rwmaron Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Not a bad evening at Spirit despite rain earlier in the day. Quite fast by last ride, but not icy. OK, but more importantly, how did all that shiny new equipment work for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 It rocks. We did a 2-1/2 hour evening session. Set up at 52/46 on TD3s. Really fast, and after a few heel-side sketch-outs on the first two runs, great edge hold. I needed to throw in a few speed checks to keep it under control till I have a better feel for the ride. We're planning to be out at Spirit again this evening after work if time permits. Till then, Ken (and Jane) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuff Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Yay Ken! Heel sides are tricky starting out.. Part of it is that whole blind-side "Trust-Fall" thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted March 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?Doesn't look as close as it felt. ~Krash Kessler~on the mend, but still pretty sore. Enjoy... Hey Krash (ie: Big Wave Dave), Thanks for the great footage on YouTube links....and to be honest, unless you ride in our pockets I do not see how you could get any closer and get any better results with the GO PRO . A zoom lense is the next generation suggestion for that camera set up for sure. I hate to disappoint but all that footage I took on that day was for crap..too far away from you guys for the most part...and the best run I thought I had on film was one where the camera was off and I turned it on at the bottom and got the ride UP THE HILL......WTF...... I am going to pull stills and what little decent footage out of that mess and put together a clip of full year with earlier good stuff and whatever I can get from Dave's raw clips which obviously were great that day compared to what I grabbed. Dave, just let me know if your heading this way and I can meet you or arrange to grab the flash drive. Dave, maybe include a couple of your favorite POLE DANCE clips on that and I will grap a few shots for my edit. Hope your on the mend Dave...oh...and I REALLY like the new avatar...THAT'S A HEELSIDE. Russ, sounds like Indianhead was well worth the trip. Ken, looking forward to seeing you with our small group next year. (or maybe one or two more times this year.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Jim, I've loaded all my clips onto a flash drive for your editing pleasure. I was looking at some of the shots I did of Russ using the pole-cam and I think they look a little smoother and closer. I think a cameraman on skis is going to get the best results, but who wants to volunteer to ride skis?! I will upload a clip after this, so you can judge for yourself. I think I may be well enough to have a go at it tomorrow, a day on the slopes may help work out the last few kinks. Looks like temps will get above freezing by midmorning, so I hope to get there early. Maybe see you out there tomorrow? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biWv7p30cwQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted March 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Dave, I have a volunteer shift in the morning (Sat 3/19) at Spirit. I will try and get on the hill first thing as part of my shift, if I am not able to do that, I will have the orange Spriit MT. parka on and will be working the back side of the Chalet. Look for me and I will keep an eye out for you. Happy to hear your are able to get back out before year end. Hopefully see you in the A.M. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Looks like temps will get above freezing by midmorning, so I hope to get there early. I'd throw the ATV in the car for later in the day - I was out this afternoon for a little while and it was pretty chopped up (yet with a few still frozen spots in the shade). I plan to give it a go in the morning. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Wish I could be there this weekend, but need to work. I've ironed out back leg shin-bang issues this week and am getting my set up dialed in. Enjoy your weekend everybody, and I plan to ride again Tuesday afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 I took my time getting going this morning, figuring that we'd encounter frozen cord after yesterday's warm up, but I was pleasantly surprised to find (nicely)groomed granular. Bigwavedave was out for some rehab after last weeks spill - the ATV based treatment plan seemed to work well for him. Jim graciously ditched his mountain host duties and spent the morning with us instead (I suppose that technically that still qualifies him as a mountain host). Pretty chopped up and busy by the time we called it quits at noon. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted March 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2011 Our remix of the season...so much film, so little time..... Jim, Russ, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 Our remix of the season... Jim; Nice editing job - how are we going to top that one (especially the biff part) next season? I sure the folks at the House will appreciate the product placement on Dave's helmet..... I'm not convinced that we're done for the season yet; sounds like we may have a decent supply of fresh snow for the upcoming weekend. Possibility that I could get out for a couple of hours sometime during the day Thursday, too. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 Awesome video. I finished work at noon and checked out Spirit. Took one run down 4Pipe and called it a day. Couldn't make a dent in the corduroy, and I could barely turn, let alone carve, against the wind. Gandy lift is shut down, too. Will be back for first chair Saturday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Getting much snow up there? Guess I'm gonna have to come up there again, maybe tomorrow, Thursday. Forecast is for a sunny day. Nice job on the video Jim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 From the Spirit website: 'Well, we certainly didn't get the "blizzard" we were expecting but we did get a couple inches of blowing, drifting snow and there are still a few flakes in the air this morning. The high winds that caused us to close "Gandy Chairlift" yesterday are still present and we are only running the "Spirit Express Chairlift" at this time. The winds are expected to die down later today, and as soon as it is safe to do so we will reopen "Gandy Chairlift".' I'm planning to be out tomorrow morning for a couple of hours hoping what little snow we did gets groomed in so we have a decent surface. