Black diamond skiing

Is it considered a bad thing for an intermediate level skier like myself
to be taking my time skiing the black diamond trails? Most of the folks
I see attempting these trails are moving a lot faster than I am. The
blue trails are no longer a challenge to me and I want to push myself to
get better, but I also want to be able to do some traversing on these
trails. Am I creating a hazard for those who want to ski them faster? I
try to wait at the top of the steeper areas off to the side until the
better skiers go past but I still often find that while I'm traversing
down, someone else goes zipping by at 50mpg or faster and I wonder if
they will have time to react.
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Chuck wrote:
Is it considered a bad thing for an intermediate level skier like myself
to be taking my time skiing the black diamond trails? Most of the folks
I see attempting these trails are moving a lot faster than I am. The
blue trails are no longer a challenge to me and I want to push myself to
get better, but I also want to be able to do some traversing on these
trails. Am I creating a hazard for those who want to ski them faster? I
try to wait at the top of the steeper areas off to the side until the
better skiers go past but I still often find that while I'm traversing
down, someone else goes zipping by at 50mpg or faster and I wonder if
they will have time to react.

It has never bothered me to pass people, or be passed by people.
Generally speaking, if someone is bombing down an expert trail, they are
good enough to get by you without incident. I wouldn't worry about it
personally.


----------------------
Chester Bullock,
Colorado Mountain Cams, Snow Conditions, Opinionated Reports
http://www.black-diamond.com
AIM: tenxible YahooIM: ccb247

Chester Bullock wrote:
Chuck wrote:

Is it considered a bad thing for an intermediate level skier like
myself to be taking my time skiing the black diamond trails? Most of
the folks I see attempting these trails are moving a lot faster than I
am. The blue trails are no longer a challenge to me and I want to push
myself to get better, but I also want to be able to do some traversing
on these trails. Am I creating a hazard for those who want to ski them
faster? I try to wait at the top of the steeper areas off to the side
until the better skiers go past but I still often find that while I'm
traversing down, someone else goes zipping by at 50mpg or faster and I
wonder if they will have time to react.


It has never bothered me to pass people, or be passed by people.
Generally speaking, if someone is bombing down an expert trail, they are
good enough to get by you without incident. I wouldn't worry about it
personally.



True for the most part, but I'd look uphill before traversing to be sure
it's clear. Ir's technically the responsibility of the skier above you
to avoid a collision, but a watchful eye from the downhill skier is a
good precaution.
Have fun!

Matt

"MattB" wrote in message
...
Chester Bullock wrote:
Chuck wrote:

Is it considered a bad thing for an intermediate level skier like
myself to be taking my time skiing the black diamond trails? Most of
the folks I see attempting these trails are moving a lot faster than I
am. The blue trails are no longer a challenge to me and I want to push
myself to get better, but I also want to be able to do some traversing
on these trails. Am I creating a hazard for those who want to ski them
faster? I try to wait at the top of the steeper areas off to the side
until the better skiers go past but I still often find that while I'm
traversing down, someone else goes zipping by at 50mpg or faster and I
wonder if they will have time to react.


It has never bothered me to pass people, or be passed by people.
Generally speaking, if someone is bombing down an expert trail, they are
good enough to get by you without incident. I wouldn't worry about it
personally.



True for the most part, but I'd look uphill before traversing to be sure
it's clear. Ir's technically the responsibility of the skier above you
to avoid a collision, but a watchful eye from the downhill skier is a
good precaution.
Have fun!

Matt


If you are already traversing don't worry about what is up hill just keep a
consistent rhythm make no abrupt stops or turns.
This way the uphill skier can get around you with no problems. When
traversing to the other side of the run leave enough room at the edge of the
run for skiers to get by at least 2 feet more if possible.

Do these runs they are there for you too, enjoy them this is the only way
you will get better and be able to do them. If possible try to ski with
someone that is able to do these runs to help you if needed. If possible
before taking any black trail try to find out the condition of the trail
before making a commitment to do it (icy, bare spots, rocks, width of the
trail, steepness, bumps, groomed or not and etc.)

Have fun!
JQ
Dancing on the edge

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 08:59:46 -0600, Chester Bullock
wrote:

Chuck wrote:
Is it considered a bad thing for an intermediate level skier like myself
to be taking my time skiing the black diamond trails? Most of the folks
I see attempting these trails are moving a lot faster than I am. The
blue trails are no longer a challenge to me and I want to push myself to
get better, but I also want to be able to do some traversing on these
trails. Am I creating a hazard for those who want to ski them faster? I
try to wait at the top of the steeper areas off to the side until the
better skiers go past but I still often find that while I'm traversing
down, someone else goes zipping by at 50mpg or faster and I wonder if
they will have time to react.

