*** Official Snow Surfing Thread ***

[Pico]

Snuck up to Bear Valley with the fam on Thursday night. Terrible night's sleep, but seeing 10" of cold snow on the ground ithe next morning was like a jolt of caffeine to the system. Bombed up to the mountain from Arnold and traded laps with my wife while we watched our kid in the lodge. I haven't been up to that mountain much, but there is some fun tree riding. And an entire backside which we didn't get to explore. Good wholesome family fun, capped off by a walk through Calaveras Big Tree State forest to walk amid the truly massive Sequoias. And the best part was taking the backroads the entire way and avoid the guts of San Jose, which is normally unavoidable.. and generally sucks some of the fun out of it for me. Stoked.

I lived there in 1970. Learned to ski. The had french instructors. Learned Stem Christy now know in America as Pizza French Frys. Fucking Yanks. Jimmy Huega and Billy Kidd ran the Ski School. Different times They had the ProAm. Clint Eastwood and a plethora of stars. I rode the chair with Spider Sabich.

 

[slipped_disc]

I lived there in 1970. Learned to ski. The had french instructors. Learned Stem Christy now know in America as Pizza French Frys. Fucking Yanks. Jimmy Huega and Billy Kidd ran the Ski School. Different times They had the ProAm. Clint Eastwood and a plethora of stars. I rode the chair with Spider Sabich.

Very cool. I imagine it was an epic era. They have some black and white photos of the ProAm up on the wall still.

 

[Pico]

Very cool. I imagine it was an epic era. They have some black and white photos of the ProAm up on the wall still.

The ProAm was my Mom. She was hired out of a Beverly Hills PR firm. Too bad she didnt get Bonzer to come up there! Ron Ely was hanging off the back of chairs screaming Tarzan sounds. Originally The Lodge was a Club Med. We lived there for a coupe months before we got a house. We met the Alters who lived up there that season as well. Hobie and the family. Went to school with Jeff and Hobie Jr. Eventually my Mom got a gig working for him down in Capo Beach. It was a little to much to fast up there and the small town problems overtook it and it was over before you knew it had happened. Ive been there a couple times in the last few years. It all seemed so much bigger then. Ski Bear The school. K-8

 

[crustBrother]

the corn is coming soon

soft and supportive

i love spring



i think this weekend i might ditch my gortex parka and bust out the Hawaiian shirt

 

[92122]

My second time in Aspen, and despite some firm conditions in spots, it did not disappoint. We had a full spectrum of surface conditions from hardpack, to a mixed bag of decent snow depending on the altitude and aspect, and of course silky spring afternoon corn on the lower mountains.

View from the living room with the Silver Queen Gondola tower in the foreground.




The Sundeck has got to be one of the best summit lodges in the world. The food up there is great, and the views are unparalleled with at least one Colorado 14'er off in the distance and several 12k'+ peaks, along with the Highland Bowl and Aspen Highlands resort on the middle > right.




AJAX Groomers. Shoulda brought my 163. heh heh.




Aspen Proper! My wife snowboarding on the left, damn goofy footers.




Got to experience a bit of the Aspen Highlands closing party, which is legendary. We had a little party going on this mid-mountain point which holds the best views. The Highland Bowl can be partially seen on the far upper left, with a little ant line going up it. 15x Zoom on the 2nd image shows all the peeps hiking it.





A little spring snowstorm decided to cancel us from departing Saturday, and by then we couldn't get out until Monday, so we booked another place at the Snowmass village and rode Snowmass after the storm for a total of 3 mountains (the 4th, Buttermilk, is already closed for the season.

Snowmass from the air...




Until next time friends.

 

[r32]

This 21yr old tried to jump Highway 40 in Colorado but landed on the highway.

RIP

Ski stunt kills 1 person in Colorado on Highway 40 west of Berthoud Pass summit

One person has died after a ski stunt accident on Highway 40 near Mile Post 241.5 just west of the Berthoud Pass Summit.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[crustBrother]

full on spring party scene on the ski hill this weekend

lots of folks in shorts, bunch of Hawaiian shirts (#metoo), quite a few going no shirt, some leotards and butterfly wings, and these guys...



crowds were light, mashed potatoes were thick, and i skipped most of my turns in favor of just BOMBING down mostly empty runs



i love spring!

 

[Makoman]

Springtime fun! Suits and boots! Next up - Corn season!

 

[Iceman]

Spent 3 days hitting the slopes for some great spring conditions this week.

Monday - first time ever at Heavenly. Limited on the runs since a lot of the lifts were closed for the season, but the riding was great. Hit the Nevada side in the morning as it was in the sun first, then migrated over to the California side just before lunch. Found some runs that had somewhat of a bank on the left side of the trail, so I was basically surfing it as if it were a left wave. Had a blast and the views were indeed heavenly.

