I'm A Gaper, You're A Gaper, Wouldn't...

**dookeyXXX** · 03-03-2008, 06:36 PM

Gaper moment of the week:

So I was heading back from Reno/Mt. Rose on Sunday and stopped by the Sports Exchange in Truckee to snap up a pair of shorter poles.

As I was standing at the counter waiting for somebody to ring me up this stocky Euro looking dude in some garish Spyder jacket comes up and invades my personal space (not to get all xenophobic, but why does it always feel like Europeans have no concept of personal space boundaries?)

At any rate the guy is practically ramming me up the keister when two employees come up to the counter. The cute, uber short haired blonde rung me up while the taller dude asked the Euro if he needed help. Euro, in thick Eastern Block accent inquired if they sold equipment to connect one's cell phone into one's helmet. The tall dude said no they didn't, perhaps try Porter's. Euro dude left. Tall dude, short blondie, and I began debating the need for cell phones on the hill. Tall dude said he leaves his off in his car when he goes riding. I said I take mine for emergencies, keep it on vibrate and don't answer it unless I'm trying to connect with somebody on the hill. Blondie said she just listens to her iPod.

As I was leaving I noticed the largest, Iron Man red Hummer parked next to me. Yup, it was Euro Cell Phone Dude.

I thought it was a classic moment of gaperdom in excess.

I'm still of the reasoning that if you're going to go skiing, then ski, don't talk on the phone. But then that's just me.

**Chemical Ali' The Wax Master** · 03-03-2008, 07:07 PM

don't mess with aaarnold

**ill-advised strategy** · 03-03-2008, 07:12 PM

yah, mayybee it vas Rainer Wolfcastle und joo deedn't eeeeeven knoww it.

**phishstx** · 03-03-2008, 07:16 PM

Was it the guy from The Rock?

"Dees is my Humvee, I don't vant anything zu dent or scratch eet."

**DrGonzo** · 03-03-2008, 07:23 PM

I don't necessarily condone the asshattery in this video, but the part at :50 involving a gaper and a cell phone is pretty funny.

**a11r2east** · 03-03-2008, 07:26 PM

i'm surprised the german even wore a helmet and didn't ski in just sunglasses and no hat like most of them

**Pablo Escobar** · 03-03-2008, 07:30 PM

paw a couple folks at park city on friday (i had a comp ticket) holding poles in one hand, skiing down blue runs, using other hand to hold phone next to their ears and carry on conversation.

**Deep Days** · 03-03-2008, 07:40 PM

I use my cell phone routinely to hook up with friends at Loveland. Also used my phone to coordinate a photo (shooting from the chair) on Saturday. Those cell phones are useful things sometimes.

And if you sprayed me in the lift line, I'd be upset for a moment but then realize that I have made the choice to use my phone and that getting sprayed is probably an acceptable consequence.

I thought this was an "I had a gaper moment of my own this week" thread. If not, I'll start and add one of those: Making a turn on some VEEERY mellow bumps on Saturday, I caught my ski on my pole and fell over. It was funny.

There is some serious asshattery in that video without a doubt. There is also some SICK snowboarding. Those loooooong floaty 3s kick a good deal of ass.

**AKbruin** · 03-03-2008, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by DrGonzo

the part at :50 involving a gaper and a cell phone is pretty funny.

Agreed, it was funny. And the cell-phone dude, to a limited extent, deserved it. Nevertheless, that snowboarder needs to get his ass beat.

**tSki** · 03-03-2008, 07:52 PM

i saw people skiing in bike helmets this weekend. and reading glasses. good gaper moment for me

**bklyn** · 03-03-2008, 07:55 PM

They can be useful. I take it with me all the time, but aside from coordinating with people I rarely talk on the hill. For some people, it's the only way they can get out of the office. I feel sorry for them if that's the case, but you gotta do what cha gotta do.

At the same time that it's annoying to share a lift with someone loudly bleating into their phone... I don't understand why some people feel sharing a lift ride means you have to entertain them. When I'm riding solo I don't want to be quizzed about my profession, where I'm from, etc. That might be a NY thing, getting pissed at nozybusybodies and chattykeithsandkathys.

**Deep Days** · 03-03-2008, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by bklyn

At the same time that it's annoying to share a lift with someone loudly bleating into their phone... I don't understand why some people feel sharing a lift ride means you have to entertain them. When I'm riding solo I don't want to be quizzed about my profession, where I'm from, etc. That might be a NY thing, getting pissed at nozybusybodies and chattykeithsandkathys.

Out of curiosity, do you also eschew the "How's your day going?"/"Where ya been skiin' today?" chitchat? I consider that more information than chitchat, so I'll entertain that...

**bklyn** · 03-03-2008, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Deep Days

Out of curiosity, do you also eschew the "How's your day going?"/"Where ya been skiin' today?" chitchat? I consider that more information than chitchat, so I'll entertain that...

