It's Ron and Alices fault

[jim-ratliff]

2)The fact that Gary's yellowing of Ron's ski's was mentioned in the middle of an "epic" pissing match

Most hilarious post of the decade.? My favorite, three disparate thoughts pulled and combined into a single coherent sentence.   
Perry, YOU ARE THE MAN.

And I forget. What are JJ's??  Wasn't that some comedian back in the 80's??   

[Perry]

Given the pledge recently given by Gary to sleep with his "new found love", one has to either question his loyalty to the JJ, or admire his wholehearted embrace of his new love the marvelous Kastles.

"You are marvelous, darling, simply marvelous"

Come on Gary, give me the goods regarding rocking out in JH with the JJ

[Ron]

Ron, I don't know why you are so focused on groomers??
With those big, fat babies of yours, you should have no problem.

  ? umm, no... groomers and technique for that matter are definitely not my focus, I'll ski a groomer if it's soft if that's all I have, but I'll take frozen crud and bramble before them for the most part.? This kind of stuff is just the source of my entertainment when not out on the mountain it was just a joke about steeps but being ungroomed.? BIg Sky has some serious terrain off of Lone Peak that can approach 55 degrees with many runs that are cliffed out.? One day I'll be there, not quite yet, I don' think I coud ski 55 degrees with confidence (and not pissing my pants!). To me that's skiing. The best runs are the ones you are little scared or nervous about getting into. When you enter into a chute or tight steep trees and realize, there's no going back, you gotta turn the brain off and ski it reading the line, using different skills without really thinking about it, part skiing, part mountaineering; that's my idea of fun.? Phil took us in to a 10- yard opening in the trees off of Bivouac it was sick steep & deep, you couldn't see down the line with a blind 5' drop a 1/3 way down (we discovered) it was the best run of the week. At the bottom you look back up and say, way cool, that wasn't so bad, what's next!? That's my focus!  Here's what its about!  Steambaot dec 24th, merry Crhistmas...

[Gary]

Ok....here's the skinnny....

I will admit the somehow some way a yellow clump of vitamin enriched water waste appeared frozen and clumped on the front of a borrowed ski....gravity has a way of setting the stage...the rest....well...is history.

I can say without 2nd thought that many of you have had an enlightening moment with a new ski or boots that just surprises you. That could be in a positive or negative sense as well. I just happened to be full of _______________ emotion and self expression (is another way of saying it) and love to talk about my experience.

BUT...I do believe there is an awakening in each of us when a new benchmark is achieved. I think ones awarness of this awakening is more noticieable as each of our skiing ability improves. And so it goes for me personally....havin g been all the while working on ski skills and yes enjoying the ride, I have found there are some tools that just seemed to be tailored for my ski style and ability.
THe Kastle MX78's just seem to provide that hard snow turnabiltiy of my P8's and Head SS with the added benefit of increased performance in crud, bumps and soft snow. The JJ's ...hmmm...the story first was the rocker concept..didn't like the way Ron's Hellmbents skied although Ron skied them beautifully,..but I kept watching videos of skiers on Rockers and saw? ? ?how contained their body language was...quiet, effiecient...I like this, I ?wanted this...hey...it's all about longevity for me. Then I did my homework, research on the various skis and loved what I saw in the JJ design. Then Christmas came and my journey began with that ski.
SKiing at Jackson Hole in shin high snow was amazing with 115 underfoot. Platform skiing, hits and bumps absorbed like no other ski I've been on. AND then in the big pillowy bumps, they absorbed, turned with ease making the ride like a dream. There was heavy pow and again, the big ski was so less tiring. NIce.

So.....what about your awakening....someti mes it's through suggestions friends make...tell me....WHAT TURNED THE CORNER FOR YOU...WHAT MOVED YOU DOWN ?A NEW PATH....I must admit my ski friends and buds have been most influential in my ski choices...that and self preservation. Would love to hear your story.

G

[Ron]

Well-Said Gary, I agree 100%, especailly about finding what works for you best, when it does, it will click and just feel right, like a good pair of boots and the part about skiing changes as you gain confidence and ability to ski more and more challenging terrain. Fluency and confidence is seen in your skiing and you find yourself just skiing it, not thinking, you are able to enjoy it for what it is. You feel the powder more, hear the woods and your surroundings and everything slows down allowing you to take it all in.

[jbotti]

I have a bit of a different view than Ron on skiing hairy stuff. For me, if there is a great reward at the bottom of the chute, then I will push myself to do it, but solely so that I can ski the great powder lower down that less people will ski because the price of entry is so high. At Big Sky there is a colouir that is very tight and it runs for 1000 feet. Essentially you are doing hop turns or near hop turns for 1000 feet. But there is no great powder field below it. I have had a few shots to ski this and I have passed every time. Doing hop turns for a 1000 feet is not my idea of skiing!! But... to each his own.

On Big Sky, the conditions depend alot on when you go. I have never seen a mountain that eats skis like Big Sky. It basically eats them for breakfast, lunch and dinner!! Early season at Big Sky can be sketchy. Now in my thrid season in SW Montana, I can tell you that coverage can be lean in December and January. I gets better in February, and in late Feb and into March we start to see really big dumps of snow. March is the best time to sky Big Sky. As well, it can be just frigid in December and early January. I have gotten used to it, and I have the right gear and apparel to stay out all day when the high temp is 0-5 degress F. Usually by late Jan things warm up and in general from Feb1 to the end of the season temps are between 15 and 25F which is very skiable and quite comfortable.

One great thing about big sky is that even though they have as much skiable acreage as Vail (combined Big Sky with Moonlight Basin skiable with one lift ticket) it has the same amount of people as Fernie or Kicking Horse (very lean!). There are never crowds. Lift lines are a rarity, and it has terrain that will rival any ski resort in the world (all best skied when there is good coverage). The backside of Lone Peak is amazing, but it is really best skied on a bluebird day as it is way above the tree line and visiblilty can be incredibly challenging in low light.

