2005 IFSA NA Tour Schedule... Complete?

[karma]

Freeskiers.org has posted the 05 tour schedule here.

I'd heard that Whistler wasn't going to happen, looks like it's true and Red is going to kick of the NA tour instead. Also no Crystal comp? Looks like Lake Louise is taking it's place. Hopefully Crystal still happens and just isn't an IFSA event. Atleast there are still three events within driving distance.

I'm a little dissapointed but what can you expect when sponsers pull out and competitors keep getting hurt.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

well, it looks like Taos and Lake Louis has events this year, so maybe that will even out Whistler and Crystal losing their events (if that's truly the case).

and is Kirkwood the World Tour Finals venue again?..I'm assuming that's what FWT (freeride word tour) means. pretty cool.

[BakerBoy]

The schedule is as follows:

NA:

Red Mountain: January 12-16th
Snowbird: February 4-6th
Taos: February 11-13th
Crested Butte: February 22-27th
Lake Louise: March 5-6th
Aspen: March 11th-13th
Fernie: March 16th-20th
Kirkwood: March 29th-April3rd

WT:

Snowbird: February 4-6th
Les Arcs: February 28th-March 4th
Kirkwood: March 29th-April 3rd


What's with the stupid march schedule? Colorado (CB), Canada, Colorado, Canada, California... 3 days to get from Aspen to Fernie and recovered? Ouch. What happened to the PLT?

[PeachesN'Cream]

what!, no crystal comp?

hope they still do it, just not on NA IFSA. i was really looking forward to comping on the new home hill. grrrrr!

well looks like i better start saving for travel, whhhh F-ing Eeeeeee!

[karma]

What's with the stupid march schedule? Colorado (CB), Canada, Colorado, Canada, California... 3 days to get from Aspen to Fernie and recovered? Ouch.

Unless your sponsered AND have one hell of a travel budget I don't think anyone is going to make all those events. Thats also alot of days of skiing to give up for travel time.

[BakerBoy]

Yah, it eliminates about half the events I can afford $$$-wise and time wise. I'd rather be in Jackson than Taos for February, and there's no way I'm doing the Colorado to Canada drive, twice. Be interesting to see how many stops the tour winners make it too. It'll probably just be a battle of attrition, like the World Tour was last year. Only a couple guys actually made it to all 3 stops, including the winner.

Oh, and fuck the Crystal comp. Too many things went wrong last year.

[PlayHarder]

See you guys at Red, Snowbird, Crested Butte, maybe Louise, Aspen, and Kirkwood

Would be cool to see some of you at Louise, some interesting lines for you creative types that can figure out how to ski them.

[sandytheskier]

I would like to attend SB, CB, Aspen, and KW.

I would be phsyched if KW had good snow this year and CB was actually covered. I wish this series wasn't soo expensive.

[BakerBoy]

Sorry Play, edited my post because I looked at some drive times and distances on Mapquest and it scared me even more. Bellingham, WA to Aspen is 1200 miles, and Aspen to Fernie is something like 1300 miles. If I make it out to Colorado, it'll probably be on a plane... something my travel budget doesn't really account for.

Looking at Red, Snowbird, Crested Butte (only if I get on a frickin' plane), Louise, Fernie, and Kirkwood.

[karma]

I'm thinking ill make it to Red, LL, and Fernie for sure. Been wanting to go to those places anyway. Would also like to make it to Kirkwood and Snowbird.

[girlski0912]

Between the IFSA schedule and recent developments in the "Girlski may not get a pass at Crystal for coaching saga" my season is starting to look like shit. I plan on Red, Fernie and Kirkwood, plus the Silverbelt at Sugarbowl. As for Whistler, what I had heard from reliable Candian sources is that MSI couldn't pull of Whistler and was lucky to have managed ANY of the world tour this year.
The schedule just looks like sponsors are setting themselves up for failure. Why put so much money into these events and schedule them so closely together when you know that not every IFSA competitor will be able to make it to every event. I would think there would be incentive in planning maybe fewer events, space them out so that they are easier to get to, and rake in the cash from entries and memberships paid at every event. Or maybe I am missing something. I don't know anybody who could cover a travel budget that demanding.

