Glenn

I didn't get out, for a variety of reasons. I'm going to guess based on roads, the newly fallen snow today, and the temps that things were pretty slushy all over the mountain, with things getting firmer this evening. Probably some hard pack on the usual hairpins on the green trails, those rollers that develop when snow is beat up on any straight aways, some choppy stuff on the run outs and a variety of conditions on the headwalls. Nile will definately have the best conditions followed by raceway, but who knows if that lift will be open. I can't possibly beleive that poor visibility was the reason for closing the pipe last night. I rode for several hours last night during the worst of the precip and didn't have any issues bombing down black diamonds, where visibility and reaction time is a bigger deal. It's a halfpipe, your eyes shouldn't be focused on anything further than 20 yards away. I'm not busting your balls craig, I understand you are just the messenger. Maybe you could pass along that CB gets slammed about this stuff because CB has a "begginner halfpipe" where the lights are such that you can't see one of the walls at night, but during a snowfall (not even a bad one) you close an "expert pipe" because of poor visibility.

Well to be fair the closing of the sullivan is very rare. However, as you have pointed out this season the stevenson get closed at the drop of a hat.

The snow was pretty nice last night. I'm glad I got out on the fresh fallen snow before it was ruined by the groomers. Rocket has some pretty sick bumps on it right now. It makes me wish I skied.

I warned you already, now you're on timeout.

I'm thinking bragging rights.

Sno's park isn't anything to jump up and down about, but it was a solid park, with well setup features. If they added a bunch more features it could be a really great park, but I'm not sure they have the real estate as of right now for that to be viable. I didn't hit the jumps, they looked decent, but no one was hitting them, and I didn't want to be the speed test dummy today.

This wax sounds really cool. If I didn't have a surplus of wax alread I would order a couple of bars.

I can't make him stop just because you don't like what he has to say, or that he is directing conversations in one direction or another. He's not off topic (especially when he creates his own topics). If you don't like it you don't have to read it. There really isn't anyone putting together decent reports about CB's snow conditions besides the dawn reports, which are pretty generic. (Besides EVERYTHING is going to be good at 6 a.m. when all trails are freshly groomed). I'm sorry this site isn't serving your particulars needs/wants to the fullest, but it's user supplied content, so if users aren't posting useful stuff for you there isn't a whole lot we can do about it.

Sking on pres weekend is like going to the mall 2 days before christmas. It CAN be done, but you should really avoid it at all costs. In the crowds I like to stick to the stevenson quad, or the raceway triple all day. I park by it, and never really venture over to the sullivan. Either nile mile or raceway will have the best snow of the whole mountain anyways. Cliffy and Pharoah are also a good time depending on what shape they are in. Cliffy holds up much better than pharoah, so even though it's "rated" higher, IMHO it's a safer trail to "test the waters" on. Other than that, dress in layers, try to eat late or early so you can ski/ride while everyone else is in the lodge, and you aren't waiting for food. In the crowds it's suicidal to go fast, and you won't spot the rangers in time, so keep the speeds resonable especially on the green trails. Lock up your equipment when you eat.

Holy crap.I'm not going read this whole thread, but BC-Mark thanks for being around man! This is the best response I've read from a mountain rep on our site. You came back with a real answer quickly, and you weren't left apologizing for a lack abilty on your staff. It seems you did everything resonable within in your power to manage the situation, it comes down to you guys were swamped. I guess better planning could have meant turning away people sooner, but all in all it was impressive to read how you guys managed the problem. Thanks for being on the site, running a mountain well, and providing no BS answer. We really do appreciate it!

Dude, I was being sarcastic and I'm pretty sure DH knew it. YHBT and I wasn't even trying. Who cares what they are called, pretty much everyone in this thread, and the better part of the MB thinks that skiblades (or whatever the kids are calling them these days, which was the punch line of the joke that went over your head) are the the modern day equivilent of the monoboard. It's a corny fad that for some reason still won't go away.

At whiteface they use snowblades exclusively for the 1st time skier packages. I'm not sure what the thinking behind that is. You're first day on a pair of skis isn't THAT difficult, or taxing that a real ski is going to hold you back. I can understand getting a SHORTER pair of skis than an experienced skier would use, but by shorter I mean anything above 150 (even thats kiddie sized). I'm just wondering why the ski industry hasn't given up on these. MAybe they have, do any real ski/board companies make these things?

No, but someone else may have. I personally didn't think the post added to the discussion, but it wasn't violating any rules so I let it stay. EDIT: No one deleted your post unless it was deleted twice, once from the thread and once again from the moderator trash-can. I think you overlooked the post, or it is in another thread.

I really appreciate the effort and thank you. I'm sorry you are the one that gets blasted and has to explain "why" when CB is unresponsive both in actions and in words. Again, thanks!

