general question

[jarrodski]

landings in moguls? Has that been done?

How would it be done, and still be maintained...

My thought is, that putting kickers in moguls has been done for a long time. I don't prefer to use them... due entirely to the knees in chin action that is sure to occur. a landing would aliviate that, but, you'd end up killing 75 feet of bumps to get a cat in there nightly... not really worth it?

 

[deadheadskier]

considering that competitions include airs, I would LOVE to see all areas have a dedicated competition hill complete with airs.

Having defined airs wasn't always par for the course at amateur competitions. I recall a few that I did as a kid back in the late 80's at Okemo on Sel's where there were no defined air, but you could still earn style points for airing off a bump where you could and doing tricks. Throughout the season on that trail I and friends would turn certain bumps into jumps......lots of carnage trying to land in the middle of the bumps, best bet was to try and land on the backside of another bump then quickly check speed as you hit the front of another.

 

[2knees]

If you're asking the question in regards to sundown, i dont think temptor's length supports the idea of mowing down 75 feet of bumps to maintain a landing area. I'd rather have those extra 5 or 6 bumps then the air. If you're talking about gunbarrel, then definitely build it.

 

[jarrodski]

well... both.

in general, would it be nice to have,

and would it be appropriate for sundown is a follow up question of sorts...

 

[bvibert]

I can't do airs for crap anyway, so you may as well make it real interesting and land in the bumps.

I'm with Pat, I'd rather have the extra bumps on Temptor. Gunny is a different story, with the length of that run it seems we could afford to give up some real estate for some landing zones..

 

[Greg]

Personally, I think it's best to just put the kickers on a sloped section which provides for a decent natural landing. The key is maintaining the landing and I know you'll hate to hear this, but that probably entails having some of your guys head up there with shovels and pick axes and beating up the landing area daily.

Still, I have no problem with innovation and if you can figure out a way to pull it off without sacrificing too many bumps, go for it. Like the others have said, Gunny would be the logical choice due to the length of the trail and the fact that you'll be running a groomer up looker's right any way so I'd imagine you could just turn that bitch in to the area as needed. Perhaps wait a bit to see how the bumps form and don't disrupt good lines. Put the kicker/tabletop in the area where the lines are the crappiest. Could be an interesting approach. Good luck if you guys decide to try it.

I think the kickers on that roller on Temptor last year during the comp were pretty good with a decent landing and it didn't eat up that much real estate. Perhaps as 2knees suggested in the other thread, make them a tad steeper to add more "pop" to the air vs. getting shot out. This would shorten the required landing area too. It would also be cool to see kickers in the bumps throughout the season. I understand the liability aspect, but really; nobody has a problem with monster booters in the terrain park. Is a 2-3 foot kicker all that much more dangerous in the bumps? They would just need to be well marked (spray paint, perhaps flags or something) and the ability to ski around them is needed for those that want to bypass. Also, I would urge a very visible "Experts Only" sign at the top of the bumps so folks don't get in over their head.

 

[deadheadskier]

It would also be cool to see kickers in the bumps throughout the season. I understand the liability aspect, but really; nobody has a problem with monster booters in the terrain park. Is a 2-3 foot kicker all that much more dangerous in the bumps? They would just need to be well marked (spray paint, perhaps flags or something) and the ability to ski around them is needed for those that want to bypass. Also, I would urge a very visible "Experts Only" sign at the top of the bumps so folks don't get in over their head.

Agreed on this. Two seasons ago Sunday River was my home mountain and occasionally they would set up a course on Tempest. After competitions, even when there were no more comps planned, they would X off the jumps in the course and sometimes the entire course all together. YET, they would allow people to huck themselves 60-80 feet of the big air jump.

 

[Greg]

YET, they would allow people to huck themselves 60-80 feet of the big air jump.

Makes no sense. More often than not, one's speed is pretty low in the bumps and anyone that can keep a good clip in the bumps should have no problem with a small kicker anyway.

