Do bumps make the man?

[highpeaksdrifter]

IMO, only true if a zipperline can be made (exception; natural bumps with lousy lines). Some would argue that even with an available line, they would prefer tranverse and making rounder turns, in my book they don't have the technique yet.

Well yeah....I think we are agreeing. If you traverse back and forth you're not really skiing them you are surviving them, but It's all good. If you get in and make your way down the best you can it may be the start of a beautiful relationship with you and moguls.

 

[JimG.]

One can be a sweet groomer skier, but SUCK in the bumps. But it doesn't work in the reverse...

Hate to say it, but yes it does.

I know a few very good bump skiers who have zero technique on groomers; throw in ice and we're talking wholesale flailing.

 

[2knees]

how about if you can nail a zipperline rather easily but do it using old school style?

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Hate to say it, but yes it does.

I know a few very good bump skiers who have zero technique on groomers; throw in ice and we're talking wholesale flailing.

That's interesting cause I've never seen that. My experience is that very good bump skiers are very good on groomers as well.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

how about if you can nail a zipperline rather easily but do it using old school style?

Please explain what you mean by old school style.

 

[Brettski]

If you can run a zipper, what can't you ski?

 

[2knees]

i'm just poking fun at myself. Its been brought to my attention, by posting some videos at epic, that i dont exactly fit the bill of modern bump skiing. I tend to air out alot and not drive my tips down. Works for me for now, but i have alot to work on this year. should be interesting. can you teach an old dog new tricks?

 

[JimG.]

That's interesting cause I've never seen that. My experience is that very good bump skiers are very good on groomers as well.

Frankly, I'm surprised.

I guess these are all folks who ski bumps exclusively...they just never spend time on the flats or on ice. They've perfected the mostly rotary, minimal carving turns needed to ski bumps well. But they have no idea how to carve a turn or hold an edge on ice. They try to ski flats the same way they ski bumps; lots of rotary, little carve. Turns into a dance of increasing speed.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

i'm just poking fun at myself. Its been brought to my attention, by posting some videos at epic, that i dont exactly fit the bill of modern bump skiing. I tend to air out alot and not drive my tips down. Works for me for now, but i have alot to work on this year. should be interesting.

I got ya. I like to get up in the air a bit myself especially if the bumps are kinda spread out. I don't worry about a certain technique, I just like to get in there and bang it out.

can you teach an old dog new tricks?

I'm probably one of the oldest dogs in here, but I'm always willing to try something new to me on skis.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Frankly, I'm surprised.
.

Maybe I don't pay close enough attention, but I've never had a thought like, "Wow that guy can rip in bumps, but he sucks everywhere else."

 

[jack97]

Maybe I don't pay close enough attention, but I've never had a thought like, "Wow that guy can rip in bumps, but he sucks everywhere else."

I've seen both. Skiers who rip the bumps and once on the flats, carve some nice turns. Others, they take their rotary turns with them in the flats.

A dead give away is the skis, long and straight, they're are going like windshield wipers in either terrain (I haven't seen a skier make a carve on the straight skis in a long time). Skiers who have the shaped skis sometimes will lay down some clean tracks.

 

[Greg]

Others, they take their rotary turns with them in the flats.

This may very well be me! True carving purists would likely scoff at my technique on the groomers. I don't care though; I enjoy the way I ski and that's all that matter - controlled speed via short snappy turns are the norm for me.

 

[jack97]

Others, they take their rotary turns with them in the flats.

This may very well be me! True carving purists would likely scoff at my technique on the groomers. I don't care though; I enjoy the way I ski and that's all that matter - controlled speed via short snappy turns are the norm for me.

The important thing is enjoying what you do. Just wanted to point out that some of the techniques used in the bumps does not translate to the same skill in the flats such as carving and large radius turns.

I even seen skiers in the bumps who seem like they are flowing down (like flowing water) in between the bumps. They used alot of pivoting and slipping. Once they get on the flats they don't use short snappy turns.

 

[mattchuck2]

If you can't ski bumps, you can't call yourself an expert skier . . .

Also, I have a bone to pick with people who say "I don't like bumps". The reason you don't like bumps is because you suck at skiing them. I'm not talking about Icy death bumps (which I kind of like as a challenge, but nobody else seems to like), I'm talking about nice, powdery bumps with plenty of skiable lines. If you don't like those bumps, then I'm sorry to say, but it's not the bumps that are crappy, it's you.

