Best hill(s) to go wide-open.

#1

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10/24/09 at 5:37pm

epic
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I love to ski fast. I also like having all of my parts attached. One thing that's really enjoyable is finding a trail where there is never any need to slow down. So I want to know where are the best hills to really let them run. A hill with great grooming, wide trails, few people, and nobody telling you to slow down. It should be pretty darn flat too.

#2

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10/24/09 at 5:42pm

WILDCAT
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Regulator Johnson @ Snowbird.

It's several hundred yards wide. No trees and excellent sight lines. It's groomed almost every day and faces west, so it can be race-course firm in the morning. I would guess that it's about 3/4 of a mile long.

Oh... ...It's not flat

I like to carve big SG turns from one side to the other. My ears pop while decending. Tucking it would put you above 50 mph in just a few seconds.

Michael

#3

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10/24/09 at 5:55pm

MastersRacer
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Race arenas. Period.

Wide open skiing on any open trail is an invitation to disaster. First for the other people on the hill. Unless the trail is closed to the public, the public can show up at any time. Secondly to yourself. There is a reason that USSA and FIS requires b-net and other forms of protection.

Join a club or a team and take advantage of hills that have protection and controlled access.

If you are near CO, you can go to a number of speed camps at Ski Cooper, just what you described: wide, fairly flat, groomed and when we have camps, trails closed to the public along with coaching and video. We average about 60 mph with speeds in excess of 65.

This is a speed camp at Ski Cooper, CO, Jan. 2009. We have one coming up 12/19-23/09. And training and racing 1/15-18/10. See www.swissam.com for details.

MR

#4

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10/24/09 at 6:07pm

Ghost
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I won't tell your where, but I can tell you when. When the weather is crappy, especially if there's been a lot of freezing rain. This is the best time because you have the hill almost to yourself and most of the other people on the hill will be moving very slowly so they are easy to ski around. It's best if the freezing rain has stopped; I hate it when I get launched by an unseen bump at high speed, and freezing rain has a way of obscuring your view. The ice makes the hill faster too. One drawback though, the hill might be closed.

Look around. There are a few steep places on the back sides of some resorts, and others just beyond the boundaries and between runs that will even allow you to curve back to the lift (not advising you to duck a rope, just say'n).

Edited by Ghost - 10/24/09 at 6:19pm

#5

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10/24/09 at 6:13pm

epic
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost

I won't tell your where, but I can tell you when. When the weather is crappy, especially if there's been a lot of freezing rain. It's best if the freezing rain has stopped; I hate it when I get launched by an unseen bump at high speed, and freezing rain has a way of obscuring your view. The ice makes the hill faster too. One drawback though, the hill might be closed.

Look around. There are a few steep places on the back sides of some resorts, and others just beyond the boundaries and between runs that will even allow you to curve back to the lift (not advising you to duck a rope, just say'n).

This entire post is pretty much the opposite of everything I'm looking for. Sunny days only thank you very much. It's nice to be able to see where you are going. I had my worst crash ever in some sub-optimal weather on a GS training day. Let's just say that people were calling ski patrol from the lift, and the first person that skied up to me had already dialed (but not called 911). So no thanks. I don't want to be between anything. I like going fast, but I'm not stupid or crazy.

#6

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10/24/09 at 6:13pm

sibhusky
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Given that this is a moderator asking this...I have to ask myself if this isn't just an effort to start a discussion of the advisability of skiing flat out anywhere OTHER than a closed course?

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad equipment.

#7

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10/24/09 at 6:20pm

crgildart
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What's the difference in risk level between bombing part of a wide open, completely vacant tail versus hitting some air jumps in the park? Either way you run some risk of injuring yourself, But, I don't think that you are violating any cardinal rules as long as you are skiing"under control" (giving distance to other skiers and able to stop/slow down reasonable quickly). MC, you're starting to sound like everyone in The Christmas Story.. "you'll shoot your eye out kid"!

I remember when only folks on the freestyle team could use the kickers, and only when there were coaches supervising. I love the idea of being able to ski full blown SG courses, but only live close enough to ski a few days a year these days. One rule I do stick to is don't ski overly aggressively late in the day when you are tired. That's when most folks get hurt.. cranking it up too far late in the day when not at 100% anymore.

Smell that? Winter's coming!

#8

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10/24/09 at 6:26pm

Ghost
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Well if not bad weather, then it's mid-week and early morning, before it gets too crowded.

There is also back country and side country. The deeper snow will slow you down a bit, but you can compensate by finding steeper terrain. Of course, you also have to keep an eye on avalanche coneditions if you venture off the designated runs.

You safety nazis need to take a chill pill. There is nothing wrong with skiing fast, so long a you have the equipment for it and use a little common sense about when and where to shut it down.

