rwmaron Posted December 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Saw Santa in a sleigh, no sign of other carvers, not even the Maronator.~ I was out saving lives tonight; carveable terrain was pretty scarce by the time I started at 3. Watched the groomer get Fourpipe to full-width; Double Jaw (#12) was open this afternoon but badly needed another groom; Gandy still had snow guns running tonight. I'll be out again tomorrow evening. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2012 Not as many hard patches as last night; just for kicks, I slapped a pair of bindings on an old F2 Eliminator and took that along. I mounted the bindings just forward of center so turn initiation wasn't an issue and by picking my spots had a blast....took a couple of long sliding spills too. Well, the world didn't end, so I guess I'll be back up Thursday. The DSAC Ski and Snowboard camp will be on - heads up for groups of young folk. Gandy is open, but still looked pretty rough from the B lift; Double Jaw (#12) pretty rough as well. Perfect forecast for continued snowmaking. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2012 3F at the 9am open; poor light early gradually improved over the course of the morning. The few hard patches could be avoided by finding the nice groom along the edges of the narrower runs for cranking it around.....getting busy by the time I left at 11:30. Snowmaking on #13 (Juggler Joe), #5 (Bear Claw), and #4 (Cinder Snapper); everything in between is open. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 Arrived 9:10 and someone parked in my spot, and every other one nearby. Ended up in the upper lot. Found one of my old glass SL boards, a 159 Generic IQ with 9.3m scr for riding amongst the holiday crowds. The best snow was on #12 and Gandy, everything else had the ice layer below the surface snow, not as much fun on a glass board. Did a couple of runs with Alex from Buck hill. He was getting to know his new 171 Donek metal FC. I rode til 12:30 and called it quits. A lot of people on the slopes...and their was a lift line! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Patrolled for a couple of hours this morning and found the same conditions/crowd that Dave saw yesterday. I was in the singles line for the Express lift and the fella in front of me asked about my kit - turns out it was Alex from Buck Hill; he was riding softies today, but sounded like he was regretting that decision. Here's what I don't get - the place is enjoying the usual holiday crowd, the DSAC ski/snowboard camp brings (what seems like) hundreds of youngsters out, the alpine racing camp has the whole of Blue Ruin and half of Sky Hooker to themselves, there is still terrain not open - yet Sissor Bill is closed off for Nastar racing (I saw 2 or 3 people on the course over the course of the morning). Does the ski hill attract that much additional business because they have a Nastar course? Is there an economic reward that I'm not aware of? Are Nastar participants a desperately sought after key consumer demographic? It strikes me as a gross under-utilization of an otherwise popular piece of terrain. End of rant. Russ p.s. I'll probably be out again on Sunday morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpyride Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 There was about 15 people on the main run. Grooming was excellent and a block wide carving slope. There is no problem with running out of slope and ripe for full layout turns. Had maybe 20 runs with no one getting in my way. Fun run. I don't figure how they can suck up so much of the hill, especially when it's the holidays. On that note, I'll probably be out Sunday morn for the Old Farts rate. Talked to Ken this afternoon and it looks like he and Jane will be out too. Obviously I'll be out on one of the Cow Boards. Patrolled for a couple of hours this morning and found the same conditions/crowd that Dave saw yesterday. I was in the singles line for the Express lift and the fella in front of me asked about my kit - turns out it was Alex from Buck Hill; he was riding softies today, but sounded like he was regretting that decision.Here's what I don't get - the place is enjoying the usual holiday crowd, the DSAC ski/snowboard camp brings (what seems like) hundreds of youngsters out, the alpine racing camp has the whole of Blue Ruin and half of Sky Hooker to themselves, there is still terrain not open - yet Sissor Bill is closed off for Nastar racing (I saw 2 or 3 people on the course over the course of the morning). Does the ski hill attract that much additional business because they have a Nastar course? Is there an economic reward that I'm not aware of? Are Nastar participants a desperately sought after key consumer demographic? It strikes me as a gross under-utilization of an otherwise popular piece of terrain. End of rant. Russ p.s. I'll probably be out again on Sunday morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 I drove in to check out Mont du Lac once and thought that main face looked like it would be nice for carving, provided it was not crowded, the place looks pretty small. Nice to hear a first hand report, I'll have to try it sometime. Think I'll skip tomorrow's crowds, holiday camps and all, and come up on New Years day, try and catch that first chair of the new year. Looks like it'll be a cold one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted December 30, 2012 Report Share Posted December 30, 2012 We were out for an hour this morning. Good groom, but a lot of traffic by 11:30. Planning 1st chair tomorrow. Might be working with Jane on Slalom and GS technique. Studying Scuff's YouTube G Team video. