More moguls please!

[Greg]

I think I'm starting to see a shift. Prior to the last few seasons, it seemed bumps weren't all that important to the majority of skiers. Recently, in the various "goals" threads, I'm seeing most people want to "get better at bumps". Some have even mentioned making big strides this past season. I really would like to see ski areas consistently offer more ungroomed terrain. Better yet, I'd loved to see more seeded bumps. I know the purists hate them, but I think they're a great way to learn bumps so when you're faced with a challenging naturally bumped up trail, you'll have the skills to ski it well, not just survive it. Skier created bumps on lower angle intermediate terrain are usually formed by...intermediates, leading to inconsistent irratically spaced bumps. Seeding bumps provides consistent low-angle lines to practice on.

Even my little local hill in CT consistently offers a seeded bump area specifically aimed at learning the past few years. So it looks like some of the desire for moguls is catching on at the smaller feeder hills. For years, Loon has offered some of the best intermediate and beginner seeded bump runs around. I truly believe bumps can be as popular as the terrain parks are and I feel every ski area should dedicate at least as much terrain to bumps as they do park elements. I think some skiers still feel mogul skiing is old school and have visions of guys in neon slamming bumps with 205 cm straight skis. I hope the perception continues to change and bump skiing becomes "cool" again. When I started skiing in the mid-90's I was always fascinated by the guys that could rock out down the zipper. Maybe it is old school, but I don't care. I think mogul skiing is still cool and, now that I can ski the zipper somewhat, a helluva lot of fun.

So tell your local hills and big resorts as well to offer more bumps. Take the time to learn to ski them well. It takes a lot of dedication and time and willingness to accept some self inflicted punishment early on, but pay your dues and spend time in the bumps. You're not going to learn them by hitting the mogul field once or twice per outing, but if you keep at it, you will learn skills that will serve you well all over the mountain. You might also just become addicted.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Well said, Greg. I would love to see more good intermediate bump runs. As much as I love zippering down something ridiculous, if I really want to work on technique, it would be nice to have some good bumps with a little less pitch.

I, too, hope to see some further growing interest in skiing moguls. If all the people who "don't like" bumps would just take a little time to learn how to ski them properly, they just might realize how enjoyable mogul skiing really is!

My current goal (after I graduate from CMC with my Ski Area Ops degree) is to spend a couple of seasons training, and if I'm lucky I'll do some competing. Of course, I'll be working at the same time, but if I'm really lucky I'll get a 4pm-12am grooming job for a year or two so I can train 9am-4pm. A guy can dream, can't he?

 

[bvibert]

... but if I'm really lucky I'll get a 4pm-12am grooming job for a year or two so I can train 9am-4pm. A guy can dream, can't he?

Just don't fall asleep while running the groomer...

 

[Greg]

...but if I'm really lucky I'll get a 4pm-12am grooming job for a year or two so I can train 9am-4pm. A guy can dream, can't he?

Sure. Just be sure to leave the bump fields alone! :smash:

 

[hammer]

Will we be getting Crotched on the AZ Challenge? That's a big question I have for them...IMO Crotched has the trail space for a good seeded bump run, just seems like it hasn't been a priority for some reason.

I liked how Pats Peak put some bumps on the lower part of FIS last season...nice low angle bumps, well suited for intermediates to get started.

For those who ski a lot of bump runs, do you find that the skills you learn in the bumps also help with handling trees and natural snow conditions?

 

[nycskier]

I think the shorter shaped skis will bring more people to the "pro-bumps" camp.

I know when I changed skis from my 180cm Volants to 167cm K2 Appache Recons about a year and half ago it greatly improved my ablitily to ski Moguls.

Shorter shaped skis make moguls skiing more fun. As more skiers go short there will be more demand for Moguls.

I think in the past couple of years the increase in snowboarders (who hate moguls) have led to more grooming. Hopefully it is swinging back the other way now.

I also think it is important that smaller resorts with less verticle offer more mogul trails. Mogul trails don't need to be long to be fun so smaller places can still offer quaility skiing experiance without the long trails of bigger places.

 

[Greg]

For those who ski a lot of bump runs, do you find that the skills you learn in the bumps also help with handling trees and natural snow conditions?

Absolutely! Although deep powder is deep powder and it requires a different skill set. Think about it though. The guys who really ski bumps well got to where they are because the put in the time to learn it. It's not overnight and even not something you can master in a few 20+ day seasons. In fact that's sort of the curse of skiing bumps. You'll never be satisfied with your performance and always feel like you look worse then you do. In one sense it's sort of true as there is always something to learn and always another guy that's way more rad than you are. In any event, some of the best skiers on the mountain are the ones who can ski the bumps well. I would argue they can ski just about anywhere on the mountain well.

 

[2knees]

I also think it is important that smaller resorts with less verticle offer more mogul trails. Mogul trails don't need to be long to be fun so smaller places can still offer quaility skiing experiance without the long trails of bigger places.

excellent point.

 

[Greg]

I think the shorter shaped skis will bring more people to the "pro-bumps" camp.

I know when I changed skis from my 180cm Volants to 167cm K2 Appache Recons about a year and half ago it greatly improved my ablitily to ski Moguls.

Shorter shaped skis make moguls skiing more fun. As more skiers go short there will be more demand for Moguls.

I think in the past couple of years the increase in snowboarders (who hate moguls) have led to more grooming. Hopefully it is swinging back the other way now.

I also think it is important that smaller resorts with less verticle offer more mogul trails. Mogul trails don't need to be long to be fun so smaller places can still offer quaility skiing experiance without the long trails of bigger places.

