Official MM Ski / Snowboard thread

[Steve85]

With the 2011-2012 ski season sputtering out of the gate I thought it might be a good idea to get an an official official ski thread going. Tell us what you like to do ski/snowboard/both, what do you ride, where do you like to go, where did you go last week, where do you want to go in the future...the usual official thread stuff.

I currently ski on some Kastle rentals I never returned 10yrs ago. Last pair of skis I bought were old style K2 "Unlimited VO", tried them out a couple years ago for fun and can hardly ski them after moving to the parabolics. Boots are also rental crap - the idea is to get into some new gear once life allows more than just a few day trips a year. We'll see how this year goes, the kiddos are not playing basketball so focus will be on skiing this winter.

Snowboard is a Burton Supermodel 165 with CFx strap bindings. I don't do parks and can't ride opposite (goofy is my normal stance) so they are mounted angled forward for better carving. I prefer snowboarding in anything better than average conditions. Thinking about some step-ins in the near future, the only ones I tried a few years ago sucked so I've been hesitant...

Most, if not all my riding has been done at Bryce over the last couple years. I'm really trying to get to where the whole family can ski well enough to do trips. Haven't done trips with friends to Seven Springs or CO in a few years and REALLY miss it.

[Mike]

I skied at Massanutten every night it was that cheap night for students. That rocked. Until I hit a nasty patch of ice and twisted the bottom half of my left leg around backwards... I think I've just about worked up the courage to give it another go after 10yrs of rehab

What's the best in this area? Snowshoe is a bit too far for my liking...

She boards. I used to ski. I may try boarding.

[D_Eclipse9916]

I ski, tried snowboarding, didnt like it as much.

I use K2 Kung Fujas with the Griffon Schizofrantic bindings. I usually go to whitetail/roundtop/liberty as its close to me, have done some trips out to snowshoe. The JMU ski club trip to Mont Tremblant is a freaking blast (and an insane deal), I did that two years in a row.

The advantage pass to Whitetail/roundtop/liberty benefits those that go more than twice a year. Quick cost analysis, break even at 3 days (without rentals), and costs less than the Season Pass until after your 10th day. I knew I wouldnt be going more than 10 days to those places so I got the advantage card.

I planned to go out west this year for a trip, but I just dont think I will be able to make it happen.

[G.Irish]

I've been snowboarding consistently for about 2 or 3 seasons now.

Current setup is a 158 Burton Clash with Burton Cartel strap in bindings. Had been using the Flow 5 step in bindings and they worked reasonably well, but in backcountry or other deep snow situations they are a serious pain because you have to have some leverage to get them on, and they're difficult to get on if snow gets piled up in the bindings (which frequently happens in backcountry). It was nice to be able to strap in super quickly but in places with much more snow than here they were too much trouble. I might just keep them for East Coast stuff.

So far I've done Timberline, Canaan Valley, Massanutten (back in college) and Seven Springs locally, and Whistler/Blackcomb, Alyeska (Alaska), and Cerro Catedral (Argentina) on flyaways. Next month I'll be heading out to Utah to do Park City, Snowbird, and Brighton. I'm thinking about doing at least one more flyaway this season in March maybe. Maybe Denver area.

Long term I'd love to do another Southern Hemisphere trip but I don't think I'll have the leave/budget to do it. When I do, Chile or New Zealand are next.

[Evan]

i started snowboarding in high school, tried skiing and hated it. havent been since around 2005 though.
10$ monday nights at massanutten were pretty awesome at the time. in hindsight, im not sure why anyone would pay anything to ski on a giant sheet of ice. i ended up injuring my knee when an idiot i was riding with parked his ass right at the landing spot of jump we were sessioning and i didnt see him until i was airborne and had to go down akwardly to keep from hitting him. a knee surgery and tons of rehab and i still cant walk for more than 30 minutes without pain.
i played around with the idea last year of giving it another shot....but probably not.

while I didnt snowboard on the trip, last year my wife and I went to Jackson Hole. absolutely amazing area for winter sports.
we went to the ski area even though we werent skiing and rode the tram all the way to the top which blew my mind. i would say its a must visit for any serious skiier/snowboarder.
we also went snowshoeing, dogsledding, and hiking on the teton pass. incredible area, cant wait to go back.




btw, Ive got an old 156cm Ride board w/ shimano clicker bindings if anyone wants it

[JohnC]

btw, Ive got an old 156cm Ride board w/ shimano clicker bindings if anyone wants it

If that's a reasonable beginner setup, then I'm interested.

