riverc0il
New member
Great post today from Lou on WildSnow.com:
http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=850
All too often I hear or read, in response to a Trip Report or something, about how "lucky" someone is or jealousy about great conditions or good timing. But often that so called "luck" is rather the result of knowledge, calculation, dedication, and perhaps even obsession. While there is some what of an unknown factor to all objectives, those that set themselves up for success more often than not experience positive and desired results.
I often referred to last season as the "season of the opportunist" in New England. But that is really the case of almost every winter here in New England. Luck has so little to do with experiencing epic conditions except when you book a vacation or ski day in advanced. Even then, the dedicated researched can best identify the typical days of generally good conditions.
Placing yourself into a situation, habit, understanding, etc. that develops advanced knowledge of certain areas, snow patters, weather patterns, and gut feelings is premeditated and desire driven action rather than luck.
Though I take issue with always being positive as being a function of good experience. I attempt to always be realistic rather than positive. I appreciate good fortune that much more when I do roll the dice by not getting my hopes up. Though even the most realistic of skiers would be concealing the truth to not admit to thinking about hitting the jackpot when making plans. Tempered with a solid dose of reality and changing expectations and desires is a good thing though let downs are a lot easier to take the more you hit the jackpot.
I don't feel lucky to have experienced two killer seasons in a row when the average skier had a poor season. I feel like I earned my keep by staying on top of things and making solid plans and decisions and, as mentioned in the Wild Snow article, being extremely flexible and making sweeping plan changes on the fly and even preparing those changes as standard planning.
http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=850
All too often I hear or read, in response to a Trip Report or something, about how "lucky" someone is or jealousy about great conditions or good timing. But often that so called "luck" is rather the result of knowledge, calculation, dedication, and perhaps even obsession. While there is some what of an unknown factor to all objectives, those that set themselves up for success more often than not experience positive and desired results.
I often referred to last season as the "season of the opportunist" in New England. But that is really the case of almost every winter here in New England. Luck has so little to do with experiencing epic conditions except when you book a vacation or ski day in advanced. Even then, the dedicated researched can best identify the typical days of generally good conditions.
Placing yourself into a situation, habit, understanding, etc. that develops advanced knowledge of certain areas, snow patters, weather patterns, and gut feelings is premeditated and desire driven action rather than luck.
Though I take issue with always being positive as being a function of good experience. I attempt to always be realistic rather than positive. I appreciate good fortune that much more when I do roll the dice by not getting my hopes up. Though even the most realistic of skiers would be concealing the truth to not admit to thinking about hitting the jackpot when making plans. Tempered with a solid dose of reality and changing expectations and desires is a good thing though let downs are a lot easier to take the more you hit the jackpot.
I don't feel lucky to have experienced two killer seasons in a row when the average skier had a poor season. I feel like I earned my keep by staying on top of things and making solid plans and decisions and, as mentioned in the Wild Snow article, being extremely flexible and making sweeping plan changes on the fly and even preparing those changes as standard planning.