Johnny Style

It is still snowing on April 17, 2013 at Aspen Highlands. Lost somewhere in the Deception Woods in the Oly bowl.

The hike up to the Highland bowl was so crowded yesterday that they looked like a trail of ants. To the left is the Highland Bowl. To the right is Maroon Bowl (out of bounds). Check out that massive slide. The whole face slid yesterday. Can you imagine walking up the spine of the bowl and seeing the slide to your right and knowing that you are going to be safe skiing to the left?

Highlands announced that due to all this snow, they are going to stay open for an extra weekend (April 27-28). Ajax, Buttermilk and Snowmass are now all closed for the season. Highlands is still running daily.

Ten inches at the house and counting. Today was supposed to be the warm up storm before we got hit on Wednesday.

What ski are you using in AK?

Very cool. I love lost ski area stories.

Moguls on Chute! OMG, a smart decision by Blue. I like the fact that the moguls will act as a deterrent for most people and will thus improve skier flow on the mountain. How many times do you come down Main Street only to cast a glance leftward and upward looking for snowboarding bombers flying down Chute? I usually stop there specifically for that reason.

I wasn't sure if there was an incident on the mountain today, that is why I asked. No need to make it public, although in his case, I'm sure most people would want to know.

Why did he quit?

The snow was very nice last night, but the fog and rain were brutal for the racers. Like most ski races, the conditions are never consistent for everybody. By our second run the fog moved in so that one couldn't see past the first headwall. Slalom racing is difficult enough, but add fog and it makes for a real interesting race. One needed windshield wipers to race, but I'm glad to say that I survived it unharmed. There were lots of wrecks and DNFs last night and I am lucky that I wasn't one of them.

This one looks like a real fun line.

Thanks, good news for Atomic Jeff as he is in the hunt for an individual prize.

I'm glad you said it first Atomic Jeff. I'm out too. It is in the high fifties and the roads are still wet down here in Philadelphia. I can't believe they want to hold this tonight.

The conditions looks real good. I hope to get up there after a snow storm this year.

Razors Edge looked to have good snow on it yesterday. I hear it is going to get warm again; not good for Slalom skiing. I bet it wasn't a snow issue, I bet it is a "nobody has skied yet this year, so how do you expect me to hop in a slalom course for my first turns of the year issue?"

That is too bad, you are podium level talent. Didn't you beat Atomic Jeff? Is it just you, or is Urban Assault out as well? On the bright side, with you gone, I move up one spot. For those talking about skis, I have a line on a pair of Kastle RX SL skis with Marker bindings for $550. They are 2010 skis but they are still wrapped in the factory plastic. This setup goes for $1250-1500 new. You would get lots of looks skiing on the Kastles, nobody has them. I considered buying them myself but I am set for now with my gear.

The posters in the Lodge said Sunday, or at least that is what I thought. The junior program was Saturday. The website says Satruday but the 6th is a Sunday. I guess I need to figure this one out first. They will just love trying to break me of my 80s old school style. I'm not lying when I say that I learned everything I know about mogul skiing from watching Harkin Banks in Hot Dog...The Movie. Those were the days when a twister spread would win you a competition.

I was in the lodge today and saw advertisements for Blue's mogul clinics posted all over the building. I never knew these existed. Is this the first year? If not, has anybody participated before? They are offering Adult (beginner, intermediate, advanced) clinics and a Junior mogul program. Information can be found on Blue's website but it was hard to find so here is the link: http://www.skibluemt.com/learn/classes-workshops/ I am thinking about participating in one of the clinics. It's a nice way to spend a Sunday. I get to show up late and miss GSS in the morning, take a clinic till three, hop in the NASTAR course until four, drive home and still watch NFL playoff football in front of a crackling fire. Before jibhonks, mogul skiers were considered the freestyle skiers. In fact, the New Canadian Air Force (they created the Newschool style of skiing for you youngsters out there) consisted of members of the Canadian mogul team, including their coach and "Godfather" of the Newschoolers movement Mike Douglas. I'm talking J.F. Cusson, Vinnie Dorian, J.P. Auclair, Philou Poirier, Shane Szocs, etc. Go watch MSPs Ski Movie I and Ski Movie II for some lessons. Even guys like Tanner Hall and Simon Dumont were mogul skiers. Brad Holmes and Shane McKonkey were on the same Oakley mogul team in the 90s. Glen Plake would never have been in a ski film if it hadn't been for his mogul credentials. He ripped down a mogul course on 225cm DH skis. I know what you are thinking..."I hate moguls, they are too hard." Well here is the opportunity to learn how to ski them and impress your friends and family. I'll just say it, you are not a real skier unless you can ski moguls. Every mountain has moguls and they should not be avoided any longer. I know what else you are thinking..."I haven't even skied yet this year and you want me to show up on Sunday and start skiing moguls?" Guess what, nobody has skied yet, so you are not at any disadvantage. I would bet that the first day is nothing but instruction and drills outside of the moguls anyway. As Glen Plake always says...

