Is Earning Your Turns Overrated?

[JD]

I'd never tour at an area with the lifts running. Either get in and out before "they" show up or be somewhere else. A large part of BC draw was getting away from all those people, not having to compete for freshies, and not confusing blown in bumps for a fresh blaket. Just too much of a scene at the hill, and IMO, that scene is WAY overrated.

 

[andyzee]

No

 

[Greg]

It's the old quantity vs. "quality" debate. Quantity is my quality. Different strokes for different folks. With a wife, 2 young children, house, job, etc., I have to pick days that I think are going to give me some decent skiing mileage. I would venture to guess that we are in vastly different situations as far as life outside of skiing goes, Austin...

I'm interested in honing skills right now. I am a firm believer that when the goal is to improve your technique, it's all about the miles you log, especially in the bumps. If I was more satisfied with my skill level, I might be content with earning turns or focusing on BC, touring, etc.

My goal this season is to continue to improve in the bumps which right now is my most rewarding skiing experience. Repition is the key and there are a lot of groomed trail drills I can do to work towards my personal goal. So if that's "madness", so be it.

My perspective hasn't changed much on this. I was hoping to get out and hike somewhere this spring, but it never happened. Maybe next year...

 

[Marc]

Well, I did a few more tours since I posted in this thread and it has only strengthened my lust for touring.


And the funny part is, there was no real skiing done on two of the four but I still had tons of fun anyway. I cannot wait for next year. If anyone sees a good deal for a shovel, probe and beacon, point me to it.

 

[andyzee]

If anyone sees a good deal for a shovel, probe and beacon, point me to it.

Well, there you go again. Please keep your sex life out of these posts!

 

[Vortex]

I am a newbie at the hike for turns thing. I don't see myself doing it unless no lifts are running. I love to hike and being able to make turns late season make a nice change. I plan on doing it again next year. I would be hiking anyway.

 

[JimG.]

My week of hiking opportunity turned into a powder fest at Wildcat.

That didn't suck at all.

But I did miss the hiking...but only a little.

 

[SkiDog]

NO WAY.......hiking is more rewarding...exercise and the thrill of the downhill....

In fact I am going to be skinning and skiing 12+ of fresh this afternoon at Alta...

Sorry guys...

M

 

[andyzee]

I hope Utah gets hit by global warming long before anyone else.:flame:

 

[SkiDog]

I hope Utah gets hit by global warming long before anyone else.:flame:

Sorry man...Global COOLING going on here....MY LUCK....im making up for missed East Coast storms...

M

 

[cbcbd]

I think lift served vs touring for me are completely different animals. They are both great, but I just tend to have a different mindset for either.

When I get on a lift to ski I'm part of the resort experience and get what I pay for - tons of skiing, moguls, and used up lines (I can't usually make it up to snow country on call)...
When I tour I am part of the nature experience and get what I worked for - rare lines skied, first tracks, solitude, adventure (with a dash of risk), and REAL steeps

What can I say... touring takes more risk, time, planning, money, effort, and spousal understanding. Each one's situation just forces one to do whatever necessary to still get out there on some planks and slide on the white stuff... which is what it's really about

 

[Marc]

Sorry man...Global COOLING going on here....MY LUCK....im making up for missed East Coast storms...

M

Sooo... how bout I trade some home made beer next winter for a little lodging...

 

[SkiDog]

Sooo... how bout I trade some home made beer next winter for a little lodging...

Check yer PM's...

M

 

[wa-loaf]

Sooo... how bout I trade some home made beer next winter for a little lodging...

You're gonna have to drive, cause I don't see the beer making it through baggage check. :-o

 

[Marc]

You're gonna have to drive, cause I don't see the beer making it through baggage check. :-o

I'll just stay with SkiDog long enough to make some for him.


So... a month. Basically.


Shucks. :dunce:

 

[wa-loaf]

I'll just stay with SkiDog long enough to make some for him.


So... a month. Basically.


Shucks. :dunce:

That brings up an interesting question. Since Utah has a restriciton on the amount of alcohol in beer (3% i think). Could you get in trouble (if caught, of course) for brewing stronger beer on your own or importing you won homebrew? :-?

 

[Marc]

I'll convince the Mormons it's a sin to arrest me.

 

[Marc]

But back on topic. One of the 'tours' I did this winter was skinning up Smuggs before it was open, and even that... I don't know. I was surrounded by a man influenced environment yet there was still something just amazing about it. I was even on the alpine wreckers and alpine boots then too.

It was pretty fun skinning in 5.4 deg F with wind and all I had one was a single layer polypro and frosty hair. There's something about it that's so different than resort skiing, it's almost hard to compare the two.

 

[SkiDog]

That brings up an interesting question. Since Utah has a restriciton on the amount of alcohol in beer (3% i think). Could you get in trouble (if caught, of course) for brewing stronger beer on your own or importing you won homebrew? :-?

In fact it is LEGAL to sell and operate a business that sells the supplies to make beer at home...however it is ILLEGAL to actually brew it...

I'm doubting this is enforced at all...

M

 

[Greg]

This is an interesting conversation. Bump.