Robert2 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Posted March 18, 2010 60 degrees and sunshine made the surface wet and fast. Absolutely ballistic speeds dropping off headwalls but a little slushy on the flats. Looks like this is the weather all the way to Sunday. This is the perfect newbie learning surface so if you know someone who wanted to learn this winter but was afraid of hardpack.... get them out on this stuff. Falls go splish instead of crunch. JADIP Quote
DiMe Posted March 18, 2010 Report Posted March 18, 2010 :banana: Splish splash riding spring mash! :dance: Quote
bigdaddyk Posted March 18, 2010 Report Posted March 18, 2010 Beautiful day. I signed it, did you? http://www.jfbb.com/multiblog/2010/03/17/st-patricks-day Quote
bigdaddyk Posted March 18, 2010 Report Posted March 18, 2010 (edited) This is the perfect newbie learning surface Might be for boarding. Not the best for learning to ski. Edited March 18, 2010 by bigdaddyk Quote
phillycore Posted March 18, 2010 Report Posted March 18, 2010 Beautiful day. I signed it, did you? http://www.jfbb.com/multiblog/2010/03/17/st-patricks-day A lift doesn't service lehigh or Jane's so I doubt it. Quote
DiMe Posted March 18, 2010 Report Posted March 18, 2010 Might be for boarding. Not the best for learning to ski. It's not the best conditions to learn to board. Very forgiving yes but newbies have one hell of a time in slow choppy snow. Constantly see them falling and having to unstrap and walk. Usually the get very frustrated and demand their money back because these conditions are not acceptable on a 60 degree spring day! Lola Quote
Robert2 Posted March 19, 2010 Author Report Posted March 19, 2010 It's not the best conditions to learn to board. Very forgiving yes but newbies have one hell of a time in slow choppy snow. Constantly see them falling and having to unstrap and walk. Usually the get very frustrated and demand their money back because these conditions are not acceptable on a 60 degree spring day! Lola Falling? Take a lesson from a pro and learn to ride.... and not fall .. on fast ice or slow slush. There's no difference between slow slush in 60 degrees and riding in 8 inches of freshies powder. Its just a hell of lot more fun doing it in 60 degrees and a wet T shirt. This kid rode one day last year... the last day in March at Jack Frost. Then one day this year during the blizzard 2-25... same conditions....slow..no go... sticky 6 inch deep fresh snow. Then this video shows her on hardpack 2 days later. http://www.paskiandride.org/my022710.mpg You want to learn on the soft stuff. It builds confidence... and gives a taste of the ride. And if you can't build up enough speed to ride without having to walk it off then move to a steeper hill. I see no reason to not get to play on the white stuff this week in the sunshine. There's a lot of crap coming up through the snow now... black muck...almost like beach tar collecting on the bottom of skis and snowboards. I clean this stuff off EVERY DAY and oil my board with ZARDOZ TEFLON oil EVERY DAY before going out so I don't have a sticky ride. I get greased lightening speeds EVERY DAY. I can't tell you how many people complain that the snow is sticky but when you look at the bottom of their skis they have black crud caked up on them. Or ask somebody when is the last time they waxed their board and they say it had wax on it when they bought it from their buddy 2 years ago. I clean my board with denatured alcohol to get rid of that crud. The zardoz oil lasts about 10 rides so I do a cleanup and a reapply of the zardoz after an hour or two of ride time. It depends on how much fun I'm having to drag my butt back into the lodge to clean the board. I've only had to do it when the temperature rises above 50 degrees and the black muck surfaces in the snow. And whats this about choppy snow? Jack Frost is STILL grooming. So ... yea... go out and play in this stuff with a newbie. And some skier said that these conditions suck for teaching skiing. Perhaps they might learn to snowboard now. I don't know if you skiers noticed this but snowboarders come out in the snow, the rain, the ice, the spring melt off, the mud, funny looking in the mud I must say. I can ride solid blue ice in control on a snowboard but wouldn't dare try blue ice with skis. Its a control issue. I can ride slush with a snowboard and kick up rooster tails while carving ribbons in this slop. If it slides, it rides.... thats how I see it on a snowboard. But skis are a shitload more technical and totaaallly unforgiving on "not so perfect" conditions. I can't go tomorrow but I'll be out there Saturday. Go get your nuther day in paradise. Quote
toast21602 Posted March 19, 2010 Report Posted March 19, 2010 There's no difference between slow slush in 60 degrees and riding in 8 inches of freshies powder. false. Quote
Robert2 Posted March 19, 2010 Author Report Posted March 19, 2010 false. Every snowstorm we had this year made me slow down to lethargic slow speeds on hills that I normally could blast at warp speeds when they had groomed cord. So when I say 6 inches of wet brand new heavy blizzard snow rides the same as wet spring slush I am comparing how the ride will be very much slowed down by the soft snow. Either way...its nothing like the unforgiving solid hardpack that breaks bones from even the simplest of falls on beginner hills in February. Its now soft and slow and great for beginners. Quote
DiMe Posted March 19, 2010 Report Posted March 19, 2010 Falling yes falling, that's what I mean when i say it's very forgiving. I don't need a lesson from a pro I know how to ride..... There is a huge difference between slush in 60 degrees and 8" of fresh powder however they can be compared in the way these conditions are ridden with a setback stance & putting a little pressure in the back seat going over deep spring snow and others deep tracks. I enjoy both conditions although I would take fresh tacks on 8" of powder on any given cold winter morning over 60 degree spring conditions given the choice. I haven't taught all that many people how to snowboard in my time but the few that I have did their best on nice smooth cord. No doubt spring conditions are good conditions to take a newbie out given how forgiven the snow when they fall but I personally wouldn't say they're the best. Here's a video reference from the Snow Sports School Directer at Camelback claiming powder is the best conditions above all to learn in http://vimeo.com/9946071. Progression in any form builds confidence in any conditions. I agree there is no reason to not come out and enjoy the Spring conditions, it's a shame more people don't otherwise more resorts would stay open longer. That black crud is just part of spring snow, if you stay on top of it it's not a problem and surprisingly I have yet to accumulate any yet this spring and I've been out every single day this week. Now I wouldn't imagine those beginners out there looking to learn put much though into having a fresh coating of spring wax on their board or any other maintenance required to get the most out of spring conditions. Nothing can be more of a bummer on spring conditions than a dry board that rides like it's on glue. Of course the snow gets crazy choppy in spring conditions. Fresh cord doesn't last long and the more spring snow gets tracked up the more track trenches and bumps form it's just the way it is has nothing to do with grooming. I know plenty of skiers who come out in the "snow, the rain, the ice, the spring melt off, the mud" many of them are even on this message board! They can also handle the steepest of trails in PA on icy conditions and spring snow most even better than I can! Skiing and Snowboarding is just a matter of personal preference we are all enjoying the same thing just with a different object attached to our feet. Every snowstorm we had this year made me slow down to lethargic slow speeds on hills that I normally could blast at warp speeds when they had groomed cord. So when I say 6 inches of wet brand new heavy blizzard snow rides the same as wet spring slush I am comparing how the ride will be very much slowed down by the soft snow. Either way...its nothing like the unforgiving solid hardpack that breaks bones from even the simplest of falls on beginner hills in February. Its now soft and slow and great for beginners. Robert when there's fresh powder there is absolutely no reason to be on the trails your on. It's to be expected that fresh pow on flat trails will be lethargically slow. It really baffles me that you don't venture over to the other side of Frost and experience what powder should be on the steeper trails. You wont get hurt falling into deep powder there is nothing to fear progression Robert progression. I understand you are older and very concerned about potential injury but please please please next season when there is a big dump head over to the black diamonds and try it you will thank me.... I'm not trying to be a dick when I say this but I really think you would have the time of your life..... 1 Quote
