I've often said to myself "Self: What if these dude's are Bode Millers? I don't want to slow them down."

 

[Vortex]

I made a few of the trips this year. What has happened is we meet and go together in a group in a comfortable area and see how we do and then we pair off into tree screamers like rivercOil and Charlie, Greg likes to hit the bumps. I like the hero snow. the only stories are apres ski. We try to have lunch together as well as a quick meeting at the end of the day. :wink: Bragging...I have not seen any. It is all about community and going out. We try to let people come join up and then do their own thing. I won't go if its the have and have nots. There are times for a group outing and times for a few runs with selected buds. I like to separte the two ..My 2 cents.

 

[thetrailboss]

Very good discussion topic and I hope that we can answer some questions in here and get more folks out.

I kind of thought that AZ outings were routine, but I was wrong...Greg said this was the first season when this many "organized" trips have gone out. Bob R sums it up nicely...we're pretty much like in here...open, honest, and friendly. I've skied with many folks in here now and it has been great! At Burke, I kind of gave a mini-tour for those interested, but mainly it was do what you want with other folks who shared the same interest. No show-offs...great comraderie...great fun...apres ski is fun. No showboats.

I really want to see some more events as well, but I'll stop here and defer to Bob R for his input :wink:

 

[Brettski]

Well maybe there's time for one more at k-mart....

Me? I'll ski anywhere...but will get bored on too many blue cruisers that have no character....

 

[BeanoNYC]

K-mart huh? That sounds like fun. Should be relatively empty too. Apres at the wobbly?

 

[Vortex]

Follow Bvibert he is a walking Billboard. April 30th at K. Some of us are following up with May 1st at Sr. Last 2 planned outings I think. Bvibert and I are talking May 6th also. Simple plan a time after you know you can go. Exchange phone numbers. Pm me if you want to hook up. Bviberts picure is all over the place as well. If you want to go We will make an effort to find ya, just return the favor. 9 to 9.30 at K on Sat April 30th. Lets head this back over there to the trips folder. Also try a Pm to the person who stated the thread they cared enough to get the ball rolling.

 

[bvibert]

Bvibert and I are talking May 6th also.

I think we were talking about the 7th (Sat.), thats not going to work for me though... Sadly, if I make it to the 30th at big K that will be my last time out this season, if not then this past Sunday was (a wonderful day to end the season if it comes to that )...

 

[Vortex]

Your right the 7th. But we have to get to the 30th 1st. Sorry for my error.

 

[bvibert]

...Sorry for my error.

For your penance you must ski on 4/30, 5/1 AND 5/7! :lol:


:beer:

 

[Vortex]

...Sorry for my error.

For your penance you must ski on 4/30, 5/1 AND 5/7! :lol:


:beer:

Ok :beer:

 

[riverc0il]

i participated in three of the meet ups this year. the number one reason for doing a meet up is to ski with other skiers. period. that is definitely the most enjoyable part of the day regardless of ability level. that said, at the AZ gatherings i participated in, we try to find something for everyone to ensure all participants get to have fun on what they prefer for trails.

generally we have arranged an early AM meeting for when the lifts start and begin on cruising blue squares. depending on group ability and preference, it could go any where from there. to date, i haven't skied a gathering with any one that couldn't handle a low level expert groomed trail or better.

at burke and magic, we broke off a bit after lunch for those who enjoy the bumps and trees. however, we usually met back up after a few runs and skied as a group again. essentially, every trip has been different based on the variables of who is there, what people want to ski, what trails are open, etc. so in sumation, i'll break down your last paragraph:

Do you segment up into top-guns and then the rest-of-us groups?

we have not seperated out mini-groups, but do have small break offs for a few runs for those seeking something more challenging.

What about the poop-out factor?
Do you just abandon them? What about breaks?

there's a wide range of stamina from those that only ski for a few hours to those that don't stop. generally there's enough people that someone needing to take a break wouldn't be doing it alone. we definitely do a group lunch, but if someone needs a rest, they can hit the lodge for a few runs then meet back up.

Do you ever stop for potty breaks?

by all means. if someone needs to hit the restroom, they are usually not alone! we'd wait all wait for a bathroom stop.

