Most recent example of Alta's "Pain Train" mentality run amock....

[phUnk]

the pain train thang may not be ABOUT being rude and knocking lesser skiers off the high T

You're right, it's not.

but that is what sometimes happens and it definitely serves to intimidate, which I don't think is too cool. I know because I have knocked skiers off the traverse

Because it happens, and you've done it by accident yourself in the past, does not mean that's what the "pain train" thing is all about. They are two different things completely.

You guys are taking all the Pain Train talk on TGR too seriously. In reality, it doesn't have anything to do with intentionally running people off the high-T or being dicks in the lift line.

So, now instead of saying, "Kids these days, " like we used to, we are saying "Those Pain Train guys, "?

Whether you want to stereotype the behavior as "kids" or "snowboarders" or "pain train conductors," it has always really been "shitheads" that deserve the head-shaking. Oh, and Xover.

[cmsummit]

The slopes EVERYWHERE are experiencing this aggro attitude. Two years ago(maybe three) I witnessed a fist fight between two guys in the T-bar line at Breck on a decent pow day, maybe 16" up top. One dude was a boarder and refused to ride the T with anyone else, prolly cause he sucked and didn't want to take out whoever would have ridden with him. This skier started giving him shit for wanting to go solo, some choice words were shared, and then the punches started flying. Ski lift ops called the patrol and they were booted off the mtn. Next decent pow day we had at Breck though, there was a Summit County Sheriff's Deputy at the base of the T-bar to control the scene. Fucking unbelievable.

[Endlessseason]

Woodsy,

As far as I've observed, your dad's as mellow as they come. I'm sorry to hear about his experience. Send him over the hill to the Bird. In some places they now have posted signs forbidding foul language and aggressive behavior. I'm pretty sure the signs are effective.

[Red Baron]

[Mr. Altagirl]

As a frequent rider on the "Pain Train", I have to pipe into this discussion:

1. The retards that gave Woodsy' dad a hard time need a smack down, all bullshit aside. If I have anything to do with it, I would love to put my drill sergeant hat back on and take these "boys" behind the shed for a few rounds of wall to wall counseling. (NOTE: And not take care of it in the lift line like what seems to have been happening lately).
2. There has been a lot of new attitude around the hill this year that is very unappealing. I've been kind of skiing off by myself a lot to avoid it. There are a lot of new folks around that seem to be the stem of the problems but I have no idea how it will get better. I'm guessing more group safety meetings but what the hell do I know.
3. Xover's bark is WAY worse than his bite. ALL of us are aggressive skiers and going mach-looney on any of the T's is how we roll. I truly believe that everyone on this board that skis Alta regularly does their best to AVOID gapers on the T's yet still keep their momentum moving forward (albeit usually at a high rate of speed). I've seen Xover stop on the T to help a disabled gaper and I know for a fact he does not try to knock anyone off of the T (except for phUnk and Powho and me, and BumZ and....). My point is that Alta is full of adrenaline and testosterone. Some people come here just for that experience, some hate it for it. Please don't start pointing fingers at one guy as the problem with Advanced Level Terrain Adjustment (ALTA).
4. Lastly, the "Pain Train" is an inside joke among a few folks who ski fast. None of these guys (and gals) wants to ruin anyone's day, especially a stranger to the mountain. I can't say the same for everyone who skis at Alta because I don't know them (and there are a lot of Bro Bra's this year that I really don't want to know). Buzz, I'll gladly show you some of my short cuts to avoid as much pain as possible on the T's. We could even clinic high speed traversing, it's gets kinda fun once you get the hang of it and it really takes away some of the pain from the death trenches that are on the high-T now.

I'm done with the soap box, anyone else need a turn?

[Buzzworthy]

As a frequent rider on the "Pain Train", I have to pipe into this discussion:

Buzz, I'll gladly show you some of my short cuts to avoid as much pain as possible on the T's. We could even clinic high speed traversing, it's gets kinda fun once you get the hang of it and it really takes away some of the pain from the death trenches that are on the high-T now.

Cool, all these "we dont want you to be a gaper" clinics are great!!

Natty, Pow clinic!
Mr. AG, High T clinic!

Trying to sweet talk my way to Alta Friday!


Hope Dad Woodsy may see this. Hope all is well.

[shamrockpow]

I blame the French

[Bum Z]

What Mr. Altagirl and phUnk and others have said.

[splat]

I've followed Xover's pain train and loved it. I enjoyed the sibling-like rivalry of energy in getting out to the pow quickly and efficiently. It was only about blowing the whistle to warn those struggling the traverse, then skirting around them to maintain momentum. That whistle's hoot is a lot louder than the cowcatcher is dangerous. But I'm sure an intimidation factor does exist for anyone unfamiliar with the engine.

Sorry to hear that claimstaking has turned into unfriendly incidents or that Woodsy's pops had something bad happen to him. Skiing can and should make room for everyone. It's the day tickets purchased by gapers that make season passes an affordable reality.

