New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Urban Poaching

post #1 of 37
6/21/12 at 11:55am
Thread Starter 

It is Summer and we are all getting just a bit weirder; especially after this last winter for many of us.  Well here is a little something to play with.  This is not an endorsements for poaching but -------------.  

 

 

Tacoma-Dome.jpg

 

I have driven by this local landmark a dozen times a week for the past 8 years.  Have spent over 6 months inside of it working retail shows.  In other words, have spent a lot of time considering this, and figuring out the how to's.  It could be done by one person and might cost a case of beer for access to the top.  There would be about a 6' drop at the bottom and the get away car would be about 100' away.  You could hit this line (in full sight of I-5) and be gone before anybody could respond.  Just add one good sized snow storm and it could be done.  

 

If you see a set of tracks down the East side of this some winter day, it was not me.  I would not do that, no one would have seen me do it, and you could not prove a thing.  cool.gif

 

What have you been looking at kids?

Reply
post #2 of 37
6/21/12 at 12:21pm

I always figure that the problem with roofs like that is that given they're very smooth, they might well slide.  Particularly something like that is concave.

 

But I'd be lying if I said I'd never looked up at a building and thought, "I could ski that..."

Reply
post #3 of 37
6/21/12 at 12:37pm
Thread Starter 

The skin on the dome is porous enough and our snow is wet enough that it SHOULD hold.  I have watched that thing through some pretty fair sized storms and watched crews up clearing it after some storms and have not seen it slide.  

 

The only 2 real concerns are: when they last cleaned it, it does get slipperier when it is clean (a healthy layer of mold would be a good thing here), it is a rubber like material and do not want to damage it (dull the edges first).

Reply
post #4 of 37
6/21/12 at 1:07pm

Don't forget your avy gear..

 

Reply
post #5 of 37
6/21/12 at 1:20pm

???

 

transamerica-pyramid-san-francisco-casfmk13.jpg

 

Just kidding, SF doesn't get enough snow. wink.gif

Reply
post #6 of 37
6/21/12 at 1:23pm

HultCenterPerformingArts.jpg

Reply
post #7 of 37
6/21/12 at 1:30pm

250px-PyramidArena.jpg

 

It does occasionally snow in Memphis

Reply
post #8 of 37
6/21/12 at 1:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by volantaddict View Post

Just kidding, SF doesn't get enough snow. wink.gif

 

With hills like this, who needs snow?  ;-)

 

 

 

"Making Of" Vid

Edited by jc-ski - 6/21/12 at 1:53pm
Reply
post #9 of 37
6/21/12 at 2:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stranger View Post

It is Summer and we are all getting just a bit weirder; especially after this last winter for many of us.  Well here is a little something to play with.  This is not an endorsements for poaching but -------------.  

 

 

Tacoma-Dome.jpg

 

I have driven by this local landmark a dozen times a week for the past 8 years.  Have spent over 6 months inside of it working retail shows.  In other words, have spent a lot of time considering this, and figuring out the how to's.  It could be done by one person and might cost a case of beer for access to the top.  There would be about a 6' drop at the bottom and the get away car would be about 100' away.  You could hit this line (in full sight of I-5) and be gone before anybody could respond.  Just add one good sized snow storm and it could be done.  

 

If you see a set of tracks down the East side of this some winter day, it was not me.  I would not do that, no one would have seen me do it, and you could not prove a thing.  cool.gif

 

What have you been looking at kids?

 

Would be beyond epic to see tracks down the dome. 152ft of vert!

Reply
post #10 of 37
6/21/12 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by volantaddict View Post

???

 

transamerica-pyramid-san-francisco-casfmk13.jpg

 

Just kidding, SF doesn't get enough snow. wink.gif

 

Ya, getting in the 2nd turn could be a challenge!  eek.gif

Reply
post #11 of 37
6/21/12 at 4:24pm

I've also thought about skiing the Tacoma Dome.

However, how much snow are you talking about? It seems like it would be more than a 6 foot drop at the bottom, more like 15 or 20 feet, and to flat.  Regardless, it seems pretty doable as a 20 foot drop, even to flat, is very doable.

Reply
post #12 of 37
6/21/12 at 4:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke2320 View Post

I've also thought about skiing the Tacoma Dome.

