 Poster: A snowHead
|
Following on from scariest moments I thought I would ask if I really am as odd as my ski friends say. I enjoy skiing in white out conditions cos I cant see down the slopes and just have to concentrate on turns and getting down. The heavier the better. Indeed I have been known to refuse to ski a slope that I have been doing for 3-4 days in total blizzard, just when the sun comes out.
I appreciate its dangerous to ski in poor visibility conditions but kitted out with warm clothing, goggles etc i find that I am happiest when the weather is poor!!!!!
The best laugh I ever had skiing, was on the Kaprun glacier in a white out in March 02. As we all (yes there were quite a few still out) came off the top of the chair lift, we had a left turn and turn again down onto the piste. Trouble was it was fresh powder about 3-4 ft deep. Each and every person who attempted to dismount the chair, ended up face planting in the deep stuff - I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself (blame child birth, I always do).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Yes, you're weird. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
Fruity. Pardon me for being so ignorant (I don't know if you're male or female) but is this you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
No David, that's the guy who just bought my Spyder Jacket 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Em, David, if Fruity were male, how could she blame childbirth?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Dunno about whiteout but I do like poor visibility a bit as it sorts out the good weather skiers or boarders form thos who can ride any adverse conditions!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mmmm...I remember getting my goggles iced to my head and it hurting when I pulled them off 
On the other hand - as Fruity says - what you can't see, can't scare you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ah, I see David's found a picture of Whistler on a good day !
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
a couple of seasons ago, on 3 seperate trips I was having trouble getting my technique 'flowing' till we had a low visibility day and all of a sudden I had no option other than to adopt a knees bent stance and try to 'feel the snow': totally sorted the technique out and when the sun came out again I was skiing way better.
Use the force(of gravity)!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We had a complete whiteout day in Obergurgl this year, and after initial nervousness it was great fun, a good chance to concentrate on technique as it was to dangerous to pick up too much speed.
The sight of three enourmous snow plough vehicles come out of the mist on a very narrow run, like giant metal monsters, was something to behold too. We had no idea which direction they were coming from and literally had to jump out of the way when they finally emerged.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Having torn my MCL in a whiteout (thought I was on the same piste as my friend, so skied over to him - to discover he was actually about six feet below me on the adjacent run) I think you're weird.
If you're lucky you can use the conditions to your advantage (use the Force, Luke) but if you're unlucky like me, then you'll hate whiteouts forever.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
Fruity. Sorry for getting your gender wrong last time. Let me try again - is this you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Must be very Fruity, I can't even get in there to have a peek!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Ta Pete, all is revealed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Was once on the Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun in a whiteout. It was snowing hard and hardly anybody else was brave enough (read stupid enough) to venture out. I remember how still and silent everything was, couldn't even hear my skis. Had I become one with the mountain, my movents so smooth and technically correct that they were no effort at all?
After a quick prod with a ski pole I realized that I was in fact 90 deg to the fall line and wasn't moving at all.
Of course when I did point the skis in the right direction and set off again I just fell over like a right t.....
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 16-02-04 10:47; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Well I certainly would be happy to ski in the sunshine after days of dumpage! However there is nothing like skiing in a blizzard when the snow is accumulating so fast your tracks are covered between runs. Deep Powder Yeah!!
When there is no new snow to go with the whiteout, as in thick fog reducing visibility thats another story. I'd much rather be able to see and not have to worry about whats in front of me. I tend to tense up when I can't see and that makes for bad skiing. I like to stay near or in the trees when its like that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
My wife hates them - makes her fall over! We were in a white out in Tignes and she completely lost her sense of balance. Was quite funny really. it looked as though she had been drinking rather heavily!
Personally, I quite like ski=ing in a white out - makes for some extra excitement 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Maybe not a complete whiteout - but going out on a bad weather day can be fantastic because you have the slopes to yourself.
Last day of this years holiday was snowy - but was one of the best days. Nasty bumpy slopes get evened out by the snow - and if you do take a tumble it doesn't hurt. Instead of bombing it down the hill - you have to take your time due to the poor visibility, really concentrate on technique and you pay much more attention to what your legs are feeling.
Just need to have good gear - christmas list is already made as I discovered my trousers and gloves weren't made for wet weather!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Don't mind them too much myself (it's about all I can recall from the last 3 of 4 trips), but only 'cos the payback is great snow.
I find myself grinning stupidly with the few other skiirs still out there 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
feeling rather glad that i'm not the only loony out here,just skied in total peace last week,but seems that plenty of folks in bar that night do not agree,but maybe they will learn to have fun some non sunny day!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My first day on my last trip was an unexpected whiteout. Was totally bricking it but more focused on getting down in one piece (bug technique!) so probably, ski-wise, I know hat you mean. Besides which, the chant of "just keep going & you can have a big glass of vin chaud" was enough to keep me going.
Eeyore
p.s. does this make me a snow/p1ss head?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