#9

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10/24/09 at 6:28pm

epic
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OK, here's an example. I work at Stowe,. At 8:30 or so when the Easy Street lift first turns I get on. From the top of the trail I can see the bottom of the trail. The trail is wide there are no intersections the upper mountain is not open yet, nobody will come in from above. It's really fun to ski the trail as fast as you can. I don't mean tucking the whole trail, but arc2arc all the way to the bottom without ever having to let up. It would be even more fun if the trail was twice as long that's all.

I race and train GS and SG. I'm not talking about that.

I'm sure someone will tell me I'm irresponsible or crazy for saying this, but I'd also like to take my 6 yo daughter to such a hill. I think it's great for her skiing to occasionally be able to ski without having to try and control her speed,. To just feel her edges dig in and bring her across the hill.

#10

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10/24/09 at 6:29pm

Yo Momma
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8 am- 9:30 am any day at SNOWMASS! TOP TO BOTTOM!

UNREAL for lightspeed cranking till your legs are ready to burn off...one of the main trails is even called "Big Burn"........bring your long boards or race skis cause it's on! Just watch the large humps on the trails on skiers right side of the mountain cause at speed the launches can catch you by surprise and send you flying ten feet in the air unexpectedly.

I haven't found anywhere that I can ski this fast for as long in the U.S.

I've heard Whistler might be a competitor in this category but have not confirmed for myself.

Book it! You will not regret it.............

#11

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10/24/09 at 6:31pm

Ghost
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Quote:

Originally Posted by epic
arc2arc all the way to the bottom without ever having to let up. It would be even more fun if the trail was twice as long that's all.

That's what skis were made for

#12

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10/24/09 at 8:31pm

quickfoot
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Sun Valley, Warm Springs, early am, 3000 vert, great grooming

#13

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10/25/09 at 3:54am

Jamesj
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Trying to understand what Epic is asking for? Steep, long and groomed? Besides Sun Valley, also Snowbasin, Jackson Hole. Richie-Rich had a thread on places for this in the East: http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/57024/best-places-in-the-east-to-ski-fast

But if asking for long, uninterrupted, not so steep and empty...hmm...most of the big names in East would provide this on a weekday morning on fresh cord?? But maybe especially nice for this would be Le Massif, Sugarloaf, Mount Bachelor, Big Sky, Grand Targhee, Blackcomb, backside of Northstar, Whitefish/Big Mtn, Snowmass, Keystone, wow - the list could go on and on...if you hit many big places on a quiet day. You have some of the best like Gondolier at your Stowe?

#14

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10/25/09 at 4:52am

crgildart
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Highlands at Wintergreen provided me with an entire afternoon (on a Saturday

) of high speed cruising last year. It was the Saturday before the SuperBowl so I expect many folks were getting their party food and supplies for the game. The middle areas of the resort were packed though.. Also, there was a nice run at BK last year we ripped up all day long during the gathering there.

Smell that? Winter's coming!

#15

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10/25/09 at 5:00am

Trekchick
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Quote:

Originally Posted by sibhusky

Given that this is a moderator asking this...I have to ask myself if this isn't just an effort to start a discussion of the advisability of skiing flat out anywhere OTHER than a closed course?

Moderators often post as regular Bears here..........really, we do!!

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy

#16

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10/25/09 at 5:03am

epic
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Anyone have an opinion on Bretton Woods?

#17

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10/25/09 at 5:22am

BushwackerinPA
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Location: Stowe, Vt
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Quote:

Originally Posted by epic

Anyone have an opinion on Bretton Woods?

no, but last year at Stowe, those groomers were retardly fast!

"Trading the future for the moment, one powder turn at a time"

pbfootnit.blogspot.com/ <<< the start of something good!

#18

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10/25/09 at 5:44am

Paul Jones
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Believe it or not, Jiminy Peak is totally groomed. Jerico is the steepest trail there and you can go top to bottom with no turns on many days - 50 mph easy. I don't do that be cause of fear, but some of the guys I ski with do it all the time. You can see most of the slope so a spotter is wise for the last drop.

If a closed course were required, I'd never get to ski fast. It's important to ski fast from time to time.

#19

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10/25/09 at 5:50am

epic
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Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

no, but last year at Stowe, those groomers were retardly fast!

Yeah, they're pretty good, but I still always feel like I need to hold back and have some margin, reign it in for the rollers so I'm not jumping blind, etc. and that's on SL skis. GS skis would just be dumb most of the time. This season you will see what Tuesday afternoon on Gondolier is all about.

#20

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10/25/09 at 6:31am

Whiteroom
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Beaver Creek... perfect snow, perfect grooming, perfect visibility. I think they have some kind of ski race there once a year or so...

skiershop.com

#21

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10/25/09 at 7:47am

newfydog
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Bachelor can be super for that. Midweek, when high pressure is around and no new snow has fallen they don't run the outback lift. The trails can be reached from the NW lift, but it requires a long flat traverse at top and bottom, something people will only do for powder. I've skied some of those runs when I knew no one was on them, because I had the only tracks on the fresh corduroy. If I can see there are no tracks I feel pretty good just pointing them. One spotter is all you need otherwise. I'll pull out the long skis sometimes just to hit some mach speeds.
Edited by newfydog - 10/25/09 at 8:05am

#22

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10/25/09 at 8:01am

slider
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Palmer Snowfield at Timberline Mt.Hood,Oregon. Not that steep but lots of room to zoom.

