A Snow and ski forum. SkiBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » SkiBanter forum » Skiing Newsgroups » Alpine Skiing (moderated)
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

skiing a bowl



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old January 14th 07, 09:10 PM posted to rec.skiing.alpine.moderated
Randy Starkey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6
Default skiing a bowl

Hi,

I am an advanced skier, not expert. I tried to ski a bowl at Copper, Union
Jack, it's a single/double diamond, and I got onto a steep portion of wind
blown crust. I broke through the crust with about 3 feet of soft shown under
it - my skis stopped and I didn't, and you can guess what happened - I went
downhill a ways and had to fight my way through that deep snow to go back
and get my skis.

What is the proper way to ski a steep with crust like that?

Thanks,

--Randy Starkey

Ads
  #2  
Old January 14th 07, 09:34 PM posted to rec.skiing.alpine.moderated
lal_truckee
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,348
Default skiing a bowl

luckier wrote:
Randy Starkey wrote:
Hi,

I am an advanced skier, not expert. I tried to ski a bowl at Copper,

Union
Jack, it's a single/double diamond, and I got onto a steep portion

of wind
blown crust. I broke through the crust with about 3 feet of soft

shown under
it - my skis stopped and I didn't, and you can guess what happened -

I went
downhill a ways and had to fight my way through that deep snow to go

back
and get my skis.

What is the proper way to ski a steep with crust like that?


First, may I point out that there are no bowls at Copper. Or Vail. Their
publicity departments have decided to apply a well defined term "Bowl"
AKA "Cirque" AKA a glacier scooped steep-walled hollow shaped like a
cereal bowl to their common drainages because they believe it will
attract Eastern skiers - apparently it works?

don't. In other words, know your conditions. My home mountain
has many green trails down from the top. By 3:00PM they are
no longer "green" and we have lots of calls for transports
from skiers that should have been able to ski the "green" but
because of conditions, could not.


Well, if he does get into nasty crust with no bailout available, a few
possible techniques suggest:
On relatively strong surface crust sometimes a very light touch keeping
the full running surface of both skis in contact with the crust layer
allows the skier to stay on top of the surface.
Sometimes the old (1950s era) Austrian heel-thrust technique works in
crust - just ignore the crust and power the turns pushing hard on the
tails of the skis.
When all else fails, leap and land - leap completely out of the crust
and land turned, hard enough to crush through the crust; repeat - make
ugly z-turns all the way down.


By the way, crust is not wind-blown. It is snow that has
been rained on or melted at the top layer only and refrozen.


I've encountered wind-blown firm surface over softer snow - not often,
but occasionally. But you're correct - usually windblown is a wonderful
surface - easy skiing.

Windblown is FIRM loose snow which is lots easier to ski
than the breakable crust you got into. How badly cut
up were your shins after your experience?

Thanks,

--Randy Starkey




 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
VO2max versus technique: bicycling vs skiing Ken Roberts Nordic Skiing 1 September 29th 06 06:49 PM
"Tourists discover skiing splendor in the Mideast" [email protected] Alpine Skiing 0 April 5th 06 03:34 PM
Skiing to Maintain Our Health. The Wisconsin Skier Alpine Skiing 0 March 24th 06 02:18 PM
Back from 1st time skiing the Alps Ron - N.Y Alpine Skiing 11 January 16th 06 04:49 PM
Powder Skiing Lesson and Tips Jay Sitkin Alpine Skiing 27 January 25th 04 07:56 AM


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 SkiBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.