Skiing and Snowboarding - 2023

[sygazelle]

I found the the photo of my first trip skiing. I think it's 1968.

It was tough for me that first day. That girl is actually holding me up or I would have fallen down.

[sygazelle]

One of the reasons I keep skiiing is to spend time on the slopes with the grand kids.

Here I am at Heavenly Valley with 3 of my 6 grand kids. Lake Tahoe in the background.

I love it now because they are all good enough to ski most intermediate runs. They keep thinking they can beat grandpa down the hill, but not quite yet! However, by next year I'll be following them.

[Watching The World Burn]

Went skiing at Lake Louise for the first time, absolutely stunning. First time on a mountain. Couldn't do anything more than blues because I was skiing with my kids, but blues were enough, just fantastic.

In the one picture, you can sort of see Lake Louise between the trees tucked away at the base of the mountain if you zoom in far enough.

[Watching The World Burn]

Originally Posted by Onesie

Used to ski there often. It’s awesome!!! Couldn’t go this season, maybe Next one.
Try Sunshine if you go back to Banff. It’s incredible too. Can’t go wrong with either one, but sunshine feels like LL’s back mountain.

Will do! Probably won't be for a few years until both boys are good enough to ski mountains (and I'm so old and frail that if I take a fall, it'll be my last lol). But I did love it, and the hope is that in 5 years or so, we'll be able to take ski vacations and that with the kids. That way, my youngest will be 10, and a better skier than me at that point probably.

[bwoodahl]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

I found the the photo of my first trip skiing. I think it's 1968.

It was tough for me that first day. That girl is actually holding me up or I would have fallen down.

Wow! That's an awesome pic. There's no sidecut on those skis

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by bwoodahl

Wow! That's an awesome pic. There's no sidecut on those skis

You noticed! The skis at that time were metal and Head made the most popular skis. The skis I had on were called Head Standards and they were basically narrow and straight slabs. They were about 196cm. Turning was a chore compared to the modern parabolic skis.

[bwoodahl]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

You noticed! The skis at that time were metal and Head made the most popular skis. The skis I had on were called Head Standards and they were basically narrow and straight slabs. They were about 196cm. Turning was a chore compared to the modern parabolic skis.

I thought they were Heads. In the late 70’s I skied on Wahoos, then went on my Olin fix (Mark III, Mark IV, and then 930s) in the early 80’s.

[Nickco43]

I get an an epic pass each year and normally ski 5-10 days a year. Traffic from Denver to the ski areas on I-70 during the weekends is a disaster at best. With no traffic I can get to Keystone in about an 1.25 hours. The last time I went to Breckenridge a few weeks ago it was two hours to get there and three hours to get back!

Sometimes I think about giving up the sport but then I get back on the mountain.

[antgenn]

I started skiing in my early 40s back in 2001. Mostly going local to Poconos (Camelback) and Stowe, VT. Never been to CO or UT. Broke my spine saving a kid on a ski board from bring hit by my heavy body 2 years ago and did not notice that until doctor noticed it on the MRI 6 month later. Still skiing, going to Switzerland this month.

[Skyscraper]

I’m a Snowboarder. Started at 14 when they had metal fins like a surfboard and no edge. Almost impossible to ride. I almost switched to skis the first couple seasons.
I’ve been riding for 36 years, but probably only gone for 32/33 seasons. I’m such a primadonna at 50. Some of the drought years have been so bad I didn’t even go once.
I tried teaching my son a couple seasons when he was 9/10. But he got migraines so bad he would be crying while riding. So I quit taking him. He’s 19 now and doesn’t want to try at all.
My daughter at 15 now wants to learn. So I’m teaching her this season.
My wife has a bad knee. So she finds the bar or just stays home.
I’m bummed I never got to travel and ride other places. It’s impossible being the only one who rides or skis.

[brk_05]

Been skiing for about 25 years. I get out west at lease once a year for a guys trip (Utah, Montana, Jackson). Was out on Colorado early in January for a quick weekend. Hit Copper, A Basin, and Loveland.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Skyscraper

I’m a Snowboarder. Started at 14 when they had metal fins like a surfboard and no edge. Almost impossible to ride. I almost switched to skis the first couple seasons.
I’ve been riding for 36 years, but probably only gone for 32/33 seasons. I’m such a primadonna at 50. Some of the drought years have been so bad I didn’t even go once.
I tried teaching my son a couple seasons when he was 9/10. But he got migraines so bad he would be crying while riding. So I quit taking him. He’s 19 now and doesn’t want to try at all.
My daughter at 15 now wants to learn. So I’m teaching her this season.
My wife has a bad knee. So she finds the bar or just stays home.
I’m bummed I never got to travel and ride other places. It’s impossible being the only one who rides or skis.

Where do you go?

[shimmy23]

snowboarder here! been into skiing/snowboarding since i was 3yr old! i go up twice a week, one evening with my son and another day by myself.

[Skyscraper]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Where do you go?

Now. Boreal (AKA Boringhill) while teaching.
I like "Squaw Valley", Sierra, Alpine. Sugar Bowl is ok.
Kirkwood is nice, but I have to leave an hour earlier. So I rarely go there.

[infinitekidM2C]

kids with their instructor and me
guy was really cool and helpful

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Skyscraper

Now. Boreal (AKA Boringhill) while teaching.
I like "Squaw Valley", Sierra, Alpine. Sugar Bowl is ok.
Kirkwood is nice, but I have to leave an hour earlier. So I rarely go there.

Boreal is a great place if you are working with kids. I learned at very small ski areas so it's a great throwback memory for me to go to these places once in awhile.

My favorite when I lived in So. Cal. was Mammoth Mountain. It's just too far to go from the Bay Area. I'll get there again one day.

I love Northstar and Squaw Valley (can't remember it's new name), but my favorite these days is Kirkwood.

My least favorite is Heavenly.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by brk_05

Been skiing for about 25 years. I get out west at lease once a year for a guys trip (Utah, Montana, Jackson). Was out on Colorado early in January for a quick weekend. Hit Copper, A Basin, and Loveland.

Beautiful. I'll be out there in 15 days, family has a place in Leadville; I go every year. I usually hit Copper mid-week to take a break from the local spot, it's a great place during the middle of the week when the crowds are down.

[POBEP]

My personal preference is Kirkwood, however Heavenly has incredible views

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by POBEP

My personal preference is Kirkwood, however Heavenly has incredible views

That view is simply amazing. Thanks for sharing

Heavenly is in most accounts an amazing resort. It's just too spread out and too close South Lake Tahoe's sea of motels and hotels for my taste. At my age, I'd rather keep it simple and Kirkwood is perfect in that regard.

Heavenly is included in my annual ski pass so I'm sure I will get there sometime this season. The skiing is great and the views are the best.