I spy with my little eye, something beginning with G...

[Greg]

...as in Gaper!

Post your best gaper sightings from this season in this thread. My funniest gaper sighting was at Berkshire East with bvibert, ALLSKIING and Grassi21 this season. The guy was classic: 200+ cm straight skis, one piece romper suit (most likely some neon there; I can't remember), and a green and yellow John Deere pom-pom hat. What topped it off was when Chris mentioned that he actually overheard the guy ask, "why don't they groom out all this powder?" :blink:

A runner-up gaper sighting was the kid at Hunter donning the face mask on a 40+ degree day and not a lick of wind. He wasn't wearing a hat/helmet or googles even, but by golly, he just had to have that face mask on!

Another honerable mention was the guy at Sundown one night with the black leather trenchcoat! :blink:

:lol:

 

[Grassi21]

...as in Gaper!

Post your best gaper sightings from this season in this thread. My funniest gaper sighting was at Berkshire East with bvibert, ALLSKIING and Grassi21 this season. The guy was classic: 200+ cm straight skis, one piece romper suit (most likely some neon there; I can't remember), and a green and yellow John Deere pom-pom hat. What topped it off was when Chris mentioned that he actually overheard the guy ask, "why don't they groom out all this powder?" :blink:

Oh I didn't over hear him. I was making my way down a short trail that was bumped up. I was taking my time since my bump skills are still developing. I stopped at the trail merge and the guy locks eyes with me and begins the rant Greg mentioned above. I had to explain Berkshire East's approach to natural terrain and tell him that many people much prefer the all natural vibe. But I agree with Greg, the fact that he spotted him before I relayed my encounter was priceless. Ahhh, great day on the slopes...

 

[Greg]

Oh I didn't over hear him. I was making my way down a short trail that was bumped up. I was taking my time since my bump skills are still developing. I stopped at the trail merge and the guy locks eyes with me and begins the rant Greg mentioned above. I had to explain Berkshire East's approach to natural terrain and tell him that many people much prefer the all natural vibe. But I agree with Greg, the fact that he spotted him before I relayed my encounter was priceless. Ahhh, great day on the slopes...

Oh...I didn't realize you had that conversation with Mr. Deere! You must have felt dirty after that exchange.... :lol:

 

[Grassi21]

Oh...I didn't realize you had that conversation with Mr. Deere! You must have felt dirty after that exchange.... :lol:

As you guys know this is just my third season on skis. I assumed this guy has been skiing frequently or infrequently for some time since he had those old school boards you mentioned. It was a weird feeling being the noob that had to explain the allure of natural terrain to someone who appeared to be involved with the sport for some time.

 

[AHM]

Ahhh, an interesting thread........

First, how about a definition of the term. It could be some east coast skier skiing deep pow out west and edging way too much and doing some crashing or the same thing on a wind packed eastern day. Or, maybe someone wearing ski area tourist or gear paraphernalia, like Berkshire east T-neck or a Volkl hat/shirt or maybe they have on fat boards at a ice hill.

What I always find interesting about such a term is why does it actually matter. What counts is that person is out there skiing. To a World Cup star, any one us could be a gaper, same thing to someone like Chris Davenport. So, glad you found the guy in the pom pom so enduring. I am just glad he ponied up his coin, put on his old suit and went out to ski the hill, cus in the end all that matters is that they enjoy themselves....................

 

[millerm277]

Didn't have a ton of gaper sightings, but my favorite was at Killington after one of the storms I think on Skyeburst, a guy was trying to show off his bump skills and acting dumb.....I guess he was trying to just go close to the lift tower, but wound up falling, and he smashed right into the tower. Didn't look hurt though...

 

[Greg]

What I always find interesting about such a term is why does it actually matter. What counts is that person is out there skiing. To a World Cup star, any one us could be a gaper, same thing to someone like Chris Davenport. So, glad you found the guy in the pom pom so enduring. I am just glad he ponied up his coin, put on his old suit and went out to ski the hill, cus in the end all that matters is that they enjoy themselves....................

Oh geez....let's lighten up, eh? :roll:

 

[millerm277]

What I always find interesting about such a term is why does it actually matter. What counts is that person is out there skiing. To a World Cup star, any one us could be a gaper, same thing to someone like Chris Davenport. So, glad you found the guy in the pom pom so enduring. I am just glad he ponied up his coin, put on his old suit and went out to ski the hill, cus in the end all that matters is that they enjoy themselves....................

It's fun to make fun of people? That, and there is a difference between being just learning, or not being that great and being a gaper, being a gaper requires a certain.....stupidity to be involved
in my book.

 

[riverc0il]

Not a big fan of the "Gaper" term. Though you gotta admit, those scenes in some of the Warren Miller flicks showing people handing certain aspects of the sport with less than grace are pretty amusing. Some people consider a dude standing at the top of a challenging run for a long time to be a gaper. I like to stand around a lot and enjoy the scenery Semantics perhaps, but the word is charged and as such all of us have probably been "that guy" at one point in our skiing careers (some still may be ). But stories about how certain folks are not entirely comfortable and/or knowledgeable about the activity can be quite humorous! Perhaps, we sometimes laugh in self defense.

