Challenging vs fun

[2knees]

couple of threads recently have kinda skirted on this issue but i'll ask it directly. Outside of conditions, cause 1' of light powder can make almost anything fun, do you need to be challenged to really enjoy yourself skiing? I'm not talking about just going out cruising around and taking the day for what it is but skiing a smaller area or a less challenging area that may have features that just make you smile. You know its easy but still just cant get enough. I like to push myself as much as the next person but having our little hill provide us with some almost silly easy bumps just makes me want to keep going back.

 

[redalienx11]

I agree. Sometimes I just get in the mood to cruise around and give myself time to notice some things that I wouldn't normally notice if I'm ripping through a steep glade.

I've been coming to the same conclusion in my climbing pursuits. Instead of challenging myself by climbing only routes at the apex of my physical capabilities, I have been finding myself climbing many moderate routes. It gives me more of a chance to take in the scenery, sounds etc.

That being said I do believe there is a time and place for pushing yourself to the limit (safely and responsibly of course)

 

[Grassi21]

I love it all. Yesterday was a great example. The first hour was spent with wifey. This was just her second day out in a long time. I enjoyed taking it slow while she got her feet (or skis) under her. Lots of cruising on greens, finding little jumps to get some air off of (minimal air, don't get any ideas). Then we met up with Greg and his wife. We'd ski together to where the trails split. Greg and I would hit the bumps and the ladies would ski around and meet us at the bottom of the bump run. I don't care what I'm skiing as long as I am skiing.

 

[billski]

I agree. Sometimes I just get in the mood to cruise around and give myself time to notice some things that I wouldn't normally notice if I'm ripping through a steep glade.

I've been coming to the same conclusion in my climbing pursuits. Instead of challenging myself by climbing only routes at the apex of my physical capabilities, I have been finding myself climbing many moderate routes. It gives me more of a chance to take in the scenery, sounds etc.

That being said I do believe there is a time and place for pushing yourself to the limit (safely and responsibly of course)

Couple of thoughts.
1. When planning ski trips with others of green-blue abilities, I have come to appreciate that less can be more. When you're with a group - family, kids, whatever, the social aspect can be quite important. An advanced skier becomes the "leader" of sort, providing guidance on what trails are best for which abilities. I find myself more frustrated if I go to a larger mountain that I "cannot use" because of the people mix. I'm better off at a smaller mountain because the expectations are set accordingly.

2. At smaller places, I tend to be more chatty (or maybe it's just drawn out.) I befriend others who impart tips to me and visa-versa about places that may not be obvious.

3. One of the big reasons I enjoy skiing is because I'm out of doors - I can't emphasize that enough. I'll find a bench in a sunny spot and sit for 15 minutes. I am as aware of the birds, the geography, the roads, the paths through the woods, as I am of the ski/board trails.

4. I stop more often at smaller resorts, look around, seek out some woods paths.

5. I work a little more on my skills - practicing making quality carves, or mock-slalom.

6. At the smaller areas, I might even be inclined to take a lesson on some specific skill.

7. At smaller areas, I'm more apt to ski on greens for variety.

All of the above!

 

[Kerovick]

I'd say I'm 70% fun, 30% challenge.

I defintlly work on my form and style more on the easier slopes, the harder slopes are more focussed on not dying! There comes a time every trip that ya just have to push yourself alittle though. I'm lucky cause my main ski friend is really good and just keeping up with him is a challenge!

Although I have found myself enjoying taking the newbies out and showing them the ropes. Last time I was out I was helping a friends girlfriend (2nd time out) learn the basics. It was foggy as all get-out. We got to the point where she could make nice in-control slow turns down a fairly steep long blue and lapped that till the fog cleared. As we were about to get on the lift for the first time after the fog cleared she looked up at the slope and was like said "Holy crap I can't see that, I'm gonna die!!" I enjoyed telling her that she had already skiied it top to bottom 3 times with out falling.

 

[ERJ-145CA]

There's a few close places that are pretty easy around me but I still keep going back to them and I always have fun.

 

[OppositeGeorge]

The older, and better, I get, the more I appreciate the simple runs as they give me a chance to really break things down and analyze my skiing. But I still get lots of fun out of the challenging stuff as it lets me push my limits.

Guess I'm just a snow whore.

 

[deadheadskier]

The older I get and the more that life's responsibilities limits my ability to get to the slopes as often as I like; the more I'm just happy to be out there no matter what I'm skiing.

Years past when ski bumming and I could go whenever I wanted, I nary set ski on a groomer and if I wasn't in the woods slack country skiing, I was on the steepest bump run the mountain had, which then was most often Stowe.

I still seek a challenge when I go, but don't push it too hard until later in the season. I find much more enjoyment in keeping it mellow these days than I ever did before. Just happy to be sliding on snow

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I love to ski, it's my favorite thing today and I've skied regularly for 17 years. When I first began skiing..I was challenged by Pennsylvania Blacks and Double Blacks..that's not the case now, even if they're bumped up but I still have a ton of fun skiing the local mountains. I had a ball lapping a 475 vertical foot groomer at Big Boulder in late November.

