Squaw Valley the best?

[TJ.Brk]

Yep I would have to say Squaw is in my top 3 places. But the Tahoe area mtns are my absolute favs.

[Huckwheat]

So often at the beginning of the season I imagine being someone who just moved to Squaw, witnessing what's going on around them on the first powder day.

I am making no general comments about Squaw being rad.....for one I went to Jackson during a good cycle this year and the terrain (and tracks I saw) were un-frickin-believable.

I like doing the same as Hucka....move or visit Squaw from many resorts and you feel like you are living in a ski movie. I came out from Boulder at 22 and thought I was good skier.....and then learned I wasnt. 6 seasons, off and on, living here now.....and I am still not.....but it is fun to just try to be average around here.

[Jim S]

imagine being someone who just moved to Squaw, witnessing what's going on around them on the first powder day. It can be impressive. More than anything, I view Squaw as a training ground, and for that it is ideal.

Dead on balls accurate. I moved here in Dec '03 and I thought I was a good amateur skier. I went to Squaw, up KT 22 and got down it. During that first run skiers were flying past me and I felt like a putz. Right then I said, "whoa, I've really got to up my game and push it." I had a tabla rasa mind regarding ski culture. Someone recommended Squallywood. The rest is a story of addiction.

what i don't get about squaw is . . . how the fuck do you drop $1200 or whatever for the pass every year?

That does suck. You need to ski about 21 times to break even. Having that pass does enourage me to hit Squaw more than normal which is good; having it discourages me from hitting the other resorts just a bit. However, you can get the Freq Skier pass: ski 4x and the 5th is free.

[basom]

Do I hear sirens?

it seems you have a problem with either your frontal lobe or possibly your right ventromedial prefrontal cortex. you might want to get that checked out.

[Jim S]

I'm flattered. My problems are far more extensive than that.

[stump832]

Bas, he may also be a drought victim. just sayin.

[minddoc]

alpental is much gnarlier terrain, ask squirrel99

Hey Unigonger, do you have any photos of Alpental? I'm moving up that way next year. No more Squaw for me but I understand that Alpental is like KT at Squaw...

[upallnight]

So.... I lived at Squaw for a while and agree there are tons of rippers there + much great terrain...it certainly is awesome. The snowpack is amazing -- and what someone posted about being able to scope all your lines from the chair really does (I think) contribute to the comfort level in trying to progress (and that same visibility/exposure causes people to step it up).

That said, a Wyoming principle is staying silent, to a degree (same is true elsewhere). In Cali (/Squaw, when I was there), there is more (relatively) emphasis on spraying. These are all relative terms of course -- but many of the rippers here will go places you will never see (esp not from the lifts). This is not unique to Jackson, but it seems to be *generally* true more than Squaw.

So, maybe the original poster is "sort of" right: Squaw may have among the most *visible* rippers of any inbounds terrain, but in absolute numbers I'm not sure I'd agree.

[Oldtimer]

This year I had one of the best days at Squaw I can remember.

I ran straight to the monkey bars and swung back and forth over the highest part. I dropped off, climbed through the side and ran over to the merry-go-round. After a few whirls I jumped off, tripped and skinned my knee but headed straight for the swings. Another kid got my favorite one so I shifted left and took the smaller one. I cranked my legs high enough to get a little zero gravity time on the front and back, slowed down a bit and then jumped off into some soft wood chips. The teeter totter was open and there was a hot little girl heading for it, so I asked her for a few ups and downs. My buddies cheered me on. By 11 am, I had already had some of the best rides I'd ever had. So I decided to hit the monkey bars one more time and then headed home.

[minddoc]

So.... I lived at Squaw for a while and agree there are tons of rippers there + much great terrain...it certainly is awesome. The snowpack is amazing -- and what someone posted about being able to scope all your lines from the chair really does (I think) contribute to the comfort level in trying to progress (and that same visibility/exposure causes people to step it up).

That said, a Wyoming principle is staying silent, to a degree (same is true elsewhere). In Cali (/Squaw, when I was there), there is more (relatively) emphasis on spraying. These are all relative terms of course -- but many of the rippers here will go places you will never see (esp not from the lifts). This is not unique to Jackson, but it seems to be *generally* true more than Squaw.

So, maybe the original poster is "sort of" right: Squaw may have among the most *visible* rippers of any inbounds terrain, but in absolute numbers I'm not sure I'd agree.

Good point. However, I always think I ski my best when insight of others especially when I am skiing alone. In part I think because when I am alone it’s a bit scary to be out of sight of others, but also I think there is a bit of narcissism or a look at me I am swinging the highest today.

Maybe those who become great skiers/riders need to be seen in order to push the limits of the sport. Would you ski as hard as you do if no one was looking? I know I would, but I won’t push myself as much as I do with others watching what I am doing. Plus I think its more fun that way, some good health competition.

