Becoming a fair weather skier?

[num]

Nah, a fair weather skier around here is someone who doesn't ski :p Seriously though, today was the first time that I actually decided to stop skiing just because the conditions were bad.

I'm a big fan of skiing in the rain, so I was pretty excited that it was lightly raining on my way up to the hill. Rain usually means pretty much everyone heads inside, and it leaves me with nice open slopes to play with in weather I actually enjoy. So when I got there and saw absolutely no one on the hill, I figured it was just the rain keeping them inside. Heading to the lift, the snow along the way was just ice but that happens a lot, so I didn't pay it any mind. Turned out to be a nice medley of thin ice, thick ice, big death cookies, mini ice marbles and a bunch of deep holes in the base. All of which I encounter alone or in various combinations somewhat regularly with the exception of the last one. Large deep holes/gashes in the snowcover is a new one by me, though I don't have that much time under my belt.

So much for the idea that I'll ski through any conditions. I gotta say though, if I didn't have a season pass and had bought a lift ticket I'd probably be more inclined to get my money's worth, but that's just the cheapo in me talking (she talks a lot )

Ever come across snow that makes you say "not worth it today?" What is it that gets to you?

 

[abc]

Well, I'm definitely a fair weather skier. I don't ski in rain. I don't ski in fog/whiteouts. But I do ski when it's snowing! And I have plenty of warm clothing that I've yet to stop skiing due to cold.

But one time when in Maine, the ice sheet was soooo hard, a beginer trail was worse than a double black diamond! I skied once on that trail and left. The price of the lift ticket is a lot less than the medical bill had I crashed and miss some days of work. There's NO ONE on the slopes.

The day was so bad I had a crash anyway, in a car on my way out!

 

[IntheClouds]

Last week in fact. Just before the last snowstorm. I picked up my skis from the repair shop after having a core shot repaired. Took 2 runs top to bottom & said forget it. One 90 degree turn that just can't be circumvented was granite w/less than a 1/2 inch of snow cover. I just didn't want to take my ski's back in for a repair job less than an hour after getting them out. Went over to the bunny slope for a few to practice pivot slips & left. Came home & had the following e-mail waiting for me :

FYI: The cover is thin, and although holding up well in most areas there are a few areas with that will ruin skis. Please do not bring good/new skis for tomorrows training.

NO RACE SKIS!!

 

[ski diva]

I guess I'm a fair weather skiing in one regard: I won't ski when it's crowded. I hate feeling like other skiers/boarders treat me like I'm an obstacle in a video game. So I don't ski busy holidays (like Martin Luther King Day) or weekends (particularly Saturdays; they're worse than Sundays). Then again, I have the luxury of being able to ski during the week, which not everyone can do. So I can afford to be picky.

I'm also not a big fan of skiing in the rain or in white-out conditions (fog or blizzard). I like to see where I'm going.

Other than that, I'm out there!

 

[SnowHot]

A couple things stop me from skiing. Ice(I mean glare sheets of ice, not just icy conditions) and dirt.
Other than that, I'll hit it!
Wind rain and slop today, and I'm heading out to spend the day with my nephew on the hill.
THAT is worth it!

 

[w.ski]

I'll ski rain, snow, wind, cold, you name it. Like SnowHot, I won't ski dirt... and I don't like crowds, but I will ski weekends and holidays as long as I'm on the slopes by 8:30 and off by the time the crowds start getting bad.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Well, num, the bad weather that produced your conditions has arrived in New England---:mad: :( And yes, those cracks and crevasses in the snowpack can be super-dangerous. I've also experienced the whole mountain glaze-over, which occurs after a thaw and rapid freeze, before the snowpack has set up enough to be thoroughly groomed. Rain? Not for me. I also have the same luxury as Ski Diva in being able to do weekdays, so I guess I qualify as fair weather, which I admit somewhat sheepishly Otherwise I'd be out there today skiing with the pre-holiday crowds on a Sunday with rain pending...pass...

 

[perma-grin]

I ski in anything, mostly because of work. Unfortunately we are closed today! :Cry: :Cry: Weather is not helping to make the SEASON BRIGHT!! My hill captain called to let us know that we didn't have to be there, but I was already in the parking lot looking at the hill!!! Ha-Ha!! Oh well his intentions were good! Time to finish wrapping gifts!

 

[abc]

I guess I'm a fair weather skiing in one regard: I won't ski when it's crowded.

No SkiDiva, that doesn't qualify. Crowds are not "weather"!

