Straightlining Trails

[Vortex]

I like tight turns straight down the fall-line trying to maintain the same speed. I get scared when people go to fast without turning, don't see the sense.

It's fun to go fast...

No issue DMC you also mentioned you do it in safe .. back woods areas. The football stance is more my concern. To each their own. To me turns are it.

 

[awf170]

only time it is cool to straight line is out west in a giant bowl or chute. I did it at snowbird once when there was absolutely no one around, and went down a chute and went straight to the groomer probably got to about 40-50 once i got on the groomed i got cocky and tried to do a 180 and start goin backwards really fast but i just got and edge and fell on my head :dunce:

 

[smootharc]

Skis come into the conversation.....

....Who want's to straightline on shaped skis ? I've still got a pair of c. 1985 Blizzard 217's (I think) that were just RAILS on trails. The right day, low crowds, hard snow, perhaps a buddy posted at a knoll down trail, and, yup, we used to tuck and go.

But on shaped skis ? Not really designed for that.


And regarding comments about control and safety, I agree. A few weekends ago I was doing an exaggerated turn on a bumpless mid steep trail that brought me around across the hill way past what was necessary. This is practice, and someone on the lift asked what I was trying to do when I stopped halfway down. I held up my arm, angled it to 45+ degrees, and said "Tilt this slope like this, and the turn keeps me in complete control".

Anyways, kind of popped into my head during reading this thread.... :idea:

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Is it just me or do most of the people who do this seem to be kids that are about 8yrs old while their parents wait either at the bottom or top, and them the conversation i usually hear is something like DAD did you see me, did you see how fast i was goin???? are you proud?

 

[tirolerpeter]

Straigh Line?

Is it just me or do most of the people who do this seem to be kids that are about 8yrs old while their parents wait either at the bottom or top, and them the conversation i usually hear is something like DAD did you see me, did you see how fast i was goin???? are you proud?

You forgot to mention that they do this while also maintaining a perfect "Pizza Wedge" stance!

 

[awf170]

Re: Straigh Line?

Is it just me or do most of the people who do this seem to be kids that are about 8yrs old while their parents wait either at the bottom or top, and them the conversation i usually hear is something like DAD did you see me, did you see how fast i was goin???? are you proud?

You forgot to mention that they do this while also maintaining a perfect "Pizza Wedge" stance!

I used to do that, i dunno how i could do it, i tried it a few weeks ago and the wedge hurts it is so hard

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

I rarely ever see a fullgrown person doing this except maybe at about the bottom where it flattens out, i hate to say it but parents are to blame for alot of this thats goin on.

 

[JD]

I straight line alot here at stowe. First run of the day, after getting off the first chair, I like to go straight and only turn where the trail turns. I agree about shaped skis sucking for this, my Stocklis aren't as shaped as most skis. The idea is to keep it on edge (control) and not scrub any speed. Anyone who thinks this is not fun is a fool! It why we ski...it's adrenaline. AND, it's the ONLY way to really appreciate the quality of trails that are cut in an interesting way. Now, I don't straight line Star or Goat, it's better on blues...sunrise is great as is perry merril (esspecialy the bottom half) its steep, turn, steep, turn. I would only consider this on a trail I know was 90 percent empty that I have skied many many times.

The ultimate straight line experience here, on fresh groomed snow is Chin Clip. That line has amazing rythem..steep, flat, turn, steep turn, flat, 90 degree turn, steep into sharp left again. takes about 60 seconds....and the once a year they groom chin clip, every ski bum here does it. In pow I straightline alot. On big days I've gone straight down lookout and still had to lean back to carry the flat at the bottom. I don't see what the big deal is if you're in control. I've never come close to having colisions even when novices are present on the trail. The faster you go, the more stationary they appear.

 

[Lostone]

Anyone who thinks this is not fun is a fool! It why we ski.

Add me to your list of fools.

That's not why I ski. I ski for the powder that you are rushing past. I ski for the turns.

