sibhusky

The trouble is, at the J4 and J5 level, they don't compete with "USSA points". The Eastern skiers are in one lot, the Central in another, West in a third and I think there's still a "North East" in a fourth. So, the top skiers of each bunch go to Derbies. The problem is, in a given bunch, they could all be terrific skiers or dull skiers. So, the bunch to bunch comparison only happens at Derbies. And yeah, it's certainly not fair that everything hinges on two days. I remember Siblet was running a fever or something the time she went to Seven Springs for derbies. Actually, when you think of it, it's not even necessarily the "best" skiers of each bunch who go to derbies. I think we'd all agree that consistency over a whole season determines "best", but the system they use only looks at the best placements for individual race days and uses the top 3 or 4 days to tell "best". A kid could theorectically go to derbies who finished dead last or didn't finish at all for every race except the 3 or 4 he needed and he could go to derbies. Once these kids move up to USSA point skiing at the J2 (or here J3) level, they are compared NATIONALLY every time they race due to the complexities (explained in several other posts on this board) of the USSA point system.

If you run into "Andre", an instructor at Yellowstone, tell him that a former student of his at Big Mountain said "hi". (He used me as the "example" to the others in my group, who didn't ski as well as I did for "Ladies' Day".)

Siblet didn't get poles until her third season.... They interfered with her rhythm and carving. We spent an entire season watching people use poles from the chair and we would say if they were using them correctly or not.

I have "vermillion" Bolle OTG's and you know I spend 70% of the time skiing fog so they must not be too bad.

Great pictures, looks like you had great conditions most of the time.

And it'll cost you $15 for lunch. Also, bring P-Tex.

Chapter Two: http://www.bigmtn.com/mod/media/0607chap2.php

Lots of improvement there in GS, skierboi. 152, I believe. Looks like the results for the slalom's aren't available yet, but you're moving up nicely. Have you actually spent time with Daron Rahlves this year or should I write those Ski Racing magazine articles off as hyperbole?

Siblet did this hike with the ski team the first time we came here on a trip... I'll ask her... She can't really remember, but based on the relative size of this peak vs. coming up the front of the main mountain, I'm guessing about 45 minutes from the nearest trail access. Mostly level for the first bit, then starting to climb.

I sure wish they'd put in a lift to get to this...

Two words: Boot Gloves. Incredible the difference they made for me this year.

MILF? milk is low fat? mother in law fanny? made in Lebanon face? Not sure if skimom should be insulted or thrilled.

And how hot it gets..... Have you checked the forecast lately?

ski races, he doesn't do park and pipe, although if he were younger, he might do it. My daughter used to do gymnastics and it's a similar situation, with certain tricks earning certain points, etc. However as a parent at innumerable events, I can tell you that some judges CONCENTRATE on style, some on crowd appeal, some solely on technical aspects, etc. Major events, therefore, had multiple judges for each routine. Most of the time they gave similar scores, but I have seen some incredible gaps. These gaps would NOT occur if they were all watching for the same thing. Both sports have intricate manuevers performed in an eyeblink. The ability for the brain to process everything that happens in such a short timeframe is limited. Unless the trick is performed and then everyone is sitting around a replay in slo-mo (which I don't think is standard practice), then there is always going to be the subjective element going on.

Also great day out here. Made up for my poor performance yesterday. 45k day, Yee-Hah!

I've been to Park City, Deer Valley, The Canyons, Alta and Snowbird. Alta was the best for ambiance, worst for lifts (no footrests). Best snow. The Canyons had decided to close prematurely and they were unprepared for getting FOUR FEET OF SNOW the week we were there, had re-opened, but were unable to staff the lifts or the amenities at the bottom. Some good cruisers as I recall, but a ghost town when we were there, so quite disappointing. Deer Valley, best food, best architecture, snow that was too perfect and the priciest place I've ever skied. Snowbird....I had a miserable day there and will never go back, but I understand from many that it is a great place. I may just not have been skiing my best that day. All I know is there were way too many RUDE snowboarders around and the place reminded me of New York City. Park City had the best cruising trails and plenty of variety. Convenient to where we were staying and plenty of eating alternatives right at the base of the mountain, which is right at the town itself. The town itself is great.

Let's see....go skiing or do housework....What would YOU choose? Plenty of time for that when the snow is gone, don'tcha think?

Although I've never been to Schweitzer, I understand they are kind of our "twin". Snowghosts, a lake that the town is on, similar weather. I think the real estate prices are a year or two behind ours, so if I were buying land, that's where I'd pick. One of these days I'll have to get over there.

Stuck some stickers on the backside lift last year. They are still there!

Taken this evening:

Here you get credit for vertical with each scan and since we are all listed by our vertical achievements I WANT to get scanned and get irritated if they are being lazy about it. For some reason they are really being lazy this year and one of the top five guys is bitching about what they show for him, but for some reason they show me at 87% of actual this year, whereas last year it was 30% of actual, so I think they are getting better.

http://www.bigmtn.com/mod/media/0607chap1.php

The last pair of boots I had for EIGHT years, you can imagine the accumulated smell. It gave me immense satisfaction on one airplane trip that the security person had to put her hand down in the boots to look for contraband. Served her right for harassing me. They were still damp at that point too. Supposedly Febreeze helps. I've tried it, I think it just masks the odor, it certainly doesn't conquer it. Plus the smell is usually coming from way down inside where it's hard to get a spray bottle to spray. I've also tried baking soda and Boot Juice, not any better, IMO. Maybe take out the liners and saturate them with Febreeze sometime when you are not going to be needing them any time soon. Or, "after market" liners like ZipFit and Intuition are out there, buy new ones. Supposed to be better than the original issue product anyway.

A CB passholder with some sons he is extremely proud of. Also has a tendency to state his opinion a lot. He's not very secretive, so if you spend ANY time on the site you'll have his full name and his kids' names.

But I thought you said this was a crosswalk. Pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk. That means if they are standing there DOING NOTHING, you are supposed to come to a stop and let them go. Don't ignore a cross walk here in Montana, they believe in them here.