trent

i was looking at ski racing calendar, thought i'd update y'all so you can adjust your expectations. 1/16-17, 2/1-4, 2/9-11 (top level, should be fun to watch).

heads up, ski races 12/23. and 1/13-15. but 13-14 will be the top skiers in the area, so you will see serious talent!

i taught there for a few years, a long time ago! actually grew up near there, and had my first ski experience there too. thought i could figure out skiing on my own.* got down the hill fine (the chalet was off hamline, so you'd start at the top). then the hilarity ensued. i kept grabbing the rope tow all at once, would get launched forward onto my face. over, and over, and over. then i would struggle getting up, putting back on skis, etc. i ended up carrying everything back uphill to the chalet, and quit. 1 run down, probably 15 tow rope launches/drags.** * there may have been an episode of typical asshole behavior, and i didn't get to sign up for lessons with my brother, because of my usual behavior. i DID behave well enough to sign up for lessons the next year. ** yes, people tried to help. do you think i listened? see above, for my behavior profile

that's awesome! i've yet to see jim in town, but i did run into him in the parking lot at afton. can't belive he's that old, i hope we are all able to play at his age!

at least it didn't look crowded.

heads up, looks like ski racing 1/14 (night) and 1/15; 2/18 (night) and 2/19; 3/5 and 3/6. if you are there, it's the fis racers, which is the older kids. and most of them are phenomenal skiers! hands and hips on the snow during slalom.

nope, probably not making it up north this season. kids aren't racing anymore. which i guess is good.... i heard last weekend at the (spirit) race that one of the chairs stopped for over an hour. with people stuck on it. then a different chair did the same thing. apparently, at least one kid was on both chairs! i hope nobody was frostbit being stuck while in their gs suits. racing is at indianhead this weekend, and 1/28-1/31, and 2/25-2/27. racing at giants 2/12-2/13.

looks like you're having a pretty great season dave! funny how spirit looked like it might be done a year or so ago, and now it's all the hills that vail bought that are barely open / pissing everyone off. glad the northern mn crew are getting in some playtime! and i think the only reason bigmario wouldn't make a trench, is because he and his co crew aren't used to (or are too smart to) riding in sub zero temps.

yeah, this sucks donkey balls! it's not even worth going to afton at this point on the weekends. lines and runs are crazy long/crowded 45 min after opening. vail is doing an excellent job at losing all the long time pass holders.

all the cool kids live here!

sorry @bigwavedave, i haven't seen jim, or dave, in years. i would've actually thought jim was still up there. i can only hope i'm that energetic and positive when i get to his age! and thanks for all your reports and pictures! for those of us that didn't get out much this year, it's been fun living vicariously through your adventures!

sorry, finally got around to looking through these, editing, and posting. these are just some of them. if you want to see all of them - good, bad, crash, and out-of-focus, look in the "carving all" gallery. https://www.trentjohnsonphotography.com/Carving/MES-2020/Carving/

are you talking about taping the mask to your face? if so, i'm sure when i try to do it, i'll have some sort of allergic reaction to the tape, and have some nice red lines across my face. but, since home is the only place i'm not masked up, i guess it doesn't matter! time to find the duct tape

racing both sat and sun this weekend. i think it'll be mostly on lookout, but there will be a ton of kids. you've been warned.

heads up.... racing all weekend at afton. sat and sun hills 1 and 2 will be covered in gates, and kids. but, from 3 on should be clear as the d-team racers are at welch. (heading to that thread now)

warning(s)!!!! racing at afton friday 2/24 morning/afternoon. hills 1 and 2 will be covered in high school racers. race starts at noon, but they'll be setting gates, and possibly training earlier. another d-team race sat 2/25. 400+ kids take over hills 1,2, and 3. ussa kids not going to lacrosse will be on hill 7. so, if you like the highland, the park, or hill 5, come on out! otherwise, find someplace else to play. sunday should be ok. d-team is heading to wild. so only have to worry about potential lumberjack races, or as always, the dreaded red coats showing how they can ignore almost all of the skiers code while "training". -trent

trying to add photos from last year.... https://photos.app.goo.gl/dNx3uXQ348ENWHTq8 https://photos.app.goo.gl/4db5CGjAGrzudxwN8 https://photos.app.goo.gl/H7q2waHzCrMWytdr5 well at least this year we'll know why you left! mr leaves without saying goodbye.

i think speedzilla has a great story of someone doing a similar move to the ticket office window...

heads up, d-team/arc racing sat 1/11 at afton. teams from mt kato, welch, coffee mill, and afton will be everywhere. expect all of the front hills to be covered in gates. the good news is sunday should be much better. they have a race at troll. so probably only have to deal with possible special olympic racers, and the dreaded red coats and their idiotic training across an entire run. -trent

my new years resolution was to cut and paste more, so here you go! (yes, i'm lazy and needed a reminder to set this up) last year was a pow day, i think zero carves were made (at least by me). somewhere i've got a video.. it's almost that time of year again. let’s all go outside to play! when: weds, jan 29th, 9:30am - ? where: afton alps www.aftonalps.com lift tickets are $59 on the preferred program, $64 not on the program. There’s also a 3-day option for $119. https://www.aftonalps.com/about-afton-alps/3-pack eats: bring your lunch, or money to purchase food. as usual, there will be plenty of homemade food from the sugar group. who: invite everyone you know who carves, wants to carve, likes hanging out with carvers, wants to wish bobble a happy 70th birthday, or just wants homemade caramels at lunch! see you on the hill! -trent

xmas eve carving! don't be the jerry in jeans because you forgot xmas eve at buck was tradition, and had to wear whatever you had on, racing to the hill from work! (true story) i'll be the one on skis, woo-hooing from the chair. broken snowboard boots makes me a skier for a while. at least i won't be in jeans! -trent

late notice... do NOT come to afton this weekend, unless you like long lines and hills covered in gates. racing on hills 1,2, and 7. also 200+ kids in the jr race program, and they'll be everywhere else (probably all over chair 3 and 5). highlands is supposed to open sunday, so it might be better. but the racers will still have all the best (open) hills taken. plus, they just groomed 1 and 2 yesterday for the first time. doubtful it will be set up yet. but, it sure made installing all the b-netting easier. -trent

sorry, late warning... there will be psia certification sat and sun this weekend (maybe snowboarders too). lots of groups of instructors doing drills, teaching, etc. basically, taking up the whole hill, standing in stupid spots. just. like. ski. patrol. does. anyway, it could be bad, it could be fine. for the most part, they'll probably be talking a lot in groups, but when they're doing something on the hill, you might have a few runs of frustration. good news is that the d-team is done for the season, so that's 150 less racer kids on the hill. you'll still have to deal with us ussa bozos, but we're only on hill 2.

afton will be bonkers on hills 1,2,3 and maybe 7 both sat and sun this weekend. last races of the year for d-teams. kids and gates everywhere.

heads up! ussa racing sat and sun at buck. the front will be swarming with kids and gates everywhere.