However, how much snow are you talking about? It seems like it would be more than a 6 foot drop at the bottom, more like 15 or 20 feet, and to flat.  Regardless, it seems pretty doable as a 20 foot drop, even to flat, is very doable.

 

When does Tacoma get enough snow you could huck 20 feet onto flat pavement below? Sounds like a few broken bones to me. biggrin.gif

Reply
post #13 of 37
6/21/12 at 4:49pm

Kind of brings to mind this kind of death-wish skiing

 

Reply
post #14 of 37
6/21/12 at 5:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke2320 View Post

I've also thought about skiing the Tacoma Dome.

However, how much snow are you talking about? It seems like it would be more than a 6 foot drop at the bottom, more like 15 or 20 feet, and to flat.  Regardless, it seems pretty doable as a 20 foot drop, even to flat, is very doable.

These bones have gotten old enough that 20' on to the flat does not sound like so much fun anymore.  The East side of the Dome towards the interstate is only about 6' drop onto grass.  A 2 day storm should make for really fine Cascade concrete conditions, with a bit of sluff to create a little slope on the landing.  I can do that.

 

Also, unlike the Metrodome there is a plywood underlay of the roof.  Maintenance people walk all over it all the time.  Don't know if this would qualify as a 1st decent, but it would be a memorable one, and 1st poach in a very long time.

Reply
post #15 of 37
6/21/12 at 6:02pm

Mt. Diablo, just east of SF near Walnut Creek CA.:

02210_mountdiablosnow_1024x768.jpg

 

I don't even think it would be poaching, & it has probably been done, but I have been eying this one since I was a little kid.  The problem is how rare it is to ever get enough snow on it to ski.  The base is just above sea level, & tops out at around 3000'.  At this latitude snow is a rarity.

 

JF

Reply
post #16 of 37
6/21/12 at 6:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirquerider View Post

Kind of brings to mind this kind of death-wish skiing

 

 

We used to do similar things through long downhill neighborhoods and townhouse communities with lots of stair sets on our BMX bikes.

Reply
post #17 of 37
6/21/12 at 8:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4ster View Post

Mt. Diablo, just east of SF near Walnut Creek CA.:

02210_mountdiablosnow_1024x768.jpg

 

I don't even think it would be poaching, & it has probably been done, but I have been eying this one since I was a little kid.  The problem is how rare it is to ever get enough snow on it to ski.  The base is just above sea level, & tops out at around 3000'.  At this latitude snow is a rarity.

 

JF

Jim that does look sweet, poached or not.  Maybe what we need is a big volcano somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere far from anyone?

Reply
post #18 of 37
6/22/12 at 6:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by volantaddict View Post

???

 

transamerica-pyramid-san-francisco-casfmk13.jpg

 

Just kidding, SF doesn't get enough snow. wink.gif

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stranger View Post

Ya, getting in the 2nd turn could be a challenge!  eek.gif

Hop turns. biggrin.gif

Reply
post #19 of 37
6/22/12 at 8:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirquerider View Post

Kind of brings to mind this kind of death-wish skiing

 

did stuff like this on my rollerskates, but instead of getting on the bus we used to hold on to the back bumper for a free ride

Reply
post #20 of 37
6/22/12 at 9:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stranger View Post

 

If you see a set of tracks down the East side of this some winter day, it was not me.  I would not do that, no one would have seen me do it, and you could not prove a thing.  cool.gif

 

You may be starting a trend - BASE Skiing?

 

Regardless, if you ever don't do it, please don't videotape it.  wink.gif

Reply
post #21 of 37
6/22/12 at 9:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4ster View Post

Mt. Diablo, just east of SF near Walnut Creek CA.:

02210_mountdiablosnow_1024x768.jpg

 

I don't even think it would be poaching, & it has probably been done, but I have been eying this one since I was a little kid.  The problem is how rare it is to ever get enough snow on it to ski.  The base is just above sea level, & tops out at around 3000'.  At this latitude snow is a rarity.

 

JF

 

Rock skis FTW!  Once and out.

Reply
post #22 of 37
6/24/12 at 9:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4ster View Post

Mt. Diablo, just east of SF near Walnut Creek CA.

 

Schralph Macchio on TGR has boarded it and posted TRs.

