Not another run-in with ski patrol...Blue 3/8...hero snow..empty

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Hey All,

I'll let others cover the ski conditions..but it definitely turned into hero snow this afternoon and I skied at Blue mountain for a total of 30 runs and 5+ hours..after the snow softened to buttery corn..I had some of my best non powder turns of the season...I freaking love hero snow and today was awesome..I skied with NazarethSkier, Root, Toast, and some jibhonks were in the house.

Due to early morning showers and the time change..the mountain was dead..no liftlines at all and often times there were alot of completely empty chairs going up. Around Noon..Root went down Paradise and I went down Challenge..Halfway down there was a ski patroller skiing on the right side and I skied by on the left side..a full 20+ feet away..I checked my speed before the falls as I always do and waited at the bottom for Root. Well about 15 seconds later the patroller I passed looked at me like I was an alien..all funny and with a tilted head. The conversation went like this..

SP: Do you know how fast you were going down Challenge
GSS: Probably about 60
SP: That's insane if you hit a tree you could die
GSS: Isn't Challenge a Double Diamond..extremely difficult run for experts only
SP: Yes but you shouldn't ski that fast
GSS: Mark Miller and Johann Buckley said I can ski as fast as I want as long as it's not on Burma or Paradise
SP: Well I'm only saying it for your safety
GSS: If you are so safety conscience than why aren't you wearing a helmet
SP: It's my choice what I put on my head.
GSS: But you should set an example

Then I got on the lift with the patroller..Root was on the chair behind but may have got some audio on his camera..Anyway we argued back and forth the entire lift ride..and I kept bluntly saying...Joel, I have been skiing for 20 years....Joel is there a slow skiing sign on Challenge..Joel I am aware of other skiers and riders..and he was bringing kids into it...By the top he was pretty tense..but then he got on the lift with me and Root again and he sort of apoligized and shook my hand..then I went back into it again...but there was no sense reasoning with him. I wasn't even going to post his name until the following event occured about an hour later.

Root and I decided to ski a final run down Paradise..it turned out that Joel and another Patroller were doing speed control on a empty and I mean empty..like crickets chirping and shit..almost eerie Paradise..maybe 5 people top to bottom..so I went really slow by the patrollers and on the bottom section I opened it up a bit..not hauling but I would say cruising speed appropriate for a 80 yard wide run...I didn't even know we were being chased...So me and Root took off our boots and then the two ski patrollers said to stop and we both said..."We're leaving"..Joel..asked..you got my name earlier, I forgot your..and I said my name was Juan..that got him a little steamed and Root told the patroller inches away not to touch him. So I walked to my car..I was followed by the other patroller who threatened to call the State Trooper..for what??? But anyway I ended up driving home in my ski boots but I still think the patroller got me and Roots plate #'s. I did nothing wrong today...nothing at all. It was a great day..the liftees were friendly, security/ski check were friendly, the patrons were happy and 95% of the ski patrollers were lapping up the wonderful spring snow..but seriously...fast skiing on Challenge..and threatening to call the cops for skiing Paradise at way less than cruising speed.

I really enjoy skiing at Blue..it's close to where I live, the lifts are fast, snowmaking is good and I happily fork over $500 to ski there each season. When relatives visit I take them to Blue, I help organize www.paskiandride.com days at Blue...and people on www.alpinezone.com have tried out Blue for the first time because I like the mountain so much...but..I'm embarrassed for the management to allow the ski patrollers to rule with an iron fist..it's rediculous. I have skied all over North America and never had issues with the ski patrollers.

Just one more thing that I will add...over on the TruTV message boards a Firefighter and Paramedic wrote the following..

http://boards.trutv.com/showthread.php?t=1613

As a FireMedic (Firefighter and Paramedic), avid skier, and past ski patroller, I was excited about the show when I first heard about it. I watched the first few episodes at Crystal Mountain and was impressed with the show. When the switched over to Blue Mountain, the differences were obvious. The lack of professionalism of the Blue Mountain Patrol is glaring. Even ignoring their overzealous medical care, their whole attitude incredibly elitist and self-serving. It's clear that they get off on enforcement and have some need to feel special. The tickets are just ridiculous, if you have someone causing trouble, punch their pass, or pull it, but a ticket, what egomania. The whistle really throws it over the edge, I've seen it used to escort a toboggan down, but playing cops & robbers with a whistle as a siren. Why don't they get some flashing lights for their helmets? Ski Patrol, is about helping people, keeping the mountain safe, and enjoying your free season pass. Don't get me wrong, some of the patrollers seem like really good-hearted people, but the guy in charge is obviously setting a negative tone. You wouldn't find me skiing at Blue Mountain.

