The Most Annoying Things Gapers Do

**summit** · 12-30-2003, 04:05 AM

It's the very peak of gaper season... here are my biggest gaper pet peeves:

1. Gaper snowboarders who lie down in the middle of the slope, usually in groups across the middle of the slope instead of one behind another on the sides.

2. Gapers who snowplow at 2MPH down blues.

3. Gapers who traverse ALL the way across wide slopes inbetween turns.

What do gapers do that annoys you most?

Tresckow · 12-30-2003, 06:20 AM

The most annyoing are those who which decide to bad mouth patrollers, live in a highly populated and travelled vacation area and proceed to complain about it, and those who decide to proclaim themselves the king of the very people which annoy them in the first place. Get some sleep.

**Tical** · 12-30-2003, 07:16 AM

I hate when gapers get themseleves into a heavily moguled out run.. And then they keep getting in the way of my sweet line..

**Mcwop** · 12-30-2003, 07:38 AM

This is a true story that happened at Jackson Hole:

Skiers that stand, and talk on their cellphone thus blocking the entrance to the traverse.

My second peeve is snowboarders that posthole the traverse.

**noodles** · 12-30-2003, 07:39 AM

Originally posted by Tical
I hate when gapers get themseleves into a heavily moguled out run.. And then they keep getting in the way of my sweet line..

If by sweet line you mean traversing from side to side in the bumps losing about 10 feet of vert in each direction - yes I can see how gapers can really crowd that shit.

**Ted Stryker** · 12-30-2003, 09:26 AM

I think the most annoying gapers are those who live in scummit county suburbia and babble all the time. Seems to be alot of those around.

**Plakespear** · 12-30-2003, 09:31 AM

Gapers who stop for a breather in the middle of a headwall when they are not visible to skiers above them.

**iskibc** · 12-30-2003, 09:39 AM

Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
It's the very peak of gaper season... here are my biggest gaper pet peeves:

1. Gaper snowboarders who lie down in the middle of the slope, usually in groups across the middle of the slope instead of one behind another on the sides.

2. Gapers who snowplow at 2MPH down blues.

3. Gapers who traverse ALL the way across wide slopes inbetween turns.

What do gapers do that annoys you most?

This all coming from the "King of the Gapers"

**jayfrizzo** · 12-30-2003, 09:48 AM

There's nothing wrong with traversing across wide slopes, then turning and traversing back. In fact, it's a good way for beginners, especially snowboarders, to get better at edge control.

If you're so rad you should be able to go around them.

I don't like people who take their terrified, crying daughter out on the Road to Provo 5 minutes after they drop the gates and the traverse is a skinny roller coaster of death. Gaper? I dunno, but bad parent for sure.

I try to not posthole traverses, but if it's posthole or slog through waist-deep snow, I'll posthole. Again, if you're rad enough to head out to The Bookends you should be rad enough to ski across a few holes. If you didn't make the traverse yourself, you've got no right to complain.

I will not, however, posthole a skintrack.

Self-righteously yours,
J-

**iceman** · 12-30-2003, 09:55 AM

I don't really like talking about gapers as a category of people, but one thing that scares the bejeezus out of me is when someone you are overtaking does the "random turn of death".

Like, turn, long traverse, turn, long traverse, turn, RANDOM QUICK TURN right as you pass. You think you've got it timed and all of a sudden they're right in front of you. I don't like that much.

**MFI** · 12-30-2003, 09:57 AM

Anyone who is completely out of control. Going 50 MPH is fine, but not when there are 50 people in the way. My 10 year old nephew was almost hit by 3 people while standing on the SIDE of the run. These guys couldn't have stopped in 100 feet if their life depended on it. Snowboarders sitting in the middle of the run is just a fact of life, it's never going to change. I prefer to focus on the good stuff.

**Plakespear** · 12-30-2003, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by MFI
Snowboarders sitting in the middle of the run is just a fact of life, it's never going to change.

What if we all start giving them beatdowns? I mean, if they know that there's a good chance for an ass whooping, they might think twice.

Who am I kidding. Snowboarders actually think? My mistake.

**snowsprite** · 12-30-2003, 10:10 AM

I like what Jay Frizzo said. If you're so rad then ski the @#$%$ around already! But the "random turn of death" is a real problem. That's just stupid and irresponsible. And I've been on the receiving end of that.

My only major peeve is the boarders who fall and just lay there. Why do they need 15 min to recover? Why waste all that ride time laying down? Why block the whole friggin' slope? I just don't get it...

Sprite

**iceman** · 12-30-2003, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by snowsprite
I But the "random turn of death" is a real problem. That's just stupid and irresponsible. And I've been on the receiving end of that.

I'm sorry, I don't follow you. What's stupid and irresponsible? Making the turn or being surprised when someone suddenly turns directly into your path?

