bigwavedave Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Thinking of coming up Sunday, early, the forecast looks nice. Anybody else planning to come out and play? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Looks good for me for a couple of hours. Paging Jolson......... Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Cold (2F with a light breeze), bright sun, and hard groom at the start; even Bigwavedave spent some time on the ground early on until he got things dialed in. The day only reinforced for me the qualities of a metal board, even though it's 25 cm wide. Ken made the most of Friday's snow by making today his third day in a row! I left at 11:30 while both of them were still at it. Light traffic even then. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Russ, Ken...Gort, Klaatu barada nikto? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 Spring conditions? Anybody been out? Thinking of coming up on Sunday, everyone should be inside watching the big game leaving lots of room to carve. Anyone else? Found these custom gopro camera-mount inserts on my board (I suppose they could also be used for hengle plates). The Gopro rear-view-cam: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 May he see his shadow :) Jane, Russ and I were out for the evening session yesterday. It was surprisingly good despite thawing during the afternoon - maybe a bit crusty at the bottom. We're planning to go out again tonight, and I'm planning First Chair Saturday and Sunday. (we've almost talked Jane into a metal board and hardboots!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 The only problem I see with the the Gopro rear-view-cam is the board it's mounted on.....do you know anyone who will be able to even come close to keeping up with you? :D I'm planning to get out on Sunday - haven't quite firmed up the time yet. Paging JOlson (it's February)........ Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Dave could aim it up the hill while he's waiting for us at the bottom. We did a half dozen runs tonight, mostly on Sky Hooker and Bindle Stiff. The groom was okay, but warm conditions brought out heavy, treacherous traffic with impassible groups of slow skiers and boarders and others coming up full bore from behind. We're gonna skip College Night tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe D. Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 The only problem I see with the the Gopro rear-view-cam is the board it's mounted on.....do you know anyone who will be able to even come close to keeping up with you? :D I'm planning to get out on Sunday - haven't quite firmed up the time yet. Paging JOlson (it's February)........ Russ FYI: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 2/3-2/5 Bear Claw and Gandy Dancer will be clogged with 250+ FIS ski racers for the Atmore Memorial race. I'll be up to carve some turns between gate judging the men's races. Red jacket. Short board. First chair on the quad Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 I'm planing to be on 1st chair Sunday morning and ride til I can't walk or til it gets too crowded. Thanks for the heads-up JoeD, will you be there on Sunday as well? JOlson must be waiting for the MardiGras pool crossing? Is the snow getting slushy during the day with these warm temps? I'm bringing the ATV just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe D. Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 I'll be there Sunday but unlike Saturday, men's ski race starts at 9:00am. I'll be judging gates untill 10:30am and again at noon. Hope to have about 90 minutes of carving in between. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 We're gonna skip College Night tomorrow. Good call - I stopped in at 3:30 this afternoon and areas in the shade were already starting to set up. It must have warmed quite a bit today, because the rest was pretty rutted up. Between the ruts and freezing spots and the late afternoon light, I called it quits after half an hour. Planning to be out first thing Sunday morning (and bringing an ATV along is a good idea). Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Rode up with a couple of ski patrol and another older skier. Older Skier "snowboarders don't get out of bed till 10:30". I replied "Hey, Russ and I do first chair!" Ski Patrol "You guys aren't snowboarders, you're carvers" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 As I walked down from the parking lot this morning, I checked the groom above the chalet and it seemed pretty good.....once we started riding, though, we found that it took little effort to cut through the granular to the ice beneath..........spent most of the morning looking for the best spots in the flattish light. I left around 11:30 as it was starting to clear. Joe got a pass on gate judging and was able to spend most of the morning hangin' out with us. <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=February52012002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/February52012002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Ken and Dave looked like they were settling in for a long day when I saw them last. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 Well, after you left, bright sun appeared about 11:31. Rode until about 3:00 on the baby Kessler; piles of corn snow with that dreaded icy crust within reach of deep carves, so a light touch was key to keeping it fun. Things softened up a little in the warm sun; all was good. On the drive home, heavy overcast skies just a few miles south of Spirit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Planning to come up on Thursday early. How's the snow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Russ was out earlier today. I was out Monday evening and again this afternoon till the light got flat - rather hard, but still able to hold an edge if ridden gently. Not much of crowd, however after the school programs ended. Decided to go with the Donek Metal FreeCarve 167 cm with a 19 cm waist and TD3s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I would describe today's surface as very firm, though I enjoyed it more than the loose corn snow of Sunday (I don't quite get the 'light touch' routine). I'll be patrolling Thursday and bringing some gear for Don to borrow so I'd say let's make it a party! Ken's going to rock on that new kit! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 Quite a day.........quite a day. Bright sun, good groom, open slopes until the school groups showed up about midmorning - we dealt with that by heading over to to Gandy side. Bigwavedave was out, got patroller Don back out a hard boot kit again. Saw another hardbooter a couple of times then finally caught up with Kurt (sp?) riding an old Rossi Throttle: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=Testpaint2b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/Testpaint2b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> We stayed long enough that the school groups finally left and we had Fourpipe to ourselves again until our legs couldn't take anymore. Planning to be out Sunday morning early. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 (edited) Yes, what a day! About as good as it gets... Here's an unedited clip of the "tailgunner" view from the big board down 4pipe this morning. It's best in slow-mo, but youtube editor doesn't seem to have that option. I need a faster processor to edit before uploading without loosing image quality....Having trouble with the new youtube editor...spent all my dough on boards, not computers. http://youtu.be/FNfEDWPUd0U Edited February 11, 2012 by bigwavedave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 From Paul Huttner's Updraft Blog post of February 9: "It's too early to be definitive on this, but there are some encouraging signs for Minnesotans who want snow. Our desert dry winter doldrums may be about the end. The upper air pattern is showing signs of becoming more "chaotic" in the next two weeks. Translation? We may finally get some snow storms passing in or near Minnesota. Much of the USA has been mired in a persistent west-northwest upper air flow pattern this winter. This has brought mild air, and also little moisture. The GFS model is advertising a more west-southwest flow starting the week of February 20th. This could steer a series of Pacific storms into the Midwest, and some of them may actually dip into the southern Plains and gulp down some significant moisture before dumping it as snowfall on Minnesota. Trying to credibly nail storm systems that far in advance is futile. But the take away is this; The overall upper air pattern is changing and there could be a growing chance of snowfall the week of February 20th". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 It's snowing in Colorado and in the U.P., hope Huttner's right and we're next. So, winter starts at the end of Feb this year, better late than never. Sunday looks good. Any word from Jolson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 The temperature display at DBU read zero when I went by on the highway this morning - I was nonplussed. The flags at McDonalds were snapping in the stiff breeze as I got off the highway - cold and windy, but at least the sun's out. MCSA Governor's Cup ski race scheduled Saturday and Sunday - they stay on the Gandy side anyways. Strangely quiet and deserted when I got to the base of the Express lift - mechanical problems. Hike back up to the bottom of the C lift and get a couple of runs in on Bindle Stiff (with no lift, Fourpipe remains inaccessible). Express lift started at 10; I stayed until it was getting busy at 11:30. Perfect day for a metal board - very firm groom. Forecast for tomorrow looks a little warmer and a little less windy. No word from noted Northland videographer and hardbooter Jolson. Ken is suffering through a destination wedding celebration in Cancun this weekend, so he's out of the picture. I'll be out early. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 Tomorrow sounds great. Starts out cold but warms up to upper 20's and sunny. I'll be there early too, waxed and sharpened. Once you have one, every day is a perfect day for a metal board. Working on some new gopro mounts/views to try. Here's a frame lifted from the Gopro last Thurs. Russ and Don discussing new carving app. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 A little warmer and a lot less windy than yesterday and the Express lift was functional by 9 this morning. Bright sunlight on the firm groom; the usual light Sunday morning traffic. Bigwavedave had the full complement of Kesslers in the car and got some time on both. Later in the morning we rode with Martha and Jolene for a few runs. I left about noon, though it still wasn't very busy. No sign of Jolson, despite his threat to show up........ Some folks here in Duluth have found alternatives for the piss-poor nordic season; this is Todd McFadden: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=Febuary122012001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/Febuary122012001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> I'd bet that this rig could handle the frim groom pretty well. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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