"The Turn"

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  • Xover
    Lambaster
    • Nov 2003
    • 4923

    #1

    "The Turn"

    I haven't posted alot here this summer, not because I don't have anything worthy of posting - but more so because I'm truly tired of the "jack-ass-ed-ness" that takes over this place in the summer and the recent influx of new fucks that have'nt a fuckin' clue about what's up in the "real" world of skiing and are best left at Gapicski.com.

    anyways, I'll go ahead and stick it up and let the flamers flame away and once again contemplate calling it quits 'round these parts like so many more "old timers" from here i've heard say recently.

    "The Turn": tonight for the the first time since the middle of last november here in slc, i am feeling, smelling, sensing the first minor wave of what i will call "the turn". Kind of like the first wave that is slightly bigger than what has come, but is way smaller than what is to come of a tsunami (sorry for the horribly bad analogy - it was all i could think of). here in slc, the air has cooled consistently this past week to a sweet feeling low of 75 degs at 11 pm as i type this (down from almost 90 degrees of last week) and it smells of the great salt lake (indicating a cooling, refreshing nw flow - the kind of flow in the winter will without a doubt yield 2-3' of blower bounty that alta is known for).

    "The Turn" is like when the front wheel of your bike rolls over the final inch of uphill and all you've got left is miles upon beautifully, blazing fast, dust blowing, downhill miles after a sweat inducing, borderling puking uphill grind. it is like the half way point a long trail run when you make that 180 degree turn and all of a sudden, un-expectedly life looks completely different than it did a milli-second ago and is 10x better and your body feels 10x lighter and there is a new (second wind, induced) spring in your step. it is like pukering through the crux of a climb, pumped outta your gord, heart beating un-controllably fast and you know all you gotta do is stay focused and keep it together to the chains and all will be good. all incomposing, you've made it through the toughest part and all you've got to do is keep on keeping on - persever - and you will reap the bounty of the harvest.

    i haven't been climbing super strong this year yet (unlike last year at this time) and have been "slightly" discouraged thinking and partially believing my body has succome to that devil on the shoulder known as "old age". couple that with the new teasers - which are almost as bad as the actual premeires themselves - and you have one "turning" soul. throw in some McReynolds pow turns in the Respect teaser and my soul has fully and completley made "the turn". add to it the coolness in the air and thoughts of beginning ski specific training and my mind and body aren't to far behind.

    have YOU made the turn yet??? if not, how far are you from it?? your soul knows and it is surely closer than your mind or heart actually realize!!!
    Last edited by Xover; 08-03-2006, 10:39 PM.
    "... she'll never need a doctor; 'cause I check her out all day"
  • Karl Stall
    HEY NOW
    • Oct 2002
    • 2133

    #2
    Yep, made it.

    Nice, Xbox

    can't believe I never made it out last year - ZG was just too good...
    "When restraint and courtesy are added to strength, the latter becomes irresistible."
    Mohandas Gandhi

    Comment

    • powstash
      Registered User
      • Oct 2003
      • 3854

      #3
      Since late May I've been riding my bike to work a couple of days a week and yesterday morning I rolled out of the house and headed down the highway and thought - "dang, it's cold and crisp this morning, just like a dawn patrol" Couple that with pulling out the "I am a skier" shirt that I wore on Monday and the 2-3 conversations rolling around the office about the ski season coming up I'd say the turn is happening.

      I'm feeling like that yard project, the garage project (building my tuning bench among other things) aren't going to get done unless I kick it in high gear. Winter will be here soon. I'm going to enjoy the next few months and roll into the season fit and ready.

      Good to hear you're getting the stoke. See you in the mountains later this month.
      "In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, — no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving me my eyes,) which nature cannot repair." -Emerson

      Comment

      • Xover
        Lambaster
        • Nov 2003
        • 4923

        #4
        ... and the air begins to thicken with stoke
        ... keep bringing it, for the love of ULLR, keep bringing it folks

        p.s. i'm going to go hook up the Stoke-meter to the amp-meter to give it the annual pre-season test to make sure it still works
        "... she'll never need a doctor; 'cause I check her out all day"

        Comment

        • Trackhead
          Hiding in AK
          • Oct 2003
          • 14663

          #5
          Hmmm, I guess I haven't turned yet. I threw a pair of skis in the garbage today, and will finally go climbing for the second time this summer with Xover tomorrow.

          So no, I haven't turned yet. But I'm not sure I ever turned away either.

          Comment

          • freaks~in~creeks

            #6

            Comment

            • Trackhead
              Hiding in AK
              • Oct 2003
              • 14663

              #7
              Edit:

              FUCK THAT! Just got an email from Powstash, he's training hard, his brain isn't bleeding, his house is done, and he's available to ski this year. Same goes for Xover. Always fun to shit talk non-stop in the skin track for 4k.

              Also psyched to hopefully make first turns with Iskibc in Mexico of all places. If he gets his shit together.

              Can't wait to ski with Stoy again. Raging the PC turns and hopefully Nebo.

              And Gramps is going to be stronger than a mofo this year with his work schedule. Watch out for that little bastard!

              And APD, if you have time, let's drag you away from hucking bombs for some turns across the road.

              Yup, I'm ready. Just have to get a little climbing out of the way first.

              Comment

              • Particle
                wordsmith
                • Oct 2003
                • 6255

                #8
                Well said X. I've really enjoyed just sleeping comfortably with the windows open and fan on the last few nights. The ski-thought conversations have definitely been floating around the office lately...especially putting together all the new winter product that's arriving daily. And staring at sick winter photos...

                But 'turning' too soon drives me crazy, so I'm gonna keep pushing myself on the bike as long as I can. And about the time I'm at my peak fitness and skill, it'll be time to re-learn how to ski again.
                I'm so hardcore, I'm gnarcore.

                Comment

                • Arty50
                  The Book of Love
                  • May 2002
                  • 10908

                  #9
                  Actually, "the Turn" occurred on February 27, 2004 at Kirkwood. Deepest run of my life. On "the Turn" I was completely submerged and still didn't hit bottom.
                  "I knew in an instant that the three dollars I had spent on wine would not go to waste."

                  Comment

                  • AKA
                    These meaasge boards suck
                    • Feb 2005
                    • 1976

                    #10
                    Hit the squat rack today.


                    the turn happened last week.

                    Comment

                    • 'boat skier
                      Registered User
                      • Jan 2004
                      • 144

                      #11
                      I never 'turn away'. I'm the guy who enjoys summer but constantly longs for colder temps and falling snow. I watch at least 1 ski movie a week during the summer. More often than I do in the winter.

                      And, as far as 'the turn' (in regards to weather) goes, it's about 50 degrees tonight and colder last night. Damn, I can't wait to see those first few snow flakes start to fall again!
                      Ski Fast, Take Chances

                      Comment

                      • Rasputin
                        Not a mad monk
                        • Oct 2005
                        • 4832

                        #12
                        Hmmmm.....in the past week, the daytime temps here dropped about 15-20 degrees from what they had been previously, I've had several dreams about skiing.

                        I was at a friend's house tonight showing him the beacon I just bought, and we tested it in his aparment. Later while drinking beers, he suddenly felt the need to walk over to the corner where his skis were, and put them in the middle of the floor so he could see them.
                        The very strength that protects the heart from injury is the strength that prevents the heart from enlarging to its intended greatness within. -Kahlil Gibran

                        Comment

                        • snowsprite
                          Saucy Maid
                          • Oct 2003
                          • 6941

                          #13
                          Originally posted by 'boat skier
                          I never 'turn away'. I'm the guy who enjoys summer but constantly longs for colder temps and falling snow. I watch at least 1 ski movie a week during the summer. More often than I do in the winter.
                          I, too, feel like I never "turned away" this year. It's been more like a suspended animation...a disbelief maybe. When I took my last turns in April, I think it did not register as that. I think deep down I felt that "I'll be doing this again next weekend."

                          Well, next weekend has been a long time coming. But I've made good use of my time this summer. I've been training my bod harder than I have in 2 years. I've actually gained some weight, and muscle mass (which in my case is good!). And I'm looking forward to trying out this new "gear" when the snow flies--which is soon I keep on telling myself.

                          I am trying to step up my fitness still another notch in the last leg now right before skiing starts again. I hope this season I can make a few important strides which I've either been putting off or simply unable to focus enough to commit to doing.

                          I feel like a racehorse at the starting gate. I'm chomping at the bit and ready to go. Somebody open the gates already!

                          Sprite
                          "I call it reveling in natures finest element. Water in its pristine form. Straight from the heavens. We bathe in it, rejoicing in the fullest." --BZ

                          Comment

                          • Woodsy
                            OG
                            • Sep 2001
                            • 13876

                            #14
                            I think this thread just "turned" me.
                            and talking to FJ yesterday about a poss WY trip
                            still not sure how I am going to handle the ECski thing and it is still as hot as my nuts in velvet pants in the sun here; but the check's in the mail, and I am going to ski a lot of new places this year, and I hope a few old.
                            see you there MR,
                            Thanks.
                            and drive to Boise to see Josh R.
                            that'll help

                            Comment

                            • altachic
                              Sassy
                              • Oct 2003
                              • 3764

                              #15
                              Since this past February, I have been focusing on nothing but getting into shape and making myself healthier. It has taken over my life and been something that is far more important than skiing or even thinking about skiing. I have been riding my bike better this year than any years in the past, pushing myself and making myself go up things I normally don't.

                              That is what I do or what I have been doing. But...

                              Last night we went up to Albion Basin and went to a place where there weren't a lot of people. We just sat there and looked at the backside and the castle-no talking, just quiet and cool. It is beautiful and I remember at that moment how much I miss skiing and how that "turn" has FINALLY happend and how I missed out on some good days skiing last season, but it was well worth it.

                              This season, I will kill it.
                              you sketchy character, you

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