Grooming

[drjeff]

I'll let you do the honors.

After all Groomers are most enjoyable when groomed properly

Very true and poetic words there TC!

 

[Greg]

I'm not against groomers and do enjoy them from time to time. I have been known to ski crappy bumps over sticking to the groomers though.

Some of the best groomed trail skiing I've had in recent years has been at Magic of all places. Groomed powder there after skiing the upper mountain terrain is actually welcomed. As others have said I feel most mountains overgroom, but I understand that's what the majority wants.

 

[SkiDork]

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.

My fave weapon of choice are Fischer RC4's - I actually prefer the SLs

You?

 

[mattchuck2]

Grooming = Necessary Evil

If I lived out west, I'd almost never ski a groomed trail (except to get back to the lifts from some far off bowl). When I win the Mega Millions on Friday and buy a ski area, it will have no grooming.

 

[Riverskier]

Grooming = Necessary Evil

This is a good point, especially being a New England skier. While luckily I enjoy the groomers, most NE mountains would be shut down half the season without it. Anyone who can get in a lot of days in NE and never ski groomed runs, probably doesn't have a job. I suspect many of the self proclaimed groomer haters are still out there having fun after a freeze/thaw cycle when that is all that is available. If they really can't, then I feel sorry for them, and highly advise they pack up and move out West!

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Grooming = Necessary Evil

If I lived out west, I'd almost never ski a groomed trail (except to get back to the lifts from some far off bowl). When I win the Mega Millions on Friday and buy a ski area, it will have no grooming.

its not as easy to avoid groomers out west as you seem to think it is...unless you're at Silverton. And there are plenty of times when all those far off bowls are full of death coral and not worth the trek.

 

[skibum9995]

My fave weapon of choice are Fischer RC4's - I actually prefer the SLs

You?

My everyday ski is a 181 Nordica Dobermann GSR, probably 80% of my days as these are also my powder skis and my bump skis. I'm a little guy at 5' 6", 130 lbs so I have to ski all out to get them to ride smooth. I like the big turn radius, gunning it down open slopes. I haven't found a speed limit yet, and I have tried.

I'll ski the short SLRs at small or crowded hills, and just to mix it up sometimes. The short, snappy turns are super fun, but I'm a speed junkie.

 

[mattchuck2]

its not as easy to avoid groomers out west as you seem to think it is...unless you're at Silverton. And there are plenty of times when all those far off bowls are full of death coral and not worth the trek.

Right . . . That's why I said I'd almost never ski groomers. If it was after a freeze or something, I'd be forced on to them (this happened to me while I was in Vail, had to ski the front side).

Although, on second thought, if I lived out west and everything was frozen solid, I probably wouldn't be skiing

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Grooming = Necessary Evil

If I lived out west, I'd almost never ski a groomed trail (except to get back to the lifts from some far off bowl). When I win the Mega Millions on Friday and buy a ski area, it will have no grooming.

Warm days followed by cold nights out west can make grooming neccasary out west as well unless your idea of fun is skiing refrozen chunky crud..

 

[JimG.]

Groomed trails are fine. I just prefer ungroomed conditions.

If I'm feeling sick or tired I love groomers...I mean, it's better than not skiing.

I do not enjoy overgroomed trails, places where you see alot of cat track ice. I especially dislike overgroomed trails in the Spring. The snow is a combo of hard compressed base snow interspersed with mounds of sugar and utterly sucks. It's like how I imagine a pinball feels.

That's my take.

 

[vertmont]

I agree.

Groomed trails are fine. I just prefer ungroomed conditions.

If I'm feeling sick or tired I love groomers...I mean, it's better than not skiing.

I do not enjoy overgroomed trails, places where you see alot of cat track ice. I especially dislike overgroomed trails in the Spring. The snow is a combo of hard compressed base snow interspersed with mounds of sugar and utterly sucks. It's like how I imagine a pinball feels.

That's my take.

I agree to over groomed trails. Is there any groomers here? Do mountains groom just to say trails are groomed? Do they just use power tillers? I like groomed trails, but when it's just dust on ice can't more be done by the groomers to resurface trails. I've looked at a snow cat power tiller and the teeth are only a few inches long. Is their other tools they can use to groom with? Just asking more questions. Seems like the snow cats could do more than just groom 3 inches of snow or ice.

 

[bvibert]

Some of the best groomed trail skiing I've had in recent years has been at Magic of all places. Groomed powder there after skiing the upper mountain terrain is actually welcomed.

Yup, best groomer skiing I've ever done was at Magic. The constantly refreshed nice cord on the lower mountain was really cool that day, actually had that a couple of times I guess. :beer: