2011/2012 Canadian Rockies Roll Call and StokeThread...

**iscariot** · 12-15-2011, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by Gripen

Will be released tomorrow, 8am.

. Well she had a good run as the burliest gnar wild west rugged ski area that rewarded skiers with a sense of adventure and the will to work to get to almost unlimited fresh gnar and pow.

Khmr is dead. Long live whitetooth/khmr.

Raising a Pil for her this eve.

**f2f** · 12-15-2011, 10:37 PM

ok, so the gripen maggot camp must absolutely happen this winter, then

**Gripen** · 12-16-2011, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by f2f

ok, so the gripen maggot camp must absolutely happen this winter, then

Definetly. This shouldn't change anything...

Here is a WSJ release. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bal...ada-2011-12-16

**Eldo** · 12-16-2011, 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by iscariot

. Well she had a good run as the burliest gnar wild west rugged ski area that rewarded skiers with a sense of adventure and the will to work to get to almost unlimited fresh gnar and pow.

Khmr is dead. Long live whitetooth/khmr..

So you skied at the hill when it was Whitetooth and didn't have a problem when the gondola "ruined" what was formerly all backcountry area on the upper mountain?

How far back are new lifts okay? Whitepass was bad, but Boomerang and Haulback are okay? Was Peak at Whistler okay? What about the first Summit lift or Paradise at Louise, or the Summit at Bachelor? Did the tram at Big Sky ruin everything. Or that dastardly gondola that replaced buses at Sunshine and brought the crowds.

Everyone has met the cranky oldtimer who thinks that everything was great at the various ski hills when they first started skiing there, and only later on did it all start to go to hell.

I have no doubt RCR will do some stupid things at KH that piss people off, that's their track record. But spare us the lament about the end of the good old days at a place that in its current form has been around for 10 years.

BTW, that faux nostalgia also includes drinking Pilsner.

**f2f** · 12-16-2011, 01:03 AM

i'm allowed to love pilsner and brewhouse because i'm technically from fucking saskatchewan. so there! (i just met people today who thought that COP was the closest place one could ski in calgary. they have no idea how spoiled you guys are.)

btw, eldo, check the 4/3 redux thread for examples from my new lumix f/1.7 lens

**Eldo** · 12-16-2011, 01:14 AM

Oh, cool! Will do.

**obscure reference** · 12-16-2011, 03:12 AM

I just wanted to chime in here and tell you all about the experience I had with Gripen as our guide in Kicking Horse.

Last season I got a last minute invite to join a group of 12 on a cat skiing trip to Chatter Creek. One of the people had backed out due to injury and I scored the trip of a lifetime. The group had planned two days at Kicking horse and had hired a guide. I usually would never shell out the cash for a guide unless I was in Europe, but I was really happy we did. Gripen was not only an amazing skier, he was super knowledgeable of Kicking Horse and showed us an amazing time. This guy absolutely rips and he's one of the nicest guys I have ever met. It's rare to meet someone who skis like a pro & acts like a gent. He seemed to be able to find fresh lines every run, and we ended up having a bell to bell day of cliffs, chutes, hikes, and pow.

If Gripen has anything to do with this camp, I would highly recommend it. Please feel free to PM me and I can give you our whole groups info (non mags) to vouch. This guys has true big mountain skills with style to match. I was impressed with his speed and aggressive (but controlled) approach to the mountain. I have skied with the best of them (12 years on the US freeskiing tour) and this guy is right up there with all of them. Gripen--Thanks for a kick ass time.
Jamie Blair

**goldenshowers** · 12-16-2011, 06:50 AM

Read about the deal in a dutch newspaper. Whitetooth has been gone for over a decade (powder fridays are long gone) I don't even think it's fair to bring those days up again to compare too. KH has had a good stint for the past decade considered being run by a company that was forced to build another project in Canada if they got the Confederation Bridge project. Furthermore a dutch company whose motherland is below sea level. All and all I consider us lucky.

We'll have to see what RCR has planned. Real estate could be developed more however, what's currently out there is not selling and what's currently built has a permanent for sale sign on the lawn.

Lifts, in my opinion, replace Pioneer to run up to the stairway chair. The old double has had some good days but this would be the best solution to alleviate that clog at the gondy.

KH had a basic terrain park, although the whole mountain is a pretty cool terrain park, no loss there.

I guess we'll have to see where RCR takes KH. I guarantee they will somehow make it more appealing to the family skier. The ski bum living in the parking lot, scamming lift tickets, and eating ketchup packet soup with saltines from the day lodge isn't paying their bills.

As an aside to the stinky gear people, wash your shit because it stinks. This year seems to be the worst on record for me getting into a gondola with someone who's gear stinks and it's still early season. I have no qualms pulling out the air freshener and spraying it in the gondy.

**Eldo** · 12-16-2011, 09:52 AM

Yep, new ski resort real estate is not going to happen much in probably the next five years, at any hill in Canada. Too much supply out there and very few buyers.

So that means maybe a chairlift or two added at KH, likely used ones from elsewhere. And moving the Pioneer. Things won't change that much.

**Gripen** · 12-16-2011, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by obscure reference

I just wanted to chime in here and tell you all about the experience I had with Gripen as our guide in Kicking Horse.

