2 firsts in 1 day!!

[atlantiqueen]

So, I'm a pretty new skier. 10 or so days last season and just hit day 17 of this season yesterday.

Yesterday was a big day for me. After a rough start (hubby wanted to ski a black run off the jump - I have only skied it once and did not enjoy it...I insisted and we skied a blue instead - much more my speed!)

As the morning progressed, it was getting pretty darned foggy - I'm surprised they don't closed sections when it's that bad. At one point, skiing down one of my favourite runs I couldn't even see DH in front of me. That's when I decided we needed to get off the slopes for a while. He would ski through a tornado so I told him I had to pee and then we sat inside with hot chocolate for 30 minutes until it cleared up a bit.

We skied around the mountain for the morning then caught up with DH's brother and all his pals for lunch. They were taking forever hanging around shooting the breeze so I decided to go off and do some runs on my own.

I started off with the intention of just running a nice cruisey green a couple times then decided to do my favourite blue instead. THEN changed my mind again and decided to do 3D, a much more "pitchy" blue. I have often run the bottom section of this but have only down the entire run 2 or 3 times - the first time involved a little bit of tumbling and a lot of ice!

I got to the top and realized that it was now a mogul run!

So, I had the option of taking the gentle little green run that essentially requires a lot of work/walking or sucking it up and taking the plunge. I must have stood there for 10 minutes before I said "It's a soft day, go for it!" AND I DID!! I ran the bumps down 3D and stayed vertical!! WOO WOO!!

I was so excited I skied up to where hubby and pals were and did a little dance! (Yes, I am a colossal dork!)
I know they were decent bumps too because when I took DH up with me to run it again, he said "well, you should ski the right side where I'm going because it's much smaller and more manageable for you"

I had skied the left on the first run! And did so again!!!!

Of course, Murphy's Law dictated that when I did the run with him I had a tumble but I picked up and kept going. I skied it 3 more times and had a ball - I've been terrified to ski moguls and while I'm no pro and it wasn't pretty, I did it and I will get better each time.

At the end of the day, I had another first - DH suggested we ski "Last Tango". Now, I have never skied a glade run before so I was plenty nervous. I was slow (painfully so) and tentative, but I did it. Was it above my skill level? Yes. Would I do it again next week - absolutely not! BUT I know now what to expect when I am ready to try it again.

So, 2 firsts for me this weekend and you can't wipe the grin off my face!!!

 

[snowbunny1976]

As Martin Lawrence used to say in the 90's...

YOU GO GIRL!

 

[SkiNurse]

Fabulous!!

But, answer this...why wouldn't you do that gladed run again next week?

 

[atlantiqueen]

Fabulous!!

But, answer this...why wouldn't you do that gladed run again next week?

'cause I almost peed my pants doing it this week but maybe the week after next ... I know now I can do it so shoot for the moon, right?

 

[MaineSkiLady]

As someone who is very familiar with the above-mentioned terrain, I will attest to their level of difficulty! This is a great achievement. I'm even still beyond skittish in these glades, and the bump run mentioned can be quite challenging. And this is how it's done: one turn at a time, over and over and over and over. Wonderful feeling to chalk up yet another milestone!

 

[SkiNurse]

'cause I almost peed my pants doing it this week but maybe the week after next ... I know now I can do it so shoot for the moon, right?

:ROTF:

Oh, I've been in those situations before! Well, I'm looking forward to you updating this thread when you ski it a second time!

 

[SueNJ]

I'm in awe, especially of how you tackled the bumps! Nice going!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Fabulous!!

But, answer this...why wouldn't you do that gladed run again next week?

She hit up Last Tango, which is a bonafide black glade. There is absolutely no margin for error in these glades. They aren't too bad RIGHT after a snowfall, but in this case, it having been the weekend, things were getting seriously skied off/bumped up in there (with the invariable "thin cover" warning at entrance). No edge-catching allowed, no reconsideration of when a turn has to happen, big ruts that form within hours of a snowfall. Tough stuff. I'll vouch for the urinary incontinence tendency Kinda got to me on Friday, different glade, same resort, same reaction!!

 

[Jilly]

Yup, you go girl. Isn't achievement a great thing. Now please do that glade run at least one more time before the end of the season!!

 

[haylmom]

Ok, I'm SUPER proud of you woman!!!!!!! But you know we're gonna do some serious bumps and glades when I make it down there! I did Pugs Powder for the first time at Crabbe this weekend and was seriously LOVING it! Can't wait for SR to hit up some different terrain! We'll have to find something you haven't done before so that we can both try it together!!

 

[haylmom]

Oh yeah.....and some 'dropping in'

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Oh yeah.....and some 'dropping in'

Whoa! You 2 are starting to SCARE ME !! Really beginning to wonder if I'm going to be able to keep up with you!!! Whatever and wherever, DH will get you through it, turn by turn. That's how I survived the glade last Friday, though I usually can smoke him on an open run. AQ had said that Obsession kind of freaked her out. Well, happens to be DH's all-time favorite there, one of mine, and we're gonna get you 2 to love it, too (it's a great run for learning steeps because it has rollers and some "rest spots"). But you 3 may be on your own in the glades!! Let's hope for some freshies, the glades when skied off are even more treacherous....