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 The groom was a bit firmer than we expected, but as they say in the church bulletins "a good time was had by all" <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=March242011016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/March242011016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=March242011018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/March242011018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Planning Saturday morning for sure....... Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Started out just a bit firm, but softened through the morning - actually quite good. Just a few obvious ice patches, but no bare spots. A lot better than closing week last year. I'll try adding a picture of Jim, Russ and myself. Planning for first chair Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Wow, both Saturday and Sunday were amazing hero type snow conditions....hard to believe the hill has to close up shop.... Firm both mornings but as it worked to mid day it was awesome for those of us of carving affliction. Nice to have Ken join us full time now on the wicked Prior AWD. Looking forward to seeing more of him and Don next year and RYAN...if your reading this.....post often and early next year if you are hitting the slopes weekdays or weekends, we missed having you join us. Also missed having Dave here for the final week...a blast as always having him as a regular from the cities area. Will be in touch Dave and look to next season to seeing you again. I believe that's it from me for the season but Russ is setting to make some trips yet and Ken, we will wait for your post from Colorado, good luck to Jane and say hi to Karl from the Duluth group when you see him out there. Russ....yeah....I owe you a lunch (and for the boots) and will get that in line this spring to keep us primed by talking about your latest and greatest purchases....until the next snow flies. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Perhaps the best closing day ever at Spirit. The morning started out fairly hard, but not too difficult to hold an edge and improved through the morning. It was pretty soft by 3 PM, but set up as crud on the Gandy side by 4:30PM as the temps dropped. Jane and I took a break and watched kids in the pipe, and then did last ride for the season at Spirit. Closure was a party in the Moosehead with Russ winning the raffle and the Liftee Obstacle Course Race. We're looking forward to next winter and riding with Jim and Russ, and whomever else shows up. Jane and I will be off to USASA at Copper later this week, and we'll post a picture of the day of the Comps. Karl (AKA Scuff) is qualified for Men's Open Division Alpine events, and I'll try to catch it. Thanks for a great season, stay healthy, Ken and Jane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Part of what makes it all possible for us ply our trade all winter is the work of a lot of folks we never see or hear about....a special word of thanks goes out to Josh - this winter he was the grooomer operator on Spirit's west side (including Fourpipe): <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=March272011003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/March272011003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Thanks Josh! And on another front - things are looking better and better at the Ski Patrol equipment rack: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=March272011002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/March272011002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Til next season...... Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 Alright, so this might not technically belong in the Spirit Mountain thread.... DonD had a sales call this morning at NorShore Mining in Silver Bay so we did the visitor drill - sign in, watch the MSHA (what they have in the mining industry instead of OSHA) safety video, don hard hats, safety glasses, and ear protection, and then went inside this taconite processing facility. I found it fascinating, though I understand that everyone wouldn't necessarily share my enthusiasm for an inside view of this iconic north shore industry. Got to Lutsen at 10 - pretty hard at the start but quickly softened. We took a couple of runs on Upper and Lower Bridge, then headed over to Moose and sliced up Caribou pretty well. Took a break (and basked in the sun a bit) on the Moose chalet deck, then back to Eagle and back to Moose for a couple more long runs. <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=March312011004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/March312011004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> I think we can safely count Don firmly in the hardbooter camp! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Beautiful powder day at Copper Mountain and first day of competition for USASA. We're expecting 7-12 inches today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 A bit heavier than powder, actually. Definitely a soft boot day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 Beautiful sunny day at Copper after fresh snow yesterday. Jane took Silver in Boardercross today. Here's a shot of Karl (Scuff) and Jane at yesterday's awards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 From the USASA website: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=GS_Winners_web.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/GS_Winners_web.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> The Open Class racing at GS was in the words of TS Noah Cermak, 'phenomenal'. 22-year-old Mike Trapp came from behind in the finals for his second win in as many days. Madeline Wiencke followed suit, taking home gold medals in Slalom and Giant Slalom as well. The course ran really well with favorable conditions on each course witch kept it balanced and exciting for the racers and spectators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 It's our final day at Copper and of our season. We're heading out to the blue runs off of Superbee as it softens up. Getting more confident on the steeper runs and will be trying out a few changes Scuff suggested to my set up. Upper Midwest Alt Series and the G-Team have dominated the podium. Later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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