TRS

[midwif]

For those of you playing hookey from work, TRIP Reports are MANDATORY!!!
Those of us who live vicariously, must be fed.
Unless you wanna be the dishwasher for the entire RS3!!
 

[Philpug]

x2 The Slacker.

[Gary]

Ok...Hmmm...got to Holiday Valley at 10am, was on the mountain at 10:15. The better runs 4 of them were right outside the Yodeler Lodge...easy access. No more than 2-3 minutes in the lift line, 4 minute ride up and making turns for 800 vertical.

The snow was firm in some areas first thing in the morning softening up later. I could find piled snow boot high in spots along the edges.

Riding up the chair before my first run, NO BRACE on my left arm...I kept thinking....will I ski as well as the last day of skiing last year?
Well got off the lift and felt the glide on my super waxed and newly sharpend SS's and there it was....the magic was back. Slide, glide, carve, play along the edges, short quick turns, in and out of spots where grass and high snow bordered each other.....crammed 3 GS turns before the bottom..oh yeah baby...I'm back....it was sweet to be up there turning.

Our local mountain, Bristol opened today....hope to be down there tomorrow for some turns. In the meantime, Ron's new skis sit in my basement, polished, waxed and sharpened waiting to feel the cold of Mother Snow on their bottoms. That privilege belongs to their master....another day!

Hope you all get a chance or two to get out early. I'm feeling very blessed indeed we got an early shot of snow this season. Earliest ever opening in our region.

Best to all,
Gary

[gregmerz]

We are making turns here in Minnesota also.? Mostly man-made but hey were doing it.? We pretty much skipped the WROD phase this year.? Mother Nature gave us about ten days of snow makin weather and we started with numerous runs open.? Getting back in the groove, breaking in new gear, seeing familiar faces.

[Glenn]

Here's mine.....with pics! 

Date(s) Skied:
11/23/2008

Resort or Ski Area:
Mount Snow, Vermont

Conditions:
Man made: Packed Powder Fan Gun Goodness

Trip Report:

My wife and I went up to Mt. Snow today. Mt. Snow blew a ton of snow last week. All open trails were covered edge to edge. For man made snow, the conditions were awesome. Most of the snow was packed powder. There were a few scratchy spots, but even those weren't that "scratchy". We were on the mountain, making turns around 9AM.

We started off Deer Run/Long John to get our legs back. Great coverage on these trails! We made on run on Carinthia. Nitro had a nice park set up. The trail is much wider and straighter than the old "Gulch" and I enjoyed the new layout. There was plenty of room to ski around the features if needed. Lower Titianum had more "Natural" features. I'm interested in seeing those along the entire trail when it opens.   Standard/Canyon proved to the be the trail of the day for us. The trail was wide with edge to edge coverage and the snow was great. Plus: no lift lines. The longest we had to wait at any lift was maybe a minute or two.

I had a lot of new gear to test out: Impact 8 boots, new poles, and a new set of twin tips. My every day skis were relatively "new" as well. I only skied those two days last year and that was in the spring crud. It was nice to get them out on some more traditional snow. I started the day on my Nordica Hot Rod Nitrous skis. After lunch, I switched over to my Dynastar Nothing But Trouble twins. The twins ski a lot different! I found them much more manageable at slower speeds vs. the Hot Rods. But I felt the Hot Rods were better at speed and plowing through pretty much anything. I'm looking forward to getting more time on both; we'll be back up there on Black Friday.

Everyone like pics, right?

My wife: (pics taken on Long John)






Fan gun laying down the goods:


Me near the Fan gun:


A shot from the ski racks near the base lodge/ticket window:

[Ron]

Glenn, excelllent job!  Great pics. The conditions looks fantastic for this time of year for sure!  How cold was it? Your wife looks like she's dressed for -20 weather!     Love the leopard accent!!! 

Keep up the reports and let us know how you like the new gear

[Gary]

Glenn...love your poses.....

How the heck cold was it....?

The snow looks great too. Our weather on the mountain was in the low 20's warming to 30.....great snow conditions especially this time of year.

So? Your gear.....give us a report....first start with the boots performance and then the skis please.

Gary

[Glenn]

Heh! I left out a few details!

Temps: 13F when we got there, 20F when we left.. Decent breeze most of the day, so I'd say around 0F with a windchill. It was cold! Packed powder though! Best man made I've ever made turns in. Not sure if it was those fan guns, the cold weather or a combo of both. Regardless, it rocked!

Boots: They fit great! Stiffer than my old purple slippers. Man, I can crank out some turns with those Hot Rods now. I can really lay into them good when making some longer GS turns.

New poles: Light! And bendy when I click out of my bindings. 

New Burton mitts: Love em'! Burton makes some quality gear.

Twin Tips: Wow! A LOT different from my Hot Rods! These things turn like slalom skis. I can rip out some fast turns on steep pitches like nothing. They get a little washy when I get cranking at speed. I think a lot of how they are has to do with them being mounted a bit more forwards than a traditional mount. They have a ton of pop to them. It's like they're spring loaded. I did a really quick 180 of a small lump of snow. I can't wait to get them in the park. Mt. Snow had two really nice parks open, but ironicly, we went in one in the AM when I was on the Hot Rods. I'll test them in the parks next week. I can't wait to try the twins in the woods or in the moguls...I have a feeling they may be good in some other areas aside from the parks based on thier quickness and eagerness to turn on a dime.

[Ron]

You are the 1st person that has ever described a TT as being slolam-like..... Too much fruffy women-coffee drinks for you!  Gary!  We need your intercession!!!!!

[Glenn]

I'm used to a stiff GS ski with some type of system binding or riser plate. These TT's felt like they'd turn with little effort. I know a more forward mount will allow the ski to initiate the turn easily, but wow! I certainly need some more snow time on them. The factory was was "meh", so I'll have to give em a good coat before the weekend.

On a semi related note...We hit 7-11 on the way home. Their coffee ain't that bad. Of course, right after I poured a nice cup of "regular", I noticed the "French Vanilla" a few spots over. WTF!!!!!    Oh well, at least I have the lay of the land at the 7-11 on Route 100...just south of Mt. Snow.

Is it Friday yet? I want to make more turns. I hope it doesn't rain up there this week.

[Ron]

I understand about the TT's. That's the joy of nice wide ride on soft snow, they turn effortlessly.

[Glenn]

I really may have to adjust my style to ski on them. It's quite different from my Hot Rods. I'm looking forward to it.

[Ron]

you will find the tails release much easier. It will depend on our skiing style of course but there will be a bit more lag in the edge-to-edge on groomed snow. That's where I do prefer a narrower board.

[Gary]

I do understand your description of the TT...they can be pushed around without the steeper edge angles required for the stiffer high performance front side skis....hey...thats fine....ya gotta have fun....that's why gear is so cool. Besides, ya got your park skis!

Ok....now....where the heck is you and your lovely cheetahs helmet?

Come on man...protect thy coconut!. Could be great holiday gifts for each other...ya know....rather than having someone wipe drool from ?your crooked head, sitting near a fire with your banky on, looking out the window at all the skiers shussing by.

Yes..it's a cruel world out there.....but some very very cool helmets....Check out the Smith Variant.....saweet!

G

[Glenn]

I'm now looking forward to figuring out how to "drive" the TT's. I look at it as a challenge now. I really need to get them in the park. I want to try them in bumps too. The twins are 175cm long...and they do have a 78 mm waist.

Ah, here are the specs:

Dims: Tip 112
Dims: Waist 78
Dims: Tail 102


Not a big fan of helmets. I view it more as a personal preference. You don't want to hear my long winded opinion on the issue. LOL!