No, pleasantries aren't included. But on a bluebird powder day, isn't "Are you having a good time?" a rhetorical question? Of course!

**dethklok878** · 03-03-2008, 08:21 PM

I like to ski with a satellite phone, so anyone can reach me anywhere for exorbitant cost.

**jibij** · 03-03-2008, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by AKbruin

Nevertheless, that snowboarder needs to get his ass beat.

MFM's not a dude I want to square off on.

Re: the cellphone on the hill discussion (which I believe has been beat to death here). If not for cellphones, I wouldn't be able to get in any weekday time on the mountain. Tuneups for the helmet is the greatest invention ever.

**Garrett** · 03-03-2008, 08:33 PM

I carry the phone around for the emergencies and so my friends can find me if they are out on the hill.

There was some assbag loudly bleating into his cellphone some profanity laced diatribe at 7am at Alta when I was up there in Feb. I was tired as fuck and trying to sleep on the floor. If I wasn't so tired I probably would have shown the guy I can be as big of an asshole in person as he can be on the phone.

The distaste for chitchat is becoming more common. I think skiing needs more chitchat and people talking to each other, not less. Antisocial skiers piss me off. If you want to be left alone and not have to say hi to people, get the fuck off the lift and go tour someplace.

**HingeFootCutFace** · 03-03-2008, 08:36 PM

ha ha, he really lights some people up.

**dookeyXXX** · 03-03-2008, 08:37 PM

the only time chitchat on a lift messed me up with last season doing laps with Corky and 666 offa that main chair by the lodge @ KW.

as we were about to get off the lift the guy next to me said cheerily "Hi, my name is Scott, I'm from Denver, I sell Real Estate, and I'm a Pisces." Then he promptly shot in front of me leaving me bewildered and still on the chair. I almost got swung around the turnstile and sent back down the hill.

but anyway, I was just kind of amazed that somebody (regardless of country of origin) would want a device to connect their cell phone into their helmet.

to me the whole purpose of skiing is to get away from work and the trappings of the city. granted paying $$$ to slide on a hill is a far cry from say backpacking in the wilderness, but it's still an outside activity and i'm in preference of listening to the wind in the trees, the birds in the air, and the sound of edges grabbing snow (or p-tex floating powder).

**smitchell333** · 03-03-2008, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Garrett

If you want to be left alone and not have to say hi to people, get the fuck off the lift and go tour someplace.

IMO this goes for chit chat, cell phones, gaperific skiers, etc, etc. If you dont want it, then go elsewhere. It isnt your damn god given right to absolute quiet in a public place. I don't have much appetite for all that resorts entail, but I just tour in the backcountry away from all that when I'm feeling that way.

**a11r2east** · 03-03-2008, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by tSki

i saw people skiing in bike helmets this weekend. and reading glasses. good gaper moment for me

i'm a mount snow local (sadly) and i see people in bike helmets and fanny packs all the time
my favorite though is the people in jeans and giants or patriots windbreakers skiing on rental skis

**bklyn** · 03-03-2008, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Garrett

The distaste for chitchat is becoming more common. I think skiing needs more chitchat and people talking to each other, not less. Antisocial skiers piss me off. If you want to be left alone and not have to say hi to people, get the fuck off the lift and go tour someplace.

Hey! Shaddup shutting up!

**MacDaddy** · 03-03-2008, 09:23 PM

I use my phone for work because if I'm not in the office I'm on the mountain, and I need to return calls from the chair lift. If I am riding with someone, I first apologize for being "that guy" and let them know I will only be a minute or two to take care of biznezz.

Originally Posted by bklyn

I don't understand why some people feel sharing a lift ride means you have to entertain them...

Tracy this is sad

simply because you would be missing out on some funny shit if you ever rode up with me...

the stuff that comes to mind when I am talking to total strangers is off the proverbial hook...

the snowboarding in that you tube flick was sick... the ass hatery deserves a beat down that would have prolly started after a long heated conversation.

**bklyn** · 03-03-2008, 09:28 PM

Of course, for someone as fine as you, Macdaddy...

**birdman829** · 03-03-2008, 09:32 PM

I was stopped to buckle up my boots and I watched a dude ski by me while talking on his cell phone at Jay on Saturday. Something I hadn't seen before.

**Laxsnowskisquatch** · 03-03-2008, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by dookey67

the guy next to me said cheerily "Hi, my name is Scott, I'm from Denver, I sell Real Estate, and I'm a Pisces." .

I like to lie I usaully tell people I am from Sweden and see how long I can go before someone realizes my bad accent or lack of knowledge of Sweden.

Cell phone convos should be 1 minutes convos not 15 like most people do, however they are better than when people used have walkie-talkies and couldnt use them.