In 3 weeks I'm going to Jackson Hole for my 5th trip out there. Some of the runs that Challenged me years ago are now a piece of cake. Some of the runs I wouldn't even attempt back then are now manageable..and I still don't have the balls to ski Corbetts Couloir. I'm sure I have the skill but I get nervous about a backbreaking injury and psych myself out. The long sustained pitches at Jackson Hole are challenging due to the high elevation along with alot of endurance required which is tough to train for here in the east. Although I seek out challenging runs at Jackson Hole and Stowe as well..I enjoy warm-up groomers on non powder days to just lay down nice deep arcs or straight run..nothing like airing off a whoop dee do or a cat track at Mach 5 with the run to yourself.

Skiing is awesome..yes it would be ideal if I had Jackson Hole in my backyard but I'll enjoy my 8 days out there this season and warming up at Blue mountain..

 

[polski]

My trips tend to fall into two distinct categories. When I'm with my kids, I'm focused on an appropriate mix of fun and challenge for them -- and the better they get, the more fun for me. When I'm on my own I find I'm now drawn to the most challenging stuff I can handle.

In the last couple years as I've renewed my obsession with skiing, cruising groomers has had diminishing appeal to me (except in pow, when it's all good). Instead I seek out steeper pitches, bumps and ungroomed edges and I've started venturing into glades. A big part of the challenge also is to improve my style in tough terrain, not just survive it. Not to be a snob -- and I'm still perfectly happy to do 30 laps in 2.5 hours at night on the 200' vert hill 15 minutes from home -- but only recently has it dawned on me that maybe I could get "bored" at some not-so-small mountains.

I also ski much slower on average than I used to. Oh the occasional burst into "mach 5" is fine but I'm a lot more into turns than speed now. Maybe that's in part because I don't have any choice really when I'm with the kids. The fact that I finally bought shaped skis a few years back probably contributes to this too. But I think the change in my attitude goes well beyond all that. The biggest factor probably is that I "discovered" MRG on some great pow days last year and it helped open my eyes to a whole different approach to skiing. Reading about BC and places like Tux also has stoked my imagination and ambition.

 

[billski]

what's that warren miller line... "If he says he still skis as good as he used to, then he wasn't very good back then!"

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I like this thread!!!!!...It makes me more introspective about my own skiing and gives me more things to think about when I'm on the slopes tomorrow morning,

 

[ckofer]

As I age, and things seem to get more expensive, I'm adding in snowshoing, xc skiing, shoveling powder from the deck first thing in the morning, etc. Sometimes its just as much about getting out in the snow as anything else. There are other days, however, when adrenaline skiing is the only thing that fits the bill.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Sometimes its just as much about getting out in the snow as anything else. .

:beer:

 

[billski]

you know, I'm thinking about going out tomorrow simply for the "getting outside" reason. I go stir crazy inside. sowhat if I get a little wet???

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

you know, I'm thinking about going out tomorrow simply for the "getting outside" reason. I go stir crazy inside. sowhat if I get a little wet???

That's the attitude you need on the ice coast..the season is too short to be picky..just ski..and keep your expectations low..and some days just be a gaper..Stein Erikson has gaper days..I know it..

 

[kingslug]

I like to scare myself, not everytime of course but I go for the challenge. Places like JH, Snowbird, and Squaw have so many runs that can test you I keep going back to them. Here in the East, Hunter west, Stowe, Smuggs, all can be very challenging. Still like to rip groomers but it doesn't compare to staring down a headwall. I would like to kick it up a notch though. Koreshot told me about the steep and deep camps. I'm not getting any younger so I guess if I want to do something like this I better do it soon. Have to see what Kicking Horse dishes up. From what I hear it's like JH and Squaw combined. They don't mark trails very well so you never know what you are in for.

 

[ckofer]

Sometimes it is good to take on something so difficult or fast that you couldn't possibly think of anything else. Even if it's only for 20 seconds, you have truly gone on vacation.

 

[billski]

I like to scare myself, not everytime of course but I go for the challenge. Places like JH, Snowbird, and Squaw have so many runs that can test you I keep going back to them. Here in the East, Hunter west, Stowe, Smuggs, all can be very challenging. Still like to rip groomers but it doesn't compare to staring down a headwall. I would like to kick it up a notch though. Koreshot told me about the steep and deep camps. I'm not getting any younger so I guess if I want to do something like this I better do it soon. Have to see what Kicking Horse dishes up. From what I hear it's like JH and Squaw combined. They don't mark trails very well so you never know what you are in for.

I did one of the headwalls at Squaw last spring. The scariest part is standing up on top and worrying about it. I try to minimize my "getting scared time" (a trick I learned years ago when going to the dentist made me wet my pants). I will look long enough to scout out a line and a strategy and go. I've always gotten to the bottom and said, "that wasn't so bad." That fear though is a good thing to have - it instills respect and seriousness, such that my risks are always calculated, it's never a crapshoot.

More often, I get scared when I encounter something I didn't anticipate and only had a split second to make a plan. Still, that's what I like about skiing. I don't like boulevards that you can see straight shot down to the bottom - they are too predictable and "boring" for me.

I'm having a great time skiing at this point of my career - I know all the moves, not flawlessly, but good enough, and I have enough skiing "activities" that I can mix up what I do from day to day. I tend to go through phases - high speed carving, slalom racing, woods, etc. to either match the conditions, the company or my mood. Right now (or at least until last Sunday), it was powderhounding...
:beer:

 

[Dr Skimeister]

That's the attitude you need on the ice coast..the season is too short to be picky..just ski..and keep your expectations low..and some days just be a gaper..Stein Erikson has gaper days..I know it..

Stein Erickson got taken out by a 9 year old recently. Not sure if it was a gaper or not.....

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,5143,695238228,00.html