[skinnyskier]

A lot of good skiers have passed a lot of gapers on the High T at mach speed with no collisions and no cursing. Every so often slowing down to dodge crashed skiers right at Piss Pass I get attitude from "dudes" behind me, but whatever. That's not really a local thing. Sorry about Woodsy and Natty Dread's dads.

[Blurred]

Pain Train, Rustler4...hahaha....what a hype show.

[meatdrink9]

Pain Train, Rustler4...hahaha....what a hype show.

What he said.

[Tippster]

Actually, I blame the Mormons.

[MacDaddy]

Any thruth to the conversation that I had with a "local" that, the first sections of the High T might be maintained (groomed) to ease some of traffic flow?

[natty dread]

Whether you want to stereotype the behavior as "kids" or "snowboarders" or "pain train conductors," it has always really been "shitheads" that deserve the head-shaking.

Good point, most of the pain trainers definitely are not shitheads. You are right, a few bad apples should not ruin the pain train vibe.

[teledave]

Powder may be intoxicating, but it's no excuse for being an ass. Just because you're a gaper doesn't mean you ought to be in danger of being maimed on the hill.

Word from Natty! Not being an ass should really apply to everyone's life everyday, skiing, driving, drinking, etc. Unfortunately manners are in short supply today, not just with kids but with everyone else too. As far as all this High-T nonsense, I've never had a problem with it and I can gape with the best of them. If you've got high spped traffic coming up from behind yield the main throughfare to them, whether it's a traverse, sidestep uphill or bootpack. It would be nice if the High-T were made a bit more tele friendly with a touch of grooming though, but then would it still be the same HighT?

[Benny Profane]

I blame rap music.

[Cornbread]

The first time I was on the High T it scared the Hell out of me in true gaper fashion. (Worse than standing on top of High Rustler.) Dudes flying by while I just tried to survive. After several trips there, I tried to become one of those dudes by pushing myself faster and harder through the pitted minefield. Monkey see, monkey do. There are plenty of places to overtake slower skiers and if you can't, well you just gotta slow down. The only comments that are necessary up there are ones of courtesy.

Any thruth to the conversation that I had with a "local" that, the first sections of the High T might be maintained (groomed) to ease some of traffic flow?

During the Mini, the High T was the worst I have ever seen it. Was it the lack of fresh snow or increased traffic from the new Collins Lift? I actually thought some form of maintenance would be a good thing when it gets to be in the shape that it was. I'm not sure if grooming would ease traffic or increase it, or if it would even be possible. I guess that is the ongoing debate; most locals, with their traditional Alta customs, probably want it left alone no matter how bad of shape it's in to keep us gapers out. But, the only thing that would keep me off the High T would be if it were frozen death.

[The Reverend Floater]

This thead is humorous to me because my roomie worked/skied at Alta last year and once told me "about a bunch of geeks making horn noises on the High T like they were the shit."

While your intentions may be benign, be aware of how you are perceived.

[mildbill.]

This thead is humorous to me because my roomie worked/skied at Alta last year and once told me "about a bunch of geeks making horn noises on the High T like they were the shit."

i hope you let your roomate know that those were in fact your internet friends.

[The Reverend Floater]

i hope you let your roomate know that those were in fact your internet friends.

HA! Hell no, I didn't. He already thinks that Cletus and I met through an internet dating service. Just wait until Cletus, Cornhole and Kellie come out...it's going to be a web dork fest!

[Foggy_Goggles]

Being a dick at the ski area and mach schnelling at all times are completely different. If you’re pushing people off traverses (friends aside) or buzzing folks, you’re a dick. If you’re all over the place on a traverse because you are in over your head, you are also a dick, although to a lesser degree. Sometimes you can pass (the high T) and sometimes you have to wait (Ballroom T). Doing 9-0 at the ski area is how I was taught and what I enjoy, I’m not stopping. I do this without affecting anyone else. The Paintrainers I know are the same way. Faster skiers need to learn how to pass respectfully and slower skiers need to know when to move aside and let others pass.

*I’d pay money to see Woodys and Natty exercise justice on the punks who f-ed with their pops

[powderwhore]

I'm all about pushing my way through lift lines and skiing over others skis on the T. Get out of my way bitches and it won't be a problem. Next gaper that gets in my way is getting a pole up their ass! Sarcasm doesn't come over well on the interweb, does it?

Some people are dicks, nothing much you can do. I don't think this is just happening at Alta, but everywhere in our society. I'm blaming violent video games, and pornography.

[phUnk]

I'm blaming violent video games, and pornography. At least, those are why I do it.

....................

[ill-advised strategy]

*I’d pay money to see Woodys and Natty exercise justice on the punks who f-ed with their pops

Team Solitude YetiWood: weighing in at a total of 465 lbs.