The Mid-season Blues

[MaineSkiLady]

Anyone else? I guess this happens to me around this time every ski season -- but it always catches me off guard. I temporarily lose my enthusiasm/motivation, etc. and start looking for excuses to otherwise occupy myself. Pretty long list of excuses this year.
Gas is up again. Conditions aren't wonderful (all my favorites at my usual destination are currently closed from recent rains). Don't feel like making the drive. Parking's a pain. Crowds are intense.

On and on. I know "this too shall pass" - but it bothers me when it hits, and that I forget it's on the typical schedule. I've done 25 days thus far this year, December was ridiculous in the NE for conditions, and we all got spoiled. Hopefully, a pending demo night and big diva weekend will lift my spirits.

In the meantime....no clue how to deal w/this.
I can't possibly be the only weirdo feeling this.
(or am I???)
Advice and consolation sought,
from Maine-currently-not-on-Ski-Lady

 

[persee]

I don't think I've experienced this, however I don't think I've yet had more than 20 ski days in a season! :( perhaps were I to ski more it might happen.

However I have become frustrated and thusly antimotivated when my ski gear starts to fail me. I feel like I'm back sliding in my skiing ability and then I get myself all worked up about going out. Then again I also got myself all worked up about trying my new AC3s last weekend. I was soooo worried that they were gonna throw me because everyone talks about them being top of the line from Volkl and I'm soooo not top of the line for a skier (level 7). I'd passed on taking them out the previous trip (on a mountain I know well) for this same fear that I wouldnt' be able to ski them, etc. Well I took them out and had a great time and it's re-energized me. Both in terms of my confidence (ie if I can ski these I can't really suck) and I had better form on them which was a nice feeling.

I think any time you start avoiding something you just have to bite the bullet and charge through it. The longer you let yourself avoid it the more of a barrier you'll build up to over come.

 

[atlantiqueen]

I totally understand. If you can believe it, I'm replying from the parking lot at South Ridge! Finally found a wireless hot spot to check my mail and I'm dilly-dallying about getting out on the slopes.

Maybe I'm nervous about the new skis - maybe it's too freakin' cold, maybe I'm worried about my hinky ankle or maybe, just maybe the book I'm reading is too good to put down!

The most amazing part of this whole rant of course is that I found a spot to park in the first parking lot at South Ridge at 10:30am during Feb vacation!!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Good luck, friend! Sure seems like good karma if you scored that primo of a parking place!! Remember, easy does it, takes time to "get the feel." Full report requested!!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I think any time you start avoiding something you just have to bite the bullet and charge through it. The longer you let yourself avoid it the more of a barrier you'll build up to over come.

Nah, it's not a barrier. More of a malaise/attitude.
Where are you, retromaven?? I need SHOPPING THERAPY!!

 

[RachelV]

...December was ridiculous in the NE for conditions, and we all got spoiled.

That's so true. This past weekend at Mt. Snow the trees were closed, the halfpipe was closed Saturday and Sunday, and *everything* was groomed. I was bored and cranky. I still want to ski as much as possible , though. But yes, this December was ridiculous. The trees haven't been as good since (in southern VT, anyways).

I did get bummed the other day when I realized my season is more than halfway over. I'm at 18 days so far, and see myself ending up right around 30 somewhere.

 

[Jilly]

I'm with you. I really didn't want to teach last night. I was is sales mood, not teach mood. I wanted to demo skis and sell them last night. And it was cold. I think its all the things you stated. So what am I doing. Going up to the condo this PM and seeing my Hubby. Skiing tomorrow before the weekend crowd is nuts. Hopefully I can get an appointment to get those really neat footbeds that SkiMave got and get the boots redone. And maybe a dinner out for a change of pace up there.
Relax, rest, because March is going to be a great month!!

 

[Robyn]

Well, I can kind of relate. While my attitude for skiing in general is still positive I'm done with coaching. Counting the weekends. I really wish I could just pick H up and ski with her only the rest of the season as she's the only one I want to see right now.

I think mine has a lot to do with the grief over Tracy's death and my fear of being back on the slopes with the kids for the first day since our last training day, which happens to be the last day since I saw her. But, for whatever reason, I'm sitting here wishing I wasn't coaching both days this weekend.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Thinking back to a long ski trip taken years ago (actually, was our long-postponed honeymoon) where we did 10 ski days in a row (ah, youth....), and we were so burned out by the 10th day that we could barely stand the thought of putting on the boots ONE MORE TIME. So we made it a short day and went sightseeing en route back to Denver.

I just need a temp diversion that doesn't involve home repairs

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I just need a temp diversion that doesn't involve home repairs

....And I have a sneaking suspicion, given that I'm hitting up a demo night tomorrow, that the diversion may come down to new skis! Been on the hunt for a good crud-buster (eastern style), as my currents are pristine but ugly and a little heavy. Now to just get to tomorrow night.....in the meantime, I'll blow it off by heading out to pump some iron.

Sure glad I'm not alone in this Blue Boat!

