Where do I go to "step it up"

**Sluff** · 02-18-2004, 02:45 PM

I need to find a place where I can step up my skiing. I have been heli skiing in Jackson and cat skiing in B.C., all of which have been major disappointments. We end up getting stuck with 40 and 50 year olds who want to make perfect turns down 30 degree hills. I want to find a place where they will take you to some 45 to 50 degree runs all the way down with features to work on your way down. I'm convniced heli and snowcat operations in lower 48 and Canada will never take me to places that get my adrenaline flowing. I'm sure Alaska is the answer, but I fear getting stuck with the same crowd and won't get what I want. Where do I go to step it up?

**bad_roo** · 02-18-2004, 02:47 PM

How did you get so good at skiing yet so poor at identifying the places you should be skiing?

**Superstar Punani** · 02-18-2004, 02:48 PM

Vertigo?

**hev** · 02-18-2004, 02:55 PM

silverton will humble you.

**Particle** · 02-18-2004, 02:59 PM

hev, I have to disagree with your silverton comment.

i've skied there 3 days now, including 2 with a 28" base and this year with an 88" base. both had a couple inches of new, for some good creamy pow turns.

but I must say: i've skied a LOT of that area and as good and fun as it is, it isn't a 'humbling' experience. it's decent length vert, very good sustained pitch, but very little (that the guides will let you ski) is all that steep. 'Mandatory' is a little interesting to get through, but that's about it.

I love Silverton, but put it next to CB's outer bowls and it pales in comparison in terms of steeps, technicality, etc.

**Barnballs** · 02-18-2004, 03:04 PM

Check out snow valley, in Cali.

**FollowMe** · 02-18-2004, 03:06 PM

Sluff...Don't feel like you have to go heli or cat skiing to step it up. Here's an idea:

Save $$$ by not going heli or cat skiing and use it to by a last minute ticket to Salt Lake City on a Powder weekend. Spend a day at Snowbird and you'll have plenty of opportunities to "step it up". If something special doesn't happen there on a powder day, you're not trying hard enough

.

**Honc** · 02-18-2004, 03:06 PM

Night skiing at Wachussett or anywhere in the Jersey Alps.

Also try skiing in bounds at Jackson or anywhere in BC with someone local. I hear that the skiing can be pretty good

and you might save a couple of bucks. Backcountry might be the best way to maximize radness/dollars ratio.

**phUnk** · 02-18-2004, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by Particle
hev, I have to disagree with your silverton comment.

i've skied there 3 days now, including 2 with a 28" base and this year with an 88" base. both had a couple inches of new, for some good creamy pow turns.

but I must say: i've skied a LOT of that area and as good and fun as it is, it isn't a 'humbling' experience. it's decent length vert, very good sustained pitch, but very little (that the guides will let you ski) is all that steep. 'Mandatory' is a little interesting to get through, but that's about it.

I love Silverton, but put it next to CB's outer bowls and it pales in comparison in terms of steeps, technicality, etc.

I wonder how much of that is due to how safe Aaron & co. need to be until they have jumped through all the legal hoops they're facing. I honestly don't know, but I think it's a valid question.

**phUnk** · 02-18-2004, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by FollowMe
Sluff...Don't feel like you have to go heli or cat skiing to step it up. Here's an idea:

Save $$$ by not going heli or cat skiing and use it to by a last minute ticket to Salt Lake City on a Powder weekend. Spend a day at Snowbird and you'll have plenty of opportunities to "step it up". If something special doesn't happen there on a powder day, you're not trying hard enough .

Seriously. Tell us when you're coming and we'll get your shit fucked up.

Err... I mean, "show you around."

Although, if you've been to Jackson and haven't found any inbounds stuff to interest you, you're either a zombie, retarded, or a troll. (Alternately, the possibility of a retarded zombie troll has not been ruled out yet.)

**road trip** · 02-18-2004, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by Honc
Night skiing ..... anywhere in the Jersey Alps.

We call it night "skating".

**Buzzworthy** · 02-18-2004, 03:14 PM

NOW THIS is what you are looking for!!!

**Karl Stall** · 02-18-2004, 03:15 PM

Alaska Rendezvous Lodge

That is all you need to know.

**Odin** · 02-18-2004, 03:16 PM

You don't go heli skiing to get scared, you go to ski lines upon lines of untouched pow. It's just that some of those lines are 50 degree amazing type radness. Only after you develop a relationship with the guides of a particular operation like Karl and co have do they start to take you to the holy hell type of terrain. Of course it would help for your first time if you went with four friends who like to ski at the same level as you and came up for a week or so.

If you can't find stuff to scare you at jackson, snowbird, and BC than perhaps you aren't looking in the right spot?

edited to include the obvious.

**Particle** · 02-18-2004, 03:16 PM

Sluff-sorry to ignore your original topic. I think in-bounds at Crested Butte, Jackson, Snowbird, Squaw, etc...are pretty much the spots to 'step it up'. You've got patrol who will haul you out if you're hurt, you don't have to worry about avies skiing steep exposed terrain, etc. If you're talking about backcountry stepping up...go to Europe!

Phunk--yes I think that's true to an extent about playing it safe. I've certainly seen plenty of terrain that'd be absolutely sick to ski at Silverton, but the guides won't go near it for obvious reasons. Also, the upper upper alpine stuff that's a 1-2 hour hike off the lift looks pretty freakin ridiculous. Not saying the mountain isn't sick, but the terrain you currently are able to ski doesn't exactly give me that 'pucker factor'.

**mildbill.** · 02-18-2004, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by Honc
Night skiing at Wachussett .

hater.

**Telephil** · 02-18-2004, 03:19 PM

You actually may want to check out Jayfrizzo's back yard.

**Big E** · 02-18-2004, 03:19 PM

Skiing w/ maggots is usually one sure fire way to accomplish this.

**Buzzworthy** · 02-18-2004, 03:22 PM

I get scared in the parking lot of these places!!

**Telephil** · 02-18-2004, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by Buzzworthy
I get scared in the parking lot of these places!!

You get scared in the parking lot of Jayfrizzo's backyard?

Pffft. Pussy.

**joshbu** · 02-18-2004, 03:26 PM

Nobody is going to let you walk onto a heli and hit their raddest terrain right away unless your name is "Seth Morrison."

So, unless you want to drop some serious bank to get cozy with one of the operators, I suggest buying some freerides and some skins and start hoofing yourself up to the gnarlyness.

Oh yeah, you might want to consider moving out of Minnesota too, eh?

**CantDog** · 02-18-2004, 03:31 PM

Originally posted by Big E
Skiing w/ maggots is usually one sure fire way to accomplish this.

Definatey true. Not a better bunch of skiers Ive met to push you to your limits.

**Buzzworthy** · 02-18-2004, 03:32 PM

Originally posted by Telephil
You get scared in the parking lot of Jayfrizzo's backyard?

Pffft. Pussy.

I know, it is bad. Back to my hole!!

**jayfrizzo** · 02-18-2004, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by Telephil
You actually may want to check out Jayfrizzo's back yard.

My backyard: Where snow snakes are made of poop.

J-

PS: If you can't step it up whereever you ride then you're not approaching things correctly. Every time you go out, try something new. Ride fakie. Jump on a rail. Spin onto a rail. Rail a couple lines of coke and go clubbing. Club a seal.