You get the idea. I anticipate your answer will be "it depends on what the mix is". So what I'm saying is that by setting expectations you'll probably get a better "yield."

hard to put an "expectation" on a gathering. i think the expectation is that people enjoy skiing and meeting other people and building a sense of community. regarding skill level and ability, it's been everything from intermediate to expert all mountain skiers, but it's not like expert skiers are giving any attitude for skiing on groomers as part of the group. it's all about meeting people in a group setting and skiers that would feel pressured or dragged down by others may not feel at home. but then again, we do break off from time to time for one or two runs. my thought would be to just show up for a gathering and see if you enjoy the company and turns. i don't think any one has made a gathering that hasn't had an awesome time.

 

[billski]

to date, i haven't skied a gathering with any one that couldn't handle a low level expert groomed trail or better.

That's the part I suppose that concerns me. While I used to be up to experts on a regular basis, the number of years on my old bones has slowed me down. One, two or three xperts is about it for me, unless it's a groomer xpert. At my age, I'm using inertia and momentum to move me, not as much muscle anymore. After an hour of xperts, I'm ready for a break. In fact, I tend to ski like mad (remember, I seek out zero wait time lift lines) for an hour or two, then need to break for 20 mins.

My concern is that I couldn't really synch into the group rythym for two long before I'd be out of synch. My days of serious bump skiing are over. Catch my drift...

 

[BeanoNYC]

I don't see that being much of a concern billski. If you need a break, you take it. You'll probably have someone who needs to break as well. If people want to continue skiing, so be it. You can always meet back up. That's why cell phone numbers will be pm'd. Hell, we can even have an offical AZ walkie channel.

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

I agree with Bob, Trailboss and rivercOil, it's about skiing with other skiers...whether it's cruisers or bumps or some glades, find your comfort zone for the day and enjoy...there's always someone to make turns with or meet at a lift and ride up together...FUN!!!

Being a season pass holder, to close out the season I'll be at Loon on 4/17...

 

[riverc0il]

like i said... most group skiing was done on groomers with individuals breaking off for more challenging stuff on a few occasions. no group activity was done on anything ungroomed or excessively steep. any intermediate level skier with a solid parallel turn would be fine on an AZ group outing. i think a beginner level skier utilizing a snow plow/wedge turn would either hold the group back or not enjoy the experience.

 

[riverc0il]

no group activity was done on anything ungroomed or excessively steep.

with exception of that one run at beast! but no one was doing any arm twisting

 

[thetrailboss]

Billski--

From what I've read from you and from your trip reports, you're a perfect candidate for meeting up with us and taking some runs . You sound like an interesting guy who wants to get out and ski, so come on up!

 

[bvibert]

I agree with what the others have said. I've been to two AZ gatherings and skied with individual AZer's on three separate occasions. Each time I considered myself low on the totem pole as far as ability goes and I never felt left out or anything like that. As was previously said its all about skiing with other skiing enthusiasts.

 

[Greg]

Greg likes to hit the bumps.

I do, but I certainly don't jump into the bumps all day and I'm far from proficient at them. I'm also perfectly content just cruising. I can always find something to entertain me on the flatter runs, whether it be working on technique or skiing through or around variable terrain/trees along the sides of the trail, or looking for little hits. One of my favorite things to do this season was to ski back and forth over the lip on the sides of trails formed by the groomers. Many mountains also offer bumps or ungroomed terrain and a groomed pass on the same trail. These runs offer something for everybody. I guess the only terrain that folks would need to split up would be the trees. In most instances, there is someone in the group that knows the mountain well enough to direct the others to a meeting place, e.g. a lift.

no group activity was done on anything ungroomed or excessively steep.

with exception of that one run at beast! but no one was doing any arm twisting

That was some run. I don't think we scared off shoeup11 (Frank) that bad though as he has since registered and posts here from time to time.

There have been no pretentious attitudes that I've found on the couple of meet-ups I've been to. Also, keep in mind that there is no obligation to ski with the group for the entire day. Folks should just be honest about the ability and if a selected run is too much for them, they should just indicate they'll ski another one. Anyone attending a gathering should not feel weird if they want to ski a different area, or ski by themselves for a while, or head into take a break, or have a beer, etc...there's nothing wrong with any of that.