Northstar = Gnargnar

**boobookitty** · 07-01-2007, 10:37 PM

I rode Northstar for the first time on Saturday, and totally thought I'd be racing there today. But upon riding the racecourse yesterday afternoon, I decided that first, I should learn HOW to ride there before trying to race. That place is gnar! The whole place is like the Deer Valley NCS course on crack. I was totally surprised by how rugged the trails are and, upon figuring out how to ride a lot of it, I'm pretty stoked. We spent today riding everything from Boondocks to Karpiel and lower Dog Bone to Flameout and I'm feeling way better about the loose, the rocky, and the droppy. I'll race next time for sure. Riding there consistently will definitely make one a strong rider.
That is all.

**kidwoo** · 07-01-2007, 10:47 PM

How bout a shout next time you're in the neigborhood......

I'll be a resident on weekends for a while.

Don't feel bad........many of us who have done hundreds of days there still required some memory digging to get that bumpity drifty flow back. It's there but it doesn't come easy.

**Spats** · 07-02-2007, 01:15 PM

Northstar is French for "I smashed my derailleur".

I can do upper Karpiel or Pho Dogg, but I don't feel bad about admitting that I will probably never ride Dogbone or some of the other double-blacks. That stuff is scary, and I leave it in your capable hands

**Tyrone Shoelaces** · 07-02-2007, 01:20 PM

I can't wait to hit northstar for the first time. Gimme about 2 weeks after I shake this stupid Death Ride thing off of my schedule, and then I'll be ready for some summertime air-to-crushing.

**boobookitty** · 07-02-2007, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

How bout a shout next time you're in the neigborhood......

I'll be a resident on weekends for a while.

Don't feel bad........many of us who have done hundreds of days there still required some memory digging to get that bumpity drifty flow back. It's there but it doesn't come easy.

Will do. I think we'll be up on the 28th next (gotta get some Downieville in first). Maybe make it up on the 21st if I've recovered from D-ville.

Yeah, the first time through Dogbone I thought I should never have gotten my pro upgrade. After riding the rest of the day Saturday and then on Sunday, I went back and cleaned everything but the tight tree move and the loose weird rocks right afterward. I'll take it 1/3 at a time.

I need to get better at my drops-to-flat too.

**flowtron** · 07-02-2007, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by boobookitty

drops-to-flat

Paging kidwoo....
Can you please take of this? Build the girl some trannies or something. Drops to flat are so 2001

**kidwoo** · 07-02-2007, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by flowtron

Paging kidwoo....
Can you please take of this? Build the girl some trannies or something. Drops to flat are so 2001

I just go around most of that shit.

Rather than work on the old beat down trails, I'm just building drops right the first time.

Nothing dirt lasts up there......it's gotta be wood.

The fun part about having new trails is that I get to work on new ways to go around the new drops to flat (none of which I'm responsible for btw

)

**LegoSkier** · 07-02-2007, 06:28 PM

I really like the new stuff (gypsy, fineline). More flowy than the karpiel, dogbone (which I will also admit to probably never being able to clean) with less big loose rocks.
The new gaps on boondocks are sick also (not that I would ever attempt those but respect the hell out of those that do).
They just need to get some more bike carriers on the Zeypher lift. One for every 4 chairs is nowhere near enough.
And they need to turn off that stupid laser sensor at the top too. Retards kept walking in front of it and stopping the lift. That got old fast.
I was stoked to see the parabiker out there Saturday. He was rockin the 4 wheel, independant suspension, disc braked chair and going down all the advanced stuff.
Had to pull him out of a jam on gypsy. He then just pointed it straight down the ski run and took off.

**maniloff** · 07-02-2007, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by LegoSkier

And they need to turn off that stupid laser sensor at the top too. Retards kept walking in front of it and stopping the lift. That got old fast.

Fo sho.

8

**Arty50** · 07-02-2007, 07:48 PM

Body armor - check
Ass healed - check
Sandy vagina - check

I wanna go break myself soon!!!

**lph** · 07-02-2007, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Arty50

Body armor - check
Ass healed - check
Sandy vagina - check

I wanna go break myself soon!!!

Is tomorrow soon enough for you?

**Arty50** · 07-02-2007, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by lph

Is tomorrow soon enough for you?

**kidwoo** · 07-02-2007, 08:54 PM

Hey screw you guys, go on wednesday.