 

[gmcunni]

Thanks GSS, i do enjoy reading your TRs.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Thanks GSS, i do enjoy reading your TRs.

Do you think my pass will scan tomorrow???

 

[gmcunni]

Do you think my pass will scan tomorrow???

yeah, i bet it works. I'll be waiting for the TR to confirm ;-)

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

yeah, i bet it works. I'll be waiting for the TR to confirm ;-)

It's not funny to me...I'm upset..skiing today was awesome but the ski patrollers really shit on my day..

 

[AtomicSkier]

Well I got into a far less intense altercation with a patroller on Thursday at Blue. The patroller said I bombed the top of paradise, but he was skiing Razors, so he straight up lying. When he asked to see my pass at the bottom, I showed him it, but covered my name. He kept saying let me see your pass. Until he shows me his PA State police ID card, and his PSP badge, he's not going to ID me with his attitude. The next day, my pass didn't scan! The incident happened on Thursday afternoon. I finally get my pass back on monday.

 

[Edd]

I've not skied in PA but I did watch every episode of that crappy Ski Patrol show; it was about ski resorts, I couldn't help myself.

Blue Mountain seems insanely crowded but I will say I've skied resorts in Maine, NH, VT, Washington, California, Utah, and British Columbia and I have never, ever seen a patroller blowing a whistle at speeding skiers, or giving tickets. No patroller has ever hassled me.

You might be right on this one.

 

[Chris Sullivan]

Reading your trail reports made me want to ski at Blue. Then I saw that T.V. show and I could not agree more with that post from the fire-medic guy. They seem a little over the top. Maybe you can talk to managment about the culture that the patrol is operating under.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Reading your trail reports made me want to ski at Blue. Then I saw that T.V. show and I could not agree more with that post from the fire-medic guy. They seem a little over the top. Maybe you can talk to managment about the culture that the patrol is operating under.

I will be...the thing is that I had Root as my witness. I am embarrassed for Blue at the way a few ski patrollers treat some of their most loyal skiers and riders.

 

[billski]

Reading your trail reports made me want to ski at Blue. Then I saw that T.V. show and I could not agree more with that post from the fire-medic guy. They seem a little over the top. Maybe you can talk to managment about the culture that the patrol is operating under.

I was wondering the converse. Perhaps management is imposing the culture upon patrol? The fact that it's fairly pervasive suggests there's not just one or two Barneys.

It's possible management wants them to crack down specifically for congestion reasons, but perhaps they are not given discretion to let it slide when conditions permit.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Unfortunately the ski patrollers were not acting..everytime I hear that whistle..my Blood pressure rises a little bit..I love their definition of Bombing..lol..

 

[billski]

Unfortunately the ski patrollers were not acting..everytime I hear that whistle..my Blood pressure rises a little bit..I love their definition of Bombing..lol..

GSS is that really the way it goes down???? Geeze, I've never seen anything like that before. In my mind, for many people, a big part of skiing and boarding is pushing to the max. I'd rather see these kids out on the slopes crankin, than drinking a 36-pack behind the school! they're getting excercise, pumping money, blah, blah, blah, all good things. That statement the patroller made "You need to ski in control" just reeks of lies. Those dudes looked in control to me.

To me, it's more a matter of not endangering others. Now if that's what they did, they deserve a ticket clip. But this whole matter of groups of patrollers and whistles is something I've never seen before in my life.

(I'll get nailed for saying this but..) you guys deserve a place like Whaleback or designated times to go nuts. You know, like night skiing after 9pm, open it up. Even my neighborhood swimming pool has "adult swim" for 15 mins every hour, why not something like that. sorry, I guess I'm too sensible!

 

[AtomicSkier]

I was wondering the converse. Perhaps management is imposing the culture upon patrol? The fact that it's fairly pervasive suggests there's not just one or two Barneys.

It's possible management wants them to crack down specifically for congestion reasons, but perhaps they are not given discretion to let it slide when conditions permit.

It is definitely management imposing the culture on the patrol. I was told on Friday during the discussion about MY suspended season with the director of guest services that patrons like the "lifeguard in the tower" feeling when skiing on a beginner trail, and that management likes to provide a place for them to feel "safe". Nothing I do on these "slow skiing trails" is unsafe.

It doesn't mean patrol can't turn a blind eye. I've seen similar things quite a bit in law enforcement. Brass will put out an order to do X. You can appease the boss by appearing to be doing X, but really doing Y. Brass says to cut down on underage drinking on a college campus. You stop someone with an open container, tell them to dump it out, and be on your way. Same effect, but without the BS.