I've been skiing for a long time - tried snowboarding once and didn't have much fun, but would like to give it another shot. My only experiences are at the local places - Wintergreen, Massanutten, Timberline, etc...

[Mike]

btw, Ive got an old 156cm Ride board w/ shimano clicker bindings if anyone wants it

If that's a reasonable beginner setup, then I'm interested.

ditto. when john flakes, let me know :wink:

[Steve85]

My biggest challenge going from skiing to boarding (other than having to hike up after the slopes closed because they weren't allowed) was getting used to both feet strapped in and how that affects the learning curve. I did a lot strap in, stand up, fall, rinse, repeat. Just no way to catch yourself. I was also going off a one line how-to from the Burton catalog, "keep your weight bias forward and steer with your back foot". Sooo many front edge faceplants... :lol:

Once I made a couple good turns though, I progressed fast - like from not being able to do it at all to handling the whole mountain in a few days. Skiing was more of a slow steady progression, not quite as hateful at first, but took a lot longer to be aggressive without crossing tips and such, transitioning from snow plow to parallel, etc. So, if boarding sucks at first, stick with it, it gets better quickly.

I did Liberty with ski clubs in middle/high school and trips to Wisp, Canaan, Seven Springs, Snowshoe, Killington, Mount Snow, Vail and Telluride. Vail is the only one that had open bowls for back country style riding I've been to and that is just unbelievable fun especially carving huge long turns on a board. Telluride is my overall favorite though in terms of terrain and local town and they have opened up over 300 acres since we went, can't wait to go back.

I want to do Whistler first though.

[Evan]

while i was learning, there were equal amounts of falling and swearing between skiing and snowboarding, but with skiing the skis fell off and flew everywhere which made it much more frustrating. even after getting ski lessons i still found snowboarding to be easier to pick up.

mike and john, whoever is first at my house with a 4 pack of strongbow can have the board.
its a fine board, in good shape with straight sharp edges and no gouges in the base. you probably want to ditch the bindings though, i dont think boots are made for them anymore (unless i can find my old boots too)

[Apoc]

My family used to do a decent amount at Canaan Valley and Blue Knob back in the day. My wife and I went skiing last year for the first time in 15 years at Wintergreen. I clearly didn't remember ANYTHING and the beginner stuff was all ice; I hated it. I'd really like to get back into it, especially living in Seattle, but my two-surgery-knee doesn't have much strength or flexibility. I'm hoping to work towards winter sports next season after we settle in and I do the necessary rehab on my knee.

Is snowboarding easier on knees? I feel like the rigidity of the board would aid a knee that doesn't have much strength.

[Mike]

john, i'll give you a chance if you're think you'll be able to grab it this season.

[CaptainHenreh]

I did some snowboarding in college, absolutely loved it but at the time I was broke as a joke. No loots for such frivolities.

This year I decided I'd do a season rental, hoping for a good season, but so far I haven't seen enough white stuff to be actually motivated to go. :finger:

[Ole]

I started snow skiing about 2 years after I moved here, so about 1992. Switched to snowboarding about 6 years ago and will not go back to skiing. Snowboarding is much more like surfing and wakeboarding so it was somewhat natural to me. I currently have a Ride "Fleetwood" 158 with Solomon bindings and boots. I used to rent for about the first 3 years.

Went to Breckenridge/Vail for 3 years and loved it. Usually go to Snowshoe and Blue Knob locally. Just got back from Snowshoe late last night. If neither of you guys get Evans board, I will so I can use it for rails etc. I like my board for cruising and as a chick magnet.....