 

[fatoots]

I started off with the intention of just running a nice cruisey green a couple times then decided to do my favourite blue instead. THEN changed my mind again and decided to do 3D, a much more "pitchy" blue. I have often run the bottom section of this but have only down the entire run 2 or 3 times - the first time involved a little bit of tumbling and a lot of ice!

I got to the top and realized that it was now a mogul run!

LOL! I'll never forget the first time I figured that out and my kids were like, uh Duh Mommy, "3D"?? Get it?"

I did Last Tango on Sunday because my River Runner wasn't allowed to that morning. The last time I tried that glade I ended up down to the left in the "not really part of Last Tango but people have extended it down to the bottom of Right Stuff" trees. I really almost killed myself---slid into a tree hard with my head, thank God I had a helmet on. (My kids had said, "oh mommy you can do it, it's an easy glade") I swore I would never go in it again, but the snow was soft Sunday so I agreed to take him through, knowing now to stay to the right. LOL I actually didn't do too badly. The part in the middle where the fall line isn't too steep is fun.

What's your favorite blue trail at SR? What blacks can you do?

 

[atlantiqueen]

My favourite blues are American Express, Escapade, and Upper/Sunday Punch. I have skied mostof them though.

For blacks, I can/have skied: Obsession, Upper Tempest, T2, Upper Monday Mourning, Right Stuff, Last Tango, and Airglow.

I have also "dropped in" at the superpipe several times. Of course I am way to uncool to do anything more than ski 6 feet up the side catch 2.5 inches of air and go "woo hoo!" before my husband hangs his head in embarassment

 

[fatoots]

My favourite blues are American Express, Escapade, and Upper/Sunday Punch. I have skied mostof them though.

For blacks, I can/have skied: Obsession, Upper Tempest, T2, Upper Monday Mourning, Right Stuff, Last Tango, and Airglow.

I have also "dropped in" at the superpipe several times. Of course I am way to uncool to do anything more than ski 6 feet up the side catch 2.5 inches of air and go "woo hoo!" before my husband hangs his head in embarassment

Airglow, MM, and T2 are my favorite black trails there. Funny, I hate Amex. I have a mental thing with it, I have never skied it well, and it's almost always scrapey when I try it. I like Risky Business better.

You know what I did this weekend that I'd never done? Starburst---the trail under lift 11 over at White Cap. For an "under the lift" run it was just challenging enough for me, and fun. I think White Cap is a hidden gem over there. Usually not crowded, and nice groomers to cruise on.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I really almost killed myself---slid into a tree hard with my head, thank God I had a helmet on.

Yeah, the old Right Stuff exit from that glade....glad you're okay!! Oh boy, just underscores my fear....(long story)
I'm a big Vortex fan. Did you see it last weekend? Wow, was it Super Crud or WHAT? The boarders were having a ball in it, though. I am often hanging in Aurora: Upper Vortex (watch out for the red squirrels) to the headwall, Upper Airglow (which has been nice lately), lower of both. Aurora chair has had issues lately, though. I often check the message boards for "insider views" of conditions, also look at the photos of the day. Did you see that one in the message board, "guess the trail" - and it was Top Gun? Look at that pic! WOW.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

My favourite blues are American Express, Escapade, and Upper/Sunday Punch.

Big fan here of the first 2. Not a Punch fan. Not sure why. Traffic?

 

[fatoots]

Yeah, the old Right Stuff exit from that glade....glad you're okay!! Oh boy, just underscores my fear....(long story)
I'm a big Vortex fan. Did you see it last weekend? Wow, was it Super Crud or WHAT? The boarders were having a ball in it, though. I am often hanging in Aurora: Upper Vortex (watch out for the red squirrels) to the headwall, Upper Airglow (which has been nice lately), lower of both. Aurora chair has had issues lately, though. .

See, now I look at Vortex and go, no f***ing way am I doing that. LOL
I love going to Aurora and Jordan for the blues over there too. It just takes so long to get back if the kids have races going on at Barker or White Cap. Maybe this weekend since they are all going to Lost Valley. I get to ski alone! Whee. Anyone want to join me?

I often check the message boards for "insider views" of conditions, also look at the photos of the day. Did you see that one in the message board, "guess the trail" - and it was Top Gun? Look at that pic! WOW

I'll have to go look at that. I meant to ask you, so who are you over there? Do you post? Have you been to beer-thirty? Do I know you? LOLOLOL

 

[fatoots]

Big fan here of the first 2. Not a Punch fan. Not sure why. Traffic?

Love the upper, but ITA about the part after the mid-station. Always crowded, always scraped off unless you hit it first thing or right after snow.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I'm primarily just a good old message board "lurker" I check out Alpine Zone, Epic, and the River when I'm headed over there. I primarily ski at Sugarloaf on weekends, mix up my destination weekdays (I shoot for at least one weekday, 2's better).

Alas, Silvers are blacked out this weekend, both days (after which we're "free and clear"), so I won't be at either. I've found a little gem in Black Mountain in Rumford - night skiing, only 21 miles from my house, 1+k vertical, not bad at all.

Totally agree re: White Cap and its relative peace. Wonder what will become of the secondary terrain park, that discussion always interests me. Now that 3D is history as a park (wasn't that good anyway).

So maybe sometime I'll take you down my favorite AmEx line - oh heck, here's the secret: it's as far skier's left as you can manage. ALWAYS good snow there!