TR Taos Feb. 10-16, 2018

[santacruz skier]

We are having a fantastic time!!

 

[tinymoose]

Oh, wow. I hadn't realized that they had shortened up the Black Pearls that much. Last I had tried were the 152s a few years ago. May have to try to find the 145s to demo at some point out of curiosity to see if I like them any better.

 

[marzNC]

Oh, wow. I hadn't realized that they had shortened up the Black Pearls that much. Last I had tried were the 152s a few years ago. May have to try to find the 145s to demo at some point out of curiosity to see if I like them any better.

Yeah, I wasn't expecting a BP88 shorter than 152cm. The specs seem to be 126-88-110 with turn radius 11. The tip and tail rocker are a lot less than the original version that I own (2011). Did great on the groomers and in the small bumps that were around Tue and Wed.

With 9+ inches of new snow, I skied the BP98 @152cm today. Had a good time. The new snow was a little heavy so the chopped up trails after the first 30 min took concentration. In the afternoon I had a good time in lighter or skier packed snow on the other side of the mountain. Included soft bumps that weren't huge but were decent sized. Of course, the lesson in the morning helped too. But I was glad to have wider skis.

Had pretty good control during the last run down from the summit (Lift 2) on the groomer that was both wind blown and somewhat skied off.

 

[marzNC]

Although the official total was 9 inches, a friend who stays in a house near the base called it a foot and took out his powder skis. I was having too much fun skiing to stop to take pictures.

Note that Lift 1 will be replaced with a high speed lift over the summer.

Bill's ski car with two Thule boxes at 7:00am at Columbine Inn


@santacruz skier on Porcupine (blue) in the early morning chop, about 9:15. We only had time for one run before the Ladies Ski Week meetup at the base at 9:45.


Tracks below the Lift Status sign are from the BP98 skis that I was demo'ing for the day. I was not sinking far in untracked.


New snow outside Whistlestop (near base of Lift 2)

 

[Jenny]

Now that's the Taos I saw - snowcovered!

 

[nopoleskier]

@Olesya Chornoguz and I were in the Co-ed Ski week group. ($220 for 6 days of lessons 9:45-12-12:30 daily This is our group.

We had a blast and all of us improved with the help of "THE" Peter Blake. His Parents are the founders and builders of Taos. It was really interesting to hear the 'real' stories of the Martini tree, how the trails were cut and other history of Taos. I will definitely go back next year to ski with him. Yes, Old dogs can learn new tricks!!

We were fortunate to have new snow it was a blast. I'll upload some more photos later. We spent the afternoons skiing together with @marzNC , @santacruz skier . It was so much fun!

 

[nopoleskier]

We had a lot of fun, great weather, plenty of fresh powder!

Looking at Colorado

Kachina Peak needs More snow

Riding Lift 2 to the top

Fresh Powder!

Soft fun bumps

At the "Martini tree"

Afternoon skiing, @Olesya Chornoguz @santacruz skier @marzNC @nopoleskier

Lot of fun skiing.... Bumps oh yeah and More bumps! @RachelV ripping it on Moe's

 

[RachelV]

I know which instructor I want to "try" next time, either Derek G. (he was Eunice's instructor) or Dano, aka drill sergeant, I only had him for 1 day. But KingGrump said he is good.

Derek was my boyfriend's instructor for a level 5 or 6 group this week, and he was fantastic. I also skied with that group briefly after I got separated from my group one morning and Derek nailed everything that's wrong with my skiing after watching me ski for about 30 seconds. I would definitely recommend him.

My group (level 8) had Dano, and he was also fantastic. We did do a lot of drills, but given the conditions (basically no off piste runs open), I thought that was pretty appropriate. He was also super thoughtful and had great answers for every question I asked him. He clearly has a very deep understanding of everything he teaches (as did Derek (as do most of the instructors at Taos, I get the feeling)).

The week overall was really good. The lesson value you get out of a Ski Week for $220 is pretty unreal. Taos, aside from this year's lack of snow, is a gorgeous mountain with what looks like a lot of really great terrain; we'll definitely get back for a long weekend in a better snow year to really ski the place.

 

[RachelV]

... Bumps oh yeah and More bumps! @RachelV ripping it on Moe's ...

