Who's staying positive?

[Greg]

I see a lot of rants as of late and I guess for good reason. Personally, I'm trying to not let the crappy weather get to me. I've still been skiing and probably at the same rate I would've been even if the conditions had been epic. Thank God for snow making! I know many of the powder hounds are bummin; big time, but I'm not the type that has to have deep powder to have fun. I've been using the time out to really hone the skills. Conditions are variable and it's a real challenge to keep good form when you go from deep LGR piles to hard pack to spring conditions. I suppose the biggest complaint I have is the lack of bump lines anywhere which are in a sense due to the lack of natural, or at least consistent cold (i.e. snowmaking). Nevertheless, I'm working on skills that will help once the bump lines start to form (tighter stance, tall posture, and good hand position). I've skied with fellow AZers on all but one outing at which time I skied with my father-in-law so the comraderie and good conversations have made up for the sub-par surface. All in all, I've had a good season so far and I'm staying positive. Some good snows and cold are bound to happen, and even if they don't I'll be skiing anyway.

Happy New Year everybody! Here's to a colder and snowy 2007! :beer:

 

[John84]

It's hard to stay positive when the closest ski area to you looks like this http://www.skiwhitetail.com/camera.htm

Although I am looking forward to my trip to Tremblant in mid/late January.

 

[awf170]

Yeah, I am.

Yesterday I skied bumps at Wildcat. Man bumps are wicked fun. I was just mad that the consistent lines weren't longer, though 1,400 ft. vertical ft. of pure bumps is pretty dang sweet.

 

[Skier75]

It's hard to stay positive when the closest ski area to you looks like this http://www.skiwhitetail.com/camera.htm

Although I am looking forward to my trip to Tremblant in mid/late January.

WOW and we thought it was tough here....

I'm with Greg....trying really hard to stay positive, but.....especially on a day like today, makes it difficult. We skied at Sunday River yesterday and the conditions were variable, as well..... I have some problems when I go from boiler plate to fluff, that's when I lose my form and end up in the backseat. I'm sure that's what attributed to my falling twice yesterday. This weather certainly isn't going to help the ski areas.

 

[Bumpsis]

I'm very positive!
Saving boatloads of money on my heating bills, so I'll have plenty for a trip out west do some real skiing.

In the meantime, I get to ride my bike - it's actually pleasant and I really don't miss the snow shoveling routine which in Boston can be a real challange - no place the put the stuff.

 

[loafer89]

Same here, I am glad to live closer to the mountains and to Sundown ski area with good snowmaking and a fairly decent base. The snow lover in me really hates this mild weather and the warm extended forecasts.

This is no doubt likely to be the season that was saved by snowmaking, so lets all be thankfull and gratefull for all of the hard work that the snowmakers put in so we can ski.

 

[Sky]

Hmmmm....staying positive?....not sure. I've ranted with pals but we all seem to be ending the comverstaion with "when winter finally gets here though...", so I guess I'm still "up" for the season.

Greg...great point, this is a great opp to get out and hone skills for the less-than-optimum conditions. I really have to focus on NOT picking up my inside ski on turn initiation.

Otherwise...I've been "saving" my Supersports and cranking on the Dynastar Contact 11's. Great ski! I was a little bummed that I got them for the 10 Nov Killington trip (that got rained out) and was wondering if I had wasted my $. But now that I've been on them...no mistake!

Happy New Year everyone!

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Skied Whiteface Wed - Sun and each day was better then the day before. They blew a ton of snow 24-7 plus 8 inches Sat. You bump lovers would have loved lower cloudspin.

All that said, now the weather sucks again and so does my attitude. :???:

 

[snoseek]

leaving for utah on thurs for 11 days, so things are looking up.

 

[askstowell]

Only Freeze Mizer can save us now!

 

[andyzee]

Holy crap, I leave on Christmas day for a weeks worth of some great skiing at Killington, can you say powda, and come back to this roomful of whiners. Guys stop crying, get the skis on and enjoy! :smash:

 

[Grassi21]

5 days in Dec., I'm on skis again this Thursday, Mt. Snow for MLK Weekend... I'm pretty happy so far. At my skill level, the lack of terrain isn't bothering me yet.

 

[loafer89]

I am debating if I should take the day off from work and ski at Mount Snow on wednesday sans the masses of humanity. 37 trails sounds decent for them.

Hmm decisions, decisions.

