bigwavedave Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 Ok, guess I'm in too, 1st chair, before the deep freeze sets in. Spirit website says 5" new snow past week. Someone sent me this video link: http://vimeo.com/56490557 Snowboarding Mount Royal into Montreal Which reminded me of this segment of a film from the Banff Mt film fest... http://vimeo.com/32863936 urban BC skiing Which made me think Duluth would be the perfect setting for something similar, but probably not on a carving board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 We weren't the only folks out early taking advantage of yesterday's new snow....or perhaps it was the threat of the cold and blustery winds forecast for the afternoon. Nice soft, grippy groom on the Express side early, then more of the same on the Gandy side later in the morning. Good carving turnout - Ken, Jim, Dave, Ryan; Jane on her freeride kit - we also saw one other carver on a black board but never hooked up. I left just before noon as the wind was starting to kick up. <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January192013001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January192013001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January192013002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January192013002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> May be a while until we're out again with the forecast cold. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 I did catch up with the other carver, Chad, on the older black Donek. He's from Cascade Mountain around Madison, but was originally from Bloomington. He's been riding hardboots for 18-20 years and soft boots before that. Rode to about 12:30 then dropped my board off at Skihut for edge work. Good to have Jolson back in the posse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 Or is it nukuler, whatever, maybe we should look into the nuke-powered ski/snowboard area? http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/updraft/ By the way Ken, did you get a look at Chad's Donek? Russ and I had a wager on weather it was a freecarve or a razor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruincounselor Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 I'm heading over on Saturday for the afternoon. I'm sure it will be busy as can be, but I do live over 4 hours away and it's hard to get away. Someone sent me to Bomber last spring and while I thank you my wallet isn't so sure. I'd love to connect with fellow carvers. Let me know if you'll be around. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 It was an old freecarve. Temperatures were looking relatively better this morning - about 9F - and even toyed with the idea of taking a few runs after work, but the winds picked up to 30MPH and temps dropped to subzero through the afternoon - never mind. Might get in a few runs after work on Friday, and I'm definitely planning for Saturday afternoon. Need to try out the new edge angles and Dragon Goggles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 I'm thinking Saturday too, but an early start. New snow and a forecast for sunny with temps above 0 deg! So last Saturday we had...6 carvers?...on the hill and probably more questions than ever from other boarders and skiers about our bindings, boots, boards. I have a pocket full of Bomber biz cards and hand them out when someone has lots of questions. So, sorry Jim if I carded you last spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 NOAA forecast for Saturday shows temperatures around -10F for 1st chair. I'm waiting till it gets above zero - probably around noon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 NOAA forecast for Saturday shows temperatures around -10F for 1st chair. All the better - keeps the crowds away! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 All the better - keeps the crowds away! :D Twas tinkin' da same ting. Looks like Spirit may be getting some snow tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2013 I'm an early riser by nature, so sometimes I take the long way (Skyline Drive) from my house to Spirit Mtn instead of hopping on I-35. It was an especially pleasant drive this morning: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January262013004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January262013004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> As we expected, the -8F temp at the open kept the crowds at bay, but the groom was firm and the light was good for the first hour, before it clouded up and was a little flat for a while. All the usual suspects were out with their carving kits - Dave, Jim O, Ken, and I. Another Jim (from Fargo) came out later, though I never hooked up with him. We could run laps on Fourpipe until after 11. Kudos for the day go to Jim O's daughter Chelsea, who was just crushing it carving on a soft boot setup. Methinks it's time for papa to pony up for a set of hardboots for that young lady! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 The familiar routine at Spirit is to roll over the small knoll at the top of the E lift and quickly scan for traffic on Fourpipe; both Double Jaw and Juggler Joe are available if traffic is too heavy. Ken and I started at 9 this morning; the positively balmy 15F and good light brought out all the Sunday morning regulars, but we kept cresting the knoll and finding our way clear so except for an occasional excursion on runs 9, 12, or 13 we basically ran laps on Fourpipe's smooth, firm, groom. There might be better ways to spend a morning, but I'm hard pressed to come up with any at the moment. I left at 10:30 when it started getting busy; Ken was still at it. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruincounselor Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 Very nice meeting some of you (Dave, Jim, Ken) . It was great seeing so many of us on the hill. While I caught up with most of you I managed to miss Russ on his Palmer - Nice turns! I'll be back late next month for what I hope is a weekday morning session with decent light - yesterday was tough after the clouds rolled in. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Rode to about 3 PM, best snow conditions this year, but light got flat. Couple of other folks from Wayzeta on alpine were there, Bernie was introducing his wife to carving, and she was getting the hang of it. Otherwise, a great weekend. Possible evening session Monday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Hit a patch of Kryptonite left of the top tower of the Spirit Express lift yesterday on my second run. Technique and focus were there, but the light was flat and it felt like the board hit a gash. Slammed my front hip and shoulder, but didn't break anything. Did come away with dandy hematomas above the trochanter and lateral gluteal areas. The shoulder muscles are probably just bruised. It was too painful to safely ride down to Grand Ave so Jane graciously drove me from the chalet. Hopefully willl be back for Saturday. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 Ken - bummer, though I'm glad to hear it wasn't more serious. Heal fast my friend - we need you back on the hill! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 I was going to come up tomorrow, but I think I'll wait til the Kryptonite situation is resolved...and the weather forecast doesn't look that great either. Maybe Sunday. Hope you're feeling better Ken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Despite the 6F air temp and 15mph NW wind, I used the patented Palmer Channel Titanium technology to carefully sweep the full width of Fourpipe and the adjacent runs in search of any remaining shards of Kryptonite and can report that the situation has been resolved..........food for the Pisten Bully, no doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Foiled again...Lex Luther! The World (or at least Spirit Mountain) is safe for Freedom, Democracy, the American Way and Carving! (not necessarily in that order). Thanks, Ken. Hopefully will be out this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Went out this morning and holy mother of God was it cold....I do not remember the last time I went in after just an hour to warm up....maybe when I was six years old.... I was going to avoid jumping on the bandwagon but wow...Kryptonite pretty much descibed the base today .......Good news...nothing but sunshine and I had all runs pretty much to myself all morning....bad news....no other alpine pals on the hill and I am still trying to return blood flow to my nose..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 I'm planing to come up tomorrow, Sunday for the AM session. Doesn't promise to be any warmer, but cold wax, sharp edges and an extra cape should do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Put on my hardboots and board today, and it felt good, but found my rear foot toe bale and set screw were loose. After getting slammed on Tuesday, I had noticed my rear foot was out of the binding. I suspect that it had released prior to catching my rear edge. Moral of story....check your hardware. The antidote for Kryptonite Perhaps this won't seem so amusing after the pain medications wear off... Anyways, looking forward to riding tomorrow around noon when temps get above zero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Plan to brave the cold again Sunday morning, will look for Dave but will be gone by 11:00 (Super Bowl plans at our house) so pretty sure I will miss Ken who sounds like he is ready to be back in saddle again....pain relief through the marvel of modern medicine.....right medicine man? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 I had patrol duty this evening; was bumming that I couldn't get out this morning......same drill for tomorrow, I'll be out around 2pm. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 6, 2013 Report Share Posted February 6, 2013 Sunday was great, the snow keeps getting better, even when it's below zero. Got to ride with Jim early morning, and with Ken about mid-day and Russ as he came on for patrol duty around 2:30. Hope someone got out this morning in the the fresh snow. Looks like it's going to just keep snowing and possibly a big one on Sunday. Have fun, see you guys in a couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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