Chubz Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Folks Looking for any information to provide to my local mountain on the art of grooming. I want to go about it in a constructive way with Pics, manuals ,articles , whatever or even proper technique on how to speak with personnel at the mountain. I have found that my local mountain's quality of grooming has declined this season from last year. I dont know if it is the weather we have been having in PA or the staff is different but the lines between groom runs are very evident with big hunks of ice and 3-4 inch changes in height. I have also notices the "Undulators" are running rampant. These are the small groups of snow mounds on the slope that make the tracking of the board go up and down when carving across it. Last year, most slopes were perfectly flat, this year , it has declined. Any input on how to approach the mountain management is welcomed. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boostertwo Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Your local Mountain Manager would welcome your feedback, I'm sure. <img src="http://tinypic.com/1elzle"> In addition to providing a better surface for carving, eliminating the 'curbs' will make for a safer, more enjoyable experience for all guests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubz Posted January 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Booster, Nice pics. Is that from video or regular camera? Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Sub Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 B2...do you consciously _force_ your knees apart when turning? I know thats the new thought on how to do it, but I simply can NOT get myself to go there. as for grooming...Im sometimes disappointed with it at my hill too, but nowhere near having 3-4" rises between passes! crazy! you should definitely talk to them. youre a paying customer, and they should care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 many places thell the groomers to just get the job done as fast as possible allso wet snow is a bitch to groom so if you had had lots of freeze thaw cycles if thing get groomed while its warm it can really come out uneven then to make it worse it sets up rock hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boostertwo Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Originally posted by Chubz Booster, Nice pics. Is that from video or regular camera? Greg It's from a regular video camera. Originally posted by D-SubB2...do you consciously _force_ your knees apart when turning? I know thats the new thought on how to do it, but I simply can NOT get myself to go there. On hard boots, with high stance angles, I don't consciously force my knees apart when turning--but I do move my knees independently to adjust edge angle along the length of the board. Sometimes I drop my rear knee towards the snow on toeside turns, and this can feel like my knees are separating--but it is only for the period of time that I want to use knee angulation to help tilt the board, not all of the time. In thinking about it, sometimes I push my lower legs gently against the outside of the boot cuffs (pushing my knees slightly apart) which seems like it gives me speedier energy transmission to the board (kind of like driving with hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel--one pushes while the other pulls). Maybe it's because I have a bit of slop in the boot cuff, but it feels like it gives me a better, more responsive 'handle' by which to maneuver the board. I don't ride like this all the time, however. It's just an occasional focus. <img src="http://tinypic.com/1em4ps"> I have seen some softboot riders who have a pronounced 'cowboy' look, and suspect this has become more prevalent as greater numbers of riders use duck stances. Is this what you mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Sub Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 yeah...must be from the duck stance. Ive never tried riding like that, but I dont go backwards much either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tigger Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 i just came across an interesting article about the preperation of the Streif in Kitzbühel (for the FIS DHrace). unfortunately it is in german, and i guess you dont need a vertical skatetrack on your mountain :p. who wants to read: http://www.daserste.de/wwiewissen/thema_dyn~id,3wfejs64kg711h0f~cm.asp#wwwanchor3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr. sandman Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 Greg, Have you made any progress on this? Our local mountain is much as you describe. We also have these terrible cut-acrosses at the "delta" where several runs flow into one. I especially like what I've named the top to bottom "curbs" which you also describe ("3-4 inch transitions") To add insult to injury, our mountain keeps boasting on the radio about their brand new "...BR 350 snowcat which retails at $220,000 has been developed by Bombardier..." and how they are providing "immaculate grooming" - What a crock!! Any way, what ever info you have assembled would be appreciated as I would like to submit a similar request to our mountain. E-mail me if you would like. Thanks, p.s. found this quote on their web site: General Manager, .......... says: "Adding this latest-technology snowcat to our existing fleet will allow us to optimally groom our slopes and terrain parks thus providing for an enhanced experience for our guests”. at this point I'm saying, "yeah, whatever! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Sub Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 you know whats crazy? the other night I shot pool all night with one of the groomers from Bachelor! I didnt find this out until the end of the night though but believe me Im gonna try and get in on this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr. sandman Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 Originally posted by D-Sub you know whats crazy? the other night I shot pool all night with one of the groomers from Bachelor! I didnt find this out until the end of the night though but believe me Im gonna try and get in on this! So how's the groom up north of me? Been to the Bach once and the snow was great but the weather didn't let us enjoy it too much! So did you rank about the grooming and then chew leather when you learned of his job or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Sub Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 nope. never said a word about it. still havent actually, only that I had some input for him there are some "curbs" here too...and they do some really wierd ****, like leave half the run ungroomed...which I dont see the point. the entire side where rainbow is is ungroomed, and its easy terrain so beginners can get their powder dunno...grooming could be better here, but its not the worst Ive seen. we're not that far from you really. come on up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubz Posted January 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 I have not made any progress in this because my mountain is getting to the point that weather has been consistent and it seems the grooming is getting better. It's not at the level it was last year, but last December and January was consistantly below freezinG. I am just remaining patient because I feel they are doing the best they can considering Mother Nature. I have just become very finicky (sp?) since getting into hardboots, compared to softies. The biggest problems that exist now are the hordes of ppl on the slopes.Our mountain allows easy access to advanced slopes simply based on the configuration of the mountain. I conjured the idea of having an incentive program for groomers based on skier/rider feedback online. It may sound silly but, if I saw a sign that said Groomer so and so did this slope, I would go out of my way to thank the guy if he did a great job. Just an idea. give them some acknowledgement for their work. Possibly have groomer of the year. Yatta Yatta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleaman Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 Just an idea. give them some acknowledgement for their work. Possibly have groomer of the year. Yatta Yatta At apex, there is a sign at the top of the lifts that tells you which runs are groomed. Now imagine this. If they said something like "Ridge Run, Groomed by employee#7", that way the public can bitch and if they get too many demerit points taken away, the management should take their nightly weed stash away for a week untill they groom more consistenly:D This could work ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Sub Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 I was kinda under the impression that it would be management who would decide how grooming was. I really picture them trying to do it as fast as possible dunno? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baka Dasai Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 The grooming where I ride is totally excellent. There are no curbs, ridges or undulations. It's all beautifully carpet-smooth. Until April 1. Then we get every imaginable problem - curbs, ridges, death cookies, missed sections in the middle of the slope. It's a total mess. It seems like the regular groomers get laid off at the end of March, and then the work-experience dudes get their chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.