Advantages/Disadvantages of Skiing by Yourself

[highpeaksdrifter]

I much perfer skiing with others, but sometimes I like going it alone for part of the day.

Advantage

I like to take pics and post them on SKIADK. I have to be alone for that. I like to take my time and get the shots I want without feeling pressure to move along.

Disadvantage

I like to have someone to talk to

 

[deadheadskier]

I'll respond later, but I just want to say you've been throwing down the gauntlet lately with great topics HPD. One after another after another. Good stuff

 

[Beetlenut]

Advantage - You can ski what you want to ski as fast or as slow as you want to.

Disadvantage - I end up skiing too fast, and wear myself out by 2 o'clock!
Can't explore or ski glades as much.

 

[2knees]

advantage being that you call all the shots as far as trails, lunch, speed, etc.

disadvantage for me is that i ski so much more conservatively. I guess this doesnt really apply for me when i ski at sundown, which i have no problem doing alone, but the terrain isnt exactly gonna set your hair on fire.

 

[Vortex]

I like skiing alone 1st thing in the am and at the end of the day. I get to get out when I want get as many runs in as possible with good conditions. Nice way to wak up. nice way to wind down.

no morning di advantage. afternoon I have to be careful not to take many woods runs without a buddy.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Advantages...no competition for freshies..as I hate skiing with others on Pow days...no waiting as most can't keep up with me....no compromise..I can ski whatever I want...I can have liftride conversations with random people.

Disadvantages..I don't think I push myself as much when I ski alone..I often ski longer sessions with others..times I would ordinarily go home..I stay longer to keep a friend company..If I get involved in an epic chase with ski patrollers..no witnesses..

 

[Madroch]

+1 on the more conservative as a disadvantage. I tend to avoid the off the beaten path routes when alone, particularly when snow conditions are sketchy or when I don't know the area real well (I'm not talking BC here, just the inbounds stuff like trees and trails that get very little use). If I do ski less populated stuff, I do it much slower-- there is always that little voice asking how long would I sit here with a broken leg before someone found me?

Advantages- in addition to terrain, speed, lunch choice-- some moments/views are meant to be appreciated in silence and get spoiled by conversations.... anything that distracts me from hearing the sound of snow falling, for example.

 

[andyzee]

With the exception of maybe one or two runs, I don't like skiing alone. I much prefer to share the experience.

 

[Glenn]

Advantage: Own pace, own lines....

Disadvantage: It's fun for a run or two...then what?

If you have to ski solo because someone bailed that's one thing. But if I had a choice, I'd certainly rather ski with someone.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

advantage...you pick the pace and the runs...no waiting for the rest of the group, no debating the merits of one run over another

disadvantages - not a good way to explore new terrain or even ski your favorite off the map tree runs...you can get stuck riding the lits with some prize wing nuts...sometimes the singles line is longer than the quads...but probably the biggest disadvantage is when skiing among a group of skiers with similar abilities, at least in my experience, everyone tends to rise to the occasion and you've also got the benefit and pleasure of watching how someone else interprets the way down the mountain...you might find a new line, a new hit, etc.

I worked in a shop in CO in 96/97 and there was a posse of five of us who always had a blast skiing together...we all liked to ski hard and fast and when we got together we seemed to elevate each other's game...some of the other folks in the shop wouldn't go out with us in a group because they felt it was always a big race or competition...that wasn't the case at all, none of us were competing with each other or trying to race to the bottom, we just fed off of each other's passion...it was a zen like pack mentality on powder days...that, to me, is the best part of skiing in a group.

 

[severine]

Advantages

• Silence! I get so little of it at home
• I only get skiing zen when skiing alone
• I can choose which trails I want to ski without feeling bad for holding anyone back
• I can take as much time as I want, again, without feeling like I'm holding anyone back

Disadvantages

• I don't really push myself when skiing alone--I advance more when skiing with others
• Sometimes it's nice to have somebody to talk to who is an adult
• I have to ride the lift with strangers

 

[bigbog]

Advantage:
Ditto...you can ski anything, anyway you'd like to without anyone being in the way...or without getting mowed over;-)

Disadvantage:
You have only yourself to talk to...

 

[mondeo]

Advantage being calling you own shots, as others have mentioned. Plus when it's not very busy, riding the chair by yourself through snow covered wooded areas can be extremely peaceful and relaxing.

Disadvantage: I won't go into trees by myself, though pretty much anything else is fair game. Shooting the stuff with buddies is always a good time, and to paraphrase Mosley in one of the WM films, it's always fun to watch your buddy bite it (assuming it's not one of those scary ones, of course.) I have to push myself to keep up with some of the people I've started skiing with at Killington.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I like skiing trees by myself..with a partner it's so easy to get split up..

 

[OldsnowboarderME]

Advantage: My desire is all that matters.

Disadvange: I will never have the pleasure of sharing a lift ride with Carrie.

 

[severine]

Disadvange: I will never have the pleasure of sharing a lift ride with Carrie.

Come on down to Sundown and I'll share a lift ride with you any time.

 

[deadheadskier]

Advantages:

In some ways a lot more peaceful. Without sounding too much like a hippie :lol:, I get a little more in touch with my soul of skiing when I'm by myself.

Getting pick whatever trail and go at whatever pace I want is nice too.

Disadvantages:

I really enjoy skiing with people who are better than me to push myself in both the pace I am skiing as well as the terrain. I'm not going to hike the Chin alone (anymore, used to often ten years ago) but if a friend says lets do it, game on.

I also really enjoy skiing with people who aren't as aggressive a skier as I and just being outdoors and having fun with friends. Typically on days skiing with such types of skiers, I'll get to enjoy a bit of solo skiing in there as well, sometimes just for half a run here or there when there's an expert pitch that ends up at the same place as a cruiser a friend might wish to take.

 

[OldsnowboarderME]

Come on down to Sundown and I'll share a lift ride with you any time.

Accepted

 

[Trekchick]

Advantage:

• Opportunities to meet new friends on the chair
• Opportunities to work on personal skills without distraction
• Can come and go when I want to without input from others
• I can eat when/what I want without input from others

Disadvantage:

• When skiing with the right people I'm inspired to amp up my skiing and push myself.
• In my area, the vertical is small(400 ish) so we tend to be social skiers. There's always a party at the base of Buck and lots of fun to keep things interesting.

 

[snowmonster]

Advantage: skiing terrain you like at your own pace and free to repeat same runs over and over again; work on technical aspects of your game; peace and quiet more conducive for deep thoughts.

Disadvantage: no one to take "action shots;" no one to bail you out in case of trouble.