Skiing without Warren is okay until he gets home from school and finds out what I did :flame: :uzi: :smash: :wink: :wink:

 

[andyzee]

Skiing without Warren is okay until he gets home from school and finds out what I did

Hehe, then dad gets his ass kicked

 

[KingM]

I'd love to see conditions improve, but I've had a great time every time I've been up. It's sure as hell better conditions than what you find in July. If I pretend that it's late November/early December, then conditions are fantastic.

And we've still got three months of winter to go. There are bound to be some big snowstorms out there, waiting to swoop down from Canada.

 

[kingslug]

If it wasn't for all the rain it wouldn't be too bad. But after this storm today I don't think things will be too good in the catskills. I'm outta here prolly next week for western pow.

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm numb.

But I can't complain...16 days so far....decent skiing all things considered. I just don't have time to bit%^....there's skiing to do...

 

[hrstrat57]

5 sweet days

Greg,

I have had 5 absolutely epic ski days so far, not a lot of time out for sure but fabulous each time out. 3 half days at wa and 2 full days at BW, all first chair of course which is critical in sketchy periods like this IMO. BW got nasty in the afternoon and the fam and me cleared out.....wa I am almost always out at noon, clipping the tix and getting $5 back...

of course I do have tomorrow off and was planning to hit wa again with the regular buds...

.....goin golfing instead:roll:

I see a lot of rants as of late and I guess for good reason. Personally, I'm trying to not let the crappy weather get to me. I've still been skiing and probably at the same rate I would've been even if the conditions had been epic. Thank God for snow making! I know many of the powder hounds are bummin; big time, but I'm not the type that has to have deep powder to have fun. I've been using the time out to really hone the skills. Conditions are variable and it's a real challenge to keep good form when you go from deep LGR piles to hard pack to spring conditions. I suppose the biggest complaint I have is the lack of bump lines anywhere which are in a sense due to the lack of natural, or at least consistent cold (i.e. snowmaking). Nevertheless, I'm working on skills that will help once the bump lines start to form (tighter stance, tall posture, and good hand position). I've skied with fellow AZers on all but one outing at which time I skied with my father-in-law so the comraderie and good conversations have made up for the sub-par surface. All in all, I've had a good season so far and I'm staying positive. Some good snows and cold are bound to happen, and even if they don't I'll be skiing anyway.

Happy New Year everybody! Here's to a colder and snowy 2007! :beer:

 

[loafer89]

The Weather Channel showed the European forecast and mentioned that banks in Europe are refusing to give ski areas that are located below 1500m any kind of loans for fear that there will not be snow in the future.:-o :-o :-o :-o

Thats not good news.

 

[loafer89]

Here is the article:

BBC Environment -- Ski resorts across the European Alps are becoming increasingly worried as current bad snow conditions threaten the all important Christmas holiday period. This autumn has been one of the worst on record with high temperatures and little snowfall. Many resorts have had to postpone their openings and the main ski races have been cancelled because of a lack of snow. With millions of skiers heading to the resorts over the next week there are concerns that the open runs will be very busy and people could be put off from booking again at Christmas and the New Year, costing the multi-million pound industry heavily in lost revenue, and threatening jobs. Many believe global warming is to blame for the lack of snow. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that many low-level resorts could soon be unviable and predicted warmer temperatures in the future. Snow cannons in the Austrian province of Salzburg Ski operations around Europe have been using snow cannons Already banks are refusing to offer loans to resorts under 1,500 metres as they fear for their future snow cover. Germany is threatened the most, followed by some Austrian and Italian resorts. However, the picture is not as bleak as some say, with the high resorts having good conditions on some runs. I am in the Swiss resort of Verbier and the open runs have good snow and more are set to open this weekend helped by artificial snow. "We have many new snow-making cannons across our slopes and this has helped greatly," Pierre-Yves Deleze told the BBC. "Some snow is forecast to fall next week and then everything should be OK. If not though, it will make us more nervous for Christmas." ... Report from Moscow: Nobody knows what to make of it. This is the middle of December in a country known for the severity of its winters. There's not a snowflake to be seen. Red Square should be covered in white by now. It's not. Its cobblestones are as stubbornly damp and grey as the skies overhead. There would normally be ice on the Moskva River. There's none. "It's just fantasy!" is the way the weather forecast began on one of Moscow's radio stations earlier this week. The announcer's voice betrayed a mixture of disbelief and despair. That's because Russians are proud of their cold winters. Some people welcome the fact that walking and driving the snowless streets and pavements is easier than slipping and sliding. Others, though, definitely feel that something is wrong. Temperatures for the last couple of weeks have been about five degrees above zero. At this time of year, five below zero would be more usual. (12/19/06)