what to do w/ this season?

[ulty_guy]

ok, which scenario to go for?.....

right now, i'm a decent skier who's getting better at skiing off-piste, steeps, etc. i'm athletic, and when given more time on snow, my skiing improves (let's say that the options cost me the same)...

1- sign up for one of these off-piste weeks where i'll ski with guides/instructors for a week and not only improve my skiing, but also my general off-piste and avy knowledge which would be good (i'd probably go to alagna and do it w/ a guy i met last year, great dude). outside of that, bag a few weekends (not long weekends) at smaller euro resorts, using the new knowledge, etc to access more pow pow. you take a gamble on the conditions for the week that you go, but then use the weekends to try and score pow/ chase storms.

2- go for the maximum frequency, long weekends (4 day-ers) and basically just chase the big dumps. maybe get in with a guided group every now and again to access more goods and also hook up w/ other nutter mags (rippin' buddy of mine in pyrenees, tom, etc) for more knowledge, experience. sort of a learn-by-experience way i guess.

whatcha think? other ideas?

[fez]

You forgot option 3.

Quit your job, move to a kickass ski resort, if you got the coin, dirtbag it and ski every day. if not, pickup a ski-friendly job (waiting tables is best) and ski every day.

A 120 day year skiing with whatever random dirtbags you meet is just what you need.

The problem is this can be addicting and make it hard to find a real job again come spring.

[bigAK]

Originally posted by ulty_guy
when given more time on snow, my skiing improves...

2- go for the maximum frequency

i'd say you answered your own question.
definately take an avi course so you know how to not kill yourself when you're out there, but learning by doing is way more fun and fulfilling, i think...

[ulty_guy]

fez- i'd love to, but let's just call this the contingency plan

i guess #1 is a bit of an investment in the future, and #2 is more about maximum front-end enjoyment (heh).

[Crinkle]

Originally posted by ulty_guy
ok, which scenario to go for?.....

do it w/ a guy i met last year, great dude.

other ideas?

ummm, ummm

Go for #2 maximum stoke

[ulty_guy]

no, this isn't the 'gay casual sex' thread

[tom]

Duh.....quit your job......yes you have enough money,...well more than me... chase the storms world wide!, or at least make it to Cham this winter without g/f ,lame buddie or other excuse not to ski the midi!

[Mulletizer]

Ok, this is going to sound like it came from epic but, if you really want to improve try skiing really long days. Like as long as the lifts are open and it's light. Regardless of whether you're doing a camp or a weekend most people I know whose skiing is improving find the last hour of a long day when they're really tired to be a really useful time.

And if you want to get really good then ski every day. I suggest a leaf out of the tom/fingle/telepath/mulletizer last season/any bum's book. Ramen are optional.

[Ripzalot]

#2 - maximum stoke! that's exactly my plan.

[shera]

It's all about consecutive days!!! Remember when we talked about that last season?

Seriously, when I read your post I thought how similar to my situation last year. Asking myself and everyone around me what magic mix would make me a great skier. Sometimes I think that's a state of Nirvana I'll never achieve for more than a few moments here and there, but it sure is fun trying...

Anyway, here's what I came up with:
1) Ski every weekend and make it 3 days of skiing when possible
2) Ski with skiers that are a lot better/faster
3) Ski the best terrain I could find, esp in trees
4) Ski runs top to bottom (you can rest on the chair)
5) Chase powder and hike or do whatever it takes to get untracked turns
6) Go to a couple of half day clinics
7) Go to the gym when not skiing (weights/bike/yoga)

The specific thing I thought about most, I guess, while skiing was to keep my freaking head up and looking far down the hill. And to keep my joints loose, whatever that means.

I improved quite a bit on that regimen last year. This year I just smoke beers and point them. Skiing every day until you're more comfortable with your gear on than off is the best. Maybe you can swing option 3 (ski bum) next year? Hehe, I think I'm gonna get a charge every time I hear a ski bum is born from this place. In the meantime, option 2 sounds pretty good. No matter what, it's an awesome journey.

And you're on fat skis, right? Gotta be. Changed a lot of things for me from the minute I clicked in.

Jeez, so many words. Just ski. Man, I'd love to hang out with you guys for a week in Cham.