Are We Now Spoiled Lazy Skiers/Riders??!

[thetrailboss]

Sometimes when I ski, I ride up with old timers who reminisce a time when there was no snowmaking, no edge to edge grooming, and just narrow/tricky runs. They, and others, sometimes quipe that skiing now is "easy," and "bland."

So my question for you all is are we spoiled? Is skiing in New England, with snowmaking and manicured trails, missing something that skiers got in the early days? Is the sport now easier? Or is it that the skiing has never been better because more can enjoy it during a longer season thanks to such technological advances?

Your thoughts to these questions... :-?

 

[dmc]

After spending 5 days climbing and skiing at Tuckermans...
I love to be spoiled...

 

[severine]

I think it's a little of both. I probably would never have skiied in the first place without the modern advances (including in equipment). I did have the opportunity to ski ungroomed trails at Mad River Glen and Sugarbush, though and that experience was priceless. TOTALLY different than the groomers... Then again, had I started with that terrain, I might not have stuck to it either.

I think we just need to take the good with the bad. Be thankful we have all the wonderful things that come with these advances (including a much longer ski season since the weather here isn't exactly conducive to a great ski season) but also have a reverence for the "old ways" and at least give that a shot sometime.

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

When I go skiing with rivercOil or DaveA it's hike, make some turns....hike some more and make a few turns, repeat as neccessary...I don't consider that spoiled or lazy...

On a more serious note, generally speaking skiing/snowboarding is safer today than ever...the grooming, improved equipment, etc... has made the sport safer...if one wants to ski on ungroomed slopes or with antiquated equipment, no one is stopping them...

 

[hammer]

I thought skiing was about having fun and not about just satisfying one's ego because they could "tough it out"...

As long as there are opportunities for the experts to go out and challenge themselves (and I hope to be one of them someday), then I don't see any problems with having groomed, wide trails for the average skier. If having grooming and better equipment gets more people out enjoying the slopes, then I can't see that as being anything but good.

I wonder if the people who complain about skiing as being "too easy" are the same ones who also lament about ski areas closing down for lack of business...

 

[thetrailboss]

It is an interesting conversation that brings up some good points. Shaped skis has been brought up...what a great innovation. Few want to go back.

And especially this season, we can all appreciate grooming and snowmaking.

But when I push off into Castlerock or a run at MRG, I can't help but feel challenged or maybe left wondering what I've been missing when skiing at other places. I guess is there an element that is being removed from skiing (i.e. the "wild" factor of dealing with mother nature)?

 

[awf170]

After spending 5 days climbing and skiing at Tuckermans...
I love to be spoiled...

you goin to write a trip report... i might go up there next week(school vacation) for a few nights, you got any tips? i never been before...

 

[loafer89]

I was on a chailift ride with an older couple (50s-60s) that were quite comfortable with HSQ lifts an grooming. They had been skiing for a long time and had experience with all the old fashioned lifts, no snowmaking or grooming, but they were happy with the modern ways of skiing.

My opinion is that a skier can pick and choose ski areas with very little amenities or lots of them, to each his own. But lazy is not the term I would give it, more likely it's a matter of pampering or not.

 

[dmc]

After spending 5 days climbing and skiing at Tuckermans...
I love to be spoiled...

you goin to write a trip report... i might go up there next week(school vacation) for a few nights, you got any tips? i never been before...

Go to www.timefortuckerman.com for all your answers...

I'm going up next Friday but only 2 days this time...

 

[bvibert]

Sure maybe its made the average skier lazy, but technology (skis, gear, heli...) has also enabled the expert/extreme skiers to do more than ever. If you get bored with technology you can always strap a couple pieces of wood to you feet and have a ball!

 

[hammer]

Sure maybe its made the average skier lazy, but technology (skis, gear, heli...) has also enabled the expert/extreme skiers to do more than ever. If you get bored with technology you can always strap a couple pieces of wood to you feet and have a ball!

And while you're at it, make sure that you go to a ski area at least 5 miles away where you have to walk there during a major snowstorm, uphill, both ways...

