SUNDOWN: The 2008 AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge

[jarrodski]

I logged probably 30 days there last year so yeah, I'll be around. You should ride Nassahegan with us sometime.

may have time in a few weeks, I usually get talked into riding nepaug 'cause it's so close to work.

Right now the hard tail bike isn't set up for free riding... pump track construction at my house is about to come to a close and I'm psyched on that.

happy you guys are stoked on chris' responses. We're always into doing fun things with our ski area and are glad people are into it.

 

[MR. evil]

Right now the hard tail bike isn't set up for free riding... pump track construction at my house is about to come to a close and I'm psyched on that.
.

You need to post some pics of that pump track.

 

[severine]

Thanks to Chris for answering the questions! Sounds like some great plans for the future of Sundown!

 

[Greg]

may have time in a few weeks, I usually get talked into riding nepaug 'cause it's so close to work.

Right now the hard tail bike isn't set up for free riding... pump track construction at my house is about to come to a close and I'm psyched on that.

happy you guys are stoked on chris' responses. We're always into doing fun things with our ski area and are glad people are into it.

Well, we're old, remember. Mostly just XC for us. Pump track party at Jarrod's house! :lol: Yeah, can't wait for Sundown bumps this year.

 

[jarrodski]

Thanks to Chris for answering the questions! Sounds like some great plans for the future of Sundown!

we're pretty excited about the up coming seasons.

The gunny bumps are going to be a nice throw back to old school sundown. Top to bottom will create a pretty good challenge, and on powder days when the whole trail is left alone, they aught to provide a lung burner of a run for a hill our size. Stoked that we've got the go-ahead from "the man"

The pump track in its current state resembles bmx jumps, I still have to build another berm to link things together for a total of 3 berms. the first section has gaps, where the end of it turns into rollers and switch backs to bring it back to the bowl area (it's wierd looking)

I'll get some pictures of it up here for next week. hopefully i;ll get it done and can ride it, who knows. may end up downhilling saturday.

 

[2knees]

For the comps this year, can you build the kickers with a more vertical take off? Something that will throw us up higher. I guess bigger and steeper at takeoff is what i'm asking for.

 

[Greg]

The gunny bumps are going to be a nice throw back to old school sundown. Top to bottom will create a pretty good challenge, and on powder days when the whole trail is left alone, they aught to provide a lung burner of a run for a hill our size. Stoked that we've got the go-ahead from "the man"

I started skiing at age 20 and I remember about 2 years into it skiing Sundown on a 50 degree spring day. I'm guessing it was probably 1995. I very clearly recall skiing Gunbarrel which had huge tight bumps. I remember a few early teenage girls ripping through there as I gaped my way down. Glad to hear about the return to "old school" Sundown.

I agree. T2B Gunny bumps will provide the greatest challenge in SNE, without a doubt. And like I said it will rival some of the great bump runs further North like Beartrap at Mount Snow. I know last year's (almost ridiculously) abundant snowmaking was due in part to the planned spring camps which caught a snag. Do you expect to make any more than usual snow on Gunny to support bumps through the end of March? Skier's right on Gunny is positioned well to receive the sun's spring lovin' (unlike Temptor which only got full light on the far right lines) but that same bright sun might result in some premature trough burnout.

I am still so incredibly pumped for this season. Bumps on Temptor will be a great challenge and then once Gunny gets seeded, look out. I might just be saving a ton of dough on gas this season. Let's hope things stay nice and cold through February and then we enter an extended 4 week spring corn cycle through March. Rad.

 

[powhunter]

GREAT NEWS!!!!

steve

 

[jarrodski]

For the comps this year, can you build the kickers with a more vertical take off? Something that will throw us up higher. I guess bigger and steeper at takeoff is what i'm asking for.

How's that dinner roll coming? haha

 

[2knees]

How's that dinner roll coming? haha

Its still in the oven.

i'm gonna bust out a fakie mute lein to tail switch-a-roo.

 

[jarrodski]

Its still in the oven.

i'm gonna bust out a fakie mute lein to tail switch-a-roo.

I think it's best done early morning, first tracks on "bumps" opening day!

 

[bvibert]

first tracks on "bumps" opening day!

Don't tease us by suggesting that there will be bumps on opening day!

