JimK
Topic: ski activities, areas, conditions, gear, things, etc. that you don't really enjoy.
We're all here because we love skiing, but perhaps not every single thing about skiing. I don't really want this to be a negative thread, just maybe something that is fun and educational. There are some obvious responses such as crowds, traffic, high prices, cold, rain, etc., but I'm most interested in things that others think are fun/useful, but you don't for whatever reason.
Myself:
- I've never been interested in going to the southern hemisphere to ski. I ski a lot in the winter and love it, but I enjoy a break from it and just have too many fun things I do in the summer to spend big bucks squeezing in a costly trip to South America or NZ.
- I've done a bit of skinning to ski and for me it's more work, than fun. OK as a novelty, but not something I'd give up lift served skiing to do more frequently. Being an over-the-hill geezer probably contributes to my lack of enthusiasm.
- I enjoy pretty much all kinds of skiing and terrain, but blasting down groomers at high speed is not my favorite. I am more comfortable going steep, than going fast.
- Never really been into fancy apreski activities, esp dancing and bar hopping. Give me a simple dinner, a good bed, and maybe a hot tub. I'll save my energy for the next day's skiing.
- I've never done heli skiing, and just a little bit of cat skiing. I guess I'm cheap. I can't help thinking of all the regular lift-served skiing I could do for the same money.
- I'm not really into ski-collectables. I've acquired various hats, t-shirts, mugs, pins, patches, and pens, but not really in a systematic or big way. I guess my main ski-collectable is experiences; i.e., skiing numerous different ski areas with the total close to 100 now over the last 54 ski seasons.
- I'm not a big gear, tuning, or technical guy. I do simple stuff like hot waxing and p-tex, but usually only have two or three operative pairs of skis and only one pair of ski boots. All my ski gear and clothing is standard, off the shelf stuff. I'm often skiing on moderate to poorly tuned skis, as long as they keep going down the hill.
rickbolger
for me it's fancy-pants gear, which I feel is way overpriced and way overdone.
For example, Burton's gore-tex gloves at $134.95 on the burton website or Hestra comp for $210 versus Carhartt insulated system 5 work gloves at Tractor Supply for $20.79. And if you can't find those, the Kinco lined gloves with safety cuff are about $15 at any Aubuchon Hardware.
same thing with underwear. Underarmour Base 3.0 leggings are $60-70. Plenty of technical fabric long johns out there for about $15-$20 that don't have fancy swoops or logos or make your butt stick out but they do keep you warm.
and I don't care how trendy they are, if I wear $220 POC goggles I still look like a hack on the slopes.
But hey this is America, if someone wants to spend money on that stuff it's fine by me, my mutual funds are probably holding most of those pricey brands. :) I'm just not into it myself.
NewEnglandSkier13
I'm with Rick, I have no interest in spending excessive amount on ski gear.
I also have no interest in skiing at any of the large corporate resorts which I've never visited in really any location. If I were to do a trip to CO, I'd rather ski Cooper, Hesperus, Purgatory, Monarch, etc., than Aspen, Crested Butte, Vail, Copper, etc., even if money was no issue.
rickbolger
I'm with you on part two, with the exception that Crested Butte is a different breed of cat than the others. Great ski area without the Epic® Vailness of Vailification. I could go back over and over.
The ones I would turn down are Steamboat, Keystone, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge.
Just not into them.
Vail is on that list, but not really, it's in a different category entirely. I can't stand the trappings, but I think it's a fantastic place to ski. Mind-blowing back bowls, Blue Sky Basin. Parking, finding your way, and getting to them can be stressful.
Won't bother me to never ski Winter Park or Copper again, but I wouldn't flat out avoid them.
jgreco
As a natural-born hater, I thought this question would be easier to answer than it ended up being. I think I have to frame it as "things I'm not into most of the time, but sometimes still voluntarily pursue."
- Bobsled glades and too-tight glades: Bobsleds are packed out, scraped down, burmed up with no flow or freedom i.e. most marked eastern glades after a week+ without snow. Too-tights (specifically spruce traps) can be fun for a couple turns in untouched, but then I'm following the normally great skier through them watching them stop every turn or two to negotiate the next obstacle and think "99% of the rest of the mountain is more fun than this right now."
- Having to ski the whole mountain: Just show me the goods furthest away from the masses. When I'm visiting a place with a local buddy, it usually seems like they feel the need to show me boundary to boundary. I usually just ask them to take me on their normal laps, like, "what would you be doing right now if I wasn't visiting."
- Eating on the lift or anywhere else in the cold for the sake of skiing more: I'm just not that hardcore, I guess. If I'm not lunching in the lodge (or at the car during pandemic rules), I'm just calling it a day and eating at home... or skipping lunch.
For each of these, I totally understand why people like to do them. And right now in September, I'd be delighted to ski bobsled glades and too-tight glades, or take a boundary to boundary tour of an overcrowded megaresort. It's all fun.
ciscokid
Hey dem are great ropetow gloves!
NELSAP
Terrain parks, especially if they have taken over a previously fun trail or take up one of the very limited early season options. I'll still ski it once to add to the list of trails skied for the day, but that's about it.
Technical specs for skis/boots/bindings - I don't think my brain is wired to fully comprehend camber, flex, amount of play, settings, rockers, etc. and what would be best for me. I rely on the salesperson to try to help me figure out what's best.