[AltaPowderDaze]

The schedule just looks like sponsors are setting themselves up for failure. Why put so much money into these events and schedule them so closely together when you know that not every IFSA competitor will be able to make it to every event. I would think there would be incentive in planning maybe fewer events, space them out so that they are easier to get to, and rake in the cash from entries and memberships paid at every event. Or maybe I am missing something. I don't know anybody who could cover a travel budget that demanding.

they're just trying to weed out any real competitors that might have a shot at doing consistently well. it is nuts to think that real people can afford time and money to meet that schedule. most people may make one or two with that setup, but not likely more.

[Zeedashbo]

what really irks me is why have competitions at places that don't get any good snowfall. Lake louise, taos, aspen, and crested butte. those places all average 200" of snow a year. that's not cooo!

[girlski0912]

Yeah the Taos comp date is a little out of place. When I think of Taos I think of fag bags and bump skiing, not full faces and hucking.

[BakerBoy]

I thought the Taos stop was rather humorous as well, but then again, supposedly the Southwest is going to have a big winter this year, with the light El Nino and all. I hope they really didn't think about that when deciding to have it there... things happen, ya know? How long has it been since they've had a few consistent winters?

gs: I agree, 8 stops on the NA Tour is a little heavy. Cut it down to 6, and spread them out a little bit more... one every 2 weeks or something. That's much more reasonable for everyone. It'll be interesting to see how the top 5 guys view this schedule -- try and get top 5 at a few events for the overall win, or make it to every comp and worry less about stellar results?

[13]

I just wanted to post in this thread so I can pretend to be rad.

[Zeedashbo]

dude, you don't even need to try to be rad. you're avatar is the raddest on the board by leaps and bounds. i need to get some ass pics when i'm partying tonight just to keep up.

[karma]

"Girlski may not get a pass at Crystal for coaching saga"

Whats up with the pass thing? If your current deal doesnt work out you could always get in contact with CMAC to coach or volunteer, or you could get on the "elliot" plan.


Let me know if you need some help getting in touch with CMAC folks, I'm going to be up there all next week.

[Atrain505]

I'll I have to say is lame schedule but I'm freackin happy someone is putting Taos on the map. If anyone goes to compete and the prelims are on West Basin and the finals are on kachina peak (where because of the hour hike pow lasts for two weeks at least), I dare anyone to think of that mountain as "fag bags and bumps" Theres a reason for fifty years its always been rated top 5 (yes I know by shitty mags) for steeps in North America. The problem will be snow. If they have a good snow year (which their expected to) it should be an epic comp. If its a shitty snowyear (like the last few) then the comp will struggle. I do have to admit the lack of a reliable snowpack will make putting Taos on the map year in and year out hard to do.
I don't think I'll make it back to my old home for that one though. Vancouver to Albuquerque round trip is pricey.

[13]

Since a few of you are in the PNW, it can't hurt to talk to a travel agent about getting group rates.

The least they can say is "fuck off, hosers."

[pollard]

Oh, and fuck the Crystal comp. Too many things went wrong last year.

yeah not closing the veneu to the public was fucking joke. I think crystal would rather not run the comp at all

[truth]

I just wanted to post in this thread so I can pretend to be rad.

Is it working for you?

[mr_gyptian]

you guys should just fly into Aspen.

anything you ski is an afterschool special compared to the airplane's descent.

[Samwich]

Between the IFSA schedule and recent developments in the "Girlski may not get a pass at Crystal for coaching saga" ...

girlski-

Are you still coaching with Paradise? Mountain management has been clamping down on them for a long time. They don't like the competition. Jim has to fight to get comp tickets to train his coaches, and free passes are pretty much unheard of. Good luck with that.

I'm sad to see Crystal going downhill so much. It has such amazing terrain, but management is trying so hard to ruin everything about that place.

BakerBoy-

I agree. Fuck the Crystal stop. They wouldn't even keep the public off the course. That's just dangerous, and it's not something i need to be a part of.

[13]

anything you ski is an afterschool special compared to the airplane's descent.

Heh. I've heard some hair-raising stories from turbine jockeys about their near misses on final into Aspen.

Kinda makes me want to fly into Aspen sometime just to see what they're talking about. Whee!