Reply
post #23 of 37
6/24/12 at 11:27pm

This is as much snow as I've seen on the T-Dome in 30 years.  (sigh)

 

120121 T Dome snow melt A0005.JPG

 

 

And the side of the dome that you're talking about is actually the north side.  I-5 runs east-west in this section.

 

 

     Peter Haley

     photograhper

    The News Tribune (Tacoma)

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

How well you are able to ski is related to how hard you are willing to fall.

Reply
post #24 of 37
6/25/12 at 3:11am

National library under construction... It would have more visitors if it was lift - served smile.gif

National library

And here's an advert with this building.

Reply
post #25 of 37
6/25/12 at 12:46pm

I day dream about skiing the hills of downtown Seattle almost daily.

 

Similar thoughts went through my head when I was in San Francisco this past Saturday.

Reply
post #26 of 37
6/25/12 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by irafar View Post

National library under construction... It would have more visitors if it was lift - served smile.gif

 

And here's an advert with this building.

These people? are inspirational.  

 

Did they get away with it or are they in a gulag now?

 

If conditions were right December 21, 2012 seems like the perfect time.  Those who might say no could be busy.

Reply
post #27 of 37
6/25/12 at 2:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkiingCoug View Post

I day dream about skiing the hills of downtown Seattle almost daily.

 

Similar thoughts went through my head when I was in San Francisco this past Saturday.

 

Looking at em how could you not? I live beside maybe the biggest hill in the western part of SF and think about it all the time, especially since legions of skateboarders constantly bomb it all hours of the day (and sometimes night!). 

 

It does make me wonder what you could do to a ski base to make it work a little better on a paved street. Maybe a 12-16" section of something like this under the foot for rolling and some direction control...

 

ROLLER1.jpg

 

 

 

self-aligning-ball-bearing-66476.jpg

And a flat sheet of embedded ball bearings fore and aft on the ski base to help with rolling and turning.

SKIBASE2.jpg

Affix some hard rubber strips as a side edge so when you tipped past a certain degree you could brake.

 

Might not last too long, but think of it - Master of Sparks! 

 

Whatever the design, I think the world needs some real street skis! Not Roller Skis, but rather Skis That Roll!

Reply
post #28 of 37
6/25/12 at 9:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jc-ski View Post

 

Looking at em how could you not? I live beside maybe the biggest hill in the western part of SF and think about it all the time, especially since legions of skateboarders constantly bomb it all hours of the day (and sometimes night!). 

 

It does make me wonder what you could do to a ski base to make it work a little better on a paved street. Maybe a 12-16" section of something like this under the foot for rolling and some direction control...

 

ROLLER1.jpg

 

 

 

self-aligning-ball-bearing-66476.jpg

And a flat sheet of embedded ball bearings fore and aft on the ski base to help with rolling and turning.

SKIBASE2.jpg

Affix some hard rubber strips as a side edge so when you tipped past a certain degree you could brake.

 

Might not last too long, but think of it - Master of Sparks! 

 

Whatever the design, I think the world needs some real street skis! Not Roller Skis, but rather Skis That Roll

Look up freebord, i think its closer to the way to move with this idea, casting wheels in the center, rolling on the outside so when your not on edge you can spin, on edge you can carve, and do anything in between. Ive been thinking about this for a long long time, maybe its time to do something about it.

Reply
post #29 of 37
6/25/12 at 10:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stranger View Post

These people? are inspirational.  

 

Did they get away with it or are they in a gulag now?

 

If conditions were right December 21, 2012 seems like the perfect time.  Those who might say no could be busy.

I guess many people think of skiing down this hill when they see the building :)

This video is fake as many other adverts. Just the message, that you can afford more

Reply
post #30 of 37
6/25/12 at 10:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by snowyphil65 View Post

Look up freebord, i think its closer to the way to move with this idea, casting wheels in the center, rolling on the outside so when your not on edge you can spin, on edge you can carve, and do anything in between. Ive been thinking about this for a long long time, maybe its time to do something about it.

 

That is pretty cool - http://freebord.com/about - but I'd like to see something that somehow uses the entire surface of the ski base, not trucks mounted on it, etc. Idea above was just spitballing, but there might be something in there that has merit.

 

There's a company downtown that sells equipment to moving companies. A lot of different stuff with wheels and ball bearings. Need to browse around in there to get some ideas.

 

And some padding.  ;-)

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Ski Gear Discussion