[JohnC]

mike and john, whoever is first at my house with a 4 pack of strongbow can have the board.
its a fine board, in good shape with straight sharp edges and no gouges in the base. you probably want to ditch the bindings though, i dont think boots are made for them anymore (unless i can find my old boots too)

I'll be back up there for Turducken. It's mine!

[G.Irish]

Just got back from Snowshoe late last night.

What are conditions like at Snowshoe right now? I wanna get out to warm up before I head to Utah but I feel like conditions are terrible everywhere around here. *first world problem*

[D_Eclipse9916]

Just got back from Snowshoe late last night.

What are conditions like at Snowshoe right now? I wanna get out to warm up before I head to Utah but I feel like conditions are terrible everywhere around here. *first world problem*

Terrible, like everything else. They have a few greens, and a few blues open. Ill be going to Canaan Valley Saturday because cheap lift tickets (they are having a special), and they are opening more trails saturday, along with that they have one or two good blacks and blues open already. Face it, how many runs do you actually run on most of the day, probably your favorite one or two and and additional fun runs. (only east coast does that apply).

[REED]

I started snowboarding @ JMU during the frequently cited cheap college days. I was never that serious about it until 2 years ago. Last year was a big year, went to Whitetail & Liberty a bunch (I also highly recommend the advantage card) before a big trip to WhistlerBlackcomb. Whistler was absolutely ridiculous, especially considering it was my 1st west coast trip. Going to Liberty upon returning was a mistake, disappointed just doesn't do it justice.

I'm actually going to be picking up my own board this year, looking at the Arbor Element RX. Suggestions on bindings and boots are welcome!

I'm heading to Tahoe in early February, but also looking forward to getting warmed up around here.....if it snows.......ever

[navin]

Snowshoe's forecast this weekend is actually calling for snow, supposedly they have a 10-20" base is what my coworker said. I've been boarding for about a year or 2, never really that serious about it.

[ScottyB]

i started skiing in '98 and picked up a set of K2 Explorers with some Nordic bindings and boots in '00 that I've been riding ever since. very obsolete and well-worn stuff, but i just don't get out often enough to justify better equipment. i absolutely love being on the slopes, but these days i might do one day of skiing over Christmas. Down here in NC its just a pain to try to get to anything that you could consider worth the effort. used to hit Massofnothin' on Monday nights with Jayray for the $10 lift tickets...there were a few winters we got our money's worth out of that place. had a chance to ski at Tahoe last year and couldn't due to a schedule conflict. it was a hell of a conflict but i still kick myself for not being able to work that out. i've never skied out west and would really like to take a few days to soak that up.

tried boarding once, didn't really enjoy the feel and felt i had more control on skis. that was a long time ago, and i wonder if i'd enjoy boarding nowadays if i give it another shot. when the day comes to replace my skis i might have to really consider the alternative.

i've skied Seven Springs, Ski Roundtop, Camelback, Canaan, Wintergreen, Winterplace, Massanuttin, and Snowshoe. nothing impressive but Snowshoe was the only one i really looked forward to going back to.

[kcook]

I tried snowboarding when I was 18 and absolutely hated it. I think a lot of it has to do with my friends that were with me just kind of left me at the top of the mountain so I never learned. It was so discouraging, I didn't even attempt to ski until 2 years ago Dj and my best friend Dean showed me the ropes and I picked up it very fast. Found out I'm a natural so I went ahead and bought myself some 170 Volkl AC20s and Dalbello Venon 90 boots last season. I will be going to snowshoe in 7 days for 4 days so I will let you all know how the conditions are As of now, 30 slopes are open out of 60, but I hear they are going to be starting on all the blacks this weekend!

pic of setup

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/166807_1344642707403_1571310063_31460388_3063068_n.jpg">http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/166807_1344642707403_1571310063_31460388_3063068_n.jpg</a><!-- m -->