Not so sure I agree here. A shorter length may make bumps more manageable for some, but with the shorter length comes more side cut. A lot of sidecut is great for carving, but not so great in the bumps where you do a more skidded turn than staying up on edge.

Interesting observation about snowboarders though and the impact on the amount of grooming a mountain decides to do because of them...

 

[Greg]

I think the shorter shaped skis will bring more people to the "pro-bumps" camp.

I know when I changed skis from my 180cm Volants to 167cm K2 Appache Recons about a year and half ago it greatly improved my ablitily to ski Moguls.

Shorter shaped skis make moguls skiing more fun. As more skiers go short there will be more demand for Moguls.

Not so sure I agree here. A shorter length may make bumps more manageable for some, but with the shorter length comes more side cut. A lot of sidecut is great for carving, but not so great in the bumps where you do a more skidded turn than staying up on edge.

I should also add that most modern skis now have heavy integrated binding set-ups. Stick that on a heavy wood core ski with a 76+ mm waist and sure you've got an incredibly stable ski, but not one that's light and nimble enough to really excel in the bumps.

I also think it is important that smaller resorts with less verticle offer more mogul trails. Mogul trails don't need to be long to be fun so smaller places can still offer quaility skiing experiance without the long trails of bigger places.

Now this is what I'm talking about! I could not agree more! A good bump run of 500 vertical feet could totally keep me occupied all day. If more local areas offered that, I wouldn't feel compelled to travel so far!

 

[SkiDog]

I think the shorter shaped skis will bring more people to the "pro-bumps" camp.

These are the types of skis "true" bumpers hate....they ruin the bumps with the shape and sidecut.

Comp bumpers are still using basically straight long skis.....thats how bumps are meant to be skied ;-)


M

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I'd say FIS was doing a disservice to bumps and bump skiers with their reluctance to adapt to what was going on in the "new school" world...Johnny Moseley's 4th place run in the 02(?) Olympics was a prime example...a corked 720 wasn't rated as high as a double twister spread...alot of younger skiers saw that along with alot of the other issues with coolness that competitive bump skiing had at the time and got more focused on big air and pipe. Now that inverts are allowed in FIS bump comps you've got skiers throwing backflips and bringing some of the "cooler" airs into the competitions...that's going to bring the younger rippers back. However, with pipe and park competitions and the level of competition increasing year after year, I doubt that competitive bump skiing will totally get back to its glory days...it used to be the only accessible freestyle alternative for the average recreational skier or aspiring competitor...now we've got pipe and park to add to the skill set too. I know I stopped skiing bumps as much as soon as skiers were allowed into the pipe...something new, cool, and challenging that requires time and mileage to improve. I'd rather be a great all around skier...bumps, pipe, park, backcountry, trees, even gates and groomers than completely excel in one discipline at the expense of the others.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

These are the types of skis "true" bumpers hate....they ruin the bumps with the shape and sidecut.

Comp bumpers are still using basically straight long skis.....thats how bumps are meant to be skied ;-)


M

Straighter...yeah, but longer, not so much. Rossi scratch mogul tops out at a 175, the Volkl Rebellion maxes out at 180, K2 Cabrawler at 179. All of them with more side-cut than a SL ski or bump ski from 1995.

 

[SkiDog]

Straighter...yeah, but longer, not so much. Rossi scratch mogul tops out at a 175, the Volkl Rebellion maxes out at 180, K2 Cabrawler at 179. All of them with more side-cut than a SL ski or bump ski from 1995.

I do agree.....they arent as long as the days of old, but still MUCH straighter than "off the shelf" shaped skis...

M

 

[nycskier]

All I know is going from my long metal Volants to my shorter all terrain Apache Recons made me a much better moguls skier!

 

[nycskier]

Now this is what I'm talking about! I could not agree more! A good bump run of 500 vertical feet could totally keep me occupied all day. If more local areas offered that, I wouldn't feel compelled to travel so far!

Totally agree. I really wish more smaller resorts would create mogul parks on some trail.

I think there is a marlet for this and it is a shame more smaller places don't do it.

 

[Newpylong]

I like flatter mogul runs where you can bang out the entire trail at speed. I can't handle steep bumps to save my life.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

These are the types of skis "true" bumpers hate....they ruin the bumps with the shape and sidecut.

Comp bumpers are still using basically straight long skis.....thats how bumps are meant to be skied ;-)


M

If your taking about seeded mogul courses for compatition I guess so, but how many "true" bump skiers do you see on mogul specific skis at any ski area on any given day? Usually I don't see any and I'm the type of guy who looks at other people's equipment.

The point I'm trying to make is if people skiing skis with sidecut ruin bump runs, then every bump trail on every mountain would be ruinned.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I think I'm starting to see a shift. Prior to the last few seasons, it seemed bumps weren't all that important to the majority of skiers. Recently, in the various "goals" threads, I'm seeing most people want to "get better at bumps". Some have even mentioned making big strides this past season. .

There may be a shift in AZ land, but I don't think in the general skiing public. Bumps get discussed in here so much maybe some AZers wanted to see what it is all about and found out they liked it.

 

[jack97]

There may be a shift in AZ land, but I don't think in the general skiing public. Bumps get discussed in here so much maybe some AZers wanted to see what it is all about and found out they liked it.

That might be the case. I would also point out at places that have a freestyle team (only been to Okemo and Sunapee lately), that I see more skiers, especially kids ripping a line. I rode up with a pair of adult and they mentioned how their egos got adjusted when one of the younger kids just breeze through the bumps while they were struggling to get through it.

IMO, once skiers see how others can make a zipperline in control and at slow speeds, it could motivate themselves to try it.