Last season I got a last minute invite to join a group of 12 on a cat skiing trip to Chatter Creek. One of the people had backed out due to injury and I scored the trip of a lifetime. The group had planned two days at Kicking horse and had hired a guide. I usually would never shell out the cash for a guide unless I was in Europe, but I was really happy we did. Gripen was not only an amazing skier, he was super knowledgeable of Kicking Horse and showed us an amazing time. This guy absolutely rips and he's one of the nicest guys I have ever met. It's rare to meet someone who skis like a pro & acts like a gent. He seemed to be able to find fresh lines every run, and we ended up having a bell to bell day of cliffs, chutes, hikes, and pow.

If Gripen has anything to do with this camp, I would highly recommend it. Please feel free to PM me and I can give you our whole groups info (non mags) to vouch. This guys has true big mountain skills with style to match. I was impressed with his speed and aggressive (but controlled) approach to the mountain. I have skied with the best of them (12 years on the US freeskiing tour) and this guy is right up there with all of them. Gripen--Thanks for a kick ass time.
Jamie Blair

Wow, thanks for the props Jamie! Making me blush a bit there man....
Had a great time ripping with you guys as well, hopefully we can make some turns in the near future!

I am pretty stoked on this camp, it'll be awesome to do this with a bunch of mags. I think we can pull off an awesome time for everyone!

**Sushibomb** · 12-16-2011, 05:02 PM

Let's hope RCR learned a thing or two about fucking with Fernie locals.

I'm not counting on it, but hoping so.

**brraaap802** · 12-16-2011, 05:23 PM

I actually think this will be a progression for KH and increases the likelihood of new lifts, etc. Ballast Needham is a Dutch construction co that had no long term needs or intention to remain in the Cdn resort biz. Been there 11 yrs, time to move on. Sure RCR will have a real estate angle but the market for resort properties everywhere remains stagnant so I don't expect thousands of condos being put up in the short term. I'd be in for Gripen's camp if the timing works. Also, he's running a couple of kids freeride camps over the holidays as well which my nine yr old will be in.

**time2clmb** · 12-16-2011, 06:54 PM

Parkway snow conditions.....facetts on depth hoar. Not much support left at all.

**RODGERS** · 12-16-2011, 06:58 PM

Whos starting the "piss on rcr" roll call??. I hate those maggots.

**time2clmb** · 12-16-2011, 07:10 PM

^ do you puppet for RCR?

**time2clmb** · 12-16-2011, 08:06 PM

I'm going to keep this updated as people opt in or out to not have to keep looking back pages.
Interested:
- Me
- F2F
- Mex
- Backscratcher (phone)
- Mntlion
- Sentinel
- Fatmike
- Spooky
- Shorty-J
- Lamonthe
- Braaap802

11 so far.

**mntlion** · 12-16-2011, 08:10 PM

depends on what weekend (and he is weekends only anyways) but Caucasian Asian is in too.

**iscariot** · 12-16-2011, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Eldo

So you skied at the hill when it was Whitetooth and didn't have a problem when the gondola "ruined" what was formerly all backcountry area on the upper mountain?

How far back are new lifts okay? Whitepass was bad, but Boomerang and Haulback are okay? Was Peak at Whistler okay? What about the first Summit lift or Paradise at Louise, or the Summit at Bachelor? Did the tram at Big Sky ruin everything. Or that dastardly gondola that replaced buses at Sunshine and brought the crowds.

Everyone has met the cranky oldtimer who thinks that everything was great at the various ski hills when they first started skiing there, and only later on did it all start to go to hell.

I have no doubt RCR will do some stupid things at KH that piss people off, that's their track record. But spare us the lament about the end of the good old days at a place that in its current form has been around for 10 years.

BTW, that faux nostalgia also includes drinking Pilsner.

Like I said...

Originally Posted by iscariot

Cue the beating-a-dead-horse debate regarding unbridled resort expansion.

**the_teo** · 12-16-2011, 08:12 PM

Price pending, I'd consider going to the camp as well!

**time2clmb** · 12-16-2011, 08:17 PM

- Me
- F2F
- Mex
- Backscratcher (phone)
- Mntlion
- Sentinel
- Fatmike
- Spooky
- Shorty-J
- Lamonthe
- Braaap802
- Caucasian Asian
____________________ 12

- HuckenEh
- The Teo

**Back Scratcher** · 12-17-2011, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by RODGERS

Whos starting the "piss on rcr" roll call??. I hate those maggots.

Here I will give you something more to fume about.

RCR is taking over ownership and operations of Kicking horse as mentioned. Read another article in the Calgary Hearld this morning.

**time2clmb** · 12-17-2011, 10:18 AM

Here I will give you something to make you fume.

RCR is taking over ownership and operations of Kicking horse. Read article in the Calgary Hearld this morning.

^uuuhhhh....you should read back a few posts and find out the context behind why he posted that in the first place LOL

**CaCaw** · 12-17-2011, 11:21 AM

As a long-time Fernie resident, I'd like to chime in regarding RCR.
There is no doubt some of the decision making over the years has been confusing, at best. However, they do seem to recognize the unique appeal of their resorts, and act accordingly. They recognize that Fernie's appeal is the skiing itself, and have invested $ into an extensive glading program, and are currently installing tthe peak chair. Kimberly is seen as more of a family destination, and more $ has gone into their base area.
Hopefully, they recognize Golden for what it is... A sick place to ski. Yes, there will be changes: more expensive passes, and say goodbye to any sort of terrain park (not sure if you have one), and likely real estate development when it makes sense.
At the end of the day, it might not be all bad to have a Canadian based owner anyway. All I know is a Golden/Fernie season pass is going to be a deadly combination.... It'll just cost too much!