Skiing in The States is Boring..

I have skied in the Utah Ski Resorts. The Colorado Ski Resorts. The Californian & Nevada Ski resorts. Wyoming Ski Resorts. The New England ski Resorts. And I have to say that there is no difference between any of them as far as ski terrain is concerned. They are all the same, frustratingly short, boring, lop-sided ski runs. Every time when I used to ski in the states, I had that uneasy feeling of skiing from lift to lift..wondering when I was ever to get to ski on a lengthy, decent ski run. All you Americans that have never skied in Europe..have never skied.. [img]graemlins/evilgrin.gif[/img]

[ March 09, 2003, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Maximus ]

I wonder what is the point of this?

If you prefer Europe to the US then fine, ski in Europe.

Taking what you say at face value you appear to have skied a lot in the US, though if you found it so unappealing, why did you keep going back?

Thanks for the information.

Don't let the door hit yer ass on the way out.

Yuki,
Maximus has posted these opinions on other sites (and ripped into me on occassion). While I don't agree with him, I have taken a step back to try to understand what he is saying.
He likes a different type of skiing to many, and as such believes that only certain parts of the world offer him these options. He likes narrower trails (all colours), he likes long trails (i.e. measured in miles), and he likes variety.
I think he finds the small size of US resorts a problem, and that in many places, the only narrower runs will be highly graded.
As I say, I don't agree with his summary, i.e that skiing in the US is boring, I think I understand the points he is making, about the size, layout and design of many US resorts being more conformed than many European ones.

S

That is what happens when one concentrates on terrain instead of technique. There is more to skiing than the terrain involved. I ski all day long on a 180' of vertical and never get bored. In fact, I don't feel much like traveling to better terrain until our terrain closes. I don't care what I am skiing, I am not bored.

My priorities are number one; technique/tactics, number 2; people I am with, number three: weather, number 4;terrain.

To me , you sound a like a constipated frenchman. some of us dont have Millions of dollar for vacations to the swiss alps every year. Skiing is good no matter where you are its about the sport not the place. please take your negative attitude elswhere.

thanks, Duke

Surely one can't practice a wide range of techniques on a 180' hill. What about skiing powder, steeps, trees, etc. --stuff usually found at resorts with more vertical and more snow (as in western resorts, not europe.) Of course a good knowledge of fundamental skills is useful, but for me one of the greatest feelings is when I am venturing out to new terrain I am not used to.

No tree skiing in the Alps.. nuff said.. I'll take the Outback at Keystone(or similar facsimile) over Val D'Isere(or similar facsimile)

I agree...technique can be worked on in any terrain. Just spent a day at Killington-Ram's Head...."Family Terrain". My friend skied a novice trail, while I did tree skiing in next to him.

Sure, it wasn't steep, so you up the level of intensity by going faster, or playing slalom with the trees.

Ducking under branches keeps things exciting.

If not for WTFH's comments, I would have thought that Maximus was doing some serious deep-sea trolling.

IG

megadeth: For me it use to be about all the different things like powder and steeps. I needed the terrain to really get a sense of accomplishment and power. Then, I really learned how to ski and kinda discovered that the technique for all those different things is all the same. Its the tactics that change. There are two different kinds of tactics. The one kind is using different skill blending to ski the different snow but the technique is the same. Then there is intent.

Now intent, is like playing a game of chess. Changes in intent, even on a green run, can always mentally outdo changes in skill blending that deal with snow conditions and terrain. Bingo, no boredom. Combining intent with terrain and snow changes is always better but not enough so to go way out of my way and pay dearly to seek.

I can now do turns on green runs that provide me with all the sense of power and grace that skiing double black diamonds out west use to provide me before I really worked on technique. The double black diamonds out west have lost a lot of their excitement and adrenaline rush because I can now ski them without worry.

I switched to telemark skiing in 79 to bring excitement back into my skiing. Little did I know that all I had to do was open my mind and seek to learn. My only regret is that I didn't do that 30 years ago, I did it 5 years ago.

WTFH, I think Maximus was also looking to get a rise out of the group, as the majority are from the US.

As one who is thrilled to ski in the crud in So Cal, I think you need to have a greater appreciation for what is available. Heck, when I have a bad snow day, I say "at least I have bad snow to complain about. I could have no snow!" (Which will be here far too soon, w/the run of warm temps we are having).

And Maximus, you have yet to ski all of the US. I have skiied 2 mile long runs at at-least 2 locations on the west coast -- Bear Valley in Central California, and Schweitzer, in ID (I think those were the spots -- but it was far too long ago!)

I say, move to someplace flat and warm and don't ski. Then you'll appreciate what you are missing!

Casey

Obviously Maximus hasn't been to Jackson Hole

or tuckermans either

as always...

