Grooming

[Trekchick]

I swear, I opened this thread thinking it was about DOG grooming.

You obviously haven't read the bicyclist grooming thread.

 

[mondeo]

Groomers aren't bad, excessive grooming and bad grooming are bad. For bump skiers that do drills, good groomers are needed to work on stance, weighting the downhill ski, vision, etc. And just going for all out speed is a kick too, just makes the runs too short. Some of the most physically demanding skiing I did last year was down a groomed Outer Limits; flat out carving can require more effort than bump skiing. I'd much rather have OL bumped up, but every once in a while it's a blast to have a straight, wide, groomed 30 degree slope for 1200' vert.

I think the displeasure over grooming is more a reaction to the 'average' skier's groomer only philosophy, and the philosophy at many mountains that every trail should be groomed and no off-map skiing is allowed.

The stickers didn't say stop the grooming, they said stop the brutal grooming.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Is it time to post the proper grooming pic?

the taint shot?

 

[Beetlenut]

I like groomers! There I said it! You need some way to get To/From the bump and Tree runs! :wink:

 

[marcski]

You obviously haven't read the bicyclist grooming thread.

I don't shave my legs.....despite doing a lot of riding...both road and mtn. It's the bicyclist..not the smooth legs....or the bike that makes you go fast. Although, I'm sure it would feel better to touch one's leg being all smooth...than my hairy ones.

 

[salsgang]

Nothing wrong with a first run groomer to start the day.

 

[skibum9995]

This is a thread I can relate to. I love charging groomers, and have no problem doing it all day. My quiver is built entirely for going fast and laying down railroad tracks. I enjoy a good tree run just as much as anyone else, and plan to pick up a new pair of skis for that purpose, but ripping groomers is what I do.

 

[dmc]

I'm OK with grooming.. It's just the irresponsible grooming that annoys me...

Like grooming during a pow dump... I mean... come on... Let the snow fall... Let us play with it then groom... if the gapers can't deal then.... well.... f em...

 

[thetrailboss]

Nothing wrong with a first run groomer to start the day.

NICE pic!

 

[Geoff]

In an ideal universe, I'd never have to ski groomed terrain. Every day would be a powder day or an amazing corn snow day. The bumps would be properly shaped and spaced without really deep troughs or the back sides traversed away.

The reality is that I'd rather ski groomers than choppy slide & bash wall bumps and I don't have the skill or equipment to race carve on true bullet-proof or cope with breakable crust. On good days, I only used groomed manmade trails to get to and from the good stuff. On bad days, I pretty much don't leave the groomed terrain.

 

[drjeff]

is it time to post the proper grooming pic?

[size=+4]yes!!!![/size]

 

[SIKSKIER]

I'm OK with grooming.. It's just the irresponsible grooming that annoys me...

Like grooming during a pow dump... I mean... come on... Let the snow fall... Let us play with it then groom... if the gapers can't deal then.... well.... f em...

+ 1 I love the high speed stuff but leave the damn snow alone after a dump till it gets all f-ed up.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

+ 1 I love the high speed stuff but leave the damn snow alone after a dump till it gets all f-ed up.

I know I'm pimping Whiteface again, but when we get a dump they don't groom anything (except beginner areas) until that night after it's tracked out.

 

[mountainman]

Love my winter time job.

Can a snow cat chime in on this subject? I have groomed for over 25 years. First tracks are something I have enjoyed for a long time. Worked the grave yard shift, and boot and board up when possible after work. I still enjoy doing both to this day. It was nice about 15 years ago to take a pair of 215's on a nice groomed trail. That was craving turns. When you groomed the trail it was even better to let them go some time. Today it's just skiing the edges and craving short turns, (shorter skis of course) and enjoying the surface. Good subject hope more post come in.
The 2 biggest problems I have in my job are grooming fresh powder and thaw / freeze cycles. Some times you have to groom the powder to set it before the wind hits it and the beginners and intermediate trails. The thaw freeze cycles are a groomer’s toughest night to work. I know many areas still struggle with the thaw freeze / cycles? The area I worked at the past few years does a very nice job in keeping their surface turning into what I call boiler plate or chunks of frozen rubble. It was process that was used about 20 years ago combat the thaw freeze cycles. It was nice to see this process still works today. One I truly believe in, because skiing and riding after a thaw / freeze cycle is not fun. Can you still ski and ride on it? Yes, but laying a nice edge is still fun. Where ever you ski and ride it should be an adventure down the mountain in any snow conditions. I say when can you ski or ride in any condition in the east you’re a truly a expert skier or rider.

 

[wa-loaf]

Here's a little groomer carving:

 

[Skimaine]

Love to hit the groomers and carve those big GS turns.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

I like to groom.

I typically tell people that I spend all night making corduroy, and all day avoiding it!

But I'm definitely stoked for the fast-approaching grooming season. I may even drag out an old roller for some pre-season packing.

 

[Hawkshot99]

I love a nice empty mid week day, when you take out the long stiff ski and get first tracks down a straight wide trail. Stop half way down and look at some sweet railroad tracks.

High speed big arching groomer runs are some of my favorite out there. Cant wait till this winter when I will have some race stock GS skis to really attack the fresh cord!

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I like some nice rollers to get booted off of...

 

[Trekchick]

[size=+4]yes!!!![/size]

I'll let you do the honors.

After all Groomers are most enjoyable when groomed properly