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bigwavedave

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Everything posted by bigwavedave

  1. Changed out my winter tires today, moving the clock ahead tonight, snow melting temps are in the forecast, feeling the urge to come out and play on the snow tomorrow as we rush into spring.
  2. Man oh man, what a great day! Didn't want to stop.
  3. While I agree and do keep a lookout both behind (uphill) and ahead (downhill), I still have some close calls, especially on steeper runs where skiers come up fast from behind. Of course avoiding any collision is always top priority. Still, some skiers seem indignant that they could possibly be the one who should yield right of way to a snowboarder! I've "run" into too many folks that don't seem to know the rules for right-of-way. I would like to see ski areas post the code more prominently, like they used to, and maybe site the statute number, so it doesn't seem like just a suggestion. Minnesota statute, [184C.03] SKIER DUTIES, quotes the skier's code verbatim into the law. On the subject of "yield to downhill skier/rider", here is a pertinent quote from a lawyerly website on the subject of fault, where they compare being hit by an uphill skier to being rear-ended in a car. From SkiLaw.com : "Collision cases are determined on a per se basis, under the statute, which requires all skiers to ski in control, exercise caution, maintain a lookout, yield to skiers already on trails, and avoid collision with skiers below. In an action between skiers, the risk of a skier/skier collision is not an “inherent risk.” Thus, the “hittee” has a right of recovery against the negligent “hitter.” A rebuttable presumption arises against the uphill skier that is similar to the presumption against the following car in a rear-end car accident case." If we are the only ones looking out and observing the code, we're only half as safe as we could be if only other skiers and riders were doing the same. I'm seriously thinking of printing up some cards citing the statute number and quoting the pertinent right-of-way rules from the code--end of discussion on the hill or on the lift.
  4. Looks like Spirit got about 5-6" of snow. Hope it didn't all blow away. Planning to come up Thursday. Huttner is warning of a sudden-onset spring. Get it while you can. Spring conditions may be just around the corner, like next week! I finally qualify for a senior pass for next year. Spirit now has a deal with Lutsen for half price tickets (3 per year) with a Spirit pass and $30 off a daily pass anytime. No mention if there is still a deal with Giants Ridge. Also, the Indianhead 4 pack pass sold this March can only be used during 2015-16 season.
  5. Camera mounted on a telescoping pole held in my right hand.
  6. 22 sec slo-mo video carving in some nice snow yesterday at Indianhead, U.P., MI. Click on the settings gear bottom right to set on HD quality.
  7. Don't forget the Donek Incline, the original all-mt board from Donek for soft or hard boots. Traditional glass construction, full camber (new ones have decambered nose and tail). My go-to board for soft snow, corn, slush, crud. I ride them with hardboots.
  8. Cool shot! What's MSPZ? Ahhh, got it. Here's a couple more boring shots of grooves in groom Indianhead, yesterdayin theUpper Peninsula of Michigan
  9. I think skiers have an unwritten code where they look at the hill as having lanes, like on a highway, and everyone stays in their own lanes. We look at the hill divided horizontally, leaving space between uphill and downhill riders giving folks lots of room to use hill as they wish below you. Passing only with care and enough room for the unexpected move.
  10. Shots from first run today at Indianhead, like Spirit Mt, you can make first tracks from the top before the chair is running. Clear blue sky from the start, snow was like Aspen 3rd day groom, literally "packed powder". Went over to check out Blackjack after lunch. About half as many people (10 cars in the lot as opposed to 25 at Indianhead). Blackjack has some really nice terrain, once you get to know it, it's pretty fun. Where Indianhead is really big-carve heaven with waves set in the same direction, wide and smooth, Blackjack has waves coming from more than one direction which makes things challenging, but fun and interesting the more you go down them. Nice variety of pitches at both places.
  11. Code says "people ahead", but in the video on the NSA website the narrator says "downhill". I think "ahead" implies "downhill" as that is the direction we are generally going. It certainly acknowledges that we do not have eyes in the back of our heads. I am always cranking my head around to look uphill for people coming up on me as well as trying watch where I'm going. http://www.nsaa.org/safety-programs/responsibility-code/
  12. first run today, half inch of new snow over groom. Got a little busy later, enough to have to keep an eye out uphill, but not enough to make lift lines.