Robert2 Posted March 19, 2010 Author Report Posted March 19, 2010 Robert when there's fresh powder there is absolutely no reason to be on the trails your on. It's to be expected that fresh pow on flat trails will be lethargically slow. It really baffles me that you don't venture over to the other side of Frost and experience what powder should be on the steeper trails. Way to go... highjacking the thread. I stay on the west side because I stay within my ability. I don't NEED to go to East Mountain. What I need is to be able to come back day after day. Not get crunched or worn out. ALL I AM SAYING IN THIS THREAD IS THAT NOW, TODAY, TOMORROW, THE BLUE SKIS AND WET SNOW MAKE FOR PERFECT BEGINNER SNOWBOARDING. Don't bother me with powder talk. You can count DEEP powder days on one hand here in the Poconos. 1 Quote
DiMe Posted March 19, 2010 Report Posted March 19, 2010 Robert I wasent hijacking anything. I was merely replying to your response on topic wig this thread with my feelings on the subject as intended on Internet discussion boards such as this one. I only spoke of powder in response to the initial statement about powder in this thread "There's no difference between slow slush in 60 degrees and riding in 8 inches of freshies powder" with my opinion. I am in no way attacking your threads just shareing my thoughts. It's perfectly fine that's your content in your world on the easy side of Jack Frost no ones taking that from you. Quote
C1erArt Posted March 19, 2010 Report Posted March 19, 2010 And would imagine there is a difference between skiing slush on a board and on skis. Hard getting those skis to turn together when you have to push then thru mashed potatoes. Quote
DiMe Posted March 19, 2010 Report Posted March 19, 2010 And would imagine there is a difference between skiing slush on a board and on skis. Hard getting those skis to turn together when you have to push then thru mashed potatoes. I never skied in my life but I'd imagine fat skies are the answer to this problem? Quote
RidgeRacer Posted March 19, 2010 Report Posted March 19, 2010 I never skied in my life but I'd imagine fat skies are the answer to this problem? Yes...by far. My PE's aren't fat per say but they are a lot wider underfoot than what I was skiing on previously and the difference in heavy snow is pretty incredible. So much so that I will never go back to a narrower ski. Quote
Robert2 Posted March 20, 2010 Author Report Posted March 20, 2010 so many thread hijackers here. Hey...its all cool... no hard feelings here. I was just saying these conditions can be great for brand new snowboarders to get out in the sunshine and get wet instead of crunched so ANY reply arguing this fact is nothing more than opinion banter. Quote
bigdaddyk Posted March 20, 2010 Report Posted March 20, 2010 I clean my board with denatured alcohol to get rid of that crud. Doesn't that dry out the base? Quote
RidgeRacer Posted March 20, 2010 Report Posted March 20, 2010 Hey...its all cool... no hard feelings here. I was just saying these conditions can be great for brand new snowboarders to get out in the sunshine and get wet instead of crunched so ANY reply arguing this fact is nothing more than opinion banter. While I personally may agree with your point, That is the purpose of an open forum like this one...for people to share their opinions on a particular topic. Quote
phillycore Posted March 20, 2010 Report Posted March 20, 2010 Yes...by far. My PE's aren't fat per say but they are a lot wider underfoot than what I was skiing on previously and the difference in heavy snow is pretty incredible. So much so that I will never go back to a narrower ski. Just want to say that...... I TOLD YOU!!! haha.... It's soooooo hard for me to even look at bringing my PE's now because of my NGP's. They're straight as hell and have a turning radius of like a mile, but DAYAM they're fun!! I went from a set of narrow ass 200cm skis back in the 80's to skiboards, to pe's, and now pretty much full circle on 190's with a 115 waist...lmao chop, crud. pow..... fat skis kick ass and they sure have made skiing fun again for me this season. I even thought of picking up another set of fatty's (Rory's actually), but damn I've got me a pretty big collection as it is...my wife's ready to kill me. Quote
RidgeRacer Posted March 20, 2010 Report Posted March 20, 2010 Just want to say that...... I TOLD YOU!!! haha.... It's soooooo hard for me to even look at bringing my PE's now because of my NGP's. Glad I listened. I'm pretty sure Dan is too. Quote
phillycore Posted March 20, 2010 Report Posted March 20, 2010 Big skis rock... I'm ready to strap on two long snowboards and give it a go....lol Quote
Robert2 Posted March 20, 2010 Author Report Posted March 20, 2010 Doesn't that dry out the base? No Quote
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