**CaddyDaddy77** · 12-30-2003, 10:19 AM

Only gripe is driving, turning a 45 minute drive into a freakin epic. How can you be so unprepared for snow? You went to a god damn ski resort!

**snowsprite** · 12-30-2003, 10:22 AM

Originally posted by iceman
I'm sorry, I don't follow you. What's stupid and irresponsible? Making the turn or being surprised when someone suddenly turns directly into your path?

I know you have to be aware of what's going on, but I've actually had someone turn right into me. What am I supposed to do? I guess what are they supposed to do when they encounter a huge sheet of ice, a resting snowboarder, whatever. But there are some erratic folks out there who will just do this for seemingly no reason.

But you're right, if I'm uphill it's my responsibility to avoid them even if I have to stop/turn on a dime. Which reminds me, I gotta get a tune for this weekend!

Sprite

**Tyrone Shoelaces** · 12-30-2003, 10:24 AM

Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
It's the very peak of gaper season... here are my biggest gaper pet peeves:

1. Gaper snowboarders who lie down in the middle of the slope, usually in groups across the middle of the slope instead of one behind another on the sides.

2. Gapers who snowplow at 2MPH down blues.

3. Gapers who traverse ALL the way across wide slopes inbetween turns.

What do gapers do that annoys you most?

Everyone has gaped or does gape at one time or another, so who cares? Just ski around them and forget about it or ski somewhere else where the gapers don't have the ability to congregate and get in your way.

**Jiffy** · 12-30-2003, 10:25 AM

i hate it when gapers complain about snowboarders clogging the trail. Like there are'nt an equal amount of crappy skiers who do the exact same shit. And if people want to ski ALL the way across the hill then screw you, its their right. Go ski somewhere the gapers don't go.
Skiers are smartest people in the world, snowboarders are dumb,
whatever.

Generalizations and stereotypes have been ruining this world for thousands of years, be a force of positive change, not a gripey little bitch.

POWER TO THE PEACEFUL.

**road trip** · 12-30-2003, 10:33 AM

I hate when they are driving home on the New York State Thruway. I've got one hyphenated word: cruise-control!

Mine is set for 74 mph. I pass a car. It passes me. I pass it again. It passes me.

My speed... constant.

My road rage... growing.

(hmmm... new alter ego? road trip morphs into road rage in a crazy message board comic book moment!)

**MFI** · 12-30-2003, 10:37 AM

This weekend I prolly saw as many idiots on skis as snowboards. Everyone was flying around. The difference I see is that a snowboarder can fall and recover better. They don't have skis to fly off and can hit the ground spin around and get up. I think they take more chances because of this.
We have just have to face the fact that they move differently than we do. It's like dealing with motorcycles on the road. Just look out for them.
As far as beat downs. The guy who creamed my wife should have been beaten, by me. I don't want to go to jail so he got to live another day.
Skiing should be a good thing. I'll leave the misery for work.

**grrrr** · 12-30-2003, 10:51 AM

On a side note - I think there were more skiers than snowboarders at Baker this Sunday. Is it just my imagination, or are more skiing than five years ago?

**snowsprite** · 12-30-2003, 10:54 AM

Originally posted by MFI
Skiing should be a good thing. I'll leave the misery for work.

True!! Enough griping. Gapers and resting snowboarders be damed...it's still fun out there. Just ski around and forget it. Not worth getting upset.

Sprite

**KrisSkis** · 12-30-2003, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by MFI
Anyone who is completely out of control. Going 50 MPH is fine, but not when there are 50 people in the way. My 10 year old nephew was almost hit by 3 people while standing on the SIDE of the run. These guys couldn't have stopped in 100 feet if their life depended on it. Snowboarders sitting in the middle of the run is just a fact of life, it's never going to change. I prefer to focus on the good stuff.

I agree 100%...it was my kid he was talking about. We decided to go up to hunter to get my son on his new skis we got him...lo and behold...friggin assholes everywhere...10 skiers going 50 mph not turning and completely unable to stop...makes me wonder why i havent been to hunter in 10 years ....now i remember. You take you life in your hands at any ski area i just wish people would think about what they are doing before stapping on skis and heading for the steepest and iciest run there is....just my rant for the day

**DaveTV** · 12-30-2003, 12:25 PM

Let's not forget it is the "Gapers" buying the full-priced tickets and $8 burgers that keep our favorite mtns in the black.

**jayfrizzo** · 12-30-2003, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by DaveTV
Let's not forget it is the "Gapers" buying the full-priced tickets and $8 burgers that keep our favorite mtns in the black.

Word. And they're generally not tracking my lines up, so who cares. And if they are they paid to play, so more power to 'em.

J-