#23

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10/25/09 at 8:06am

freeski919
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Chief at Okemo. Okay pitch, wide open, just one small intersection on skiers right, and a big roller that would launch you on skiers left. My friends and I used to go screaming down that at SG speeds, without any problem.

#24

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10/25/09 at 8:28am

bjohansson
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Twister at Gore midweek. Nice and wide, moderate pitch, about 1600 vert and nobody seems to ski it. They run their GS courses from about halfway down that trail. The last pitch just before the lifts is pretty steep but obscenely wide. I have made dozens of runs on this trail, only turning when the trail turns and not seeing another soul until I get to the liftline. It was even better when I had my Fischer RC4 WC GS RC's. My current skis (slalom carvers, midfats, and all-mtn TTs) all have a top end that I can easily approach on Twister when we've had a thaw/freeze cycle.

#25

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10/25/09 at 9:26am

stevesmith7
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Whiteroom

Beaver Creek... perfect snow, perfect grooming, perfect visibility. I think they have some kind of ski race there once a year or so...

If you can point 'em down Golden Eagle when it's groomed and icy you're sporting a bigger set than I. I agree however that BC is the place we go when we want to ski fast.

#26

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10/25/09 at 9:31am

epic
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I was thinking Birds of Prey might require some big ones. Hayride at full-throttle is not something I'd really want to do even with netting and the works.

#27

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10/25/09 at 9:58am

MastersRacer
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Quote:

Originally Posted by crgildart

What's the difference in risk level between bombing part of a wide open, completely vacant tail versus hitting some air jumps in the park? Either way you run some risk of injuring yourself, But, I don't think that you are violating any cardinal rules as long as you are skiing"under control" (giving distance to other skiers and able to stop/slow down reasonable quickly). MC, you're starting to sound like everyone in The Christmas Story.. "you'll shoot your eye out kid"!

I remember when only folks on the freestyle team could use the kickers, and only when there were coaches supervising. I love the idea of being able to ski full blown SG courses, but only live close enough to ski a few days a year these days. One rule I do stick to is don't ski overly aggressively late in the day when you are tired. That's when most folks get hurt.. cranking it up too far late in the day when not at 100% anymore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost

Well if not bad weather, then it's mid-week and early morning, before it gets too crowded.

There is also back country and side country. The deeper snow will slow you down a bit, but you can compensate by finding steeper terrain. Of course, you also have to keep an eye on avalanche coneditions if you venture off the designated runs.

You safety nazis need to take a chill pill. There is nothing wrong with skiing fast, so long a you have the equipment for it and use a little common sense about when and where to shut it down.

I have decades of experience with wide-open skiing and coach those that do, too. Racers still get hurt despite their training and conditioning and course safety. **it happens, but having the odds in your favor helps. I've watched racers ski away from b-net when if there hadn't been any, they'd be dead.

BTW, what ever happened to the kid's glasses in Christmas Story?

As far as a 'vacant trail', if it is open to the public there is no guarantee that it will remain vacant. People choose to go to the park and their are warnings; they don't choose to be in a speed trap when they go down an open blue.

Let's agree to disagree. I'll not be posting to this thread anymore.

MR

#28

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10/25/09 at 10:28am

newfydog
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Whiteroom

Beaver Creek... perfect snow, perfect grooming, perfect visibility. I think they have some kind of ski race there once a year or so...

Got to agree with that one. I last skied there in the days when we were all on 205's, with two other racers. We bombed the Birds all day, and were about the only people on the hill. The third could lay back while the first two checked that it was clear, then really let them go.
All three lived.

#29

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10/25/09 at 11:18am

davluri
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One day I came close to having a problem. The lower third of a fast line was a washboard, small surface ripples, hard. Tucking that section my eyes were shaking in their sockets, so things got blurry. I saw a couple skiers in front of me and figured (assumed) they were skiing and that I had a second or so to adjust my line. But they were not skiing. They were standing still, in the middle of the run. Man, they came up fast. I had about a fraction of a second to throw shi# sideways and avoid them. you know what a-s-s-u-m-e means!

#30

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10/25/09 at 11:19am

Snowfan
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Taos...Top to bottom on the backside, midweek. Best "First Run" of the day anywhere I've been. 3 miles at up to 50 or so. Nobody in the way. Starts with a cat-track then turns into freshly groomed rollercoaster, followed by Daytona-like banking, left, right, up, down, off-camber, hairpins....real fun and plenty wide. Lots of places to boot out if you are carrying any kind of speed at all.

Telluride...See Forever run.

"For me skiing has always been about what I feel as opposed to what I think..." Hilary Lindh

"A setback is just a setup for a comeback" Errol Kerr

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