Half Grooming Bump Runs

[Phildozer]

Interesting chat! As with most things, there are legitimate difference of opinions. Here is what we will actually try to do today and tonight. We are going to try to piece Snowball and Spring Fling together and groom them as best as possible so we have some nice intermediate terrain for the final two days. We are going to do a pass or two down Stein's but leave plenty of bumps. This will set the trail up well for all to enjoy. Personally, I like the Spring Bump, so I am looking forward to spending a lot of time in them on Saturday. I am also looking forward to a few cruisers and mostly likely will warm up on the groomed side of Stein's on the first run to get the blood flowing and the knees lubricated.

I'm not a Sugarbush skier (yet) but the fact that the owner of the place comes on here to let people know what's-up on the last weekend of the season is pretty cool in my book.

I'll definitely check out the Bush next season.

 

[JimG.]

Interesting thread...here's my take:

I hear alot of talk about half grooming expert trails and leaving them half bumped. I like bumps alot and spend alot of time skiing them when they are left to form. I like seeded or natural bumps equally.

But if you're going to half groom expert terrain, don't be a half ass and fully groom intermediate and beginner terrain. Those places need to feel the bump love too! So, leave them half bumped/half groomed too.

Can you guess what will happen? Beginner and intermediate skiers will learn how to ski bumps better! And they won't have to ski over their heads on an expert trail to get their feet wet.

Oops! Better stop now before Mr. Spock says "Logical".

 

[GolfingOwl]

A half bumped trail is really two trails in one. It's also a great way to learn bumps because you can work the edges and bail out if you need to. I agree with the poster that said some bump love should be given to blues and even greens. It's tough to learn to ski bumps in steep terrain.

I ski bumps from time to time. I have been improving but I'm not even close to being good. Whereas, I can do a pretty good job on most groomers except for the super steeps. I find bump runs take a lot out of me so unless I can find short bump runs I'll stick to gromers.

The great bump skiers I see from the lifts on the bump runs are few and far between. This is like going on a golf message board where everyone thinks they are a single digit handicapper.

 

[hammer]

Interesting thread...here's my take:

I hear alot of talk about half grooming expert trails and leaving them half bumped. I like bumps alot and spend alot of time skiing them when they are left to form. I like seeded or natural bumps equally.

But if you're going to half groom expert terrain, don't be a half ass and fully groom intermediate and beginner terrain. Those places need to feel the bump love too! So, leave them half bumped/half groomed too.

Can you guess what will happen? Beginner and intermediate skiers will learn how to ski bumps better! And they won't have to ski over their heads on an expert trail to get their feet wet.

Oops! Better stop now before Mr. Spock says "Logical".

Although I'm not entirely sure about beginner trails, I agree with what you said...

 

[skiadikt]

Interesting thread...here's my take:

I hear alot of talk about half grooming expert trails and leaving them half bumped. I like bumps alot and spend alot of time skiing them when they are left to form. I like seeded or natural bumps equally.

But if you're going to half groom expert terrain, don't be a half ass and fully groom intermediate and beginner terrain. Those places need to feel the bump love too! So, leave them half bumped/half groomed too.

Can you guess what will happen? Beginner and intermediate skiers will learn how to ski bumps better! And they won't have to ski over their heads on an expert trail to get their feet wet.

Oops! Better stop now before Mr. Spock says "Logical".

5 star idea! i remember for a season or two way back, killington had seeded bump runs on lower needles, lower outer limits and upper royal flush (the green part), so they had all 3 skill groups covered. we called them computerized bumps because the lines were so good. wonder where that idea went ... now during mid-winter, it's sometimes hard to find anything bumped. sure skiers right outer limits or lower superstar, but those are hardly places to learn or practice.

btw, i think it's super win stopped in unsolicitated and posted with such insight. a ski area owner about the skiers. thanks win!

 

[2knees]

5 star idea! i remember for a season or two way back, killington had seeded bump runs on lower needles, lower outer limits and upper royal flush (the green part), so they had all 3 skill groups covered. we called them computerized bumps because the lines were so good. wonder where that idea went ... now during mid-winter, it's sometimes hard to find anything bumped. sure skiers right outer limits or lower superstar, but those are hardly places to learn or practice.

you probably read this already but i found the response rather interesting.

after bumping it 3 times myself i think.

the thread from kzone
http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13196&start=15

the relevant answer extracted.
"I don't know about the history of this topic at K. I'll look into it. The key is having snow. You go through a thaw/r*in/freeze cycle without beaucoup de snow and you either mow 'em or close 'em until there is snow.

You want to worry about expenses join me in churning over the cost of snow we've blown in marginal temps all fall. If we ever define our success by seeding mogul runs we'd fund it. Per visitor K has the best mogul skiers in the East and the best mogul terrain.

I believe seeding bumps is a good move on Okemo's part. Due to the nature of their terrain they don't bump-up as naturally without natural snow. They farm it.

Take the steeper terrain at K with decent manmade snow - like Highline last weekend - a trail like that bumps-up naturally and pretty evenly after 3 hours. That doesn't happen without pitch. We'll take a look."

cant remember who cmvrt is, not tom horrocks but the other management person who posts over there from time to time.

anyway, that was an excellent post JimG but unfortunately, i'm not holding my breath for it.

 

[kbroderick]

Re: bumps versus groomers, I enjoy bumps, but I can't ski bump runs all day. I'm simply not conditioned well enough to do that, even on alpine skis. (And I'd be willing to go out on a limb and guess that most skiers--even expert skiers--lack the physical conditioning necessary to zipperline bumps all day, even if they have the technical skills.) On tele skis, it's even tougher (but I'm not an expert tele skier, either); when I've got soft snow, a reasonable pitch, and nice bump spacing, I can actually get into a good rhythm...for about ten bumps. Then things get interesting. But regardless of equipment, after a few runs in the bumps, I rather enjoy being able to take a more relaxed approach and spend some time on groomers or in low-angle woods where my body is a bit less taxed.