 

[bvibert]

Sure maybe its made the average skier lazy, but technology (skis, gear, heli...) has also enabled the expert/extreme skiers to do more than ever. If you get bored with technology you can always strap a couple pieces of wood to you feet and have a ball!

And while you're at it, make sure that you go to a ski area at least 5 miles away where you have to walk there during a major snowstorm, uphill, both ways...

Ski AREA?? I don't think so, once you walk over 5 miles through the snow, uphill, both ways you have to climb 10,000 feet straight up a mountain so you can narrowly avoid being blown off the top while trying to carve your new wooden skis out of the logs you chopped down with a herring on your way up!

 

[hammer]

Ski AREA?? I don't think so, once you walk over 5 miles through the snow, uphill, both ways you have to climb 10,000 feet straight up a mountain so you can narrowly avoid being blown off the top while trying to carve your new wooden skis out of the logs you chopped down with a herring on your way up!

You won...I can't beat that one. :lol:

 

[thetrailboss]

Ski AREA?? I don't think so, once you walk over 5 miles through the snow, uphill, both ways you have to climb 10,000 feet straight up a mountain so you can narrowly avoid being blown off the top while trying to carve your new wooden skis out of the logs you chopped down with a herring on your way up!

But I like cutting down trees with a herring!

When do you want your shrubbery?

 

[Vortex]

Change is always going to happen. Lazy skier... yes I am. I can live with that. I love all the new stuff. 34 years ago when I started I had a blast I still do.
If you want the old ways walk into the woods and hike for your turns. I hike in the summer when the lift does not run.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I think overall skiers/riders are less adventurous than they used to be. For alot of us here, the adventure part can be as much fun and satisfying as the skiing itself.

With the advent of HSQ's you can get alot more runs in than you can with the older slower lifts. For alot of people this simply means getting off the hill earlier than they used to.

Alot of people insist on slopeside lodging which there wasn't much of 30 years ago. I always chuckle when I talk to people who are planning to ski the whole day but don't like the idea of walking more than 50 feet to the slope or lift from their lodging.
I was shocked when the Bush started offerering valet parking.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

"Or is it that the skiing has never been better because more can enjoy it during a longer season thanks to such technological advances?"

Lenght of season is a big plus. Back in the day when you had to depend on the real stuff you often started the season late amd finished early. Plus high speed lifts have gotten rid of those long lines.

 

[cbcbd]

I would probably have never started skiing if someone told me that I had to lug some skis up a hill... especially while still learning.

The new technology is great for introducing newcomers to the sport. What each person decides to do after that is up to them.

If you chose to practice and become an "expert" then you will go out of your way to challenge yourself more.

Would you call skiers who get heli dropped onto ungroomed paradises lazy because they didn't climb up?

If I had all the time in the world I'd spend my time hiking up huge mountains, camp out, and ski down the next day

 

[Brettski]

Lazy?

My Legs still hurt from Last week....

It's all about what you bring to it...

Did I think that my Pocket Rockets made skiing A LOT easier? Hell yes...I just go and try and find more challenging terrain...I'm not dropping in off 20 foot cliffs yet....or running the zipper on White Heat....tons of stuff to still kick my A$$


I love every second....and it appears the kids do as well now...

(Damn, I gotta get a second job now)

 

[Skimaine4ever]

I have hiked for my turns before so I understand the rewards that go along with that. I also like the feeling of remoteness when you hike ebcause you are usually the only one. But obviously we all use lifts more then we hike and if thats what it takes to get the most skiing in its all right with me. As for snowmaking and grooming, they both are good to a point but I think some resorts get a little carried away. Especially with grooming, Personely I like a variety. Skiing bumps all the time would get boring and skiing groomers all the time definetly gets boring. I hate it whne you go to a mountain and evry single trail has been groomed. Snowmaking is good on some trails especially to build base, However I hate it when resorts blow snow over freshly fallen powder.

Just my 2 cents.