Firstly, thank you for sharing Shadows. That took courage, something the condition does not possess, thus another of a long line of ignorant replies from him. Please take this as the compliment it is meant to be...for a person who gives off the impression that he may be living under a bridge on any given day, your posts are intelligent, wise, and possess a quality of alternative thinking that I really enjoy. Keep 'em coming. Oh trust me, you wouldn't be bored in jail, you would be passed around daily. There is nothing inmates like more than fat, white, rapping Jews. Except child abusers and rapists.

Firstly, welcome ChrisXL3, I hope you stick around. I enjoyed your first post and while I don't have any app suggestions for you; as you can see, there are many positive PASRs that can assist you. Secondly, will somebody please ban GSS? ChrisXL3 makes their very first post on the board. It is topical, germane, and designed to create constructive responses and positive discussion. The very first response is an inane one from the "Condition" (my pet name for GSS) and the exact opposite of what the OP brought to the table. I accept the fact that the "condition" trolls these boards, but to a virgin poster? This is the equivalent to somebody saying, "Hi, my name is Jim" and the initial response is "FU, get out of here." Is that what we want as an online community? I can only surmise that this behavior is meant to intimidate the OP and outright attack him. This will prevent OP from making any posts in the future. This will prevent any future PASRs from participating, or even viewing the board in the future. The board will suffer. The "condition" wonders why the board is slow. Take action now and ban GSS. The "condition" is like one of those old drunk guys that comes into a bar with twenty dollars, occupies a seat all day, gets drunk and harasses the young girls. The owner of said bar is too afraid to say anything so as a result he will be ensured of his daily twenty dollars from the drunk, but nobody else comes into the bar. Come to think of it, that is the "condition," just add Karaoke. ***Originally, this paragraph was filled with personal attacks so I deleted it, but will be glad to share them with others at Blue this year*** P.S. If you want to know why I call him the condition, ask on the slopes, I'm trying to keep this site PG-13.

So much for trying to make a positive post about skiing on this board. Have fun watching Survivor on TV tonight folks. I get a "that movie sucks" and a personal attack from the sangwich. Two immature answers from people whose ages total 100 years old.

This is just an FYI, but for those of you in the Southern regions of the state, be sure to check out the latest MSP film, Superheroes of Stoke, tonight at World Cafe Life in Wilmington, DE. I go to these every year and it always serves as a nice appetizer to the season. They give out swag and one of the skiers from the movie will be present to give an introduction and answer questions. Turnout is usually pretty sparse at the Philly/Wilmington events so there will be plenty of tickets remaining. Here is a teaser video to give you an idea of what the event is like. See you there. http://vimeo.com/49786679

It is snowing at Sugar Mountain, North Carolina. Well it was, now they are blowing snow on top of it. Check out the webcam: http://www.skisugar.com/sugarlive/

Hey Jordan. I think it is cool that you met Chris Davenport. Most people don't know who he is. Besides being a two time world extreme skiing champion (like Doug Coombs), MSP films original athlete (appeared in the most MSP films), original Red Bull sponsored athlete, original Salomon sponsored athlete, original Kastle relaunch sponsored athlete, Aspen/Snowmass ski ambassador, X-games announcer, ResortTV host, etc.; he is also one of about five skiers over forty years old to still be sponsored. Plake, Schmidt, Morrison, Douglas, Davenport. As an old guy myself, I can appreciate his skill.

Is that a lefty? I've never ridden one, but I always thought the asymmetrical design would mess with my head when riding. Obviously it doesn't bother you. I too just got back from the woods, what a great day to be out and about.