Skiing and Snowboarding - 2023

[sygazelle]

Any skiers here? How about Snowboarders!

I've not seen any threads so I thought I would start.


I've been skiing for 50 years, mostly in California, but some trips to Colorado, Utah, and Switzerland (while visiting family).

I'm in my 70s now but I still get a season pass and get out there 10 to 20 days a year.

Right now I'm at Kirkwood in California. We've had big storms this month and the snow is amazing. I've added few pics.

Jump on in and share your stories about skiing.

[bwoodahl]

I’m a skier, for 50 years also. Skied Snowbird and Alta about 4 weeks ago, crowds were not too bad, snow was really good. I have not yet skied in California

[Chihuahua]

Looks beautiful out there.

I don't ski but I do snowboard. I'll be out in CO late next month for my yearly fix.

[fs1977]

Yes, skier here. In about four weeks we'll be in the Dolomites agains. We have visited a lot of ski area's in the Alps, but Dolomites by far the most beautifull surroundings.

[floridaorange]

These are amazing photos, miss it alot... have the chance to ski in NC, but it's usually very busy and not great conditions so each year we are up there I pass.

Jealous former snowboarder, learned how in California, went yearly have a closer friend who lives in Dear Valley, Utah who I am itching to go visit and ski/board with.

[Josh-PA]

I've been skiing since '95. We used to do trips out west every year, but I've been 100% east coast for the last 10 or so. We have a little hill within 40 minutes of our lake cabin that is a great day trip. Never crowded gets caught in a little bit of lake effect snow so usually has good (East Coast) conditions and has cheap lift tickets. In the pic, it was foggy and the hill is mostly covered with fog and snow making powder and you can only see about 1/3 of it. You can get the idea of how not crowded it is on most nights though.

Bristol Mountain: https://www.bristolmountain.com/

I spend most of my time now teaching my kids friends how to ski, but its a lot of fun and makes for great family memories.

As I've gotten older I've toned down on the 'hardcore' level of my equipment. I just switched to a set of Volkl Deacon 84s last year and they're a blast. Super easy to ski on when I want to be lazy but up for anything when I want to work a little harder. Really happy with them.
https://www.skiessentials.com/2022-s...lkl-deacon-84/
The pic is my son and 4 of his friends - three of which had never skiied before

[Bonk!]

Heading to Breckenridge in March - first skiing since the Achilles was repaired.....

[zachdog]

I just returned from a weekend at Winter Park, CO. I can ski anything, but prefer steeps with bumps. My friends make fun of my “children’s skis,” as they are 156 in length. Then I gracefully glide my skis down a chute and watch my friends tremble as they attempt to descend. Ha! Love the sport.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by bwoodahl

I’m a skier, for 50 years also. Skied Snowbird and Alta about 4 weeks ago, crowds were not too bad, snow was really good. I have not yet skied in California

That's great that you are still at it.

Your're skiing Utah, there's no need for California! We do have some nice resorts and stunning views, but Utah snow is epic. I ski Park City and Deer Valley with a friend and I've never had better snow than that!

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

Looks beautiful out there.

I don't ski but I do snowboard. I'll be out in CO late next month for my yearly fix.

Thanks for joining in. I totally forgot to add snowboarders to the thread heading. I would have tried snow boarding but by the time they were a thing, I had already skied for many years.

Have a great trip to Colorado.

[Th3Walrus]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

That's great that you are still at it.

Your're skiing Utah, there's no need for California! We do have some nice resorts and stunning views, but Utah snow is epic. I ski Park City and Deer Valley with a friend and I've never had better snow than that!

Yup, came here to say this. I'll take Utah fluffy dry powder over anything. Snowbird & Solitude.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

These are amazing photos, miss it alot... have the chance to ski in NC, but it's usually very busy and not great conditions so each year we are up there I pass.

Jealous former snowboarder, learned how in California, went yearly have a closer friend who lives in Dear Valley, Utah who I am itching to go visit and ski/board with.

Go visit. Post pictures!

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Thanks for joining in. I totally forgot to add snowboarders to the thread heading. I would have tried snow boarding but by the time they were a thing, I had already skied for many years.

Have a great trip to Colorado.

No sweat. I've never been skiing but at 47 I might give it a try this year. I love snowboarding but I'm always jealous of the skiers, they don't have to go through the rigmarole of exiting the lift, skating off to the side, strapping back in, etc before you can start your run.

