How important are the terrain parks to you? and where do you go to use them?

[highpeaksdrifter]

Generally, the bigger and better the park is at a particular ski area, the less likely I am to ski that area :lol: Any one else notice a correlation between big resorts and big parks? I am glad they are there, as Greg said, because it keeps the slopes I enjoy skiing less crowded

Since you are glad they are there to keep the slopes less crowded why are you less likely to ski an area with bigger and better parks. At first read your statement seems contradictory.

 

[loafer89]

Generally, the bigger and better the park is at a particular ski area, the less likely I am to ski that area :lol: Any one else notice a correlation between big resorts and big parks? I am glad they are there, as Greg said, because it keeps the slopes I enjoy skiing less crowded

So I guess that you are less likely to ski at Sugarloaf?

They maintain the largest halfpipe I have ever skied in, I was at the dedication last February 2005, when Seth Wescott was there. CVA provided a majority of the funding to move the pipe to it new location and it seems to keep the snowboard/skier crowd happy.

The terrain park and the halfpipe are a very small part of the place, and do not really affect the skiing on the rest of the mountain. The correlation between a big park/pipe and a large ski area makes sense as it costs alot of money build and maintain them.

 

[Chris I]

Not too important unless the mountain conditions suck. and if they mountain conditions suck the park is going to be a lot worse.

okemo and mount snow have really well maintained parks

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

So I guess that you are less likely to ski at Sugarloaf?

They maintain the largest halfpipe I have ever skied in

That's cause you never skied in the one at Whiteface, siste of the F.I.S. U.S. Snowboard Cup. BTW I'm about in the middle when I took this picture.

 

[thetrailboss]

Until 2004-2005, I did not go into parks. Now I go into the smaller ones from time to time. I was a bit bummed when I saw that Burke had four parks this season...because a new park was taking up an entire trail at the bottom off the HSQ. One that had just gotten snowmaking at that too. However, the park was a real plus in my opinion. I've never seen so many young folks at the mountain hanging on one trail and having a good time...well non-racers that is. Lots of interest and they did it right--they recruited the snowboard club from the college to maintain the parks and they hired a professional park designer--one of the best in the world--to advise. I played in them from time to time, but I also enjoy watching other folks do some wild tricks in their!

No rails for me.

 

[riverc0il]

Since you are glad they are there to keep the slopes less crowded why are you less likely to ski an area with bigger and better parks. At first read your statement seems contradictory.

they keep the areas i ski at less crowded because people who enjoy the parks are else where. though most mountains need parks as an integral part of their design, places like loon, waterville, mount snow, killington, sunday river, etc. seem to make the better and bigger parks. my favorite mountains tend to have pretty sad excuses for parks, so the statement is not very contradictory.

loafer89 makes a fair point that some really great mountains have big parks. however, i don't think there are many really great mountains with big and great parks out there. loaf is a great mountain. bush has a big park too i think, but it is at north which is not a great mountain south on the other hand... kidding aside, places with big parks are generally places i avoid.

i agree with boss that the burke park elements were a good thing for burke and i have no problem with small park elements. as i said, ski areas need park elements to cator to all audiences. my statement was a pretty broad generalization to the larger resorts i dislike, which all seem to have the larger more well known parks.

 

[Zand]

I used Wa's park a bit this year. However, I like getting air while cruising over a headwall more than a jump in the park.

 

[skibum1321]

loafer89 makes a fair point that some really great mountains have big parks. however, i don't think there are many really great mountains with big and great parks out there. loaf is a great mountain. bush has a big park too i think, but it is at north which is not a great mountain south on the other hand... kidding aside, places with big parks are generally places i avoid.

The Bush's park isn't that big - it's only one trail with no really huge hits. This year I don't think they even blew the pipe until very late season (if at all).
And watch what you're saying about north - there's some great stuff there.

 

[SkiDork]

If I could land jumps without my knees falling apart, I'd be doing them.

It's fun to watch my son do them, though. So they still hold some importance to me.

 

[Vortex]

Ga2ski excellent point. I thought it would bring more varied opinions here, cause it did on the Sr board. SnowRider, thankx for you post and insight. Your points are why I started this thread. We need imput from all points of view.

 

[thaller1]

It's not that important to me, but I won't say I haven't played around in them a bit when they are there!

 

[2knees]

Ga2ski excellent point. I thought it would bring more varied opinions here, cause it did on the Sr board. SnowRider, thankx for you post and insight. Your points are why I started this thread. We need imput from all points of view.

I think the reaction has to do with some of us being old farts who dont bounce back as easily anymore I'd love to still be able to throw airs like i used to but if i tried now, id probably pull my groin or lose my dentures. The rails and boxes and such, forget it. those have concussion written all over them.

