JohnE

Have you seen the policies that Loveland will be enacting for the upcoming season?: https://skiloveland.com/coronavirusupdate/?utm_source=newsletter_1499&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fall-sales-blast-sp Chairs can be shared only with related parties. If you drive up with a non-family member - you can't ride the lift with them? This is going to be interesting to enforce. The lodge capacity will be significantly reduced. They say that they plan to open for the season. It's going to be an interesting season!

I agree that we should try to live our lives as normally as possible while still taking precautions. I'm going to work every day and wearing a mask when I am around others. Everyone at work is social distancing as much as possible. The owners of the company take this seriously and the employees do as well. The company is functioning at a near normal rate. The person who is alone in their car and wearing a mask may be a bit weird but isn't hurting anyone. The people who go to Sturgis and completely ignore precautions are making it worse for all of us. A mask is not a seatbelt or helmet. We all wear them to protect others.

I think we all take calculated risks. We wouldn't be boarders if we didn't. Most people wouldn't even consider sliding down a slippery slope at high speed on a plank. We do and we believe it is worth the risk. If we wait until we truly know everything about this virus before we venture out, we'll die of old age. I am still trying to live my life and listen to the advice of the experts. I make every effort to social distance and wear a mask when I cannot. I avoid crowds as much as possible. However, I still get out and ride my bike and try to stay at least 6 feet away from others as much as possible. If we only consider the US: do ski areas have plans on how to operate at any level assuming the virus is at current levels when the season begins? What will be the protocols? I'm willing to follow the rules if I can get a few turns in this season.

Is anyone aware of a plan by any ski area (anywhere in the world) where they have come up with a workable plan to open up, operate and abide by social distancing requirements? I'm trying to imagine how this might work. It seems like it won't be completely safe but maybe safe enough.

I know there is a discussion on the main page about the prospects for the next season. Any thoughts here about Loveland? Are they likely to open? At what capacity? How will they manage the situation with social distancing?

It seems unlikely that the 20 - 21 season will start with the situation being "completely safe". There will be risks (on the slopes as well as in every other aspect of life). Can anyone conceive of a plan such that a ski area could operate at any capacity and keep the transmission rate low? No gondolas? Only 2 persons per chairlift at opposite ends? You can't ride the lift with anyone except the people you drove up with? Lodge is closed or open with much reduced capacity? Six feet apart in the lift lines? Other scenarios?

All of the runs I didn't get to take because of the shutdown. Conditions would likely be great now!

Try it sometime. Not only is it "green" but it works really well. The whole board gets pretty warm and the wax lays down like the surface of a still lake. It seems like the wax more permanently bonds with the base. Just don't leave it out too long - it can get too hot to touch!

Loosen the bindings. When we get a sunny day I'll do my "solar wax" job: put the boards out - base up, let the sun get the (black) bases nice & warm, crayon on some wax, let it heat up until it forms a nice even sheen and then take them out of the sun to cool. Wait until next season.

I may have had my last day of the season on March 4th and didn't even know it.

I use Flow Talons. They are the most supportive, most comfortable snow-sliding footwear ever (ski boots and snowboard boots). Mine are difficult to get on and more difficult to get off but the heel hold-down is great and the boots are always comfortable. I think Talons are among the stiffest soft boots.

When SES was in Aspen, I always thought a great video would be to gather a bunch of carvers at the top of the West Buttermilk Lift and have a videographer get on the lift below. At the right time, each rider could start down the run under the lift and have another follow behind about 5 - 10 seconds later. The videographer would catch each rider coming into view and then passing beneath as the next rider came into the frame.

The run underneath the West Buttermilk lift in Aspen. Easy run. Usually vacant. West Buttermilk is populated mostly by beginning skiers.

This season doesn't appear to be as good or as long as last season. Last year I rode until May 3rd (some rode longer). My guess is our season will last at least another month. We may fall into the melt - freeze cycle though and the snow conditions may be sub-optimal.

Wednesday: Drive up & back: 8/10 Weather: 9/10 (sunny & cool) Crowds: 7/10 Snow conditions: 6/10 (a bit too firm) Overall: 7/10

This sounds awful. Though not being able to every ride again is hard to deal with, getting your health better for day-to-day living is more important. We're all thinking about you. Heal well.

Yesterday - Cold (~5 deg), breezy, sunny. Arne, Gregory & myself. Arne rode with his wife. A few laps on Ptarmigan (very good carving), then over to #4 (Mercury) groom was sketchy, then #9 up to Rookie Road (groom very sketchy). Back to #4 and Telstar then over to #8. Awsome was very wind sculpted & windpacked. Groom on Chet's was poor. Back over to Firebowl & then to Dueces (groom was good on both). Clouds moved in quickly about 12:30. Visibility went bad & started snowing so we ended the day. Didn't see our new friend Wes. He may be up there on Sunday.

For those who attended MCC: How do conditions compare there -vs- Loveland with similar people/acre?

Good day yesterday. Great carving first few runs. Sunny. Not cold. Gregory & Arne & I riding Ptarmigan & #6. We worked over to #4 and down Mercury. Then over to #8 and several runs on Chet's . Chet's was quite a bit softer and got beat up pretty quickly. Met up with a new guy (Wes) who rode with us the rest of the day. He gets up to Loveland Wednesdays & Sundays. I told him to look for the Sunday Carvers when he gets up on the weekends.

I've tried to imagine the day I will take the last run of the day on my last day of the season of my last season. Not a happy thought. All of us will face that someday. The question is: Will we be conscious that it is the last run or will we only realize it after the fact?

I think the only way around here to get a decent powder day is if there is a "surprise" mid-week snowstorm that exceeds the expectations and you just happen to be there that day. Or maybe if one gets a mid-week dump shortly after a big weekend dump and most powderhounds get their fix on the weekend and they are satisfied for a week or so. Also, as stated above - if we get a big snowstorm late season (after Spring Break) after most people have turned off their ski brains.

I remember watching Norm at SES for several years. I could pick him out at a long distance because of his beautiful, relaxed style. He is one of the most beautiful, inspiring riders I have ever seen.

Yesterday: no traffic up or back (50 min each way from Dino lots). Cold (~5 deg F on arrival), never got above about 15 deg. No crowds. Recent snow is great. It has taken the area from marginal to mid-winter conditions. Recent snow was too soft to carve but fun nonetheless. Overcast with light snow throughout the day. Made our first venture over to Lift #8 this season. Chet's Run was good as well as Awesome. Even The Face was doable. Total of about 15 runs - mostly on Fire Bowl and Lift #8.

This seems like a GREAT DEAL. I'd jump on this if I didn't already own a Donek Flux.

Do you think they do shallower groom because they are afraid of going through the snow to the ground below or because grooming shallower is faster? Seems like grooming used to be bigger corduroy.