[________]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

No sweat. I've never been skiing but at 47 I might give it a try this year. I love snowboarding but I'm always jealous of the skiers, they don't have to go through the rigmarole of exiting the lift, skating off to the side, strapping back in, etc before you can start your run.

Plus we usually go home without bruises, and we rarely ever block people’s entire paths sitting alongside one another

[bwoodahl]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

That's great that you are still at it.

Your're skiing Utah, there's no need for California! We do have some nice resorts and stunning views, but Utah snow is epic. I ski Park City and Deer Valley with a friend and I've never had better snow than that!

Thank you. Yes, I think the Rockies have the best snow (says a Montana native ). I've done PNW snow (BC, Seattle, Spokane, and Oregon too). But I still need to try Cali.

[infinitekidM2C]

I am a beginner snowboarder. My kids are also learning. We're going back up to Snow Summit on Friday. Should be really good conditions.

[rebekahb]

It’s been almost 2 years for me and I’m itching to get back soon. It just seems that it’s gotten a lot more expensive.

[Josh-PA]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Plus we usually go home without bruises, and we rarely ever block people’s entire paths sitting alongside one another

LOL. so true. I almost ran over a kid last week because he decided to sit right in front of the lift line cow shoot as I was cruising in to jump on. I may or may not have used a bad word or two.

[________]

Have not been up much this year, a handful of times. Kid taking up priority not complaining, but hopeful he can go on with to learn when he’s older.

How old were your kids when they started? Say 2, please lol

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Thanks for joining in. I totally forgot to add snowboarders to the thread heading. I would have tried snow boarding but by the time they were a thing, I had already skied for many years.

THIS! I'm at a point where I can pretty much stay on my skis all day, regardless of where I go. Starting over on my ass again, pass. I've tried a little at the cabin when there was snow, thinking since I can surf and at least stay upright on a skateboard, I could pick it up. Not!

I still have a great memory of my first time, back around '83 at Big Bear. Winter break in HS, about 20 of us went up. A few were very good, and they took the rookie to the top of the hill and turned me loose. By the time I finally got within sight of the base, and crashed onto my stomach and just lifted my legs and bodysurfed to the bottom. I was so tired I went back to the cabin.

First wife, we went to Vail for honeymoon. My aunt/uncle gave us their cabin for a week as wedding present. I'm watching the back bowls on the TV, wishing I could go, but wife had never skied. At one point in town she saw some skier charm in a window while we were taking a lunch break, having tried a few bunny slopes. "If you can get on the lift, get off at the top, and ski all the way back down without falling, I'll get you the charm." SUCKER!!! I'm still not sure if she had really never skied before

Used to love to take a day trip to Mountain High. Mediocre snow, but only about 2 hours from home. Could get up early, open the hill, ski until mid afternoon, then make it home in time for a sunset session if the waves were good.

Haven't been on a lift in probably 20 years though now, current wife has no interest

[Josh-PA]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Have not been up much this year, a handful of times. Kid taking up priority not complaining, but hopeful he can go on with to learn when he’s older.

How old were your kids when they started? Say 2, please lol

My youngest was 4 when we first put him on skis. I got one of these harnesses
https://www.amazon.com/Sklon-Snowboa...2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1
so he could ski between my legs and I could pick him up with the handle whenever he got wonky. As he got better, the leash was great to be sure he didn't take off into the trees. I also got a tip connector so he couldn't cross his tips. At that age, they are so light and flexible it is pretty easy to get them to learn.

https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Connec...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

IMG_0557 by Josh, on Flickr

Edit: IF you're into really cute kid sh*t turn the sound on: https://live.staticflickr.com/video/...E3ZiIsInYiOjF9

[Watching The World Burn]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Have not been up much this year, a handful of times. Kid taking up priority not complaining, but hopeful he can go on with to learn when he’s older.

How old were your kids when they started? Say 2, please lol

My oldest started around 4, and my youngest started at 2 or 3 yrs old, can't remember. Possibly 2.

Youngest is now 5 and still gives me little heart palpitations when I see him skiing towards trees, but he always turns in time, so I'm starting to settle down. I think he has a little more control than it looks like sometimes. I've taken him down black diamonds, but we move methodically back and forth across the hill so that he isn't inclined to pick up too much speed. And the black diamonds where I am are jokes.

You can definitely get them on skis at 2 or 3. Do it.