Bedrock & Paradox

I dream of a hard and brutal mysticism in which the naked self merges with a non-human world and yet somehow survives still intact, individual, separate. Paradox and bedrock.

Happy V-day

This morning I made waffles, prodded M, and together we set out to answer the question: have I become the better skier?  After a day of riding lifts,ripping grommers, and skiing at least one of Snowbowl’s funky snow-filled black runs, the answer must be submitted to outside sources.  Ergo, review the evidence, argue, discuss, and vote.
In favor of me:
Solid descents of four different tough runs (Far East, East and West Bowls, Spartan Headwall).  Solid being defined as consistent linked turns at a slow but steady pace, minimal and always in control falling.  My carving and pace in the bumps are also improving rapidly.  I wear leather boots.
In favor of M:
Significantly greater integrity of form on grommers, much greater speed on cat tracks/greens.  She’s been on snow one day for every 10+ I have this winter.
Not in favor of me:
I’m introducing this debate at all.  Ice scares me.
Not in favor of M:
The one black run I talked her into on the last run (East Bowl) was characterized by the falling leaf technique.  The watchful eyes of the patrollers at the end did not here assist.

M is here pictured before the patrol showed.  Let it snow!

After deciding it was really a matter of approach (I want to learn to ski down anything, and like challenge and surprise, M likes form, perfection and execution [think ballet]), we packed it in and got some ice cream.
Coconut on top Chocolate-Huckleberry with Chocolate Chips (a special V-day flavor) on the bottom.  
Yum.  Big Dipper is one of the best things about Missoula.  Winter’s not bad, either.

DaveC

3 responses to “Happy V-day”

  1. Meredith Avatar
    Meredith

    My “falling leaf” technique was used during one brief, steep, skinny section that had sheets of ice between each mogul bump.I’m fast on blues too, and I used to be good at blacks (I’ve even done double blacks at Snowbird and Sun Valley) and as long as it’s groomed it’s fine, but Snowbowl snow is all weird and chunky and compacted, and their moguls are all misshapen, and I’m on tele skis now, and this is my third day of skiing in four years, so -eat it – bitch.

    Reply
  2. Enel Avatar
    Enel

    I’m dense, but I’ve downhill skied a bit, and like it a lot. I’ve XC skied a bit and enjoyed it until it turned downhill.Not sure exactly what a tele ski is, but guessing it is something in between that does not climb as aggressively as an XC ski, nor descend as nice as a downhill set up?Are they “all mountain”?Time to hit Wikipedia. Looks like fun.No riding here due to snow persistent for a week!!

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  3. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    Eric, your definition of tele used to be correct. I think of it as the original skiing, when skiing meant getting somewhere in untracked snow.Modern tele gear can be just as heavy, if not heavier, than downhill gear, and just means that your heel isn’t locked, which seems silly to me. Our gear is like riding rigid, you can do it, just slower and with much less room for error.

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