You can plan around crowds (by not skiing weekends/holidays). But you can't plan around weather. Well, you kind of can, that's why I rarely ski before New Year when coverage is iffy. But there're exceptions, like this year! I've already skied 4 days, and in all likelihood, minimum of one more is coming up X'mas day!!! :D

 

[Ski Spirit]

I will ski in rain but prefer not to and will ski in white out conditions if I'm very familiar with the trail.

Like Ski Diva, I really dislike skiing in huge crowds of people (early season, few trails open, crazed people who haven't skied in an eternity going wild).

 

[abc]

early season, few trails open, crazed people who haven't skied in an eternity going wild.

You speak my mind!

 

[altagirl]

I've left because it's too icy or too crowded.

If conditions are good, there's no such thing as too whited out for me - I don't mind that at all - unless the snow is bad. With the combo - I go home. I also have no limit on "too cold" or "too windy", as long as the skiing is good.

But that's why I have a pass and live close to the mountain - if it just isn't fun, I go home. We've even gone home and come back a couple hours later - particularly in spring when you need it to soften up and underestimated the time when the snow would get good.

 

[Jilly]

So far this year I've missed one day because of weather. Hubby went and said "good thing you didn't go, can't see!" That's the thing that bothers me the most. As for rain, well if I don't have to, but I've got one of those rain poncho's - Descente and its great. But beaver balls, death cookies etc, doesn't make for a great day of skiing. But if one run is like that, there should some that aren't. Tremblant has a total of 94, there has to be one that doesn't have problems.

 

[abc]

I also have no limit on "too cold" or "too windy", as long as the skiing is good.

I think one thing we all have in common is there's no such thing as "too cold" to ski. After all, it's basically a matter of having the correct clothing. Skiing long enough and frequent enough, one eventually accumulate enough clothing combination to cover just about any temperature.

Last Monday at Stowe, the wind was so bad it delayed the openning of the lifts. But once it openned, the skiing was fantastic. And I didn't notice the wind all that much (except when it blew me side ways!), thanks to wind-proof equipments.

 

[Jilly]

Well ice will be a problem Christmas eve day. Last report from Tremblant was delayed opening on most runs. They want it to freeze, then they can groom and make those lovely beaver balls. As my friend the tremblant-insider says - SNOWDANCE!!

 

[Sheena]

.... then they can groom and make those lovely beaver balls.

I am almost afraid to ask....

I was joking yesterday about being a fair weather skier. Beaver Mt., while fully opened, had some thin-ish cover in places and had huge fields of bramble in the middle of some of the groomed slopes. Eventually, I started treating the bramble as slalom poles and skied around them.

I have rarely turned away from the slopes. Ice - ski it all the time, snow storms - why not. I am really not a fan of skiing in the rain, if it is drizzling, that is not such a big deal, but if it is pouring soaking rain, then I stay inside.

 

[Jilly]

Beaver balls are small ice chunks. Sometimes refered to as small death cookies. The groomers make these when they groom after it freezes. It's like skiing on ball bearings. But usually you get a foot massage on the way down!!

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Super Windy conditions are a "no ski day" for me.

 

[joycemocha]

Eh, I had one of those days today. Started out with a lesson at 9, in the rain. Fortunately, I'd dressed for the weather. Still, by the time I came in from the lesson at 10:15, I was soaked. Dried off for a while, then went back out for two more runs. My goggles liner was so soaked that it was letting water run through. About the time the wind kicked up good and hard, though--straight off the Pacific, with a big storm blowing in on Hood at Timberline...just another lovely day skiing in the Cascades!

OTOH, almost nobody was out there by the time I came in. There were riders and skiers but we were all scattered out and with the new addition there's enough fun little short runs for skiers like me and long exciting runs for the fast crowds.

But when it got to the point where I was contemplating sticking my glasses into my pocket and my goggles were up on my helmet, I decided it was time to go in. Gotta see to ski, y'know. At least I prefer to do it.

Did manage the right combo of clothes to stay dry! Everything on me was dripping wet but I was reasonably dry and comfy!

 

[lil mountain girl]

having the luxury of growing up in western canada . . .

i am an official snow-snob !

if the snow's good i'll ski come rain, shine, sleet, hail, and gailforce winds . . . AS LONG AS THE SNOW IS GOOD!!!!!!

i WILL, however, go touring if the snow sucks . . .

this usually involved hiking up a nice ridge . . . then walking back down it !

hey, at least i'm out there!