Ski Sundown 12/18/2008 NIGHT

[severine]

Date(s) Skied: 12/18/2008, 7:15-9:30PM

Resort or Ski Area: Ski Sundown, New Hartford, CT

Conditions: 28-29*F, no crowds, clear then foggy, loose granular, hardpack, churned up whatever

Trip Report: I arrived around 7PM to a nearly empty parking lot. I still can't believe nobody is out there taking advantage of this snow! Parked right in front of the lodge and booted up at the car. Dropped off cookies for the lifties and hopped on the lift ASAP. The base area was hardpack so I was a little concerned; I had chosen the Maries for their inaugural run this season and wasn't sure how they'd do, especially now that I have a great hardpack ski. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed. The groomer was just coming in as I was going up the mountain. Went down Canyon Run first and the conditions were superb. Not powder, but not bad at all. Nicely churned up but not too much, and did I mention it was empty? I had some mental issues to get over but by the 4th run, I had found my groove and was having a BLAST. Picking up speed, turning my skis more downhill than into the hill, and letting it rip. Practicing quick, short turns on the flats. It was coming together. Around 9PM my previously-injured knee started protesting but I wasn't ready to leave yet; I was getting some awesome arcs going. So I headed over to Sunnyside to do some drills. Apparently, nobody had been over there for the hour preceding. Got some gorgeous short, quick turns going down with a tighter stance AND wrist-flicking pole plants! Headed over to Sensation where again, nobody was there. I am not exaggerating; I was the only person on that side of the mountain. Had a great rhythm going down Sensation with my quick turns when WHAM.... I caught an edge. Lost the right ski, hit the snow hard and slid. When I stopped, my head hurt in 2 different spots, my right knee was sore, and it felt like someone tried to sandpaper off my breasts. Would have been a spectacular fall to see, I think. Luckily, my ski slid down as well and stopped right behind me. I was pretty embarrassed and VERY sore, but I decided to go up again. After 2 more runs, I was done for the night. I licked my wounds and went back to the car to head home.

I had a hard time at first dealing with skiing alone, but I got over it quickly and found my Zen again. Great night out!

 

[marcski]

Nice report. I enjoy skiing alone. Not all the time mind you...(and not on all terrain) but I definitely find that I explore the mountain more and tend to enjoy the overall experience when alone. You can go at your own pace and where you want without concern for your partner(s).

I can't wait to get back out on Sat. Especially after this snow tomorrow.

 

[bvibert]

Sounds like you had a good night, despite the fall. I'm psyched that you're getting out there and making progress. :beer:

 

[Greg]

Sounds like a good night. Plus a spectacular wreck. Part of the game. Good on ya for getting out and over the hesitation you had at the start of the season.

 

[SkiManSB]

Skiing alone is the best time to work drills. No one to bother you, up down up down up down...
It's just not social... but more like working out at the gym, or in the pool.

 

[Beetlenut]

Good to hear you're getting out there and feeling the rhythm of the pole plants in unison with the carving of the front of the ski. Start reeling, another one's hooked! :smile:

 

[severine]

I've been terrified of re-injury ever since tearing my ACL in February, so the fact that I had a spectacular wreck says a lot. I had been skiing quite defensively at the start of the season and I'm easing up on that now, at least when I'm on comfortable terrain. I'm getting there.

And Beetlenut - What do you think all that practicing of short, quick turns was for?

 

[Beetlenut]

And Beetlenut - What do you think all that practicing of short, quick turns was for?

No, I just meant hooked on skiing in control and being able to rip with confidence. Those short turns will come in handy on a narrow trails, or on steep trails to control your speed. Oh, and yes they help with moguls too!
On days when you're not feeling it, just start planting those poles, and the turns will come. Watch out Brian!!! :razz:

 

[severine]

It seems like I can link about 5 or so of those short, quick turns and then I get a wobble that throws me off, so I need to figure out what's going on there; that happened a few times and that's about where I was when I had my big fall last night, too. I also know that I'm having issues with turning left because I'm not putting enough weight on the outside of my left foot (which I broke the 5th metatarsal in that foot 1.5 years ago so I've been pretty gentle with it ever since).

I just want people to see me when I ski and think, "Wow, that chick really rips!" Someday I'll get there.

 

[Beetlenut]

...I also know that I'm having issues with turning left because I'm not putting enough weight on the outside of my left foot (which I broke the 5th metatarsal in that foot 1.5 years ago so I've been pretty gentle with it ever since).

I think you should worry more about weighting your downhill ski at this point in the process. As a drill, to make sure you're putting enough weight on your downhill ski, when turning left, raise your left ski tail slightly off the snow, and bend/drive your right knee. This will ensure that you're putting almost all your weight on the downhill ski, which will flatten it out, and let the skis' camber take over and steer you into the turn. Something to try on those nights when you ski alone. I still have problems putting weight on my outside edge too!

 

[severine]

There's definitely most of the weight on the downhill ski; in fact, I don't think I'm weighting the uphill ski at all when turning left. But my right turns are much smoother (and I do have some, albeit not much, outside of the right foot weighting on those turns), which is what has me thinking I need to work on that.

I know, I know, I'm over thinking it. Most of the time, I don't think about it at all and just ski. But you're right in that nights when I ski alone, I try to tweak things and see what works better for me. Thanks for the advice!