Fear

[highpeaksdrifter]

Go ahead and say you have no fear of anything ski related, but I’m going to post mine.

Being in an avalanche - I’m claustrophobic so the thought of being buried under snow, unable to move, waiting for the lights to go out for good is terrifying.

Old Age - This is probably more of a worry then a fear, but at 53, no matter how much I work out (and I do a lot), I can’t stop the aging process. So some day the aging process won’t allow me to ski at the level I do now. I wonder if I’ll still want to ski if I can’t go all out. That scares me and I usually try not to think about it.

 

[trtaylor]

Old Age - This is probably more of a worry then a fear, but at 53, no matter how much I work out (and I do a lot), I can’t stop the aging process. So some day the aging process won’t allow me to ski at the level I do now. I wonder if I’ll still want to ski if I can’t go all out. That scares me and I usually try not to think about it.

I'm 50 and I guess I'm not worrying about it yet. I hope to be skiing for a long time yet. There are guys in their 70's still involved in Master's racing. You have plenty of time left

 

[campgottagopee]

My fear is the "getting older" thingamajigger. I don't want to ski like an old man but i know it's getting closer and closer. That scares me---only in my 40's but due to some injuries (some skiing some not) my body feels older than that on certain days.

 

[snowman]

Oh good lord. My greatest fear is being on a chairlift and not knowing what to do with my poles :blink:

 

[campgottagopee]

Oh good lord. My greatest fear is being on a chairlift and not knowing what to do with my poles :blink:

Nice---made me laugh out loud and everything

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

360- I forgot one. I'm afraid to try a 360. Every time I think I have the sack to try one I chicken out. I always fantasize about doing one on a big kicker at the end of a mogul run. Dang.

 

[bvibert]

Old Age - This is probably more of a worry then a fear, but at 53, no matter how much I work out (and I do a lot), I can’t stop the aging process. So some day the aging process won’t allow me to ski at the level I do now. I wonder if I’ll still want to ski if I can’t go all out. That scares me and I usually try not to think about it.

I'm only 30 and I worry about what's going to be like when I get older already. But for me it's a good thing since it sometimes gets me off my ass to get in better shape. Sometimes I think to myself; Those old guys like HPD and JimG are in way better shape than me, and their old, what the hell kinda shape am I gonna be in when I get old if I keep being such a lazy turd??

 

[MRGisevil]

I'm afraid of chairlifts. Can't shake it. Get nervous every time I'm on one.

 

[Grassi21]

I'm only 30 and I worry about what's going to be like when I get older already. But for me it's a good thing since it sometimes gets me off my ass to get in better shape. Sometimes I think to myself; Those old guys like HPD and JimG are in way better shape than me, and their old, what the hell kinda shape am I gonna be in when I get old if I keep being such a lazy turd??

So true. Stuff like this is why I've started going to the gym at lunch 3 or 4 days a week. Mix in weekend activities and my time on the Skier's Edge and I should be great shape just like those old guys this season.

In all seriousness, longevity or lack there of is my biggest fear. I want to live long enough to be a grandparent, great grandparent etc.

 

[marcski]

I'm 40, but the age thing doesn't bother me. (at least not yet). I'm in far better shape today than at 30 (and perhaps at anytime).

But I have a fear of heights. Some chairlifts scare the heck out of me..(the millie chair at brighton stands out). Also, to access some of the goods, while traversing, especially on a small steep ridge, I get scared out of my shorts...Once my skis are pointed downhill, I'm fine...its accessing the goods that's scary for me.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

sketchy, rocky traverses in my boots always give me a sense of vertigo and pucker my sphincter. The knife edge at top of solitude (through the bca gate at the patrol shack) really stands out in my mind...thought I was going to fall off one side or the other for sure. Once I got my skis back on I was a happy camper.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I fear big time exposure...like being on the ledge of a skyscraper. Last summer when I was in Hawaii..My room was on the 31st floor and there was a balconey and I didn't like to stand to close to the railing and I locked the door to the balconey for fear of sleep walking...the same is true on some sketchy traverses above cliffs..IE no fall zones...steep terrain doesn't faze me but a 400 foot plunge to my death does...

I fear getting a girl pregnant because if she chose to keep the baby(it's a womans choice) it would be a financial disaster for me. I have a friend who pays $700 a month in child support...If I had to shell out that kind of money..my skiing budget would be toast but I'd still go to Jackson Hole..I can't go a season without visiting there..

Somebody mentioned growing old..year it's scary..I'm 28...Halfway between 16 and 40..It doesn't seem like that long ago when I was 16 and got my first car...and when I'm 40..It probably won't seem like too far back when I was 28. The good thing about getting older is that you get wiser...and if things work out well, you make more money or at least spend money more carefully. As Ferris Bueller said,"Life moves pretty fast if you don't stop and look around every once in awhile, you might miss it"...

Burglers and intruders...I'm never had a break in but I live in a city with alot of crime..if somebody broke into my place..I'd be forced to kill them...and then I'd have to rent one of those carpet shampoo-ers to get the blood up. I'd don't ever want to be in that sort of situation but if it happens..the animal instinct will take over and hopefully I can defend myself..

Settling down with one person for the rest of my life..aka marriage..People are not monogamous by nature. I hate the fact that most women my age who aren't married will settle for the next stable schmoe who comes into their life. There's alot of pressure especially for women to marry by age 30..and all I want is to have some fun..like Sheryl Crow..lol

Drunk drivers scare the skeet out of me...I can be as careful as can be and do everything right but some drunk driver can end my life flying through a red light or some other crap..I'm for harsher drunk driving laws...if there was mandatory jail time for first time DUI offenders..the number of DUIs would drop dramatically and cab companies would make more business..

