First chair or "whenever"?

[Greg]

I was just teasing 2knees [POST="125878"]here[/POST], but it brings up an interesting question. Is your aim always first chair or do you just casually make it to the mountain whenever you get there? First chairs are rare for me, but if just hitting the local hills during or shortly after a dump, I'm usually there for, or shortly after opening. Longer day trips are usually within the first 30-45 minutes of opening. I like to be as early as possible, but somtimes logistics, travelling, ski partners, etc., impede a really early chair. It used to make me crazy waiting for people, but I've mellowed a bit and can tolerate it a bit more now. If I'm staying on or near the mountain, very early chairs are the norm.

Part of my quest to improve as a skier, not only involves logging more days, but logging longer days. I think at least 5 hours of skiing is needed to qualify for a full day. 6-7 hours days are pretty tiring. 8 hour days usually cause me to start to fade at around my 2nd or 3rd beer of the evening...

 

[Brettski]

We should do a poll

First chair....even if it's a 2 1/2 hour run

I like seeing people arrive at the mountain at 10:30

 

[Brettski]

When do you hit the slopes

OK, now this will be a simple one for this crew, but what is your goal to lift up?

 

[thetrailboss]

I get there as early as possible.

If I am at Burke and coming from my folk's place, I can make first chair easily.

Last season we skied at Sunapee usually from 8:15-12 noon or so. Hoping to do the same at K-mart this season.

 

[2knees]

these days, my goal is 10:00 on a day trip which most of my ski days are. If i'm staying there, opening time, whether its 8 or 9.

looks like this was merged. so i'll just expand on this. I used to get up at 4:30 to 5:00 religiously to ski. We'd get to killington, which was our primary area, by opening chair. Did this for years. I ski myself out now in 4 or 5 hours. so whats the rush if i'm not gonna make it all day anyway. I dont mean to beat a dead horse, but i go skiing to ski bumps. I cant run a bump trail all day anymore. I dont workout and my knees cant take 8 hours of the punishment. So i might as well sleep in a little. If i was just skiing groomers, i'd have no problem skiing a full day but thats not what interests me. Everyone has their favorite aspect of skiing, their likes and maybe not as much likes. Its funny in a way because i used to be a friggin ahole to people who made me wait. Now, i tend to be the person causing the delay.

 

[Greg]

Sheesh...I guess my thread wasn't good enough... :roll:

I merged them.

 

[Greg]

I'm usually in the 9 am hour. Normally close to 9 am than 10 am...

 

[dmc]

First chair on a powder day...

Mid winter - I get out around 9 or 10(when Hunter West opens)...

When I'm out west I tend to get out early..

I'll wait until things soften up before I go out in spring - however long that takes...

If I play a gig(music) the night before I don't get out until noon...

On crowded weekends I tend to wait to go out too... I'd rather ride late when people start going in.. i can deal with late day conditions...

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Always first chair. On the rare occasions when something comes up and I’m a little later, it throws my whole day off.

 

[billski]

changes

Daytrips: In my younger days, I always opened the place. Now, I'm skiing more midweek and have have enjoyed "slowing down". If I'm on the chair by 10 I'm happy. In my ancient age I've moved to more midweek skiing, which reduces the stress even further - I don't have to park way in back along with 2,000 other earlybirds, wait in a line (ticket, lift, food or other) nor do I have to trip over gear on the floor. I have no issue using vacation days for midweek sking. I simply get more and better skiing in midweek.

If I'm staying on/near slope, I always open the place up. In the east, untracked is very difficult, so I aim for uncrowded slope times, which means an early start. Stowe opens a lift at 7:30 and most of the lemmings don't realize that; You get a great first hour in; so that's the plan for a weekend at Stowe. Some people at Stowe even aim for "10 before 10" and it is realistic. By that time, at a place like Stowe, I need a break..

 

[bvibert]

I always try to be as early as possible. That doesn't usually happen though...

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

First chair, like to get there early and beat the crowds if possible, but it looks like many folks here like to do the same

 

[from_the_NEK]

If we ever have a big get togetehr of AZ'ers it is going to be really hard to get everyone on the first chair. I'm calling "first on" as of right now. Anyone want shotgun? :beer:

 

[hammer]

I always try to be as early as possible. That doesn't usually happen though...

I have a family...therefore I never get started when I'd like. :-(

Actually, I usually am out by between 9 - 9:30, so I guess that's not too bad.

 

[Kerovick]

Never seen a first chair in my life. Of course I've never had a decent powder day to get up for either.

 

[Grassi21]

1st chair for me. It will be even less stressfull this season without the wife taking forever to get ready in the AM.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

So I need to ask the ubiquitous newbie east coast skier question here. If the resort 'opens' at 8am, do they start running the lifts earlier, say at 7:30 or something? I read about the guy at Stowe, and I was wondering if this was regular protocol.
Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

always in the lodge at 7-715am, get a spot, get dressed and hit it right away...no crowds, good conditions (before it gets scrapped off) does not matter if i'm with a buddy or with my wife and kids...earlier the better....if i'm still in the lodge at 8:05, i become very antsy......if i'm paying $50,60,70,80 bucks for a ticket, i am going to get a full day...15-20 min for lunch tops.......

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

If we ever have a big get togetehr of AZ'ers it is going to be really hard to get everyone on the first chair. I'm calling "first on" as of right now. Anyone want shotgun? :beer:

Good point. I consider first chair to be waiting in line for the rope to drop.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Good point. I consider first chair to be waiting in line for the rope to drop.

That is what I consider it to mean as well. Although I have been there early enough to actually get on the FIRST chair loaded one day at Burke. That was a fun run
Anybody else been on the FIRST chair of the day?