This is why I ski: http://groups.msn.com/JimsSceneryPix/recentpix.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=298

And this:
http://groups.msn.com/JimsSceneryPix/recentpix.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=427

And even this:
http://groups.msn.com/JimsSceneryPix/recentpix.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=310

IMNATHO, people see someone laying down good turns and say they want to be like that. They see people going straight and fast and say "idiot!"

But that might be only my opinion... and a lot of those expressed above. :roll:

 

[JD]

Well, yea, Powder. But even still, hauling arse down the hill is a blast, and it's not as dangerous as just cruising on a crowded Saturday imo.

 

[JD]

And who says you can't lay down nice turns at 50 mph. When people see my ski over the water fall under the Gondi they prolly think, idiot....I wanna be like him. Some people huck, some don't. Some people like going fast, some don't...I think it's great the some people can be entertained making thousands of little turns for no good reason other then they are arfraid to just let 'em run.

 

[massivslinky]

Seems like going over 50mph could be fun, but instead of calling it straightlining, how about Alpine Racing?

For groomed runs, they should just rope of a run for practice, make em sign a waiver, and let them go in a controlled, staggered fashion.

If you kill yourself, too bad.

Or join a race team and learn how to do it with some coaching.

Having said that, I've cranked it up from time to time, but never when it's crowded. I want to make my death a solo event if it ever comes to that.

 

[Lostone]

And who says you can't lay down nice turns at 50 mph.

My comment wasn't against going fast, but straight-lining. That means, to me, no turning. To most I know, that means not skiing in control, regardless of what you think.

I've clocked myself at 47mph with my gps. It was not the fastest I've skied, but the fastest that I recorded while I had my gps. I was carving, not straighlining. I was just carving into the fall line. :wink:

 

[awf170]

staightlining.. hmm i think that means goin in a staight line. Ya i dont straight but i like to make really fast wide turns, going probably close to 40

 

[trailertrash]

carving

actually most people i see on the hills are straightlining. i ride an alpine snowboard, hardboots and plate bindings. i try to carve each turn, meaning my tip and tail travel through the same arc. i transition my turns heading straight across the fall line. its odd, i see people watch me go by, they see what i am doing, they see the way i am riding. then, as if they completely forgot what they just saw they straightline right in front of me. they look over their shoulder and yell at me even though i was the downhill person. if you watch from the lift at most resorts it is like somebody is handing out winning lottery tickets at the bottom. people race down every run as fast as possible, they have horrible skills but think they are great skiers cause they go fast.

 

[johnny_two_planker]

....Here we go again.... :roll:
How can someone going 20 or 30mph stop on a dime...

Well, there is the whole tree factor....


All of us here at one time or another have barrelled down some slope with Olympic pipe dreams in our mind. Is it safe? No. Is if fun? Certainly. I prefer wide fast turns as well but every now and then an empty slope can be a temptation. Think back to those early days when you first tackled the slopes. All crouched down with an ear to ear grin, crowd going wild (in your mind of course), and enough forward lean to knock over a retaining wall all while your little knees are bouncing 30x/second. Sure it isn't graceful or advanced, but it can certainly wake you up!

With that said, this is my first post on the board here. I hope that everyone on the east coast is enjoying what is left of the season.

- John :beer:

 

[bvibert]

Welcome trailertrash and johnny_two_planker! I enjoy making high speed runs as much as the next guy, my problem is with the people who go straight down a trail thats probably over their head and ussually crowded with little to no control...

 

[Brettski]

People here keep posting speeds of 50mph..is that right, I would think 35 is flying

Anyway...my goal is also to go straight...staight down the zipper...

And when I don't get my A$$ kicked...hell even when I do...

That's fun....

And when the kids say they get bored....that's where I take them...

No longer bored, kinda afraid...and they sleep good on the ride home....

 

[JD]

Bumps suck at Stowe. I'd rather carve anyway.