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2012 According to the Urban Dictionary, a posse is "your hommies, your peeps, the group of friends you hang out with that make you powerful." <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=December302012084.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/December302012084.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> -Ryan, khoward, bumpyride, and bigwavedave; not pictured: Gramma Jane and yours truly. Though the forecast is for sub-zero temperatures, Dave and I are planning to ride the first chair on New Year's Day. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 planning to ride the first chair on New Year's Day Got it! -8F and a bit of breeze out of the WNW kept it refreshing on the lift, but the groom was firm, the light was good, more terrain is open, and all the morning regulars must have been sleeping off last night's libations. Still quiet when I left at 11:30. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Kudos to you guys. Jane and I waited till temps were single digits and hit Spirit after noon. Light was fairly flat, but good hard groom. Juggler Joe's one of my favorite runs, but it needs a couple more nights of grooming. Very little traffic all afternoon and often had Four-Pipe almost all to myself. Jane's starting to get the feel for riding a carving board and enjoying it. Looking for an evening session after work on Thursday, possibly. Waxed the Donek board on the kitchen counter to the amusement of my spouse tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Ken, word of advice, spousal amusement rapidly diminishes when you use the clothes iron to melt the wax. I'm heading up to Giant's Ridge early Friday for a day of riding and then stick around for the NorAm races, PSL & PGS, over the weekend. Weather Updraft is forecasting possibility of significant snow late next week! We could really use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Updraft is also warning of possible "barbaric cold" on the back side of that snow event starting Saturday 1/12/13. Stay tuned, and we best enjoy the next week. Fortunately, I learned that it's impossible to ever clean a steam iron from waxing cross country skis long ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpyride Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Should be out testing the antiques* this morning. *Antiques include, boots/bindings/board/bones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Sounds good. We'll be there for the evening session Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpyride Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 So she tells Deb what I wrote this morning. Deb doesn't think it's funny. Jane said, "It's like facebook for OLD GUYS. How humiliating-Luckily for me I'm way past that. It all left after 60. Should be out testing the antiques* this morning.*Antiques include, boots/bindings/board/bones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 I thought that was rather amusing. Jane's a member, too :) Got my gear on and heading out now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Planning an epic session tomorrow afternoon and possibly evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Planing to come up early Thursday, get a sesh in before it starts RAINING! The conditions at Giant's Ridge last weekend were similar to Spirit with an icy crust below some of the surface groom, but over all good carving conditions. Not quite fully open, they're still making snow all over the place and even adding to the already open runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Great conditions Thursday, everything open, sunny, warm, no crowds--best day yet this season. Wonder what the rain, sleet and following deep freeze will do to conditions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Wonder what the rain, sleet and following deep freeze will do to conditions? I'm on Patrol duty both Saturday and Sunday, so I'll let you know. The upside options seem limited...... Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Saturday was frozen cord and flat light; Sunday was much better though still pretty 'stiff'. Kudos to Ken for making a go of it on both days! Of note there was a Minnesota collegiate race (GS Saturday, SL Sunday) - one alpine boarder on a Kessler Saturday then a Coiler on Sunday. Sunday's GS was set on Gandy that appeared to have been intentionally not groomed Saturday night; despite the razor sharp edges, there were no ruts at the end of the day's racing....... Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Word on the street is the Spirit grooming crew has been hard at work recovering from last weekend's rain......with today's new snow, things should be in good shape for the weekend. I'm planning to be out early on Saturday. Paging JOlson.....please pick up a white courtesy telephone (your friends are looking for you!) Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Good conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm planning first chair Saturday, and there's rumors of Ryan making an appearance, too. Otherwise, gonna take the Donek to Skihut and tune the base edge to 1 degree and side edge to 88 on Saturday after it gets too cold to ride. Scuff, Jane's looking for carving lessons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpyride Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 Good conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm planning first chair Saturday, and there's rumors of Ryan making an appearance, too. Otherwise, gonna take the Donek to Skihut and tune the base edge to 1 degree and side edge to 88 on Saturday after it gets too cold to ride. Scuff, Jane's looking for carving lessons. You can have Jane give me a call, and maybe I can walk her through a few tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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