**ridefree** · 07-02-2007, 10:04 PM

Recovered from tha last ride??

Lets work it out for thursday???

**Arty50** · 07-02-2007, 10:08 PM

Actually, we did think of you. But we decided that you probably wouldn't want to ride the green circle trails with us.

Edit: Shit, and now ridefree wants in too. Ok, who else wants some of the Arty?

Also, I have to go tomorrow. My recent bout of free time might be disappearing soon and so it could be the last chance I have to use the weekday daypass I get with my Tahoe Card.

**ridefree** · 07-02-2007, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Arty50

Actually, we did think of you. But we decided that you probably wouldn't want to ride the green circle trails with us.

I'll wait in the parking lot with some andwiches with the crusts cut off and some cool aid for when you get thirsty!

**Arty50** · 07-02-2007, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by ridefree

I'll wait in the parking lot with some andwiches with the crusts cut off and some cool aid for when you get thirsty!

I was talking to kidwoo. We don't associate with knuckledraggers. It might hurt our rep. However, if you make it PB&J and cherry flavor and you've got a deal!

**watersnowdirt** · 07-02-2007, 10:20 PM

Jealous jealous jealous!!!

Can't wait to try Northstar sometime!

On the gnar scale, how does it compare to what we were doing at Mammoth last year? I assume way gnarlier, but like, exactly HOW much gnarlier?

**lph** · 07-02-2007, 10:21 PM

arty, don't forget kid used to be a boarder till he saw the light.

working wed kid, and plus, like arty said, i don't relish the thought of having my first run be something that i hike-a-bike. I need to get my confidence back after getting humbled at mammoth last year and that poor showing on the burnside lake trail. i suck.

**Arty50** · 07-02-2007, 10:26 PM

I. R. Stpd. No free ticket tomorrow. No discount either. Blacked out.

Oh well, the other lame excuse still applies.

**kidwoo** · 07-02-2007, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by lph

working wed kid, and plus, like arty said, i don't relish the thought of having my first run be something that i hike-a-bike.

Jesus......just cuz I ride there a good bit doesn't mean I want to kill my friends.

Anyway.....we've got a summer. Hope to see you guys there at some point.

WSD. There are more trails at northstar. Some of it a good bit worse than mammoth, some similar. You could comfortably ride most of it......I know you're a badass.

**watersnowdirt** · 07-02-2007, 10:41 PM

Kidwoo - nice try, but no amount of flattery will make me forget that you almost killed me at Mammoth last year .

How late in the season does Northstar stay open?

**lph** · 07-02-2007, 10:44 PM

shit so we are blacked out tomorrow arty? are you out then?

Kid I was actually hoping you would be able to show up tomorrow and give us the tour. I am just giving you shit at my expense.

I know North* is alot gnarlier than Mammoth, but, damn if Mammoth wasn't a bit of a slap in the face last year.

I guess it would be like spending your life skiing or boarding the b/c and eventually thinking, 'Hey, I am pretty good at this'. Then you show up at kirkwood/alta/squaw etc on a powder and you realize you kinda suck and there are alot of people who are really really good. That was how I felt at mammoth last year. It didn't hurt my ego (cause at this point in my life, i don't have much of an ego when it comes to sports) but it was eye opening, thats for sure.

Nonetheless, I am planning on making the trip up several times this year and will for sure come up when I can ride with you. But this year, I am gonna go start a little slower and work my way up. It was tough keeping up with you and CS last year at mammoth.

It could be worse, I guess, I could be getting my ass kicked by snowmobiling. Which, for those who haven't tried it in the mountains, is actually damn tough, but the learning curve (ask arty

) is really steep.

**ridefree** · 07-02-2007, 10:54 PM

lph,

my secret is I ride at northstar by myself a few times, then If I show up with friends I sort of look not as bad as Arty!!

Seriously, practice is the key. And I just looked online for a new bike, inlcuded the girl and she almost bought into the " I need a new bike" routine. I'll keep you updated on my Bionicon shopping!!!

**lph** · 07-02-2007, 11:07 PM

Arty is always good for a great fall and getting in over his head, you just can't put a price on having someone like that around.

But yup, need to get up there several times and work my way up.

I have just now come to realize that rides like Toad's and the 'Old' Xmas valley really aren't that technical. I remember when you and I had a similar discussion at downieville maybe three years ago. I thought you were friggin crazy for saying the same thing, but I guess i just didn't realize what was actually out there.