If Blue management is insisting on doing speed enforcement, they should do away with tickets. Simple warnings would suffice. I always rip up and throw out the tickets as soon as they're handed to me. Having a "database" and tickets is over the top.

 

[Edd]

Ok, well the kids in that first video were douchebags. "I'm sick, dog". Good lord, somebody slap him.

 

[gmcunni]

Unfortunately the ski patrollers were not acting..everytime I hear that whistle..my Blood pressure rises a little bit..I love their definition of Bombing..lol..

i was interested in giving Blue a try (mostly to ski with you GSS) but after seeing those videos i won't be making the trip over there.

 

[billski]

It is definitely management imposing the culture on the patrol. I was told on Friday during the discussion about MY suspended season with the director of guest services that patrons like the "lifeguard in the tower" feeling when skiing on a beginner trail, and that management likes to provide a place for them to feel "safe". Nothing I do on these "slow skiing trails" is unsafe.

It doesn't mean patrol can't turn a blind eye. I've seen similar things quite a bit in law enforcement. Brass will put out an order to do X. You can appease the boss by appearing to be doing X, but really doing Y. Brass says to cut down on underage drinking on a college campus. You stop someone with an open container, tell them to dump it out, and be on your way. Same effect, but without the BS.

If Blue management is insisting on doing speed enforcement, they should do away with tickets. Simple warnings would suffice. I always rip up and throw out the tickets as soon as they're handed to me. Having a "database" and tickets is over the top.

Wouldn't it be simpler to sequester the green trails with fences and watchtowers and keep anyone who isn't a beginner out of the green zone? Just put the patroller at the top of the run, with a restricted entrance and size up "in" or "out". Easier on everyone than pursuit and stop strips. Or is this too simplistic?

 

[AtomicSkier]

Wouldn't it be simpler to sequester the green trails with fences and watchtowers and keep anyone who isn't a beginner out of the green zone? Just put the patroller at the top of the run, with a restricted entrance and size up "in" or "out". Easier on everyone than pursuit and stop strips. Or is this too simplistic?

Sure it would be easier, but it wouldn't be as much fun for patrollers (or GSS).

 

[roark]

I can't believe Blue would advertise what a bunch of a-holes the patrollers are. OTOH you can't say you didn't know what to expect from these idiots...

 

[RootDKJ]

First I'll respond to GSS, then I'll add my comments to other posts later. Sorry for the choppiness of my post. I tried to fill many details.

Hey All,

I'll let others cover the ski conditions..but it definitely turned into hero snow this afternoon and I skied at Blue mountain for a total of 30 runs and 5+ hours..after the snow softened to buttery corn..I had some of my best non powder turns of the season...I freaking love hero snow and today was awesome..I skied with NazarethSkier, Root, Toast, and some jibhonks were in the house.Due to early morning showers and the time change..the mountain was dead..no liftlines at all and often times there were alot of completely empty chairs going up. Around Noon..Root went down Paradise

Skiing was real real good. Spring skiing rocks! 3rd day straight and no knee pain! Actually, I skied down lazy when you hit challenge.

and I went down Challenge..Halfway down there was a ski patroller skiing on the right side and I skied by on the left side..a full 20+ feet away..I checked my speed before the falls as I always do and waited at the bottom for Root. Well about 15 seconds later the patroller I passed looked at me like I was an alien..all funny and with a tilted head. The conversation went like this..

SP: Do you know how fast you were going down Challenge
GSS: Probably about 60
SP: That's insane if you hit a tree you could die
GSS: Isn't Challenge a Double Diamond..extremely difficult run for experts only
SP: Yes but you shouldn't ski that fast
GSS: Mark Miller and Johann Buckley said I can ski as fast as I want as long as it's not on Burma or Paradise
SP: Well I'm only saying it for your safety
GSS: If you are so safety conscience than why aren't you wearing a helmet
SP: It's my choice what I put on my head.
GSS: But you should set an example

I pull into the totally empty lift queue, and see gss and the SP talking. I think to my self, GSS made a new friend. As I get closer I realize that the conversation wasn't going well. In my head, I'm thinking "WTF, gss got pulled over on challenge?" "WFT how is that even possible?". That's pretty much how the conversation went. There's was also a long conversation about there's no "SLOW" or "CAUTION" or "TRAILS MERGE" signage where X-ing merges into Challenge. Joel said there was. In reality, there's a sign on Sidewinder, but none on Lazy or X-ing or Falls

Then I got on the lift with the patroller..Root was on the chair behind but may have got some audio on his camera..Anyway we argued back and forth the entire lift ride..and I kept bluntly saying...Joel, I have been skiing for 20 years....Joel is there a slow skiing sign on Challenge..Joel I am aware of other skiers and riders..and he was bringing kids into it...By the top he was pretty tense..but then he got on the lift with me and Root again and he sort of apoligized and shook my hand..then I went back into it again...but there was no sense reasoning with him. I wasn't even going to post his name until the following event occured about an hour later.

actually I was on the same chair, you didn't see me get on. I was totally dumbfounded when Joel got on the lift with us again. I'm beginning to think he's not stable.