 

[deadheadskier]

Makes no sense. More often than not, one's speed is pretty low in the bumps and anyone that can keep a good clip in the bumps should have no problem with a small kicker anyway.

I can keep a good clip, but flail in the air after years of no longer hucking off kickers. I'm still comfortable dropping a 5 - 12 foot cliff in powder, but off jumps my balance is way off these days. I've lost my air mojo :lol: I hope to get it back this winter.

As it stands right now if I make the January bump comp at Sundown, I'm gonna be sure entertainment for the other competitors, kind of like who was it last spring who pre-released?

 

[Greg]

As it stands right now if I make the January bump comp at Sundown, I'm gonna be sure entertainment for the other competitors, kind of like who was it last spring who pre-released?

powhunter Steve. He's good like that. Crashes often on the MTB too.

 

[deadheadskier]

powhunter Steve. He's good like that. Crashes often on the MTB too.

well, unless I get a lot of practice in, I'm going to make his caught on camera crash look downright pedestrian :lol:

I definitely hope to make it down for the comp though, if for no other reason than to kick back some beers with fellow Azers and add a new ski area to my list.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I can keep a good clip, but flail in the air after years of no longer hucking off kickers. I'm still comfortable dropping a 5 - 12 foot cliff in powder, but off jumps my balance is way off these days. I've lost my air mojo :lol: I hope to get it back this winter.

As it stands right now if I make the January bump comp at Sundown, I'm gonna be sure entertainment for the other competitors, kind of like who was it last spring who pre-released?

I don't have any practice on kickers in moguls because there aren't any..I do like getting mad steezy air off the smaller 15-25 foot booters and dropping small cliffs/boulders in fresh Poe..I got cliffed out at Whistler and had a mandatory large cliff-drop..my biggest ever..probably 20-30 feet...and it was like going off the high dive...I landed in the backseat and left quite a bombhole..I was lucky because I didn't scope out the landing and I could have broke my back on rocks..

I love getting air..I prefer being booted out..horizontal air as opposed to booted up..vertical air..nothing like getting mad steezy air off a small lip before a steep headwall..There's one at Jackson Hole that I get so much horizontal distance and get booted up at least 10 feet high..such a long smooth landing..I'll find the youtube video of it..

 

[2knees]

deadhead, you really should try to come down for one of the comps. it was a blast last year and knowing the way these guys run their ski area, it will be even better this year.

 

[mondeo]

I'd say a small kicker would do alright. Don't really need a big enough jump to allow someone to launch a backflip or a d-spin. But I do agree on the up, not out.

And picks and shovels to soften the landing up.

I'll volunteer to test it out and give feedback.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'll volunteer to test it out and give feedback.

....with a D - spin?

or will you go for the triple lindy? :lol:

the airs are so crazy nowadays. Back in early High School when I was WAY into competitive bumping as a spectator and a fair bit as a competitor, a helicopter was considered pretty hardcore. The bar today is so ridiculously high, well beyond anything I thought might be possible twenty years ago.

 

[hardline]

I don't have any practice on kickers in moguls because there aren't any..I do like getting mad steezy air off the smaller 15-25 foot booters and dropping small cliffs/boulders in fresh Poe..I got cliffed out at Whistler and had a mandatory large cliff-drop..my biggest ever..probably 20-30 feet...and it was like going off the high dive...I landed in the backseat and left quite a bombhole..I was lucky because I didn't scope out the landing and I could have broke my back on rocks..

I love getting air..I prefer being booted out..horizontal air as opposed to booted up..vertical air..nothing like getting mad steezy air off a small lip before a steep headwall..There's one at Jackson Hole that I get so much horizontal distance and get booted up at least 10 feet high..such a long smooth landing..I'll find the youtube video of it..

dude you hit the nail on the head. htts like that are fun and you feel smooth. the hits in the park send ass air up. thats why i live all the natural gaps on the trails at stowe or any other place i can find them. fast and smooth. i would like to try one of the burton stash parks to see if the pulled it off right.

 

[Greg]

So Jarrod - do you plan to incorporate any of these suggestions this season?