Couldn't find anything here where people could discuss this beautiful winter sport.
Purpose of this thread:
Mainly I just want to see where TL'ers ski maybe organise a meetup.
Post pictures of their set-ups.
Post pictures of their escapades.
Questions regarding the purchase of equipment.
Sharing of ski edits and videos.
General ski discussion.
I'll start. I ski at grouse mountain in Vancouver BC (hoping to take a trip to whistler!), on a pair of K2 Kung fujas', I've been skiing for a few years now and this season I'll be focusing on riding switch and park skiing.
Almost got excited, but then I saw that it was about alpine skiing and not XC-skiing. Actually did an afternoon of alpine skiing this year when I was the "ski classics" (XC marathon series) in Åre Sweden and it was the first time in 16years but I "still got it". There has certainly happen ALOT with the equipment during that time.
I had a blast when I went cross country skiing and I could definitely see myself doing it more often, but in all honesty I just enjoy alpine skiing on a whole other level.
usually i ski in the fench alps in Val Cenis, from time to time i visit Switzerland or Austria just to get disappointed by drunkards skiing. i have my own equipment, namely some old race carvers from Völkl.
On September 02 2013 06:04 Maxhster wrote: usually i ski in the fench alps in Val Cenis, from time to time i visit Switzerland or Austria just to get disappointed by drunkards skiing. i have my own equipment, namely some old race carvers from Völkl.
Out of the French alps, Switzerland, and Austria which did you enjoy the most? why?
Only cross country though. Like, I understand that alpine skiing, especially offpiste, is absolutely amazing and one of the coolest things you can do. but living in trondheim, cross country skiing is facilitated in such a great way that I haven't felt compelled to make the investment in time or money to go to some alpine area. For me to enjoy something like 120km of interconnected cross country routes going through beautiful snow-clad foresty hillsides, all I have to do is take a 20 minute busride.
But besides, I think cross country is like, a more wholesome activity, where you have to struggle for your fun. (almost a bit like brood war! ) You climb up so that you can run down- and as such, it becomes an incredibly motivational form of exercise.
I actually only really started two years ago. Like, when I was a kid, I'd frequently go cross country skiing on saturdays and sundays, but my interest dwindled in my early teen years cuz I'd rather play computer games. Until christmas two years ago, when I was 27, the previous time I had gone skiing was 13 years earlier, when I was 14. Since then, it has become something I always do whenever it is reasonably possible for me to do it. I absolutely love it. Last winter me and a colleague took a week long vacation from work so that we could go skiing every day during the snowiest week of winter. :D In just two seasons, I've crossed 690 kilometers of country, 240 the first year 450 last year, and more than doubled my pace. Still though, the potential for improvement seems limitless, seeing as how despite all the improvement I've had, I am still going at less than half the pace of olympic winners.
Basically, there are three different sides of cross country skiing that all combine into forming the perfect activity known to man.
1: The sheer fun of it. Going downhill you can easily obtain speeds of 40-50 kilometers per hour, and that gives a great rush. Going uphill isn't necessarily fun in itself, but it connects nicely with 2: it's an incredibly self-motivating form of exercise, especially when certain parameters are in place - which is always the case in the areas around Trondheim. When you're going uphill, you're not gonna break your pace or stop until you're at the top. never. you're not allowed to. push harder. it's tougher if you stop, and you won't manage to increase your pace again if you let it drop. And secondly; if someone passes you and they are within the range of your pace- stick to them. If you see someone in the distance, catch up with them. Overtake as many as you can and fall short of as few as possible. 3: The landscapes, especially tinkered with snow, are overwhelmingly beautiful, and exposing yourself through them leaves your mind in a blissful state of tranquility.
it's funny, cause that actually ended up also being somewhat descriptive of that other activity which could arguably be defined as the perfect activity known to man.
I think I'm looking forward to the first snowfall more than I ever looked forward to christmas as a kid - and my christmases were always pleasant.
On September 02 2013 09:03 Liquid`Drone wrote: omg! my favourite topic!
1: The sheer fun of it. Going downhill you can easily obtain speeds of 40-50 kilometers per hour, and that gives a great rush. Going uphill isn't necessarily fun in itself, but it connects nicely with
I agree, theres something about just being alone in nature (especially when its covered in snow) that is just the ultimate form of solitude. But going downhill in a cross country ski for me is extremely frightening, it just feels like you have no control when you compare it to an alpine ski.
Man I absolutely love skiing! Ive been alpine skiing since i was like 6. I live in ontario so we dont have the best skiing but i make due with what i have. I am honestly counting down the days till ski season starts
On September 02 2013 10:15 thebakereb wrote: Man I absolutely love skiing! Ive been alpine skiing since i was like 6. I live in ontario so we dont have the best skiing but i make due with what i have. I am honestly counting down the days till ski season starts
On September 02 2013 06:04 Maxhster wrote: usually i ski in the fench alps in Val Cenis, from time to time i visit Switzerland or Austria just to get disappointed by drunkards skiing. i have my own equipment, namely some old race carvers from Völkl.
Out of the French alps, Switzerland, and Austria which did you enjoy the most? why?
i enjoy skiing in France most, but i am biased since i grew up in Grenoble which is in the french alps. Some stations in France are a little ridicoulus though, when you're getting in a gondola lift and it feels like getting in the Tokyo subway in rush hour then something is wrong. In les 3 Vallées and Avoriaz the french built skyskraper towns into the mountainside, while enjoyable for some, its absolutely not for me. i prefer small stations with less tourists
Used to be on family's season pass so I skied much more before. Maybe one more year on the job and I will feel like I can actually have time enough to get my money's worth of a season's pass. Mt Washington, Vancouver Island is my hill.
As I was the one with camera, I don't have a shot of me, but this is a shot of the West Basin. Our favourite run when we get a dump of powder. + Show Spoiler +
My brother on the same run. (He's a much better skier than me.) + Show Spoiler +
On September 02 2013 10:15 thebakereb wrote: Man I absolutely love skiing! Ive been alpine skiing since i was like 6. I live in ontario so we dont have the best skiing but i make due with what i have. I am honestly counting down the days till ski season starts
Same here!!!! I started at age 8 though. But skiing is a huge thing in my Mom's family. We know Ontario's skiing isn't very good so we try to spend Christmas and March Break Skiing together, usually in Vermont/Quebec.
Even though I'm not that great, I can barely do a black diamond on a real hill, it's still probably my favorite sport/recreational activity to partake in!!