I'm not in the back seat! It's a ski week miracle! ;)

 

[santacruz skier]

Taos is beautiful and the ski week was a great experience. This is coming from someone who hasn't had a lesson in a couple decades. Game changer and have some tips to remember.. Women's ski week was really fun and had a great level 3 instructor Teri K. Had a wonderful time meeting and skiing with divas for the first time! Thanks to @marzNC , @nopoleskier , @Olesya Chornoguz for the comradeship and good times skiing. Also fun to meet @RachelV and BF as well as @marzNC 's ski buddy Bill. Good times were had by all...
I'm doing this again!

 

[alison wong]

Derek was my boyfriend's instructor for a level 5 or 6 group this week, and he was fantastic. I also skied with that group briefly after I got separated from my group one morning and Derek nailed everything that's wrong with my skiing after watching me ski for about 30 seconds. I would definitely recommend him.

My group (level 8) had Dano, and he was also fantastic. We did do a lot of drills, but given the conditions (basically no off piste runs open), I thought that was pretty appropriate. He was also super thoughtful and had great answers for every question I asked him. He clearly has a very deep understanding of everything he teaches (as did Derek (as do most of the instructors at Taos, I get the feeling)).

I like Derek, a lot, even though he was not my instructor. I saw him some afternoons and we always waved at each other. He recognized me because Eunice was in his class.

Eunice said in the class, he would point out things they did right or wrong on the spot, then told them to remember and kept doing it or not doing it. He has a loud voice and always talking / giving out instructions when skiing.... I think he is known for that.

He is from Zimbabwe , has a British accent (suits Eunice because she is from Singapore). He used to teach skiing in New Zealand and few other countries before coming to Taos. His kids live in S. Africa and he still travels to visit them from time to time....

Eunice and I would chat about our classmates and instructors after we got home... That's how I know all these things....

Yes, Dano is very good. I found him to be very observant. On Day 1, within the first hour, he commented something to our group and me. That's when I realized this guy pays attention to everything we do or not do....

 

[alison wong]

Women's ski week was really fun and had a great level 3 instructor Teri K. Had a wonderful time meeting and skiing with divas for the first time!

If you have a facebook account, check out Taos Ski Valley FB page. I see a group photo of the women's ski week posted there. I spotted @marzNC in the photo.

 

[santacruz skier]

If you have a facebook account, check out Taos Ski Valley FB page. I see a group photo of the women's ski week posted there. I spotted @marzNC in the photo.

I'll have to check it out when I get home.. now at lasvegas airport. I forgot Facebook pw as never use it.. way too much spam.. thanks! I'm in that video too!

 

[santacruz skier]

@alison wong did you see the video or just the group photo? We were in a video as well?

 

[alison wong]

@alison wong did you see the video or just the group photo? We were in a video as well?

Just the group photo. Here I took care for you...

 

[santacruz skier]

Just the group photo. Here I took care for you...

View attachment 8243

I'm right behind her in the black jacket with arm raised. Thanks!!!!

 

[marzNC]

If you have a facebook account, check out Taos Ski Valley FB page. I see a group photo of the women's ski week posted there. I spotted @marzNC in the photo.

Thanks for the the note. I don't get into FB on a regular basis. I'm in the purple jacket on the snow.

The ladies on the snow are mostly from the group that @santacruz skier and I were in with Teri K., who is at the far right. The woman next to Teri has been doing a Ski Week annually for 20 years. Her husband does a Level 10 Ski Week. They stay at the St. Bernard with a few friends. Very nice couple. I skied with them and one of their friends for a few runs one afternoon. The woman in green is a Taos instructor. She's a Level 2 who has been working with the Children's Program and Adaptive Program for quite a while. She gave us a few tips on chair lift rides.

 

[marzNC]

Afternoon skiing, @Olesya Chornoguz @santacruz skier @marzNC @nopoleskier

One of the best features of a Taos Ski Week is that the lessons are only in the morning. That leaves the afternoons free to ski with friends, sometimes working on stuff learned in the morning and sometimes just for fun without thinking at all.

 

[Olesya Chornoguz]

This was my 2nd Taos ski week and I enjoyed as much as the first. I was told I have improved a lot after the ski week. Beofre the season started I dreamed of skiing Kachina and Al's run, but both were closed. So I just have to come back next year to ski Kachina and Al's! My skiing has improved again at the end of ski week, so that was wonderful. We had a great co-ed group of classmates in ski week. I was in the same group with @nopoleskier
Here is my friend who I met during ski week, Nopoleskier and me.

This is me in the middle of the ski week:

This is me at the end of the ski week after it snowed:

 

[santacruz skier]

Looking good @Olesya Chornoguz