Sensing History while Skiing...

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

When did people start wearing Gore-tex and waterproof gear? It's hard to believe that back in the 70s/early 80s..people were wearing wool gear..

 

[Dr Skimeister]

I remember the blankets, circa 81-82. They were heavy wool, they looked like army blankets. Didn't do too much to keep you warm, the ride was slow and cold even with the blankets. Of course our clothing sucked back then too.

Reminded me of horse blankets. Both in the way they felt...and smelled.

 

[dmc]

When did people start wearing Gore-tex and waterproof gear? It's hard to believe that back in the 70s/early 80s..people were wearing wool gear..

i started wearing Gor-tex early 90's... Stuff was pretty expensive then... Think I got gloves first.

 

[snowmonster]

I'm a history buff and I try as much as possible to re-connect with ski history as much as I can. I actually seek out areas with a connection to the early days of skiing just so I can ski (as much as possible) in the tracks of those who have gone before --

Tuckerman Ravine
Stowe
Mad River Glen
Cannon
Wildcat

My ski history tour still has to touch base with Cranmore and Whiteface. I think after that, I would have closed the loop on the early days of eastern skiing.

 

[riverc0il]

I sense the history when ever I am earning turns, particularly at mountains where skiers earned turns before the lifts went in... if they ever went in. CCC trails always get my blood pumping, not because they are tough trails, but because they are exciting. The history adds to the excitement.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Whiteface does it for me. Skiingbtrails that the Olympics were held on is cool!

 

[snowmonster]

You probably should add Gunstock to the list .. 70th anniversary this year. Home to the first single chair lift I believe.

Thanks for that. I should also add Suicide Six then. I'm pretty sure that there are some others I'm missing. That's the great thing about skiing the east. Lots of history around.

 

[snoseek]

You probably should add Gunstock to the list .. 70th anniversary this year. Home to the first single chair lift I believe.

I had no idea Gunstock was so old. I too am fascinated with ski history.

 

[Terry]

Shawnee Peak is also celebrating its 70th anniversary this season. It is the oldest continuosly running ski area in Maine! They have lots of old pictures on their web site and a neat time line from 1938 on.

 

[campgottagopee]

My frist time at Tucks i turned around... didn't even put the skis on.. But i couldn't wait to go back..

I grew up skiing Gore/Greek Peak in NY. Skied all thru h-school and college. Ater my first yr of teaching at Smuggs at made my first trip to Tucks. Now (at that time) I could ski anything at Smuggs and feel comfortable doing it. There was a group of peeps from Smuggs that went every yr so I was invited to go along. THEY TOLD ME HOW DIFF IT WAS, but hey, I was "good" and could deal. I will NEVER forget the first time standing up there wondering what in HELL am I doing here. I can honestly say the ONLY reason I skied down was I didn't think I could walk back down without falling. Like I said....no sense of history the first time just fear.uke:

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Whiteface really hit me the one time I was there. Any of the CCC trails tend to leave me in awe. Tuckerman, even after 23 consecutive seasons never fails, either.

On a personal level, skiing the Crotch always make me think back a few years.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Whenever i ski Whiteface or the Olmpic XC trails @ Mt van Hoevenberg near Placid

in 1980 Olympic s we live nearby and remember Mahre and Stenmark and Leonhard Stock a relatively unknown 20 yr old Austrian who STOLE the downhill also( Thinking of poor Ken Read _Canada's current Alpine boss who was a Primo racer then who had a early binding release JUST out of the start house--ARGGHH )

Lotsa history on those venues baby !!

 

[CosmicDownhill]

Whiteface for sure has the history, when you look uphill and see the Olympic scoreboards.

Plus, squeeze in a bobsled run and you can have an awesome Olympic weekend.

I still have an old-time photo on my iPod that I found that highlights the Olympic downhill course on an old map of Whiteface, and I look at it every time I go there to remind me of the basic course.

 

[CosmicDownhill]

Ahhhh

 

[CosmicDownhill]

Meant to post this

 

[ozzy]

I definately thought about the Olympics the last time I was at whiteface two years ago, especially on trails like cloudspin
Riding the single at MRG is like a skiing history lesson, haven't been there since it's been refitted though

Suicide Six is pretty historical

Areas like Little Pico with A and B slope and the Sumit areas of Sunset Schuss and KA are pretty historical spots too that I think about when skiing down them. I think of how many before me have been down this same trail. Definately kinda neat to think about