And don't give me crap about how your knees can't take it either . . . If you have good technique, you don't need to worry about your knees. I've seen plenty of people with 2 bad knees navigate bump runs as good as anyone.

 

[WICKEDBUMPER]

a bumpers non-bumping style/approach/ tehnique comes down to energy efficiency. save it for where it counts.
the thing everyone is missing is the amount of energy spent skiing bumps. Unless you have done it, you have NO IDEA what you feel like after a few zipper-line bump runs. period. sorry. but you do not know what it feels like unless you have done them.
Thats why bump contest courses are only 1000 to 1500 feet long. by the time a contestant gets to the end, they should be spent. not like a downhill run where it takes 90seconds to get drained. a bump run drains you in 25 seconds. no tuck and hold or carving, its constant, total, energy draining calorie burn where every muscle is working full bore. where your shirt is soaked at the bottom, yet its 10 degrees out. the last thing someone wants to do is carve turns on a flat after they just cooked their legs or before they cook their legs-oh yes. a good bumper knows they will cook their legs today. Save something for the next run and the next few after that.
Plus, that flat trial simply does not do anything for them anymore. why invest energy when you get little or no return?
there is a big difference between not knowing or not having the ability to do something and not WANTING to do something.

 

[WICKEDBUMPER]

not that skiing bumps makes anyone "the man" anyway. the man is anyone with the smile on their face. no matter what trial they took to put it there.

 

[AHM]

Not missing it at all...........

WB: know exactly how much energy effort it takes. Have no problem logging 35 K verts of bumps days on end. Some bumpers simply do not understand how to use the ski when not skiing bumps--zero hip and an in ability to get the ski away from the body. A good friend, a heavily sponsored bud pro mogul skier (when bud sponsored the series, this was what built the whole IFSA), couldn't carve a turn on a groomer to save his life. But he could ski bumps and toss great big airs.

Experts handle any and all terrain, any and all snow conditions, and any and all head games, and believe me, real terrain can play with your head big, cus the entrance to real lines, isn't usually a skate off the lift.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

. Have no problem logging 35 K verts of bumps days on end. .

If you have no problem skiing that type of vert in bumps, days on end, you are in some kind of great shape.

I skied MaryJane for the first time last year and my legs where like jelly at the end of the day. Anyone who loves bumps owes it to themselves to check that place out.

 

[Greg]

Have no problem logging 35 K verts of bumps days on end.

35K' of bumps? :blink: Not even sure if there is anywhere in the East where you can easily do that. You must be one helluva bumper AHM and in perfect shape. You should join us for one of the AZ gatherings. I love to watch good bumpers at work...

 

[AHM]

1000000 verts a year and counting (700 k of bumps)

Since many talk of seasonal goals, mine is always to notch a million verts each season. This requires 20 K for 50 days, since I usually do not get 50 days, and at least 10 are true backcountry (no lifts), that quickly gets to about 30 - 35 k when I ski a lift served hill.

Last year on the CR opening (on a Friday) I was able to grab 37 K, probably 2 - 3 groomers in that as a warm up. After 37 K, I know I have skied, but it is no problem to get back up and do it again. The final CR run of the day (lower CR) was still choked in pow and made for a great final run with the next stop as the Tav and a Dogfishhead 60 min IPA, and then a big smile (even though I had just come from the FL hospital where my Dad was on a ventilator)

We often talk about conditioning here as well. I spend a lot of time conditioning to ski, many times when I don't want to go but know to ski the way I want, I need to go out and exercise.

On Monday, it was nasty, rainy, and the Mtb trails were covered with wet slick leaves (I know Marc likes those conditions), I was still out on the bike for 90 min. I did not want to go, but Jim's post about "I love skiing" made me toss the bike up, pull on the wet riding gear and get out on the trails. In those types of conditions (wet, slick, leave covered roots and rocks), obviously there was some crashin' to be had. It is one of the best things about fall MTB rides, slick, wet leaves and the associated crashes.

Now, back to Mining the addiction: came up with the Colorado 76 hat last night as well. CO was shooting for the winter games in 76, and put out a bunch of "gear", since they did not end up hosting the games, the hat became an interesting collectors item.

AZ gathering: has to be at the bush, anytime anyone wants to join, drop me a line.

I will do the BC gathering, whenever and whereever, and bring some extra gear so some people who have never been can go. See ya on the hill.