[Shepherd Wong]

Nah, Deer Valley

[upallnight]

Maybe those who become great skiers/riders need to be seen in order to push the limits of the sport. Would you ski as hard as you do if no one was looking? I know I would, but I won’t push myself as much as I do with others watching what I am doing. Plus I think its more fun that way, some good health competition.

I tihnk it depends one's motivation. I tend to ski for myself and mostly solo...so, yeah, I personally tend to ski my hardest/best alone, but I can certainly see why that pressure/competitions/inspiration of others right there can help spur one on.

Some of my inspiration does come from hearing what others/friends have done...or seeing them ski a line. I guess I would not have developed whatever skills I do have in a vacuum....so I've just proven your point.

I do tend to ski solo, though, because I often don't like the spray.

I've also seen the unhealthy side of pushing others (male egos that couldn't say no to a line), resulting in injury or death.

[bc]

This picture is facking hilarious! I love that everything, including the hair, is white...

[The Suit]

I can trace back 99% of my rippingness to the week I spent at Squaw 12 years ago.

[basom]

This year I had one of the best days at Squaw I can remember.

The teeter totter was open and there was a hot little girl heading for it, so I asked her for a few ups and downs. My buddies cheered me on.

i've been trying to get the sack to hit that all season... maybe next year.

[Tippster]

Does surviving the Teeter-Totter give you rights to sitting on the bench, or are the Monkey bars the true test?

[lemon boy]

neither. The true test is jibbing the lesbians with their pontoons.

[Tippster]

I wouldn't know, since a certain someone flailed on the TR....

[minddoc]

I tihnk it depends one's motivation. I tend to ski for myself and mostly solo...so, yeah, I personally tend to ski my hardest/best alone, but I can certainly see why that pressure/competitions/inspiration of others right there can help spur one on.

Some of my inspiration does come from hearing what others/friends have done...or seeing them ski a line. I guess I would not have developed whatever skills I do have in a vacuum....so I've just proven your point.

I do tend to ski solo, though, because I often don't like the spray.

I've also seen the unhealthy side of pushing others (male egos that couldn't say no to a line), resulting in injury or death.

I am starting to believe that people push themselves to impress others, not that it’s a bad thing, and people need to do it to improve in life and skiing. I hate to admit this but some of my best days have been days that I have impressed my peers. I saw the movie Walls of Freedom the other day and I think someone in the movie said "no camera no jump" or something to that extent. I thing they were joking a bit, but there is a lot of truth in that.

Being that a lot of Squaw’s lines are in sight of others at most times this may make for the high quality of riders. Just thinking… So I guess I am saying people ski better when others are viewing, I am generalizing here but….

[Alkasquawlik]

ya know, i really dont even ski anymore unless there is a Hi-Def, 16mm or a mob of screaming fans focused on me. just not worth it otherwise.

[Altaholic]

I guess I should ski Jackson before saying any more.

You should you no good beater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jim S]

ya know, i really dont even ski anymore unless there is a Hi-Def, 16mm or a mob of screaming fans focused on me. just not worth it otherwise.

I thought I was the only one that felt that way.

[Squirrel99]

It's summer, so why not bring back the usual smack talking?

For pure scene:
1. (tie) Squaw & Blackcomb (squaw wins tie-breaker ---> Basom skis there)
2. (tie) Bird/Alta & Jackson

Terrain:
1. Blackcomb
2. Jackson
3. Squaw

Honorary Mention: Baker (both categories) This place still has 'my #'

Outside the big fish bowls, there are plenty of regional mtns that have the ability to stack up and give any of the "training grounds" guys a good beating.
This is where Alpental fits in.

A "little line" at Alpy that got skied last year
(Props again for String! These pics do not your line justice!)

ESOD *pics from snowboardseattle.com forums


Better view of said line

[bad_roo]

Doesn't Kevin Andrews ski Squaw?

[Lane Meyer]

This year I had one of the best days at Squaw I can remember.

I ran straight to the monkey bars and swung back and forth over the highest part. I dropped off, climbed through the side and ran over to the merry-go-round. After a few whirls I jumped off, tripped and skinned my knee but headed straight for the swings. Another kid got my favorite one so I shifted left and took the smaller one. I cranked my legs high enough to get a little zero gravity time on the front and back, slowed down a bit and then jumped off into some soft wood chips. The teeter totter was open and there was a hot little girl heading for it, so I asked her for a few ups and downs. My buddies cheered me on. By 11 am, I had already had some of the best rides I'd ever had. So I decided to hit the monkey bars one more time and then headed home.

Robb - you really need to logout when you're done posting on TGR - looks like Noah learned how to use your computer when he made the above post. There's some seriously disturbed types lurking here at TGR, you better step in and protect him from them (us?).