Distantly related but still an outdoors activity: Anybody here ski?

[tele]

I skied for the first time in about 11 years last year, and loved it. I'm apparently much stronger and coordinated than I was at 13; go figure. Shelled out for my first pair of boots while I was up at Stratton over the summer, and the girlfriend and I are leading a crew of about 13 up to Burlington in January...I'm glad to hear Stowe is so rad, I was actually shying away from it because it's more expensive than the multitude of other mountains in the neighborhood. Does anyone have any other recommendations in that vicinity? Just looking at the map it looks like Smuggler's Notch and Bolton Valley are right down the road (from Stowe).

A local ski snob suggested we go to Mad River Glen, but I think that would be too much for almost everyone going on this trip...thoughts?

Here is my interepretations of the different places:
Stowe is simply a great mountain with lots of variety of all sorts of folks. The gondola is good to ride if it is really cold out. Stowe is the total package in the east. atmo (am I authorized to use that?)

Sugarbush is very nice though. Great terrain and lots of fun too.

Only been to Smugg's a few times, it was kind of a pain in the ass to get too. If there is lots of snow, some nice steep trees if your group is into that.

Bolton Valley is a hidden gem, if you will. Some really good skiing, but getting there kind of sucks too. They need to blow an exit off 89 to make it more accessible. Definitely a more homey laid back place compared to Stowe and other bigger areas.

Now MRG. I am biased as I was a shareholder for years. Great skiing with no snowboarders. Sorry Abe. The terrain can be challenging, but not as tough as some make it out to be. If you stay on the trails, there is some great intermediate stuff. On the right of the mountain, there is a place called Birdland which has some really nice stuff. However, MRG is all about the woods and natural snow. If there is snow, go. If not, dont, not worth it, as they dont make jack for snowmaking. Oh yeah, they dont allow snowboards, so maybe do go.

Overall, check who has gotten the most snow and have fun. I dont think you will really go wrong with any choice, other than MRG/snowboarding if anyone in your group does that. Also if all of your group is skiing at the same place, check to see if you can get discounted tickets as a group.
Kevin

[mainemike]

take some lessons, lots of lessons. and ski as much as possible. don't think just ski. i've been at since i was 2 and raced and all that and i can't imagine not skiing. it is my #1 pursuit and the feelings and the adrenaline and such can not be matched. strength will help you but technique is vital. you need balls too. MRG rocks! Sugarbush rocks. Stowe has awesome terrain. Jay Peak is like another country and gets more snow then CO, but try to ski w/someone who knows the mtn, you can get into trouble pretty quickly here. Cannon mtn in NH is my absolute favorite-steep, icy, cold, rarely crowded. you learn to manage speed and pain and burning legs here. when yer going mach 2 and yer legs are melting, well, even stopping is hard. sugarloaf in maine is my current stomping grounds and its awesome. the key to learning skiing is skiing. i ski stocklis as well, never had a better ski and its unlikely i'll ever switch to anything else. having said that, skiing is like biking, the skis don't matter just keep skiing. one of my buddies never and i mean never tunes his skis, and he absolutely rips so don't sweat the skis, just stay on them.

[AbeNP]

Now MRG. Great skiing with no snowboarders. Sorry Abe.

Hey man, I feel you. If I could board w/o other snowboarders I would...

[Tom]

A place like MRG that doesn't make snow can't afford the common phenomenon of snowboarders using theirs like a dozer blade. That's reason one why soft boots are the tools of the devil.

[tele]

A place like MRG that doesn't make snow can't afford the common phenomenon of snowboarders using theirs like a dozer blade. That's reason one why soft boots are the tools of the devil.

MRG does indeed make snow. They have 2 guns and they have been blazing for a while now.

[MaestroXC]

Thank you very much for the info, Tele, I can't wait to get up there. If some of these places are a pain to get to I need to work a little on the schedule, but I'm sure it will be a blast. Luckily the few people who were interested in the trip but aren't skiers have now dropped out, so people will probably be more forgiving of driving a bit further or going to a more "advanced" mountain.

[prcrstn8]

i ski stocklis as well, never had a better ski

Glad someone else feels the same 'cuz I didn't want to get all gushy but over these skis, but they are pretty amazing.

MRG opens Friday. If you've never been, you should go at least once if only to say you've ridden the single chair. There's a persistent rumor that it gonna be replaced by a high-speed detachable single...

[tele]

MRG opens Friday. If you've never been, you should go at least once if only to say you've ridden the single chair. There's a persistent rumor that it gonna be replaced by a high-speed detachable single...

ah rumours.....all the more reason to ski it if you can, while you can...

dont forget the single chair ale in the lodge. spend too many afternoons "warming" up with some ale.

[Saab2000]

If you've never been, you should go at least once if only to say you've ridden the single chair. There's a persistent rumor that it gonna be replaced by a high-speed detachable single...

Here's a picture of my sister in the single chair lift in Sölden in Austria from a couple years ago. Gave access to a slope which was only accessible with this chair lift. Pretty cool stuff!

[Disturbed]

MRG does indeed make snow. They have 2 guns and they have been blazing for a while now.

Yeah, until the stream freezes and the bathtub size holding area is used up. My stint on skis included a three year run at MRG directing the race program back when they had the dream of dragging it [MRG] into the 21st century. So much for dreams.

[xjoex]

I so want to be able to ski, I tried tele for years but my duck feet got in the way. At the end of a day my knees would kill me. No ski store was willing to put my binding on in such an angle.

Have fun out there.


-Joe

[jim in pc]

I ski 60ish days a year. A bit more than half of that is chasing pow and steeps, the rest is gates. Park City resort is about 6 minutes from my house, about 10 by free city bus if I time it right. Typical week from mid-Dec to mid-March is: Tue night: SL training, Wed am: SuperG, Thu night: GS, Sat/Sun: free ski w/wife or buds. Sometimes my 8yo daughter decides she wants go, sometimes I race on the weekend, more often as I get older (49) I skip days to rest up or cross-train to stay sharp. Cycling, as much as I love it, has always been an off-season thing. This week's schedule is SL tue/thu/sun, free ski on Sat; I'll blow Sunday's race off if there's a lot of new snow.

[rmplum]

Took my 4yr old daughter skiing for the first time last week (on the right)



She had a blast, and wants to ski "a million more times"


On the other hand, my feet were killing me the whole time. Can't believe I used to do this 3-4 times per week.

[zank]

ha ha. I should have guessed saab skies on Stocklis.

[zank]

An awesome site to pick up some tips for all ability levels. Great articles on GS technique too.

YOUCANSKI.COM HOME

And here's a great interview with a former WC ski tech who runs a shop in Park City. Tons of tuning insight here.

Ski Faster with the MSR Team

[maunahaole]

http://www.tahoetopia.com/news/daron...-sneak-preview

This will be mad dog. I chased Daron down the hill for a few hours several years back. It took everything I had just to try to hold on. Dude is wicked fast even when taking it easy and has impeccable form.

[mainemike]

http://www.tahoetopia.com/news/daron...-sneak-preview

This will be mad dog. I chased Daron down the hill for a few hours several years back. It took everything I had just to try to hold on. Dude is wicked fast even when taking it easy and has impeccable form.

he is an awesome skier