You may remember me from last year posting about my first day skiing, well no worries, I’m here to stay.
So far I’ve skied 9 days this season. 5 days at Perfect North 4 days at Caberfea
At the end of last season I bought brand new boots and some used skis, they’ve been great. They’ve almost paid for themselves in saved rental savings alone.
I’ve made some serious gains this season in skills. I can now carve on purpose and hockey stop.
Went to Michigan New Years week, the only week without snow, and skied in some real awful conditions. Didnt ski Saturday or Sunday because it was raining, went Monday for some real Mashed Potato snow, tuesday got cold and it firmed up, wednesday was Dust on crust, which turned into a surprise 7" overnight into excellent conditions for Thursday, because with the humidity, Wednesday night was finally cold enough for making snow. But like always, a bunch of days in a row skiing is always a big level up.
I’ve now hit all intermediate terrain at Perfect North, and I hit Canyon at Caberfea. I’m hoping to do a trip to West Virginia in February and do my first real Mountains. I’m still working on my angulation, and getting my body downhill. Pole plants really help with it, but the steeper the terrain the harder it is to make myself do it lol.
I think I’ll spend the rest of this season building my confidence, and maybe tackle some Black Diamonds when I get more comfortable with the steeper terrain.
My Vantage 75c’s are starting to chatter on me, at higher speeds. Will likely take it in for a tune soon and see if that solves the issue or if I need new skis. Im looking at the Maverick 86c or 88Ti. I’m hoping to cut weight this off season, but right now I’m 5’ 11" and 260 pounds. Waiting until the ski swap next fall may be the correct option.
Anyways, thanks for reading my rant about this season. What have been up to this season?
At about 10 skidays so far. Some very nice weather ones, some in rough weather. Some days in big high resort (Saas-Fee), some days on small slopes with only some very old “Schlepper” lifts (area Black Forest, Jura, Vosges). The rough weather has its charm imo, to some extend and as long as there is reasonable visibility, there’s very few people on the slopes and very busy slopes is my main safety concern as some people ski really fast and recklessly on full slopes, scared if being hit from behind sometimes.
So far it’s been quite a good winter for skiing here, more snow than previous years, but unfortunately I can’t find as much free time for skiing as I’ld wish between working and other obligations.
I also got some gear upgrades: “new” second hand ski’s for a bargain: they’re way better than what I was used to. The trick was buying them from a ski rental place. Appearantly they get new skis pushed by producers every year who want to market innovations and a lot of the ski school and ski rental 2nd hand gear is relatively new and in very good shape. And my brand new discount end of the series ski jacket from decathlon has been very worth it! I used to go down with regular jacket and just 3 or 4 sweaters underneath :')
I am also not pro at all, only started 3 years ago. I did it as a kid on fake indoor snow a few times then nothing for more than 20 years. On very steep slopes I just basically go sideways permanently, slowly grinding down. I try to avoid black pistes tbh. It’s just necessary sometimes when there are really cool blue/red slopes but you have to do a bit of black to get to the start of them… The here yellow labelled pistes which aren’t prepared by the machines I avoid full stop, it feels very very dangerous to me: with deep snow patches and hidden bumps… Not my cup of tea.
Anyhow, it’s fun and I enjoy it more and more still.
I am also slowly trying to get better at carving, so far I can only do it properly on very flattish pistes, gaining too much speed too soon while trying carving on steeper slopes
Happy skiing!!
Good for you man. Even a day skiing on questionable snow is still a day skiing.
I’m a flatlander getting ready for our family trip out to Keystone next weekend. Probably the only time I’m getting on the mountain this season but never say never. Maybe I’ll sneak out in late February.
My elementary school aged boys are snowboarders and will be on their third trip to Colorado. Really excited to actually get a couple days on the mountain, just the three of us.