Tuesday and Wednesday - back at home at Kirkwood. There is a snake run heading down from the top of the cornice. 30+ turns of leg burning fun. I was able to make it from top to bottom without stopping or getting bucked out 5 times. Chased the sun around the groomers each day until about 1pm until it got a little too mushy too low. Some good corn to be had. Great way to close out the season for myself.

 

[Oceanslide]

13 yo daughter, who has become a good skier with beautiful form, wanted to try boarding for the first time last week with her bestie who had never been. Thought they were both going to faint after the first two runs of falls and struggles and overheating. Seriously. Rested, drank water and ate, and they rallied to have a great time. I boarded a bit in college, but love skiing, so hoping my daughter dabbles in boarding and comes back to skiing! lol

 

[Oceanslide]

Spent 3 days hitting the slopes for some great spring conditions this week.

Monday - first time ever at Heavenly. Limited on the runs since a lot of the lifts were closed for the season, but the riding was great. Hit the Nevada side in the morning as it was in the sun first, then migrated over to the California side just before lunch. Found some runs that had somewhat of a bank on the left side of the trail, so I was basically surfing it as if it were a left wave. Had a blast and the views were indeed heavenly.

Tuesday and Wednesday - back at home at Kirkwood. There is a snake run heading down from the top of the cornice. 30+ turns of leg burning fun. I was able to make it from top to bottom without stopping or getting bucked out 5 times. Chased the sun around the groomers each day until about 1pm until it got a little too mushy too low. Some good corn to be had. Great way to close out the season for myself.

View attachment 178310

View attachment 178311

Unreal the difference between the views on the CA side (heaven) and Nevada side (Mars) , eh?

 

[crustBrother]

hit closing day at monarch yesterday

what a fantastic party

people grilling in the parking lot, dancing on the deck, showing lots of skin while sliding down the hill, tossing frisbees, cruising around on bikes and motorcycles, smoking, drinking, wearing costumes, being silly... total hoot

 

[Chocki]

hit closing day at monarch yesterday

what a fantastic party

people grilling in the parking lot, dancing on the deck, showing lots of skin while sliding down the hill, tossing frisbees, cruising around on bikes and motorcycles, smoking, drinking, wearing costumes, being silly... total hoot

Closing days are sad bc the season is over but also the best.

 

[crustBrother]

Closing days are sad bc the season is over but also the best.

solid edit

been saving my A basin and Loveland days for after monarch closes so I still have a couple weekends before I dust off the backpacking rig

 

[Iceman]

src="

"

 

[Chocki]

src="

"

So jelly rn. I fucking love snake runs.

 

[LurkNoMore]

Last week at AM.

KW video of people running that,
Like everything at KW.

Totally BA.

 

[Joshua2415]

30 Seconds Out on Instagram: "Repost from @golivedangerously • Wasn’t that the coolest thing you’ve seen all day. This would give a normal person nightmares but not Sverre Liliequist. His second Big Mountain run at the Swatch Skiers Cup in Zermatt, Switzerland. He charges the mountain and outruns an avalanche while throwing a back-flip. Insanity. #skier #avalanche #backflip #avalanches #skii #skiing #skierslife #backflips . . . Don’t forget to follow ‼️ - #etsr #expecttoselfrescue #noic #iutu #ridethelightning #noweakshit #selfrescue #badass #ownyourownoutcome #getit #letsgo #victory #instadaily #follow #hopeisnotagoodplan #smoothisfast #trending"

552 likes, 18 comments - thirtysecondsout on April 25, 2024: "Repost from @golivedangerously • Wasn’t that the coolest thing you’ve seen all day. This would give a normal person nightmares but...".

www.instagram.com

 

[Kento]

That snake run got much deeper/rutted in the intervening days with ledges on every turn, especially towards the top. Most of my time was spent with the kids but I did sneak up there for a few runs on Saturday and one on Sunday. Rode it well on Saturday but not so on Sunday, was just off a little. Really fun sending barndoors of snow off the walls. Coated a few people but good, including myself, as I intercepted said barndoors a couple turns further down the run.

Not sure how I feel about closing weekends, though. Probably wouldn't do it again. I realized/confirmed that I dislike scenes - they bring the scenesters/kooks out of the woodwork. I was on edge all weekend and for good reason.

First run on Saturday, wife and kids wanted to take a warmup run on the beginner run as it's been a few weeks. My son and I were about 5 minutes ahead of my wife and daughter. My son wasn't going fast nor slow, making normal turns, just cruising. I'm trailing roughly 30-50 feet behind him or so when around me comes this flailing skier, turns right into the back of my son, knocks him straight out of his skis, crashing him into the snow face-first.

