Skiing/Boarding on ice...

[Patrick]

If we always avoided ice then skiing wouldn't be as challenging. Might as well ski groom blues at Deer Valley (sorry, only heard about it).

In my books, there isn't any bad snow conditions (unless there is a lack of coverage), just good to great snow conditions.

For reference, Deer Valley has some of the better tree skiing I've ever experienced. A run or two down that perfect corduroy first thing in the morning when it's not a powder day is pretty enjoyable, too.

Deer Valley: I am clueless about this place, that why I mentioned "sorry I heard".

This said, I love conduroy (i like all conditions) - however without some challenge and pushing ourselves in the past, we wouldn't have improved as skiers/boarders. Do you remember taking a black diamond as a kid and getting way over your head (ie. trouble), if you always stay on those runs where you were comfortable, you wouldn't improve as much, if any.

[Ryan]

[quote="JimG
You need to meet me at Hunter and show me how you do this on boilerplate . I'm not saying it's not true, but I've never seen anyone at Hunter turn on ice with no skid at all. You've got real skills if you can.
[/quote]

Ok Ok. One part of this that needs to be added is pitch. Ice on normal cruisers... sure. Ice on Anna Purna. NO. You would die.

I would however love to meet you at hunter some weekend and cut some runs. It is also critically important to have well turned, very sharp edges. I use a gummy stone after I ski every day to make sure there are no burs and then I'll do a full scale milling two or three times a year.

[JimG.]

Ok Ok. One part of this that needs to be added is pitch. Ice on normal cruisers... sure. Ice on Anna Purna. NO. You would die.

I would however love to meet you at hunter some weekend and cut some runs.

Ah! Now it makes more sense. And sure, it would be great to hook up. Agree about sharp edges too.

[Guest]

I agree with those who say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I would never shorten a ski day because of ice. Usually you just end up skiing with less people around you and there's nothing wrong with that.

I agree, skidding and feathering the edges is the way to go on ice. Reading the snow and turning where the most white is (I know, sometimes there just isn't ANY white), in other words picking a line, and skidding turns are the best tactics I've found.

Besides, my theory is that if I can learn to ski all of the snow conditions that the East Coast offers then I fully believe that I could probably ski anywhere else in the world with ease. The East Coast can be brutal.

[knotty_ski]

That last post was mine. Sorry, I forgot to log in.

[ski_adk]

I hit a scratchy day in Sunshine Village and a scratchy morning at Lake Louise last year on vacation and I felt like a superstar. There were only a couple of racers on the hills that seemed confident on the hardpack. Everyone else was basically slide-slipping top to bottom. The tactics I've learned out here at places like Iceface and Jiminy Peak really made me into a better skier than I thought I was.

This experience has pretty much given me the opinion that any snow is good snow and the experience you gain from our "variable" conditions out here on the Ice Coast truly does bring out the hard-core in us all.

[JimG.]

This experience has pretty much given me the opinion that any snow is good snow and the experience you gain from our "variable" conditions out here on the Ice Coast truly does bring out the hard-core in us all.

Words to live by !

[GoofyNotFooted]

Being in PA I usually have really icy runs...had to learn that way. When I went out West, I was actually upset about the powder, because I was still learning and when I fell...I sunk! I actually missed the ice. I'd say a combo is best for learning.

[Bazi]

I go for it. There will always be those times when your gonna run into ice but you gotta learn to deal with it. When had my first ice runs I hated it most because I feared what damage it was doing to my board but eventually I learned to adjust. In the beginning it does suck though because that fall will be a bummer but not to copy what others have said it'll only make you stronger and better.