 

[jarrodski]

There's a funny glow about you guys when you're helping step in the lines. It starts out with a lot of smiles and passion. Anticipation is real high for what the next few weeks will offer. It's rewarding to see in a way... it's when you're still doing it 6 hours later that I start to worry and want to offer psychiatric aid...

The mogul season this year will be a good one. We were looking back at some older video from when we first did the lower section of Nor'easter. This aspect of Sundown's offering is growing at a steady rate.

The part that has us behind the scenes people stoked on is that there was hardly ever a negative vibe out there. It's always fun. Even after a thaw freeze, the optimisim is present on the trail.

The bump comps this winter will offer a chance for you guys to earn bragging rights, and if I do my job correctly, sweet swag and maybe some cash. All I ask is that participants remember rule number 1. which i believe is the most important of them... next to rule number 2 which is keeping greg in check and not allowing inverts off kickers

 

[Greg]

There's a funny glow about you guys when you're helping step in the lines. It starts out with a lot of smiles and passion. Anticipation is real high for what the next few weeks will offer. It's rewarding to see in a way... it's when you're still doing it 6 hours later that I start to worry and want to offer psychiatric aid...

The mogul season this year will be a good one. We were looking back at some older video from when we first did the lower section of Nor'easter. This aspect of Sundown's offering is growing at a steady rate.

The part that has us behind the scenes people stoked on is that there was hardly ever a negative vibe out there. It's always fun. Even after a thaw freeze, the optimisim is present on the trail.

The bump comps this winter will offer a chance for you guys to earn bragging rights, and if I do my job correctly, sweet swag and maybe some cash. All I ask is that participants remember rule number 1. which i believe is the most important of them... next to rule number 2 which is keeping greg in check and not allowing inverts off kickers

It makes me incredibly psyched to read there is so much enthusiasm on your side of this too. I love it when I get news that bumps get seeded and I know many others here do too. They're always gnarley at the outset, but it's still fun knowing that if we do our job right, we'll eventually massage them into some sweet lines. Last year right after you seeded Temptor, we got that foot of powder dropping on top. That was like a gift from the Mogul Gods. Praying for early bumps on Temptor, and some natural to top coat them with sweetness.

Glad also to hear the feedback is positive. You're always going to have those few people that complain about them, but in the past three seasons, I've seen more and more people skiing the bumps. Sometimes people on there acknowledge they're in over their heads, but usually they just giggle and pick their way down. The fact that you guys also offer the low angle learning bumps is key to this whole crusade - and that is to make mogul skiing cool again, and you guys should take pride in knowing you're leading the charge, at least in SNE.

Can't wait for the bump comps this year. The energy at the top of the hill in March was awesome. The spring comp on Gunny should also encourage a lot of spectators. I was talking to my buddy Joe yesterday who was there [post="287527"]that day back in 1995[/post] when Gunny had sick bumps. He clearly remembered it too so it left an impression on him. I hope some more of the new schoolers get interested in bumps this year. If we can get a new generation of bumpers going, we've been successful. Bumps on Gunny starting in Late February is going to equal a sick March!

 

[2knees]

We were looking back at some older video from when we first did the lower section of Nor'easter.

damn, first time i skied with greg was on that original lower section of Nor'easter bumps. I wish i had saved the video he took. It would probably be rather humorous to watch now.

 

[Greg]

damn, first time i skied with greg was on that original lower section of Nor'easter bumps. I wish i had saved the video he took. It would probably be rather humorous to watch now.

I probably have those videos somewhere. Here are the pics:

http://www.alpinezone.com/gallery-archives/album167

That, right there, really was the start of it all for me.

 

[Greg]

I still need to dig up those vids.

 

[Greg]

damn, first time i skied with greg was on that original lower section of Nor'easter bumps. I wish i had saved the video he took. It would probably be rather humorous to watch now.

I probably have those videos somewhere.

I still need to dig up those vids.

Here they are, in all their glory:

http://www.gregblasko.com/sundown/MOV06677.MPG
http://www.gregblasko.com/sundown/MOV06678.MPG
http://www.gregblasko.com/sundown/MOV06694.MPG

Vintage Sundown video right there, folks. Consider yourselves fortunate.

 

[2knees]

damn. that was day 2 of the sundown bump experiment.

thanks for pulling those out of storage.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Are you going to hold the Skier-Cross races again this year? Any chance if you do that it can be during the day instead of night to provide better light? One of the dark spots is why I tore my ACL last year at your first race.....