Big destination trips out west - I know, I know, the west has amazing skiing and I have had some great trips to Steamboat, Vail, Mammoth, etc, but those were all discounted trips for ski history congresses, awards, etc. I just don't see myself planning a trip out west for a long time, as airfare, car rental, accommodations, food, tickets, etc. will cost the two of us 3k or more as they are all through the roof. I could get 6 years worth of season passes for that.
lotsoskiing
NewEnglandSkier13;c-50226 wroteI'm with Rick, I have no interest in spending excessive amount on ski gear.
I also have no interest in skiing at any of the large corporate resorts which I've never visited in really any location. If I were to do a trip to CO, I'd rather ski Cooper, Hesperus, Purgatory, Monarch, etc., than Aspen, Crested Butte, Vail, Copper, etc., even if money was no issue.
Hesperus For The Rest of Us!!
And I agree. Ditto for NE areas
Quietman
Definitely not into the whole "resort" thing. I'm happy to boot up in the car, ski through lunch, keep a small hydration pouch with me. Never stayed at resort lodging or dined there. My clothing is all old EMS bargain basement stuff(from back when the quality was good), and my gear is from thrift stores, yard sales, or the swap shop at the dump. Just scored a nice pair of graphite poles from a free pile after a yard sale.
Kayaker
NELSAP;c-50238 wroteTerrain parks, especially if they have taken over a previously fun trail or take up one of the very limited early season options. I'll still ski it once to add to the list of trails skied for the day, but that's about it.
I have no interest in terrain parks.
ADKskier
Kayaker;c-50264 wroteNELSAP;c-50238 wroteTerrain parks, especially if they have taken over a previously fun trail or take up one of the very limited early season options. I'll still ski it once to add to the list of trails skied for the day, but that's about it.
I have no interest in terrain parks.
Same, add Cross Country to that as well.
pagamony
NewEnglandSkier13;c-50226 wroteI'm with Rick, I have no interest in spending excessive amount on ski gear.
I also have no interest in skiing at any of the large corporate resorts which I've never visited in really any location. If I were to do a trip to CO, I'd rather ski Cooper, Hesperus, Purgatory, Monarch, etc., than Aspen, Crested Butte, Vail, Copper, etc., even if money was no issue.
Here -- I suggest try it before you state it. I can tell you there is terrain at Vail and Aspen that is not at those other smaller places, which are still fun but not the same. If you are going to spend all that money to go to CO, get a lot out of it.
NewEnglandSkier13
pagamony;c-50304 wroteNewEnglandSkier13;c-50226 wroteI'm with Rick, I have no interest in spending excessive amount on ski gear.
I also have no interest in skiing at any of the large corporate resorts which I've never visited in really any location. If I were to do a trip to CO, I'd rather ski Cooper, Hesperus, Purgatory, Monarch, etc., than Aspen, Crested Butte, Vail, Copper, etc., even if money was no issue.
Here -- I suggest try it before you state it. I can tell you there is terrain at Vail and Aspen that is not at those other smaller places, which are still fun but not the same. If you are going to spend all that money to go to CO, get a lot out of it.
I've skied at plenty of megaresorts, and yeah, some have cool terrain, but it's just not worth it for me. Quality over quantity.
Brklynskier
I'm not into tracking my runs or how much vertical I do in a given day.
I also not a fan of the underwear tree.
joshua_segal
Things associated with skiing in which I have no interest:
1. Anything associated with après ski
2. Anything associated with apparel
3. Parks (except to ski through them bypassing the features)
4. Base lodge accommodations/comforts
5. Agree with Brklnskier on "underwear trees" or "Mardi Gras Trees". IMO, they are litter!
6. Expensive ski gear (except for comfortable boots)
7. Taking photos
JimK
You guys have reminded me of a few things:
- not into big, expensive mid-day lunches. I brown-bag my lunch 95% of the time on ski days.
- not a terrain park guy either, that stuff came along after my youth.
- not into tracking my runs or how much vertical either. Only statistic I keep track of is ski days, but even that I usually forget from one season to the next.
- I do have a weakness for the big resorts, but only because I like to explore their terrain, not into all the amenity stuff. And I do like to try to see all terrain/lifts at a mtn I've never been to before. Sometimes this is because I take photos and plan to write a trip report about it.
- I do enjoy X-C and snowshoeing on occasion
- I do get a kick out of taking photos of anybody I ski with. I share/post only flattering ones.
A friend took this photo of me in photographer mode this past winter on Great Scott at Snowbird, UT. (I think it's a video frame freeze.) Doesn't look like it, but that run is quite steep.
jgreco
joshua_segal;c-50307 wroteThings associated with skiing in which I have no interest:
2. Anything associated with apparel
You and Shane both.
ceo
Every time I see one of those underwear trees I think about finding a really dingy pair of 2XL tighty whities and tossing them up there. Kind of an awkward thing to ask one's friend for, though.
Beast Patroller
Though I do enjoy the bra/underwear trees I agree it's litter.
Things associated with skiing in which I have no interest:
1. Any ski area that's owned by Vail Resorts!
2. Not a big fan of terrain parks as they are a waste of good skiing terrain.
3. Definitely not a fan of crowded lodges or taprooms.
4. Weekends because of the crowds
5. Those who don't know how to ski or have no respect/courtesy.
5. Expensive clothing/gear. Just need something that is functional & comfortable.
6. Glades that have been destroyed by skier/boarders who can't ski them.
Beast Patroller
ceo;c-50317 wroteEvery time I see one of those underwear trees I think about finding a really dingy pair of 2XL tighty whities and tossing them up there. Kind of an awkward thing to ask one's friend for, though.
The big bra's make me wonder if the donor was cute or just fat? :)
