Last Season Satisfaction vs. This Season Jones

[riverc0il]

Do you feel there is a relationship between your satisfaction with the previous season and your pre-season jones for the next season?

My reason for posing the question is as we approach this season, my gut feeling is there is a general trend on the AZ forums of more than usual excitement. Of course we all get excited this time of year, but it seems more people than ever "can't wait" and "have it bad" to start skiing.

This may just be the result of more registered users this year than in past years or it could be my faulty observation as I fully admit to being much more calm than in past pre-seasons. But that very fact that I am rather calm this pre-season after having what I consider to be a great season despite the hurdles while most other folks have reported last year as terrible are really jonesing hard core.

My observations could be totally whacked, but that is where I am posing the question to the forum. So what say you? Does your perception of the last season effect your pre-season outlook for the coming winter? I think satisfaction with the previous ski season does have an effect. Then again total days since your last time on skis might be a confounding variable as well.

 

[RIDEr]

Interesting observation and true among the majority of the posts on this forum over the past month or so..

My thoughts... everybody that has the "jones" for the upcoming season thinks back to their last run whether good or bad. How can I improve my turns? That run was amazing and just like a perfect shot in golf you always want to come back for more.

During the rain storms of the 2005-2006 season, the majority of the skiers and boarders on this forum couldn't enjoy the mountain because they didn't want to hike (earn your turns) or drive to the resort where the storm hit that week.

Overall, the majorty of the members on this forum LOVE the winter. Just like any sport the upcoming talk of the season will always pump somebody up with a pulse.

 

[Sky]

WoW...Great question and I get to answer first (well....almost).

Errahhhh....first, I'm sort of looking forward to the start of the season...but I can't say I'm really Jonezen yet. I had a great finish to last year. I think I felt the same way last pre-season as I do now. Lat preseason when I recognized I felt like this, I wondered if my "passion" for the sport was waning...like it has for Bass Fishing. But I still love talking gear, I already put the boots on (nice and tight). Already put the helmet on etc.

So I'm wondering if it's just that I'm that much older (51) and taking this one day at a time.

I'm also involved in a pre-season conditioning program with a rugby coach...so that sort fo gives me plenty to do in prep-mode.

Good question. I'll be interested to see how this plays out.

 

[deadheadskier]

For me personally, my level excitement hindges on how much I realistically plan on skiing. This year I see it as about 20 to 25 days, which is almost double what I got in last year, so I'm fairly excited.

I'm actually one of these people that gets more and more excited as the season goes on and my execution on the slope improves. I need a good 15 days on the hill before I am feeling like I'm skiing to my full potential. I don't enjoy myself as much nor get as excited when I'm not skiing my best.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Not really. I've skied my whole life, so last season was just one of more then I care to count. I am ready to start this one though, gettin antsy.

 

[Rushski]

Last year: Fair weather + family issues = Poor ski season. Though my S-O-S pass kept me on extremely well groomed trails most of the season. Which also means very little fresh snow to enjoy.

This year's Jones is strong. Got free tickets from my Descente jaclet purchase, my wife's Entertainment book has plenty of "2 for 1's" and a trip out West isn't out of the question... See what happens.

 

[AHM]

Many factors contribute to the level of excitement........

I am satisfied with every season, or at least I rationalize to myself why the season was good..........but really everyone of them is good. When you are sitting on the deck on your last day of spring, or loading the boards in the car for the drive home on the last day, you are sad the season is gone, but you are also smiling at those last turns, the sun and the way the corn feels, not too mention the taste of the icy cold beer without freezing your hand.

As spring moves to summer, the previous season really takes on a more impressionist image---many of the details are fuzzy, some days, runs, or specific turns remain a clear, sharp, image. In the late days of summer, only a small part of the season remains clearly in focus and as summer moves to fall, the last season becomes a bit sharper again as we get primed for the coming season.

As HPD says, he has skied all his life so he one season does not affect his anticipation of the next. However, I think some seasons bring more initial psych, due to early snows, a big trip planned or a breakthrough from the previous year............or it just could be the new boards/bindings/boots that were just purchased (Hmmm, I do seem to recall the new Fritschi freeride plus arriving at my house yesterday, and let's see some new Marmot pants as well).

However, some seasons may not provide the early hype (due to any of the above reasons), and yet the season just rocks, like 2001. Don't really recall being super pumped for the season. Couldn't afford to go out west 'cus I was doing a huge trip in 2002 that I needed to save more than a season for, and yet the 2001 was simply something that few will forget. The fading of the 2001 season took a whole lot more time...........it's still pretty sharp..............

The final months before it starts are filled with slick, wet mountain bike rides (like last nights after a full days rain), the smell of the wood stove, the bike gear drying by the vents, Powder, Coulior, Mountain Gear littering the house, and a couple boxes of new gear. So that build up really keeps me satisfied until the snows finally come.

For me personally, I am psyched for every season, however, I am not dying to ski the first snow. I look at it as I will certainly get my days, and once I start, I do not want to stop, so I tend not to go for the first snows, waiting til the hill is consistently gonna have coverage. The real feeling of jonesing to ski doesn't come til I hit the first lift.

Lots of rambling here, Riv, but in the end they are all great. Last one rocked, sitting in a high alpine hut in late April, thinking about all the cool people, cool spots, and how the sport factors in to every single thing I do....................like going to VT this weekend to ride and hike the hill.....................it's all about skiing.

 

[roark]

I’m pretty pumped for the season. Last year I felt I progressed the most since I was a little kid – I got out nearly 30x, and getting my butt kicked weekly by the rest of the AZ Race team helped push me to become a better skier. I’ve certainly still got a ways to go, but there’s nothing like getting out with folks better than you are to help your progression. Also this year I have not just the ASC pass but a Magic pass, so I’m pretty excited about that. Between been reading a few books (Dipiro, Lemaster, Goodman) along with the Powder, Freeskier (thanks Oz!), and Ski (thanks ASC) subscriptions and all the forums I check in on – so skiing is on my mind several times every single day. Throw in some new gear and I’m darn near bubbling over with anticipation. Unfortunately I have a professional exam Nov 6 so it’s hard to focus on that… I might be the only one on here hoping it doesn’t really snow until the 7th! If it does my chances of passing decrease dramatically.:-x

 

[Greg]

I start to get excited for the upcoming season.......oh........somewhere around two weeks after my last turns! Last season ended a bit sooner than normal for me - late March, but I ended on a few Castlerock runs and then some sweet bumps on The Mall at the Bush so that held me over for a bit. Once the cool air starts in earnest I start to get more excited. I've had two decent back-to-back years despite being the father of two small children. My oldest starts skiing this season so that's just another thing to look forward to. I think we are going to get pictures for our passes tomorrow. Bring it on!!!

 

[zook]

I like what AHM wrote how different factors influence your anticipation of the season. For me that's definitelly true this year:

- I got new skis - can't wait to try new equipment and to improve my skiing now that I have better skis
- I have couple of ski trips planned
- I'm planning to attend another skiing course in Utah (yeah!)

I'm still fairly new to the sport and I have a lot to improve. I really look forward to try new things and see the progress. I was very satisfied with my last season - skied 27 days and learned a LOT! - but now it's just been too long and I can't wait

I just saw "Off the grid" last night and now I reeeeeeaaaaallly want to get back on the slopes.

 

[bigbog]

my favorite seasons.......

Fall, Winter..early Spring..my favorites..,
Love to get out for hikes after the first snow has fallen.
Can't wait to start the 06'-07' ski season...new skis and Hotronics!!! (No more in need of a 11am defrost!)