 

[2knees]

some putz was just standing on vertigo at killington in late april. talking to his buddies when he decided to move a bit closer to his line. in one fell swoop he managed to somehow catch his left ski while his right continued downhill. all at about 1/100 mph. as he continues this slow spilt he slowly straddles the back of some innocent bystanders skis. now, in full panic mode, the guy grabs the above stranger as his left ski starts to drag downhill also. he is now in a very uncompromising position, basically wrapped around this other skier. finally and mercifully, his left ski clears the strangers ski and the gaper manages to right himself with much huffing and apologizing. other skier IMMEDIATELY heads downhill and away from the idiot.

 

[powhunter]

Fn priceless pat.....like the time I got off the gondi and walked about 50 feet then realized that I forgot my skis....8)

 

[snoseek]

leave the clothing and equipment out of it. not everyone can afforrd the latest threads or new skis.

I've known folks to make comments to people while riding the chair and i think it's pretty lame. skiing is an individual sport and to be honest i really wish there was more diversity from the standard middle-upper class white people. are we in middle school?

btw- for the record i have said things in the past i'm not proud of (even more so about the tourist thing) and am beginning to realize how wrong that is.

sorry...i prolly should lighten up.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Any adult who skis on shorter than 180cm is a gaper....in the good old days we used to say
"short skis, short units"... :wink: Also anyone that uses a cell phone while on the mountain is a gaper in my book.

 

[Greg]

Not a big fan of the "Gaper" term. Though you gotta admit, those scenes in some of the Warren Miller flicks showing people handing certain aspects of the sport with less than grace are pretty amusing. Some people consider a dude standing at the top of a challenging run for a long time to be a gaper. I like to stand around a lot and enjoy the scenery Semantics perhaps, but the word is charged and as such all of us have probably been "that guy" at one point in our skiing careers (some still may be ). But stories about how certain folks are not entirely comfortable and/or knowledgeable about the activity can be quite humorous! Perhaps, we sometimes laugh in self defense.

Absolutely! We've all gaped. That's the beauty of it. It's sort of a right of passage. The key is being able to identify gaperness. And we all still gape from time to time...

some putz was just standing on vertigo at killington in late april. talking to his buddies when he decided to move a bit closer to his line. in one fell swoop he managed to somehow catch his left ski while his right continued downhill. all at about 1/100 mph. as he continues this slow spilt he slowly straddles the back of some innocent bystanders skis. now, in full panic mode, the guy grabs the above stranger as his left ski starts to drag downhill also. he is now in a very uncompromising position, basically wrapped around this other skier. finally and mercifully, his left ski clears the strangers ski and the gaper manages to right himself with much huffing and apologizing. other skier IMMEDIATELY heads downhill and away from the idiot.

Case in point. :lol:

Also anyone that uses a cell phone while on the mountain is a gaper in my book.

Color me gaperific. Although I only use a cell phone on the mountain to either hook up with other AZers or talk to my wife and I try to do it out of the way of others so maybe I get a pass?

 

[ctenidae]

I generally equate "gaper" with "poser"- anyone with the most expensive gear, biggest name brands, flashiest outfit, and absolutely no intention of doing any skiing. Those people are fun to watch as they move slowly down the easiest greens, then fall and fill their $500 pants with cold wet snow.

When I was at the ski dome in Beijing, the attendants were all showing off their skillz to us Americans. On the way up the Poma, the guy ahead of me was hanging from the cable, flipping sideways and making all kinds of smooth moves. Whatever, except about halfway up his weight was pulling the cable down so it kept touching my head, which was a bit annoying. In the middle of one of his moves, I yanked hard on the cable, dropping him about a foot, which threw his move way off, and he ended up plowing snow with his face. Mean? Maybe. Be as cool as you want, but stop hitting me in the head with the lift cable! (Or poaching my line, or cutting me off, or jumping the lift line, etc etc)

 

[hammer]

For me, a ski trip would not be complete without at least one gaper moment...

 

[Goblin84]

Color me gaperific. Although I only use a cell phone on the mountain to either hook up with other AZers or talk to my wife and I try to do it out of the way of others so maybe I get a pass?

yeah yeah you get a pass. I use my cell phone for the same thing...minus that whole wife thing. I love the guys who are on their phones making business deals. skiing to me is a time to get away from it all. Sure i'll have my cell but will simply set up a time to call someone, besides that it is mostly off.

 

[Mike_451]

To me the worst thing is getting stuck on a chairlift with a gaggle of ski club snobs. Theese folks are the worst gapers on the mountain, I guess there are cool ones out their, but all the ones I have encoundered :-x

I am sure there are a couple of times a day when I am a gaper, and there have been times when I was allwayse a gapper. An unfortunate right of passage for begining and intermediate skiers. Its just the people who never make it out of that phase who you have to feel sorry for by poking fun at them.

 

[Grassi21]

After reflecting on this thread, yeah, its kind of weak to single out and ridicule gapers. But as someone said, we have all been there at one point in time. I think everyone should have to share a gaper story of their own if they are going to tell a tale about a gaper sighting.

I've worn an Under Armour skull cap with one of those fleece head bands that cover your ears. I've worn my college lax warm-up pants on the hill. And I rock the 802 anthem on my iPod!

 

[2knees]

While i dont consider myself a great skier by any stretch, i think i've passed the intermediate level by a bit. but my ability to gape has never left me. my little story earlier, I was the guy assaulting the other skier. it happens to everyone but i seem to be able to take it to another level at times. Its all good. I have no problem laughing at myself.