 

[riverc0il]

I think there is a difference between "fear" in the moment and being "fearful" of something. Fear in the moment is dangerous and not setting yourself up for a fear in the moment situation is critical. Thus, being fearful of a dangerous event can keep you safe. Being overly cautious about minimally dangerous activities can also prevent the full enjoyment of the activity. Where is the line between being rightly fearful versus overly cautious?

For myself, I don't consider going into avalanche terrain unless avi risk is, for all practical purposes (since it can never be completely zero given the right terrain), not really an issue that needs to be considered. Am I missing out on some fantastic skiing on Mount Washington but not buying avi gear, getting an education, and going out when there is only a slight risk? Perhaps, but that isn't worth the risk, call me over cautious.

The tighter the line, the more far out of bounds, the fewer people skiing the area, going solo, etc. Those are issues that induce cautious and sometimes fearful decision making to not put myself into a potentially bad situation. I solo a lot more than I probably should, both earning turns and going past the boundary lines, but I certainly have my limits as to how stupid I really can be about pursuing what I enjoy regardless of company.

 

[SkiDog]

Im with HPD on this one...AVIES.....

No thanks..

M

 

[kcyanks1]

I haven't been involved in situations where there might be an avalanche to say I have fear of it (I have only gone into terrain that might have an avalanche when avalanche probability is low). If faced with the possibility of entering terrain where it would be a possibility, I'm sure I would have fear, and probably wouldn't do it.

At this point though my fear is more what Steve characterized as fear in the moment. While I agree that some of that is probably a good thing, I think it's the biggest thing that has prevented me from getting much better since I started college (I'm 26 now). When I was younger I wouldn't have fear, and now when I am faced with situations more difficult than those that I skied before, I get scared. Mainly it involves jumping off cliffs (even ones people here might consider small), especially in the woods. I was quite afraid when jumping off the cliff in my avatar (approx 8 feet). Looking down over Corbet's totally freaks me out. My fear also prevents me from skiing as fast as I did when younger--and I was skiing in control when younger, I never have been especially wild. I feel that being with people who are better and/or less fearful than me helps me a lot, and if I want to improve I need to get over some of my fear.

 

[JD]

Slides and my right knee.

 

[Marc]

Koreshot and Phil.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I fear big time exposure...like being on the ledge of a skyscraper. Last summer when I was in Hawaii..My room was on the 31st floor and there was a balconey and I didn't like to stand to close to the railing and I locked the door to the balconey for fear of sleep walking...the same is true on some sketchy traverses above cliffs..IE no fall zones...steep terrain doesn't faze me but a 400 foot plunge to my death does...

I fear getting a girl pregnant because if she chose to keep the baby(it's a womans choice) it would be a financial disaster for me. I have a friend who pays $700 a month in child support...If I had to shell out that kind of money..my skiing budget would be toast but I'd still go to Jackson Hole..I can't go a season without visiting there..

Somebody mentioned growing old..year it's scary..I'm 28...Halfway between 16 and 40..It doesn't seem like that long ago when I was 16 and got my first car...and when I'm 40..It probably won't seem like too far back when I was 28. The good thing about getting older is that you get wiser...and if things work out well, you make more money or at least spend money more carefully. As Ferris Bueller said,"Life moves pretty fast if you don't stop and look around every once in awhile, you might miss it"...

Burglers and intruders...I'm never had a break in but I live in a city with alot of crime..if somebody broke into my place..I'd be forced to kill them...and then I'd have to rent one of those carpet shampoo-ers to get the blood up. I'd don't ever want to be in that sort of situation but if it happens..the animal instinct will take over and hopefully I can defend myself..

Settling down with one person for the rest of my life..aka marriage..People are not monogamous by nature. I hate the fact that most women my age who aren't married will settle for the next stable schmoe who comes into their life. There's alot of pressure especially for women to marry by age 30..and all I want is to have some fun..like Sheryl Crow..lol

Drunk drivers scare the skeet out of me...I can be as careful as can be and do everything right but some drunk driver can end my life flying through a red light or some other crap..I'm for harsher drunk driving laws...if there was mandatory jail time for first time DUI offenders..the number of DUIs would drop dramatically and cab companies would make more business..

Grilled Cheese you are too too much.
1. nothing you said is ski related
2. your only consern about knocking someone up is finanical
3. you're 28 and worried about getting old..yeah right between 16 and 40..give me a break
4. your animal instinct
5. your rant about monogamy and implication that all woman want to be married by 30. Don't worry I think you're safe.

You're too much dude. You do amuse me though.

 

[snowman]

Grilled Cheese you are too too much.
1. nothing you said is ski related
2. your only consern about knocking someone up is finanical
3. you're 28 and worried about getting old..yeah right between 16 and 40..give me a break
4. your animal instinct
5. your rant about monogamy and implication that all woman want to be married by 30. Don't worry I think you're safe.

You're too much dude. You do amuse me though.

Yeah, he's great. I figured no body would want to ski with him in the stupid poll just from is "Veteran's deserve no respect" comments. But hey, I guess most people here would rather ski with someone who spits on veteran's rather than with someone who's going to point out the sheave train on tower 14 is slightly out of allignment and should be looked at. Interesting bunch you are! :beer:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Grilled Cheese you are too too much.
1. nothing you said is ski related
2. your only consern about knocking someone up is finanical
3. you're 28 and worried about getting old..yeah right between 16 and 40..give me a break
4. your animal instinct
5. your rant about monogamy and implication that all woman want to be married by 30. Don't worry I think you're safe.

You're too much dude. You do amuse me though.

I'm just speaking my mind..I'm not fearfull of skiing too fast...I'm fearful of skiing too slow because somebody might pass me..