Winter Park, CO Mar 28- April 2

[wernerslab]

My son and I just got off the mountain and back to the Front Range this afternoon. Skiing was warm and wet/soft at the bottom on Friday but overnight it snowed about 9" in and we had great soft and dryer snow conditions on Saturday and Sunday. Skied on piste at WP and MJ with a little foray to Parsenn Bowl on Sunday. Monday had some flurries and I had a full day lesson (trying to get more basics to help me learn better bump skiing) but conditions were ok, a little firm since the sun did not come out and it stayed cool. It snowed again on Mon night and most of the day Tuesday dropping another 9" which made Tuesday skiing soooo much fun! I demo'd skis every day although still not sure what to buy.

 

[Winter Girl]

My son and I just got off the mountain and back to the Front Range this afternoon. Skiing was warm and wet/soft at the bottom on Friday but overnight it snowed about 9" in and we had great soft and dryer snow conditions on Saturday and Sunday. Skied on piste at WP and MJ with a little foray to Parsenn Bowl on Sunday. Monday had some flurries and I had a full day lesson (trying to get more basics to help me learn better bump skiing) but conditions were ok, a little firm since the sun did not come out and it stayed cool. It snowed again on Mon night and most of the day Tuesday dropping another 9" which made Tuesday skiing soooo much fun! I demo'd skis every day although still not sure what to buy.

What skis did you demo?

 

[wernerslab]

I demo'd Santa Ana 92, Volkl Blaze 86, Rossi Rallybird Soul 92 and Blizzard BP 88. I think they were all 2025/2026 style but not positive. I didn't hate any of them but liked the SA 92 and the Rossi the best. The SA was on a day with no new snow and by noon, snow on lower slopes was soft and a bit slushy(50 deg at base that day). The Rossi was on a day with 4-8 in of snow and maneuvered well considering I am usu on the v firm/icy mid-Atlantic. I liked the Volkl Blaze the least but demo'd some Volkl Mantra 84 on a spring day here in PA and they and a SA 87 were my favorite pair. I'm leaning bw the volkl mantra and the santa ana. I was thinking just a one ski but maybe would like an east coast oriented volkl and the SA or rallybird 92 for when we go west or when snow falls in VT!

 

[marzNC]

Thanks for the trip report! I'd like to get back to Winter Park some day when everything is open.

I was thinking just a one ski but maybe would like an east coast oriented volkl and the SA or rallybird 92 for when we go west or when snow falls in VT!

Sounds like you have good options to choose from based on the demo experience.

I've found it was to have a quiver of two different types of skis as I improved from an adventurous intermediate to an advanced skier skiing more than 20 days a season out west. I have skis for east coast skiing, which for me is mostly mid-Atlantic, and other skis that I take out west. Right now the two pair os skis I use the most are about the same width underfoot and about the same turn radius. However, the east coast sksi are 10cm shorter.

 

[Winter Girl]

Have you ever tried any dps? I know pricey but they last...i love the alchemist wailer 112 and love them in any type of powder, soft bumps, mush and deep corn snow.
Very firm......i have the 100 pagoda for that and if icy a narrow volkl. Okay, I'm spoiled, but ....
Everyone I know that has SA loves them...

 

[Bookworm]

Have you ever tried any dps? I know pricey but they last...i love the alchemist wailer 112 and love them in any type of powder, soft bumps, mush and deep corn snow.
Very firm......i have the 100 pagoda for that and if icy a narrow volkl. Okay, I'm spoiled, but ....
Everyone I know that has SA loves them...

I have the pagoda 100rp and I absolutely love them. I would love a slightly narrower version, but that doesn't really exist.

 

[Winter Girl]

I agree...used them yesterday for Burke Mountain closing day with the heavy corn snow....so fun...now today I'll try them at Cannon...hoping it too will soften up.