^depends how frustrating it can be. I'd probably abstain from a season of skiing if the only place I could go were NC slopes.

1/7/2010 9:57:50 AM

Just told my boss that I wanted to take off tomorrow and he said yes so I'm heading to Snowshoe tonight and staying through the weekend. Its supposed to snow 8 - 12 inches tonight and continue snowing to Sunday.

1/7/2010 10:12:45 AM

^ this. so pumped. saturday can't come quickly enough.

1/7/2010 10:30:08 AM

Hey BigT when are you getting up there?

1/7/2010 10:42:42 AM

Dubcaps and i are actually day tripping it from richmond. I would guess we'll arrive and park at the south mountain parking lot 8:45-9, board all day and head out when the lifts close at 4:30.

we're some cheap mother fuckers and we don't want to spend $ on housing, and neither of us mind driving. well that and we're spending money to go out to colorado in a week

1/7/2010 12:11:20 PM

it's going to be rough but epic.

1/7/2010 1:16:37 PM

Better hope the roads are clear enough to drive.

1/7/2010 1:29:36 PM

Quote :

"Better hope the roads are clear enough to drive. Damn...I'm really jealous"

In all seriousness though, they'll be fine. Going to and coming from the mountain over new year's i saw multiple trucks clearing the roads. 4wd is also ftw, everyone often underestimates 4wd.

[Edited on January 7, 2010 at 1:36 PM. Reason : ]

1/7/2010 1:35:06 PM

yeah i'm going in my QX4 with pretty new tires so i'm good as far as 4WD goes. The 4WD in it is actually better then I though tit would be. way to go nissan.

1/7/2010 2:57:34 PM

subaru AWD is the tits in the snow

ground clearance in the legacy is my limiting factor

1/7/2010 2:58:42 PM

^i hear you on the ground clearance. definitely a problem in the lolvo. it seemed to handle the snow very well in richmond a few weeks ago. also made for good dorrrifffftoooo with traction control off.

1/7/2010 3:39:42 PM

Here is a pic of a Legacy at the cabin I stayed at near Snowshoe 2 weeks ago.


This is what an Outback looked like after a little cleaning to get the boards off the roof rack:



Fun times.

1/7/2010 3:40:39 PM

NICE!! Is that when Snowshoe got dumped on...like 22 inches or something?

1/7/2010 3:51:57 PM

Yep. That's my 4Runner in the background of the second pic. Cleaned off and going absolutely nowhere. The Suburban (way back of second pic) was 4x4 and on snow tires. It made a good run and still couldn't make it out of the driveway. He actually went about 25' further than that, lost traction, and then slid back down the driveway; pretty close to going over the edge and down a steep hill (no way it wouldn't have rolled). No powder for us. At least we got them out safely the next day though with a little help from another suburban and three tow straps.

[Edited on January 7, 2010 at 3:59 PM. Reason : s]

1/7/2010 3:55:30 PM

that's freakin nuts!! hopefully we will get about half that this weekend.

1/7/2010 4:04:06 PM

It was great for the folks that were staying on the mountain though. A short hike to the lifts and some beautiful snow. I got a ride out there mid-day, but it was packed and rutted by then.

1/7/2010 4:06:40 PM

This comment doesn't apply to everyone in the thread but...

Please be careful when you drive in the snow, AWD/4WD doesn't mean shit when you try to stop or steer. Some people think they're invincible with AWD but if you don't have snow tires you're fooling yourself.

this has been a public service msg from TKE-Teg

1/7/2010 4:11:54 PM

Yeah, but from my experience, having a Subaru with AWD and snow tires=badassness

When Skack and I were in Tahoe last year, and pimping it in the Navigator, we were getting looped by Subaru's gunning it around corners on snow covered roads. They had no fear. And since I saw none in a ditch, I came to the conclusion that is the car to have in snow.

1/7/2010 4:23:43 PM

oh no doubt, they are fantastic

1/7/2010 4:31:55 PM

yeah you definitely gotta be cautious, but AWD is a significant advantage. when you do slide, it's a hell of a lot easier to get traction back and steer out of it. and i roll on some shitty $50/tire all-seasons

also, awd>4wd in the snow

[Edited on January 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM. Reason : .]

1/7/2010 5:59:52 PM

^ depends on how deep the snow is and how you're trying to drive.

Quote :

"Duke, is that you and C-Note at Copper? He's coming with us to Snowshoe in a few weeks."

yep. if you still have room, i might get on board at the last minute, too. we'll see.

1/7/2010 10:55:20 PM

Duke we have room...you might have to crash on the floor, but we have room.

1/7/2010 11:10:37 PM

Quote :

"Please be careful when you drive in the snow, AWD/4WD doesn't mean shit when you try to stop or steer. Some people think they're invincible with AWD but if you don't have snow tires you're fooling yourself."

My Evo was unstoppable with its snow/studless ice tires over new years I had a blast driving...plus it snowed almost the whole way home with an inch + accumulating on the road.

1/8/2010 8:12:23 AM

Quote :

"Alpine Ski Center is the one i was referring to. They may have changed, but this was like in 2006 when i first bought my first board. Those things really stick out in my mind so I make note to not support those expensive places. I dunno? I just know that I was satisfied with VU..."

I love Alpine Ski center and I support them as much as possible. I bought my first set of skis from there about 10 years ago and they've been the ones to service them ever since. I just recently bought skis from there again two weeks ago and they adjusted the bindings for the new boots and everything the same day since i was leaving to go skiing the next day....also it didn't cost me anything extra and I get 3 years of service for free.

Also their rentals are a hell of a lot cheaper than most resorts.

