Could someone please explain moguls to me?

[SIKSKIER]

Being a lifelong Cannon skier,bumps have always been like potholes to me.I can count on my hand how many days we have had bumps that are worth skiing.Normally they are the lovely frozen solid with unedgable ice between kind.Wheres the fun there?I don't get it.Now we can get some nice soft spring moguls and those are a blast.Even when we get a descent dump the bumps end up being scraped in between and not a lot of fun,Most of Cannons moguls are made from people turning in the wrong place and only serve to piss me off by slowing my ass down when I don't want to.Having spouted off about that,I will say that I really enjoy the bumps in the low traffic and skilled skier areas of Mittersill and Tuckerbrook back country where the moguls make sense.I make no sense though.

 

[C-Rex]

Whatever, we kill em in powder for style.

Agreed. Here's Nicolas Muller with a fine example.

 

[Cheese]

Agreed. Here's Nicolas Muller with a fine example.

I do love watching a boarder hang a top to bottom wheelie in pow on steep slope. Impresses me every time I witness it. No turns, just adjusting speed by the angle of the board.

 

[Bumpsis]

Being a lifelong Cannon skier,bumps have always been like potholes to me.I can count on my hand how many days we have had bumps that are worth skiing.Normally they are the lovely frozen solid with unedgable ice between kind.Wheres the fun there?I don't get it.Now we can get some nice soft spring moguls and those are a blast.Even when we get a descent dump the bumps end up being scraped in between and not a lot of fun,Most of Cannons moguls are made from people turning in the wrong place and only serve to piss me off by slowing my ass down when I don't want to.Having spouted off about that,I will say that I really enjoy the bumps in the low traffic and skilled skier areas of Mittersill and Tuckerbrook back country where the moguls make sense.I make no sense though.

I'm in agreement with you about bumps not being much fun when they're just frozen lumps with hard, scraped up, icy stuff in between. Alas, that seems to be often, especially at Cannon. And yes, even when the conditions are soft (recent snowfall or favorable temps,ie. spring corn moguls) but the lines are cut weird, finding a good line is a challange.

I find that moguls formed by predominant snowboaring traffic are definitely less fun for a skier. They are just cut weird and it's tough to find a good line.

But getting back to the original question, I'd say that I find it very exhilarating to hit a really sweet line in a mogul field and get through it with style, speed, control and rythm. It doesn't happen often for me, but when all things connect just right, man, it's a rush. It's experiencing perfection.

It's ephemeral and fleeting, yet time doesn't exist when this is actually happening. I cherish memories of such runs and describe them in great detail to myself in the a journal that I keep.

The truly amazing aspect of this experience is that since every run is different, I may experience this rush just once during a session despite the actual snow conditions being practically the same.
For example, a few years back I was lucky to hit some truly perfect corn moguls on Middle Earth at Sugarbush. Everything cliked just right for me and it was a perfect moment, pure now as time stood still and I felt like I was aware of every, tiny detail, from the gistening corn to how sweet and cool was the air was. After finishing up a long section, I had to stop to suck air and allow for my quads to recover.

I finished the run, took the chair back up and tried to recreate the magic, but it wouldn't happen. Every run is different. I probably burnt up my quads so I just couldn't quite connect all the elements again.

I'm lucky if I glimpse nirvana like that once a season. Sometimes, it's a good couple of seasons go by when it's been just "regular" skiing. No out of mind experiences. But that's why I chase such experiences and skiing moguls sometimes rewards me like that.

One important note: I'm not some hotshot bump skier. Far from it. Actually, I kind of suck at it most of the time, but I strive and sometimes, I connect.

 

[powbmps]

Love your response Bumpsis!

The bumps were brutal at Sunapee yesterday,but somehow it was still possible to get a turn or two that felt great. I use those to justify the pain I'm feeling today from all the bad ones :razz:.

The older I get, the more satisfying it is to make a few clean turns in the bumps. Maybe because those are the ones that don't hurt :grin:.

As a bonus, it seems possible to get a faceshot no matter how bad the conditions are. Who doesn't love that (even if it feels like shards of glass)?