Well... the people knew what they were talking about, I would try to listen to their advice, if they had no clue, I would contact the police. I've put together a few webpages that I was really proud of when I finished, and I used them (and many other webpages). When I came back to them after not using them for a while, I was usually embarassed. I can code well, and all my sites functionally were bulletproof, but I don't have the skills to make something that is visually appealing, interesting, and integrated into a medium/large scale website. After some time I realized that I really shouldn't make websites, and for the design work I should find someone who IS good at that stuff. Alternatveily I could take classes to hone my skills. I personally don't want to get into webpage design so from now on when I need webpages done, I will go to someone who has a clue what they are doing. It took some time, maturity, and having enough sense to say, hey I'm not good at everything, and sometimes I out and out suck. I'll stick to what I do well, and either take the time to properly learn what I don't know or hire someone who does when those types of things are needed. I think the problem is as you have stated that CB (and apparently many ski areas) aren't mature in the sense that everything they do is right, and anyone who says different isn't worth listening to. I love to hear criticism (harsh or otherwise) of my music, snowboarding, computer work, driving, hiking, etc. Not because I like to be extra hard on myself, but because thats what is going to make me better.

I plan to get to Sno tomorrow, 2-20 for some runs down northface as well as a couple park laps. I just wanted to know who plans to be there so I know who to watch for. Also I'll be looking for a riding partner.

http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/events/winter/phatcat.asp Looks like a variety of trail grooming events. I have mentioned already that I think CB's TRAIL grooming is superb, the best I have experienced. It's no suprise to me that they took 4th in this comp. However park grooming is a whole different ball game, and techniques change as what the park riders want changes. The park scene is a fast moving, and if you don't have groomers that are up to date as well as experienced and skilled, then it's just not going to work out. Again, the groomers are great at what they do well, but that doesn't mean they aren't a weak link in the park game.

Hey, sarcastic posts aren't helping our cause. The CB managment can't see the humor in it, so they assume that this is a compliment.

Great post timeless. The park at CB is a failure, either they should cut there loses and pull out, or make some major moves.

CB needs to aggressively change what they do, hence the aggressive comments, from myself and many others. CB kept saying wait and see, and we've waited and so far there hasn't been alot to see. It's a different version of the same stuff CB has pumped out of the past X number of years. An Anology: Imagine if you would a racer comes to our site, and brags about his skills goes on and on about how great he is, and how fantasic watch him will be. Some people watch him in a race and he pizza wedges the whole coarse. He cross-blocks some gates, but does so in a pizza wedge. The day after the race, people are slamming him for being a claimer, and telling him he sucks and needs LOTS of work. He needs coaching, lessons, and just in general is far from what he claimed, and far from a racer in general. This racer gets upset because people are saying bad things about him, and like anyone he has feelings. His ego is hurt and he may admit that he did boast a little to much, he isn't THAT bad of a skier... is he? After all he can go down black diamonds, and he does race right. He makes a comment on the message board for people to ease up and provide useful feedback so he can be racer he claims to be. Some suggestions are provided, but there is only so much that can be provided over the internet. Get your skis parallel, get forward, roll the ankles, and carve with the edges. The racer won't get to level he was claiming from the suggestions alone because there is such a big gap between where he is, where he thinks he is, and where he wants to be. The suggestions made here about CB's parks are BASICS. Rather than having an internet MB provide the training to a mountain about the proper setup of a terrain park I feel that CB should make the move to hire someone qualified or seek proper training about both the BASICS and advanced techniques which few if any on this message board could provide knowledge about. I don't know how to drive a snowcat, and and I don't know of many on this board who can. So even though I know what a great lip on a jump looks and feels like, I doubt I could build one. Again, I'm not trying to come across as a dick, I want the best for CB. When it comes down to it though, they really have no idea what is going on, and providing comments that don't hurt feelings isn't going to get them where they need to. BIG changes need to happen. If CB isn't ready to make those changes then I would suggest that CB totally axe the park, and quit teasing park rats.

Since CB is admitedly new to the game... Hire someone who is not new to the game OR Send the staff who designs/maintains this stuff to cutters camp (or the equivilent if it exists), because who doesn't want training to help out their resume as well as doing better work?

Hey! It's skiboarding, get it right guys.

I manage the trolling when possible. However, PapaSteeze is not trolling. He actually does visit the mountain, and has a pretty good handle on what is good and what is not (both at CB and elsewhere). He's the most knowledgeable gaper I've ever met, and his opinion means alot more to me and many other park rats than the countless others who are trying to get him to shut up. Understandably this may be frustrating to you, since you work (or volunteer) at CB and have a great time every time you are there. I have a season pass there and usually enjoy myself, but... when it comes to the park, things need LOTS of work. The noisy well gets the grease, and a few here are trying to be as noisy as possible. It's not against our sites rules, and in fact, it was one of the reasons the site was created. It's been refered to as PA bitch and post more times than I can remember, but it is what it is. I enjoy reading your posts skizilla and hope you would never leave our site, but in the end if you don't like listening to the complaints than maybe this message board isn't for you.

On wed during the snowstorm I ended up shoveling/pushing out multiple cars both in the Elk mountain resort, and the Idlewood ski shop at the end of one of the roads on the way out. At both locations a number of people gathered around to give a helping hand. Good stuff. At idlewood the owner brought his SUV and some pulling chains and two locals were just out in their truck with shovels looking for people in distress. The locals in that area are super nice, it's really refreshing to have that kind of atmosphere in NEPA. I wasn't even sure it could exist in this area.

I guess yielding to pedestrians means nothing to you.