[Edited on January 8, 2010 at 8:17 AM. Reason : .]

1/8/2010 8:16:56 AM

^i didn't realize how cheap their rentals were. definitely going to tell people to hit up alpine before any trips.

1/8/2010 9:37:45 AM

I picked up an edge tool, some p-tex, and base cleaner yesterday from Vertical Urge. I've never used P-tex, but it looks like I'll be filling scratches, sanding, and waxing tomorrow. Hopefully it goes smoothly.

[Edited on January 8, 2010 at 10:28 AM. Reason : s]

1/8/2010 10:10:37 AM

^^yeah my gf rented skis for 5 days for new years (we were only going to be skiing 3 days but had to pick up / drop off the skis the day before and day after we get back) so Alpine only charged her for the days she was actually using them (3). It was like $60 total with the extra insurance for all 3 days...

1/8/2010 11:12:15 AM

^ thats pretty amazing they did that. I dunno, maybe I was quick to judge... or maybe i just talked to a jerk at APSC... Who knows... but they def left a bad taste in my mouth

1/8/2010 11:24:37 AM

That is pretty much standard practice for rental places in non-resort towns. If they didn't do that they'd never rent a set out.

1/8/2010 11:31:32 AM

Went skiing for the first time today! Was amazing! Definitely still not good at slowing down or stopping, but had a great time and didn't injure myself! It was snowing all day in the Poconos and was beautiful!

1/8/2010 7:00:22 PM

my wife is due to give birth in 9 days.... i dont think i'll be skiing any this season.

1/8/2010 7:17:24 PM

Just go this weekend. I don't see the problem.

1/8/2010 8:42:28 PM

did beech yesterday with the -35 degree wind chill. coldest i've ever been in my life, but it was awesome anyway.

1/9/2010 9:19:10 AM

Two days of perfect powder It was AWESOME!

But my knee that I injured last season has started acting up something fierce. Anyone have recommendations of what I can do to try and help support it while I'm on the slopes? Is there anything that can actually be done other than suck it up?

Oh man, and one thing I REALLY wish ski resorts in the States had were hot springs. The place we went to this weekend has a big one. Got finished skiing and was able to shower off and soak in the hot spring for an hour before getting on the shuttle back down the mountain. Best way to end the day EVER!

1/10/2010 7:09:40 AM

^Where did you go?

1/10/2010 11:33:58 AM

Quote :

"Anyone have recommendations of what I can do to try and help support it while I'm on the slopes?"

Vicoden

1/10/2010 12:57:35 PM

Quote :

"Anyone have recommendations of what I can do to try and help support it while I'm on the slopes?"

I know a couple of older guys who wear motocross style knee braces when they snowboard, wakeboard, and surf. Both have had pretty extensive injuries in the past. That would probably help, but they're pretty pricey. I think they have these: http://www.dirtrider.net/drn_tested/kneebraces/a_cell.html

1/10/2010 3:16:55 PM

Quote :

"Where did you go?"

We went up to Ski Jam. http://www.skijam.jp/winter/index.html

Today they have over 10 feet of snow They must have gotten some more snow last night.

^^ haha I actually forgot my painkillers this weekend. Oops.

^ Yeah I might have to eventually bite the bullet and get something like that. Maybe I can go to the doctor and convince them to give me a cheaper medical one. Then at least my insurance will pay for it and not me

1/10/2010 8:44:59 PM

Quote :

"Oh man, and one thing I REALLY wish ski resorts in the States had were hot springs"

have you never been to Colorado? Glenwood Springs is right in between Aspen & Vail, awesome (& very large) hot springs... also Pagosa Springs is right next to Wolf Creek

1/10/2010 9:43:53 PM

snowshoe was great on saturday. definitely eye opening compared to sugar, beech, and wintergreen. can't wait to head out to colorado this friday. here are two pictures from yesterday.



dubcaps BigT716 Ahmet



ahmet managed to drive from snowshoe to richmond in ~3 hours with a break for gas

[Edited on January 10, 2010 at 9:45 PM. Reason : ]

1/10/2010 9:45:24 PM

Quote :

"Glenwood Springs is right in between Aspen & Vail, awesome (& very large) hot springs"

Yeah, but are they at the slope lodge?

How do hot springs work in the States? Do you have to wear a bathing suit?

1/10/2010 9:54:14 PM

Snowshoe was great. Probably got 13 inches while we were up there adding to the 9 consecutive days of snow.



This was just off our back porch



I shot some video but the damn lens froze shut and i didn't know it until i went to review the video so that sucked

[Edited on January 11, 2010 at 8:50 AM. Reason : .]

1/11/2010 8:50:14 AM

+/- 18 days to Vail

1/11/2010 9:06:14 AM

heading to wintergreen this weekend.

1/11/2010 9:58:26 AM

18 days to Jackson Hole

1/11/2010 11:23:55 AM

Those are awesome pics Sparky!! I just got back from Snowshoe last night. Where did yall stay?

1/11/2010 11:37:48 AM

I want to visit Jackson Hole but they don't accept snowboarders (booo)

so, I'm going to Keyston/Vail/Breck instead in Feb.

1/11/2010 1:02:06 PM

^^we stayed at snowcrest...where did you stay?

^ what do you mean they don't accept snowboarders?? i buddy of mine went snowboarding there just a couples years ago and it looked SICK!!

[Edited on January 11, 2010 at 1:03 PM. Reason : ,,]

1/11/2010 1:02:09 PM

One of my friends lived up there and snowboarded all winter long for two seasons. You got some bad info.

1/11/2010 2:41:29 PM

^yeah my cousin is living/working/boarding up there now as we speak.

1/11/2010 2:48:03 PM