 

[playoutside]

I've got it bad! I was having a blast, skied 12 days in Jan and so far only 2 in Feb -- both were great days. Ended up taking a break last week for dental insanity (5 appts in 4 days) and rarely ski during Feb vacation week. So here I sit trying to convince myself to just go; I'm trying to make it easy and head to an area about an hour from me, rather than drive north to VT, but still I sit here typing. Ahhh!!

Just checked the place I'm trying to get to and they have night skiing too -- no excuses now. Can someone please kick me in the a$$ right now! I'm logging off, I'm packing car, I'm skiing, please please let it be so!!

 

[persee]

....And I have a sneaking suspicion, given that I'm hitting up a demo night tomorrow, that the diversion may come down to new skis! Been on the hunt for a good crud-buster (eastern style), as my currents are pristine but ugly and a little heavy. Now to just get to tomorrow night.....in the meantime, I'll blow it off by heading out to pump some iron.

Sure glad I'm not alone in this Blue Boat!

And here I was counting on a Thursday report on the conditions at 'loaf... get yee butt to the mountain little lady! :P (yes I'm being selfish, but I wanna know! )

 

[MaineSkiLady]

And here I was counting on a Thursday report on the conditions at 'loaf... get yee butt to the mountain little lady! :P (yes I'm being selfish, but I wanna know! )

Will be there Sat and/or Sun and have an otherwise plethora of "insider information," so fear not All terrain of interest to you and DH looks to be in fine shape, but SOOOOO much got wrecked from the rain :Cry: including my beloved Gondi Line extension from the summit - CLOSED. Wow. Last time there, it was a rock garden, but it was open. Not anymore. DANG. WE NEED SNOW. Report pending. Be patient with me.

 

[skigrl27]

My only Blues right now is the sad realization that winter is drawing to a close far too soon. This is my first winter here in CO and I just can't get my fill. We've been struck here recently in Aspen with a warm spell (mid 30's on the mountain) and no big storms in over a week. (I know this may sound ridiculous to some of you - and yes I know I'm spoiled.)

But downvalley the temps are even warmer & the grass is starting to show again. I feel this great sense of sadness when I see the snow melting. I am NOT READY for spring yet!!!

My only little hope lies in the National Weather Service & statistics. Statistically, March is one of CO's snowiest months. And the Nat'l Weather Service is calling for a big one Sunday/Monday. It would sure bring my spirits up!!

 

[SueNJ]

My only Blues right now is the sad realization that winter is drawing to a close far too soon.

This is precisely where I'm at right now. This is the first season in 3 years that my body is cooperating, and I'm having way too much fun (even with the limited amount of snow we're having) to stop. It really gets depressing when the local ski areas stop making snow overnight because it's late in the season and no longer cost-effective--we're not there yet, but will be in a couple of weeks.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

^^^ Yeah, yeah, go ahead, rub it in... As I said, wish this didn't hit me, would prefer otherwise. Usually is a few days, then I'm ready for Part II. (So maybe this is intermission???) But you 2 sound like DH here, has never had this, surely never will - it could snow in mid-August and he'd be ready in half an hour, no problem, let's go. It's discouraging: he's just wayyyy too....consistent. More than just attitude - I have rarely known him to have an off-day when skiing. A few, but those involved injuries. Otherwise, in 33+ years, it's gung-ho, every time.

 

[SnowHot]

I only get the blues when the snow starts to melt.

I would rather ski than anything else I do. Mt bike and golf clubs can stay in the garage for a loooooong time, but the skis are fondled regularly, even during the off season.

My smart a$$ answer to your post:
Nah, I do the blues at the beginning of the season. By this time of year, I'm on to blacks and double blacks mostly!!!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

My smart a$$ answer to your post:
Nah, I do the blues at the beginning of the season. By this time of year, I'm on to blacks and double blacks mostly!!!

Now, I kind of figured that someone was going to fire up this answer! I deserved this....my punishment for not getting my hiney out of bed and out to ski today is to put up with you people Wouldn't be an altogether terrible idea (although a terrible thought) to actually CLEAN my house....
Never mind. It's a terrible idea

 

[abc]

Anyone else? I guess this happens to me around this time every ski season -- but it always catches me off guard. I temporarily lose my enthusiasm/motivation, etc. and start looking for excuses to otherwise occupy myself. Pretty long list of excuses this year.
Gas is up again. Conditions aren't wonderful (all my favorites at my usual destination are currently closed from recent rains). Don't feel like making the drive. Parking's a pain. Crowds are intense.

But a storm is brewing... It'll hit the Catskill tomorrow (probably will hit Maine Sat), in time for the weekend. Though I can't go Saturday... :(

No, I don't have the blues. I don't think I ever had...

What I have, is conflict of which kind of skiing to do and where to do it at. Downhill or x-c? Drive up to VT or just ski the Catskill? Which of the fly away options I should nail down?

Sunday will be my 20th this season. And as TC puts it, I'll be skiing the blacks & double blacks mostly. :D

 

[EShef]

I may have the touch of the blues on the slopes too. I took 3 runs tonight and called it quits. Then again, I was on a snowboard so maybe it was a good decision!