  13. Rode at Spirit today and plan to ride at Indianhead tomorrow. Snow piles pretty high here in Bessemer!
  14. This seems to happen more and more. Surprising that skiers seem not to know the code, 3 simple rules-of-the-road that are so often ignored: 1. Yield right of way to skiers/riders below you. 2. Always stop where visible from above and off to the side, out of the way. 3. Always look uphill for oncoming traffic before starting out again, or when merging with another trail. I've had skiers almost hit me from behind and then tell me at the bottom that I shouldn't do all those turns. I say " Isn't it funny that the ultimate measure of a skier's skill has always been the ability to link turns through a course with gates, maybe you should try and learn to turn." Then, I'd like to hand them a card printed with the above rules from the "skier's code". Maybe patrollers could exercise their power to enforce the rules. Apparently these rules are actually written into the statutes of many states with ski areas. 3 weeks ago I was slammed from behind by a skier (out of controll? I never saw him coming). He went right up the back of my 1 month old board and curled the edge and ptex forward! Not to mention that I was sore for for a couple of weeks. And, no apology, nothing! When some one is clearly at fault and does damage, should they pay? SoftBootSailor just posted that he was also clipped from behind yesterday by a skier that should have known better and insisted that he was not at fault!
  15. Bump, price reduction.
  16. I might be heading to Indianhead Monday, 3/2. Also, Russ and I are planning an Indianhead trip on Thursday 3/12.
  17. Planning to come up to Spirit Sunday (3 runs will be closed for fat tire bike race Saturday). Should be warmer and sunny. I've got Monday off, so might head over to Indianhead. Still have 3 passes left on my 5 pack from last year that expire at the end of this season.
  18. Spirit Mt patroller Russ Maron making some nice tracks today on perfect groom riding a 168 Donek Incline with hard boots.
  19. Russ making tracks Best carving snow yet this season today. Rode with Russ from 10-12, took a break to warm up after noon. Temps started out below zero and barely got above. When I came back out, the mono (disabled) skiers were in having lunch and the slopes were eerily empty. I felt like I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone where I was the last person on earth, except for the lifties, who were just faceless props in my fantasy. About 2:30 the after-schoolers started showing up, broke the spell, and I was gone.
  20. Kessler 168 has an 8-12m scr, more of a recreational sidecut between SL and GS.
  21. Plan to be out Thursday. When, depends on if Spirit delays opening due to cold temps. Uh oh, monoski madness at Sprit Wed-Fri....And 3 runs closed for fat tire bike races on Saturday.
  22. I recall Bruce telling me that the Nirvana evolved from the All Mountain. I rode both 2 years ago at SES and they were very similar except that the All Mountain was 168cm and wider waist (21cm?) and the Nirvana balance was 174cm with 20cm waist, so the bigger board had a smoother ride. I bought a Nirvana Balance and later sold it as it really seemed optimized for soft snow (think Aspen) conditions. It really is a great all around board in a wide variety of conditions, and fine on icy hard, but not as solid as a "race" board. I ride mostly on Minnesota firm ( hard and often icy), so I had a REV made with a 11-12scr and love it. Now I want to talk to Sean and/or Bruce about making a big brother for it. I can't comment on Bruce's multi sidecut boards. My Nirvana had a 12-14m scr. I have demoed others and not sure I can tell the subtle difference between triple, double or progressive sidecuts of similar size range with just a demo ride.
  23. Also consider picking up a used slalom race board (SG, REV, Kessler). Has a variable sidecut that's tight enough for the narrow and crowded east coast trails you speak of and has exceptional edge hold on hard and icy snow. The "new" designs with metal and rubber, and decambered flex patterns, are definitely way better on icy conditions than the "traditional" full cambered glass board. If you're smaller and lighter, look at the 157cm (women's race board, also preferred by less aggressive freecarvers), if you're bigger and heavier look for the 163cm. These usually show up for sale at about half the price of new after a racer has a season or two on the board.
  24. Spirit didn't open til noon today due to cold weather. I had first tracks after the patrollers made sure things were safe, thanks Russ. Below zero temps combined with a NW wind, sparkling sunny day, ice covered Lake Superior, and empty slopes made for free carving heaven. Somehow we managed to ride for 4 hours with just one short coffee/cocoa break. Got involved with a photo shoot for Spirit Mt marketing. There wasn't much else for this guy to point his camera at.
  25. A day for slicing up the cord in Cold Surf nation! Sub zero high temps kept the crowds away so it took us 4 hours to carve up every last bit of corduroy in Duluth.
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