And on that note, I'm psyched to hear that there is the strong possibility of groomed terrain at the Bush this weekend. With just a bump-covered Stein's to play on, the number of runs I'd take would be pretty limited; with groomed options, the Coronas might not be calling my name quite as loudly.

 

[Greg]

cant remember who cmvrt is, not tom horrocks but the other management person who posts over there from time to time.

Dave Rathbun
VP Sales & Marketing

 

[skiadikt]

you probably read this already but i found the response rather interesting.

after bumping it 3 times myself i think.

the thread from kzone
http://www.killingtonzone.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13196&start=15

the relevant answer extracted.
"I don't know about the history of this topic at K. I'll look into it. The key is having snow. You go through a thaw/r*in/freeze cycle without beaucoup de snow and you either mow 'em or close 'em until there is snow.

You want to worry about expenses join me in churning over the cost of snow we've blown in marginal temps all fall. If we ever define our success by seeding mogul runs we'd fund it. Per visitor K has the best mogul skiers in the East and the best mogul terrain.

I believe seeding bumps is a good move on Okemo's part. Due to the nature of their terrain they don't bump-up as naturally without natural snow. They farm it.

Take the steeper terrain at K with decent manmade snow - like Highline last weekend - a trail like that bumps-up naturally and pretty evenly after 3 hours. That doesn't happen without pitch. We'll take a look."

cant remember who cmvrt is, not tom horrocks but the other management person who posts over there from time to time.

anyway, that was an excellent post JimG but unfortunately, i'm not holding my breath for it.

good thing you didn't hold your breath. his final response december 23:

"I had a chat about this today. We're looking into it and I'll report back when I some info."

we're still waiting ...

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

The great bump skiers I see from the lifts on the bump runs are few and far between. This is like going on a golf message board where everyone thinks they are a single digit handicapper.

I guess there are internet experts in all sports forums. :wink: When you think about it though, it really doesn't harm anyone and if it makes them feel better it's all good.

I think most of us men over rate are atheltic abilities anyway.

 

[Greg]

I guess there are internet experts in all sports forums. :wink: When you think about it though, it really doesn't harm anyone and if it makes them feel better it's all good.

I think most of us men over rate are atheltic abilities anyway.

Actually, virtually all of the accomplished skiers I've skied with in person from this forum are pretty humble in regards to their ability. Ironically, I've never actually met any of the big mouths with pretentious online egos. There's probably a reason for that = poser. :smash:

 

[Grassi21]

Interesting thread...here's my take:

I hear alot of talk about half grooming expert trails and leaving them half bumped. I like bumps alot and spend alot of time skiing them when they are left to form. I like seeded or natural bumps equally.

But if you're going to half groom expert terrain, don't be a half ass and fully groom intermediate and beginner terrain. Those places need to feel the bump love too! So, leave them half bumped/half groomed too.

Can you guess what will happen? Beginner and intermediate skiers will learn how to ski bumps better! And they won't have to ski over their heads on an expert trail to get their feet wet.

Oops! Better stop now before Mr. Spock says "Logical".

I agree on this approach. One of the reasons I was so pumped about Sundown this year was that they left a section of Exhibition (a blue that is really more of a green) bumped up for scrubs like me to practice. I would have tried more runs on Nor Easter (steeper and tighter than Ex) if there was a bail out area.

But there is always someone who wants to complain. I can see one party or the other complaining about which side of the trail gets bumped and which one gets groomed.

 

[kingslug]

Belleayre grooms about every other run at the top. Since they are all pretty much the same you get the best of both worlds. And they let moguls form on the middle runs as well, so you can practice on something less steep. As far as grooming half a run, again they do it on Belleayre run from top to bottom. It's nice to have a bail out when you need it. I've gotten stuck on some super long bump runs out west and they can be murder, hell Annapurna at Hunter can be murder. I see it as a good thing.
Oh, and as far as "rich" people not being able to ski bumps...go to Vail, they seem to have plenty who can.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Oh, and as far as "rich" people not being able to ski bumps...go to Vail, they seem to have plenty who can.

Right on Slugarou. Skiing is an expensive sport so it would make sense that rich people could go more often, have the best and latest equipment and afford private lessons if they desire.

BTW, my wife and I are both teachers so we’re a long way from rich. I just don’t think having money automatically makes you a poser or uncoordinated.

 

[kingslug]

And I didn't find the "attitude" that is supposedly at Vail, pretty good place to spend a week. Something for almost everyone, including bump runs galore.

 

[2knees]

The great bump skiers I see from the lifts on the bump runs are few and far between. This is like going on a golf message board where everyone thinks they are a single digit handicapper.

i dont think anyone, in this thread anyway, has proclaimed themselves to be a great bump skier. just because someone says that they prefer bumps isnt the same as spouting off about how great they are at skiing them.

 

[Greg]

Bump

 

[Lostone]

You had to bring this back up!

Well, as I sit here at 85° at the 1600' base, I noticed nobody posted the pix that were requested over here.

It may cool you off a little to look at them here:That weekend sucked!

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Hey Lostone... Click Me

 

[Lostone]

Doesn't count! It wasn't in this thread! :flame:

:razz:


Besides... Wasn't it nice to see it again, on a day like today? :wink:

Of course, you are north of me, so it is probably nice and cool, huh?