But getting back to the original question, I'd say that I find it very exhilarating to hit a really sweet line in a mogul field and get through it with style, speed, control and rythm. It doesn't happen often for me, but when all things connect just right, man, it's a rush. It's experiencing perfection.

It's ephemeral and fleeting, yet time doesn't exist when this is actually happening. I cherish memories of such runs and describe them in great detail to myself in the a journal that I keep.

The truly amazing aspect of this experience is that since every run is different, I may experience this rush just once during a session despite the actual snow conditions being practically the same.
For example, a few years back I was lucky to hit some truly perfect corn moguls on Middle Earth at Sugarbush. Everything cliked just right for me and it was a perfect moment, pure now as time stood still and I felt like I was aware of every, tiny detail, from the gistening corn to how sweet and cool was the air was. After finishing up a long section, I had to stop to suck air and allow for my quads to recover.

I finished the run, took the chair back up and tried to recreate the magic, but it wouldn't happen. Every run is different. I probably burnt up my quads so I just couldn't quite connect all the elements again.

I'm lucky if I glimpse nirvana like that once a season. Sometimes, it's a good couple of seasons go by when it's been just "regular" skiing. No out of mind experiences. But that's why I chase such experiences and skiing moguls sometimes rewards me like that.

One important note: I'm not some hotshot bump skier. Far from it. Actually, I kind of suck at it most of the time, but I strive and sometimes, I connect.

 

[my poor knees]

very poetic description bumpsis. I also find that there are simply certain times that I can ski moguls like a champion and sometimes I pray that no one is looking. It's a zen moment and there aren't enough of them. I get high from it. It's getting harder to replicate as I get older but I still have moments when all the pieces fall into place and I own the moguls. You get so tired and you want to stop but you know your in the rhythm so you keep going until your quads feel like their going to explode. Your flying down the zipper line and you feel like your untouchable and nothing can stop you from your mogul attack, and then some 15 year old punk comes flying by you and you stop for a minute to catch your breath and rest your old weary knees and try to convince yourself that you had better form than him

 

[justjen]

This book changed my mogul skiing life....

http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Instructors-Never-About-Skiing/dp/142086159X

Thanks for the recommendation! I just bought the Kindle edition for $3.19 and will read it on my way to Sugarbush tomorrow.

Right now, the only mogul show I put on under the lift is bump, bump... stop... stare down hill... scratch head...sweat profusely... repeat.

 

[redwinger]

I like bumps because it's the only thing that I can't ski well. Steeps and groomers, feet locked together no problem. Stick me in some steep bumps and it's like my first year skiing all over again.

 

[kingslug]

If you don't like bumps here in the east..then you're stuck on groomers for the day. I practice them every time I'm on the hill. Yes they suck when icy so I go slower..out west I still seek them out, even though a lot of people out there would rather hit other things, gives me a chance to practice on real snow, which is a lot easier. Learning the quick turn will help you in every situation, especialy tight trees..

 

[Abubob]

I think tele skiers have the coolest style for long turns in soft snow myself. Its just beautiful to watch. That said I also think they look ridiculous on moguls. I don't see a good snowboarder in moguls looking any less stylish in the moguls than most good twin plankers.

Being a lifelong Cannon skier,bumps have always been like potholes to me.I can count on my hand how many days we have had bumps that are worth skiing.Normally they are the lovely frozen solid with unedgable ice between kind.Wheres the fun there?I don't get it.Now we can get some nice soft spring moguls and those are a blast.Even when we get a descent dump the bumps end up being scraped in between and not a lot of fun,Most of Cannons moguls are made from people turning in the wrong place and only serve to piss me off by slowing my ass down when I don't want to.Having spouted off about that,I will say that I really enjoy the bumps in the low traffic and skilled skier areas of Mittersill and Tuckerbrook back country where the moguls make sense.I make no sense though.

+1 While I've never skied Tuckerbrook I agree with this 100%.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

My wife has a nice set of moguls! However she is shut down more then Sugarloaf during a windy NorEaster!

 

[Abubob]

my wife has a nice set of moguls! However she is shut down more then sugarloaf during a windy noreaster!

tmi !!!