Root and I decided to ski a final run down Paradise..it turned out that Joel and another Patroller were doing speed control on a empty and I mean empty..like crickets chirping and shit..almost eerie

Totally empty. Skied right on to the left every run. I don't think they were doing speed patrol, but were coming off dreamweaver, but I could be wrong.

Paradise..maybe 5 people top to bottom..so I went really slow by the patrollers and on the bottom section I opened it up a bit..not hauling but I would say cruising speed appropriate for a 80 yard wide run...I didn't even know we were being chased...

I knew we were being chased

So me and Root took off our boots and then the two ski patrollers said to stop and we both said..."We're leaving"..Joel..asked..you got my name earlier, I forgot your..and I said my name was Juan..that got him a little steamed and Root told the patroller inches away not to touch him.

I told him my name was Kenny. The Ski Patrol threatens to call the State Police. I tell them go ahead, thinking to myself "what crime have I committed?" I can tell that one of the patrollers is about to grab my shoulder in an attempt to stop me. I in a very loud tone "if you touch me, I guarantee there will be an assault charge pending when the cops get here!" At this point there are two or three patrollers chasing us. One breaks off to shoot into the Valley Lodge and the one of them was following us to our cars. I throw my sticks in the back of my car, and take off down the parking lot. One os the SP is running in a full sprint down the drive way towards the road. He's trying to write my plate # down. They are acting fanatical. They look like lunatics. Psycho.

So I walked to my car..I was followed by the other patroller who threatened to call the State Trooper..for what??? But anyway I ended up driving home in my ski boots but I still think the patroller got me and Roots plate #'s. I did nothing wrong today...nothing at all. It was a great day..the liftees were friendly, security/ski check were friendly, the patrons were happy and 95% of the ski patrollers were lapping up the wonderful spring snow..but seriously...fast skiing on Challenge..and threatening to call the cops for skiing Paradise at way less than cruising speed.

I really enjoy skiing at Blue..it's close to where I live, the lifts are fast, snowmaking is good and I happily fork over $500 to ski there each season. When relatives visit I take them to Blue, I help organize www.paskiandride.com days at Blue...and people on www.alpinezone.com have tried out Blue for the first time because I like the mountain so much...but..I'm embarrassed for the management to allow the ski patrollers to rule with an iron fist..it's rediculous. I have skied all over North America and never had issues with the ski patrollers.

So I have no idea if they ever really called the State Police or not. No crime was committed, and my take is the State Police shouldn't be providing our names and addresses even if Blue did write down our plate numbers unless there was a crime committed. I'm totally not in a mood to fuss with my camera right now to see if I got any recording of GSS and Joels conversation on the lift or post any of the pics I took today. I'm gonna go have a beer or 4 and grab a shower. I was so bummed out by the time I got close to home, I didn't even go to the gym to soak in the hot tub. I called two of my friends on the way home, one who has been riding but doesn't get out much and the other who doesn't. They couldn't believe it. I freaking love skiing Blue, hell just yesterday I posted a thread of 119 pictures of my mountain. They should love the publicity I just gave them.

This is really shitty behavior on their behalf. In a time where people are constantly evaluating their spending, you shouldn't be pissing off the people who put money in your pocket. I drive past three other mountains to ski at Blue. I can get to Mountain Creek, Shawnee, and Camelback in less time it takes me to drive to Blue. Mountain Creek is offering next years season pass for $199 right now vs. the $475 Blue is asking for, and it's half the drive for me. Why is this only happening at Blue. Windham doesn't have any slow signs, except near the lifts where trails merge together and have you ever been to Killington on a holiday weekend? Great Eastern / Great Northern can be way more crowded in terms of skier density. Those trails are downright narrow in places and are full of both really slow and really fast skiers. No problems there at all! Get your act together dammit. Manage your mountain, your terrain, snow maintenance, but not your customers! This wasn't mentioned, but Razor's Edge was closed all day because a groomer broke down on the headwall, but the ski team was allowed to practice on it. Yup, I'm a valued customer.

 

[severine]

:roll: Ridiculous. They're crossing the line between providing a safe environment for skiers and just hassling people for the hell of it. Damn power trippers. :roll: