backyard jumps

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10-16-2003, 10:18 AM
snowsprite

backyard jumps

Turning to thoughts of skiing...and this is kind of a "season's goals" post but that thread is getting long...

Anyone here like to build backyard jumps? If so describe what you made and its dimensions.

If it snows enough I want to get our snow plowed into a section of the driveway right under the garage (ours is detached) and try to rig something I can access from the roof of the garage and flowing out into the backyard. Otherwise, I might just buildsomething at the end of the driveway out of plywood & stuff and keep on dumping/blowing snow on it. Thankfully we have a very huge driveway and big backyard so this could be successful.

Oh, if you have photos of this kind of stuff please post--I'd love to see.

I am at a point where I'm driving around town thinking: this might be skiable, that might be skiable. You know, something I can throw the skis on and play on for a little while after work. Hey, I'm about 3 hrs from any kind of reasonable mountain...can you blame me?
;)
Sprite
10-16-2003, 10:21 AM
vinzclortho

my advice, is to make sure the landing is sloped and not flat..like a table top jump if it's on flatland. landing flat HURTS! bad for your back!!!!!!
10-16-2003, 10:46 AM
Buzzworthy

I use hay bails and if we get enough snow here in Logan, I pile it up and come down the slope of my front yard. Not a big slope, but enough the we can go 2-3 feet up. 2p goes bigger as he is on skis and Im on my board, but he damn near landed a front flip one year. Our landlords bought a Kabota tractor, so I hope it snows a TON. I can plow the whole yard (few acres) into a kicker and then actually build a landing. Our landing is kinda flat and yes, it hurts.

No pics, we are too busy with the jump and all. Sorry.
10-16-2003, 12:39 PM
snowsprite

Yeah, haybales is a good idea.

We have a little tractor I can use this year to push the snow around. And the snowblower. I'll be the busy one in the backyard. Just hurry up and snow so I can get this thing going!
Sprite
10-16-2003, 12:44 PM
Buzzworthy

Quote:

Originally posted by snowsprite
Yeah, haybales is a good idea.

We have a little tractor I can use this year to push the snow around. And the snowblower. I'll be the busy one in the backyard. Just hurry up and snow so I can get this thing going!
Sprite

Can I get an AMEN!!!!
10-16-2003, 01:14 PM
INDY GS

I have been using hay bales, luckily I have a descent slope to my backyard, so I only need about 5 bales to make a nice run in, then at the kicker, i use 2 or three to build it up the rest is snow.

This year I may add a rail?

I am in an area not blessed with a ton of snow, so I built a snowmaker. Yes I built a snowmaker for home use.

Here is what i started about 2 weeks ago, its melted with this damn Indian summer.

If anyone wants instructions on how to build their own, I would be glad to help out.

Heres a pic of the snow. Sorry no images of the kicker set-up from last year.
10-16-2003, 02:32 PM
sluffhunter

This could be the thread of the century, (Ok maybe the thread of the day) but home snow making machine????

I tried that once but there were now where near enough ice trays available, or freezer space.
10-16-2003, 02:41 PM
snowsprite

Wow indy! What are you using to make snow? And if you succeed in making any appreciable amount please post updates...I won't be seeing the real stuff here for a long time.
Sprite
10-16-2003, 02:55 PM
Buzzworthy

Quote:

Originally posted by INDY GS
I have been using hay bales, luckily I have a descent slope to my backyard, so I only need about 5 bales to make a nice run in, then at the kicker, i use 2 or three to build it up the rest is snow.

This year I may add a rail?

I am in an area not blessed with a ton of snow, so I built a snowmaker. Yes I built a snowmaker for home use.

Here is what i started about 2 weeks ago, its melted with this damn Indian summer.

If anyone wants instructions on how to build their own, I would be glad to help out.

Heres a pic of the snow. Sorry no images of the kicker set-up from last year.

You asked so please post instructions. That would be too cool.
10-16-2003, 03:36 PM
Ski Monkey

Do tell INDY. Looks like some good shit.
10-16-2003, 03:46 PM
joshbu

http://www.whdh.com/news/articles/extra/1887/

Includes video, links to other sites, etc...
10-16-2003, 04:49 PM
INDY GS

I will get some info together and put it on my website. Most of it is trial and error. There are machines you can purchase but they cost well over a grand to buy. Nice if you have disposable income, i do not.

Supplies you need are all found at your local home depot, lowes etc.

You will need a decent sized air compressor, some basic plumbing pipes, nozzles valves etc and lots of garden hose and air hose.

There are plans available for using a pressure washer to boost output etc, that is my plan for this year.

I will work some info together for all of you that are interested.

and the link joshbu listed will help tremendously.

There is also a yahoo snowmakers club where you can get a tremendous amount of knowledge from.

I had a base of about 8" over run of somewhere around 50' long and had snow from november to march. we had a decent amount of natural last year that really helped. Cold days without wind are invaluable when you are trying to make snow with your garden hose though.

I will update you later.

INDY
10-17-2003, 09:59 AM
powderhound16

we buitl a sick kicker last year in a buddys back yard but he has a hill and a huge ass back yard so we were lucky. my advise is to go jib at a lacoal middle school or somethin they usually have some sick stuff to hit.
10-17-2003, 10:17 AM
INDY GS

I looked into the site that joshbu linke to and they cover everything about home snowmaking that I can tell you.

It is a lot of trial and error, and the neighbors all think I am completly nuts, but it makes for some entertainment, plus my son who is 2.5 yrs old loves sledding and skiing on it. I am a hero to all of the neighborhood kids too.

good luck to anyone trying this, if you need help, e-mail or post here.

INDY
10-17-2003, 01:02 PM
snowsprite

Indy I looked at that site...it was great! Now I'm all excited and thinking this could be a nifty summer project. My husband is an engineer so he will be all over it.
Sprite
10-17-2003, 02:07 PM
INDY GS

Trust me you will have a blast, but your neighbors and friends that already think you are a freak for liking snow will think you are even more so of a nut.

My wife works with a bunch of engineers and they are alway asking for updates and stuff, everyone else thinks I'm pure nuts.

Good luck.
10-17-2003, 02:38 PM
fiddler

snow gun! yes! grrr needs one. I can think of some great places on San Juan Island that need snow, Mt Dallas, Young, Cady. :D
10-17-2003, 02:48 PM
joshbu

Quote:

Originally posted by fiddler
snow gun! yes! grrr needs one. I can think of some great places on San Juan Island that need snow, Mt Dallas, Young, Cady. :D

This is why snow guns don't work in the PacNW...

Quote:

Note: You can only make snow when the temperature is under 28 F. You can occasionally make it when it is warmer than that (even just above freezing) if there is low humidity. If the temperature is 22 or less, you will make dry, high quality snow every time. You can test your snow gun by making a light mist when it is too warm to make snow.

Sucks. Otherwise I would have built one long ago... :D
10-17-2003, 03:16 PM
Showtime06

Indy, I'm seriously thinking about building one before the season starts for a class in school... is that web site the best directions i could get or are there more specific ones? cause i'm seriously interested in building this...
10-17-2003, 03:30 PM
INDY GS

that site should help you out very well. go to the backyard blizzard site to get a wet bulb temperature chart this will help guide you with temperature and the modifications you may need to make.

For the most part that site is detailed enough. If you want e-mail me: ekimdmb at netscape dot net I can walk you through any problems you may encounter.

I built mine not counting air compressor for abot 25 bucks.

I am experimenting with some new ideas.

Humididty is not your friend with a snowmaker. However I have made "snow" above 32 degrees when the humidity was super low, and I have made ice when the humidity was way too high and the temp was low. 25 F and 45-65% humidity seems to be my best realm. I made a boatload when it was -5 out, but I kept having freezeups in the nozzle.

Good luck.

INDY