It looked really bad and I knew my son wasn't coming out of that unscathed but I also wanted to make sure that guy wasn't going ANYWHERE. Ski patrol witnessed it from the lift; kind of in disbelief the guy's pass didn't get yanked right then and there. Guy had all sorts of excuses but you skied into a 9 year old kid from behind on a beginner run who is now screaming in pain/fear - there are none. Besides first aid/triage, I know ski patrol was mostly trying to defuse the situation, especially cooling me down. I was really angry and I still am. At the very least, I hope that guy spends the rest of his life knowing he is an immense kook.

Son miraculously only had a bruised wrist, elbow, and sore throat from the helmet strap. Comforted him for a little while, went down to bottom to make sure other injuries didn't present themselves once the adrenaline wore off, and got him some hot chocolate, and he was back up there 30 minutes later. He shook it off and had a great rest of the day. Tough kid.

Sunday was a lot icier in the morning. Tried to convince the kids to wait until 10:15 or so but they were amping and they can handle the groomed crust no problem. A few runs later, we're in the Drain which is a long wide gully, has an S-turn in it near the bottom with a little kicker on it. 90% of people just take the S-turn, 10% do the kicker, no one goes up and over the whole goddamn hip. Except my son who has a ton of speed because the snow is crusty and he just sends it up and over. No air but he is hauling ass down the other side which is steep and littered with death cookies and hard traverse lines. Caught an edge on one of many chunks, his ski pops off and he face plants onto the ice, couple scrapes on his cheek, I get him over to the side immediately so he's not in a blind spot. And same ski patrolman as on Saturday skis up randomly and says "you again". Obviously he's fine, more P.O.ed about the crust than hurt, just needs a minute, and we all kind of laugh but funny coincidence.


Overall, great season, though. Didn't really get a powder day somehow but had a lot of fun days and am stocked on the progression my wife and kids made over the course of the winter; amped on next year.

 

[Chocki]

That snake run got much deeper/rutted in the intervening days with ledges on every turn, especially towards the top. Most of my time was spent with the kids but I did sneak up there for a few runs on Saturday and one on Sunday. Rode it well on Saturday but not so on Sunday, was just off a little. Really fun sending barndoors of snow off the walls. Coated a few people but good, including myself, as I intercepted said barndoors a couple turns further down the run.

Not sure how I feel about closing weekends, though. Probably wouldn't do it again. I realized/confirmed that I dislike scenes - they bring the scenesters/kooks out of the woodwork. I was on edge all weekend and for good reason.

First run on Saturday, wife and kids wanted to take a warmup run on the beginner run as it's been a few weeks. My son and I were about 5 minutes ahead of my wife and daughter. My son wasn't going fast nor slow, making normal turns, just cruising. I'm trailing roughly 30-50 feet behind him or so when around me comes this flailing skier, turns right into the back of my son, knocks him straight out of his skis, crashing him into the snow face-first.

It looked really bad and I knew my son wasn't coming out of that unscathed but I also wanted to make sure that guy wasn't going ANYWHERE. Ski patrol witnessed it from the lift; kind of in disbelief the guy's pass didn't get yanked right then and there. Guy had all sorts of excuses but you skied into a 9 year old kid from behind on a beginner run who is now screaming in pain/fear - there are none. Besides first aid/triage, I know ski patrol was mostly trying to defuse the situation, especially cooling me down. I was really angry and I still am. At the very least, I hope that guy spends the rest of his life knowing he is an immense kook.

Son miraculously only had a bruised wrist, elbow, and sore throat from the helmet strap. Comforted him for a little while, went down to bottom to make sure other injuries didn't present themselves once the adrenaline wore off, and got him some hot chocolate, and he was back up there 30 minutes later. He shook it off and had a great rest of the day. Tough kid.

Sunday was a lot icier in the morning. Tried to convince the kids to wait until 10:15 or so but they were amping and they can handle the groomed crust no problem. A few runs later, we're in the Drain which is a long wide gully, has an S-turn in it near the bottom with a little kicker on it. 90% of people just take the S-turn, 10% do the kicker, no one goes up and over the whole goddamn hip. Except my son who has a ton of speed because the snow is crusty and he just sends it up and over. No air but he is hauling ass down the other side which is steep and littered with death cookies and hard traverse lines. Caught an edge on one of many chunks, his ski pops off and he face plants onto the ice, couple scrapes on his cheek, I get him over to the side immediately so he's not in a blind spot. And same ski patrolman as on Saturday skis up randomly and says "you again". Obviously he's fine, more P.O.ed about the crust than hurt, just needs a minute, and we all kind of laugh but funny coincidence.


Overall, great season, though. Didn't really get a powder day somehow but had a lot of fun days and am stocked on the progression my wife and kids made over the course of the winter; amped on next year.

people like to get fucked up on closing day to the point I left the slopes early last year. Glad to hear the lil bastard is ok