It has never bothered me to pass people, or be passed by people.
Generally speaking, if someone is bombing down an expert trail, they are
good enough to get by you without incident. I wouldn't worry about it
personally.

The overtaking skier is responsible for being in control, and avoiding
you. As long as you are not out of sight around a corner, or skiing
unpredictably, it should not be a problem.

Like in traffic, though, having a right to be there will not alter the
laws of physics. Be aware.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Chuck wrote:
Is it considered a bad thing for an intermediate level skier like myself
to be taking my time skiing the black diamond trails? Most of the folks
I see attempting these trails are moving a lot faster than I am. The
blue trails are no longer a challenge to me and I want to push myself to
get better, but I also want to be able to do some traversing on these
trails. Am I creating a hazard for those who want to ski them faster? I
try to wait at the top of the steeper areas off to the side until the
better skiers go past but I still often find that while I'm traversing
down, someone else goes zipping by at 50mpg or faster and I wonder if
they will have time to react.

I certainly have no objection to someone like yourself
skiing down diamond trails. The only thing I ask is that
you not "scrape" down the trail when it has snow on it.
When it's all ice then you might see me scraping down it.
See "scraping" in other threads about snowboards.

The one other thing is that on blue trails, it's sometimes
really really fun to blast down them at mach 6. You can tell
who knows what they are doing just by looking at them.
Some people will be doing mach 6 and you can just tell
they will be lucky if they don't wind up in the woods.

Don't be scared and don't get ****ed. We'll miss you
(miss in the sense of not hitting).

In other words, you can come play in our backyard if
we can come play in yours.

VtSkier

VtSkier wrote:
Chuck wrote:

Is it considered a bad thing for an intermediate level skier like
myself to be taking my time skiing the black diamond trails? Most of
the folks I see attempting these trails are moving a lot faster than I
am. The blue trails are no longer a challenge to me and I want to push
myself to get better, but I also want to be able to do some traversing
on these trails. Am I creating a hazard for those who want to ski them
faster? I try to wait at the top of the steeper areas off to the side
until the better skiers go past but I still often find that while I'm
traversing down, someone else goes zipping by at 50mpg or faster and I
wonder if they will have time to react.


I certainly have no objection to someone like yourself
skiing down diamond trails. The only thing I ask is that
you not "scrape" down the trail when it has snow on it.
When it's all ice then you might see me scraping down it.
See "scraping" in other threads about snowboards.

I'm quite familiar with scraping and snowboards . I don't scrape at
all. I'm just carving wider arcs than most. I actually find it easier to
carve on the black trails than the blues and greens. I think it has
something to do with the additional centrifugal force helping bend the skis.

I don't even attempt the black trails in ice but skiing mostly in PA I
am quite familiar with the creature. Probably 80% of my skiing as at
night and in the east ice skiing and night skiing are pretty much
synonymous.
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To reply by email remove "_nospam"

VtSkier wrote:

Chuck wrote:
Is it considered a bad thing for an intermediate level skier like myself
to be taking my time skiing the black diamond trails? Most of the folks
I see attempting these trails are moving a lot faster than I am. The
blue trails are no longer a challenge to me and I want to push myself to
get better, but I also want to be able to do some traversing on these
trails. Am I creating a hazard for those who want to ski them faster? I
try to wait at the top of the steeper areas off to the side until the
better skiers go past but I still often find that while I'm traversing
down, someone else goes zipping by at 50mpg or faster and I wonder if
they will have time to react.

I certainly have no objection to someone like yourself
skiing down diamond trails. The only thing I ask is that
you not "scrape" down the trail when it has snow on it.
When it's all ice then you might see me scraping down it.
See "scraping" in other threads about snowboards.


When you say scraping, would that be a more or less sideways skidding
type of movement?

Lisa

Lisa Horton wrote:

When you say scraping, would that be a more or less sideways skidding
type of movement?

Yes - scraping/skidding wreaks the snow. Evil practice.

Lisa asked:
When you say scraping, would that be a more or less
sideways skidding type of movement?

Yup. That's either side-slipping or scraping, depending on how much
snow you're removing as you go. The term scraping is usually used
derisively to mean removing all of the loose snow and leaving
ice/hardpack in its place. It's easier to do this on a snowboard, as
you put all of your weight on one edge, whether you want to or not.
Side-slipping, on the other hand, is a useful technique for dropping
speed or getting down a slope when you're not able to otherwise turn,
either due to conditions or lack of ability. Side-slipping without
scraping takes a little more touch or control.

Worst case of scraping I've ever witnessed was at Silver Star in lean
snow conditions. A skier came over a small ridge and threw his skis
sideways, scraping off all of the snow down to the mud. I yelled at
him from the lift to come back and replace his divot, but kept on
going...