*yawn*

For me it use to be about all the different things like powder and steeps. I needed the terrain to really get a sense of accomplishment and power. Then, I really learned how to ski and kinda discovered that the technique for all those different things is all the same. Its the tactics that change. There are two different kinds of tactics. The one kind is using different skill blending to ski the different snow but the technique is the same. Then there is intent.

Now intent, is like playing a game of chess. Changes in intent, even on a green run, can always mentally outdo changes in skill blending that deal with snow conditions and terrain. Bingo, no boredom. Combining intent with terrain and snow changes is always better but not enough so to go way out of my way and pay dearly to seek.

I can now do turns on green runs that provide me with all the sense of power and grace that skiing double black diamonds out west use to provide me before I really worked on technique. The double black diamonds out west have lost a lot of their excitement and adrenaline rush because I can now ski them without worry.

I switched to telemark skiing in 79 to bring excitement back into my skiing. Little did I know that all I had to do was open my mind and seek to learn. My only regret is that I didn't do that 30 years ago, I did it 5 years ago.</font>[/quote]Yeah you are definitely at a different level in your skiing. For me it is mostly about seeking the adrenaline rush without going over my head since I still have a lot to learn about technique/mental attitude. I understand what you are saying though, watching some of the older(or at least the ones who have been skiing for a long time) skiers I always get the sense that they could enjoy themselves anywhere and make it look fun.

Yes thats right. There is NO tree skiing in the Alps.
I wonder what those large toothpicks with pine needles that I keep running into are?

M

Maximus, are you French? There is something in your post that reeks of cowardice. Hold on- DON'T SURRENDER! DON'T SURRENDER! I'm just kidding!!

Troll if I've ever seen one. "No difference in terrain" between New England and Cali/Nev, huh? Well, in over 30 years of skiing, I've skied about every New England resort there is, as well as many that are no longer. "New England" skiing to ME means tight, (very) variable conditions & tree-lined. However, the terrain is different whether you're in NY, NH, VT, ME or MA.

The Tahoe area has such different terrain than anything in New England, there's simply no comparison. The difference in terrain between Heavenly, Alpine & Squaw is as if you're traveling to 3 different COUNTRIES, even though they're all within 25 miles of each other.

Long runs? There are plenty of runs between 2 and 5 miles at every major resort in the Country. Of course, you'll need to go out West to see 5's, but they do exist.

I know a large handful of Euros who regularly come to the US to ski, even with some of the most dramatic, varied & challenging terrain in the World right at their doorstep. Why? Because the US has such dramtic, varied & challenging terrain that's DIFFERENT from what they ski at home.

In any case, I'm throwing this fish back ~ >\\\*>

It's all good whether in Europe or the USA. I wonder if the powder site is down again.

Nope ~ Up n' running as usual. Care to check in?:

www.powdermag.com

[img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Sheesh!

I can only make one turn at a time, and get tired in about 300 meters of passing Vert.!

On a good snow day, IT IS ALL GOOD!

The BEST area is the one that is I can get to whenever I want!

CalG

This jackass gives eurotrash a bad name.

I'd rather be paying $30 an hour to ski the Tamworth Snowdome with Maximus than the boring places I'm stuck skiing in Montana.

This is dumb, let it die...

damn. i've never skied.

and considering all the places you've skied here, that's a whole heckuva lot of coming back for nothing.

[ March 10, 2003, 10:55 AM: Message edited by: ryan ]

Those are CellPhone towers disguised as trees

Those are CellPhone towers disguised as trees</font>[/quote]Yes, indeed, apalling. On the old resort I used to ski I counted
two/three in the same village....
As far as trees, most runs are well above the tree line...
Still there is tree skiing in Europe...
Consider that with the present day kind of weather, snow doesn't fall on the lowest part of the mountains.

As far as the present thread, just ignore it.

<big><bold>ATTENTION MORONS<bold><big>

DONT FEED THE TROLL

Why is it that when you guys are dishing it out, we have to take it but when someone raises a sensible issue about the diference between US and European skiing all you can come back with is Eurotrash bollox etc. etc.
Whenever I have met US skiers/boarders in Europe they have always said the thing they appreciate most is the freedom to ski where they want to. So if you poor sad deluded pr1cks want to continue to believe you have the best skiing in the world, thats fine by the rest of us. You stay in the good ole US of A. Leave those of us who some discrimnation and sufficient understanding to work out which way is up to make our own choices.
Just for once why don't you get off your predetermined positions, extract your heads from anusses and try to understand where the rest of the world stands.
There is more skiing outside of the US inside, there are more world class descents outside of the US than inside. Unfortunately the vast majority of US skiers are too stupid or prejudiced to accept this.