Something to consider when coming to Big Sky. There are a few places on the mountain that you can only ski in pairs and they only allow skiers with becaons, probes, shovels etc. The North Summit Field is like this and it is some of the best skiing on the mountain. You need to go with someone that knows their way (I'm not quite there yet and I need many more trips down it to be able to fully know my way) because you can cliff out, but IMO this is a can't miss skiing experience. Without a beacon annd other Avy gear you won't be allowed to ski it. Ron, you should definitely plan on skiing this!! It's not that hairy, but several thousand feet of great off piste skiing. With fresh snow it is nirvana!!

Let me know when you guys are planning to go. Obviously if I can be out there at the same time I would love to ski with all of you.

[Ron]

yeah, that does sound like fun!  the jump tuns are the fun part! Its probably above my abilities but that does appeal to me.

[Gary]

No...not me...no jump turns for 1000 feet...too much other good stuff to blow my energy wad on.

AND yes...Big Sky eats skis...that shale rock keeps coming to the surface and like razors...eek!

Hope to get out there sometime in the near future to ski some nice easy groomers with ya JB. 

G
 

[SnowHot]

Ron, I don't know why you are so focused on groomers??
With those big, fat babies of yours, you should have no problem.

  ? umm, no... groomers and technique for that matter are definitely not my focus, I'll ski a groomer if it's soft if that's all I have, but I'll take frozen crud and bramble before them for the most part.? This kind of stuff is just the source of my entertainment when not out on the mountain it was just a joke about steeps but being ungroomed.? BIg Sky has some serious terrain off of Lone Peak that can approach 55 degrees with many runs that are cliffed out.? One day I'll be there, not quite yet, I don' think I coud ski 55 degrees with confidence (and not pissing my pants!). To me that's skiing. The best runs are the ones you are little scared or nervous about getting into. When you enter into a chute or tight steep trees and realize, there's no going back, you gotta turn the brain off and ski it reading the line, using different skills without really thinking about it, part skiing, part mountaineering; that's my idea of fun.? Phil took us in to a 10- yard opening in the trees off of Bivouac it was sick steep & deep, you couldn't see down the line with a blind 5' drop a 1/3 way down (we discovered) it was the best run of the week. At the bottom you look back up and say, way cool, that wasn't so bad, what's next!? That's my focus!? Here's what its about!? Steambaot dec 24th, merry Crhistmas...

I love that beautiful blurry line where one's technical and tactical skier come together to let it all go and say Whooooo Hooooo!!

[Ron]

what corner are in you now!   (PSIA, WEEMS JOKE for the rest of you!)

[Perry]

Ok....here's the skinnny....

I will admit the somehow some way a yellow clump of vitamin enriched water waste appeared frozen and clumped on the front of a borrowed ski....gravity has a way of setting the stage...the rest....well...is history.

I can say without 2nd thought that many of you have had an enlightening moment with a new ski or boots that just surprises you. That could be in a positive or negative sense as well. I just happened to be full of _______________ emotion and self expression (is another way of saying it) and love to talk about my experience.

BUT...I do believe there is an awakening in each of us when a new benchmark is achieved. I think ones awarness of this awakening is more noticieable as each of our skiing ability improves. And so it goes for me personally....havin g been all the while working on ski skills and yes enjoying the ride, I have found there are some tools that just seemed to be tailored for my ski style and ability.
THe Kastle MX78's just seem to provide that hard snow turnabiltiy of my P8's and Head SS with the added benefit of increased performance in crud, bumps and soft snow. The JJ's ...hmmm...the story first was the rocker concept..didn't like the way Ron's Hellmbents skied although Ron skied them beautifully,..but I kept watching videos of skiers on Rockers and saw? ? ?how contained their body language was...quiet, effiecient...I like this, I ?wanted this...hey...it's all about longevity for me. Then I did my homework, research on the various skis and loved what I saw in the JJ design. Then Christmas came and my journey began with that ski.
SKiing at Jackson Hole in shin high snow was amazing with 115 underfoot. Platform skiing, hits and bumps absorbed like no other ski I've been on. AND then in the big pillowy bumps, they absorbed, turned with ease making the ride like a dream. There was heavy pow and again, the big ski was so less tiring. NIce.

So.....what about your awakening....someti mes it's through suggestions friends make...tell me....WHAT TURNED THE CORNER FOR YOU...WHAT MOVED YOU DOWN ?A NEW PATH....I must admit my ski friends and buds have been most influential in my ski choices...that and self preservation. Would love to hear your story.

G

Gary - great comments and a great question at the end.  I think this is worthy of a new thread

PS - thanks for the JJ update.  Now my imagination and your reporting are tied together.  I was hoping it would be so...........an experience of mountain, muscle, movement, momentum, making mesmerizing memories........... ......Skiing for the pleasure of it.........soul joy

[Gary]

Thanks Ron.....yup.....we've really made some strides in ski skill growth and ski experieces these past 4 years and many more coming....

Thanks to you too Perry...

A new post it shall be...

G

[Perry]

JBotti-

Big Ski sounds awesome...keep learning the ropes, I would hope that some day I can make my way out there and make some turns with you.  Perhaps by then you will be the local with the knowledge.

BTW..as far as your new avatar, I would vote for the 2nd or middle picture.  It is super sweet, snow coming equally off both skis, bases and legs parallel, nice body and pole position....what's not to like?

Perry

[SnowHot]

what corner are in you now! ? (PSIA, WEEMS JOKE for the rest of you!)

That, dear friend, is when you are in the touch corner.  I'm on time out there at the moment.