 

[tree_skier]

The park....


Isn't that where you leave the car?


Yeah, I'm all for them. I'd have to leave my car on the street, otherwise.

It really bothers me when they build a hotel or some other senseless building in the park as it makes for a further walk from the car.

 

[hiroto]

As same as Bob R, I was surprised with the lack of variation here.

I love them. I'm hardly good at it but I love challenging myself in there once
in a while when the condition is not brutal (icy and hard). I was pretty excited
when I managed to get off the edge of half pipe in the spring condition, or managed
to jump the 3rd biggest kicker at Wawa (yeah, I know it is not that big, but 20 feet
jump is pretty big for me) and gracefully land.

I would love to figure out how to do rails, but even on a box, I cannot figure out how to
get side way. I would like to participate in beginner free skiing clinic and figure out how.
I see that Loon has has a program. I wish more mountain has that kind of clinic I can
attend.

 

[Vortex]

As far as the boxes.... My son broke his shoulder on one this year. 6 weeks later he was back on his board, not as interesed in hitting all the park elements as he was.:idea: Gun shy. He will be back at it next year. I'm not an old fart just close minded.

 

[JimG.]

As far as the boxes.... My son broke his shoulder on one this year. 6 weeks later he was back on his board, not as interesed in hitting all the park elements as he was.:idea: Gun shy. He will be back at it next year. I'm not an old fart just close minded.

I was going to chime in on injuries in response to 2knees' post...my son broke his arm in the halfpipe practicing 360's...cost him most of the season and when he returned in mid-Feb he was alot less interested in the halfpipe. By the end, he was ripping bumps and back in the park though.

Other than on-slope collisions, most of the injuries at ski area first aid stations are park related and occur mostly to young kids. Wrists, arms, and shoulders. At least that's what I see alot of at Hunter.

Us "old farts" compensate for age by choosing our spots to grab air wisely.

 

[meat]

Well I guess ill be the first on this topic to say that a park does matter. As a young rider im all for the massive hits, long rails and funboxes or sometimes even the pipe. In the moring ill rip up as much corduroy or good conditions as I can and then head to the park. If its a powder day then ill be rippin up the glades or regular trails. When I was at Jay for my vacation I stayed in the glades all the time because there was so much snow! If we hadnt gotton snow on any day, I would have ventured into the park to see what they have. This leads me to my next question. What is Jays park like? Can anyone tell me?

SnoRider

Jay's park is as follows (in april):
rightside leftside
1st hit: 60 foot step up gap, 50 foot step gap
2nd hit:45 foot step down, 35 foot step down
3rd hit: battleship rail(i think), C box
4th hit: straight rail, rainbow rail
5th hit: 25-30 foot table
6th hit: 25-30 foot table, S-rail

I think that pretty much sums up jay's park, I may have a couple confused since I wasn't in the park much. when I was, I did the kiddie park under the flyer just to get back to the lift. I hit the last couple jumps in the big park a day or two when it was warm i'm just not as into the park as much as I used to be. I still think it is rad and its good practice doing take offs in landings for sure, you can take it to the real part of the hill. its dangerous though and its a good way to get hurt, which in my mind its not worth it as I approach my later 20s and don't have stellar medical insurance. I only consider park now if its warm, I would much rather save my self for the fluffy stuff. I think most everywhere should have a park, they are a good thing.

 

[montageskier]

loafer89 makes a fair point that some really great mountains have big parks. however, i don't think there are many really great mountains with big and great parks out there. loaf is a great mountain. bush has a big park too i think, but it is at north which is not a great mountain south on the other hand... kidding aside, places with big parks are generally places i avoid.

.

That may be true if your talking just about the east, but out west all of the really great mountains have good parks aside from Alta for the reason of no boarders.

 

[SnowRider]

I gladly put my opinion on this thread. I think it shows how people vary when riding.

I would love to figure out how to do rails, but even on a box, I cannot figure out how to
get side way.

I like the rails a lot. Actually a lot better than jumps. Start just riding over the features ( 50-50) Then start to tweak the board on the rail/box a little once you master the 50 - 50. Then when you can turn yourself completly boardslid (sideways) start jumping onto he feature turning boardslide and landing on the rail. Start small and work your way up. Also, start with boxes, there much easyer. To bad you will have to wait till next season to try again!

SnoRider

 

[Mark D]

That may be true if your talking just about the east, but out west all of the really great mountains have good parks aside from Alta for the reason of no boarders.

a great example of that would be mammoth, or park city, wistler blackcomb and manny manny manny others.