Spring skiing: sierra cement vs. spring snow

[taichiskiing]

Taichiskiing - How do you compare "sierra cement" with "new england cement"? Are they similar?

I've skied New England 7 years in the early and late eighties, I only remember the "icy" conditions, but not much "cement" conditions, maybe I quit early (don't recall I've skied in April there), or maybe I was too slow to feel the "cement effect," I didn't know such thing as "cement." I only found/learned the cement conditions when I moved back to live in Tahoe and started to ski late into the season. It is terrible: the gravity would pull you downward, and yet the cement snow would prevent the skis from sliding, and it would accelerate you in the tree shadows and brake you when you come out; it really breaks all you skiing rhythm and tax on your legs strehgth. It usually happens 2 to 3 days after the the snow storms pass in the spring, and the temperature warms up, the snow turn into soft sponge-like and suck all your skis energy, as it is happening right now on the sierra mountains, it is not a pleasant condition to ski in. Nevertheless, trails are usually good this time.

Gone skiing, :)
IS

[taichiskiing]

Yes! That is exactly the same spring condition as what we have here in late season. It's like someone pulls the skis out of sudden and then releases them. I think that it's kind of dangerous.

Yes, the "cement" snow has a very narrow margin of balance; if you have a little more pressures on the tips, it brakes you and a little more pressures on the tails, it makes you go fast and wobble, it is very difficult to balance, and the only way to ski it is to hold on skis' "sweet spot," which makes you slightly "back seated," very tiring on the thighs, and that's what makes "cement skiing" very tedious and tiring.

While the snow in the trees maybe "cemented" up, the groomed trails usually have really good spring snow. Spring snow, soft, smooth, small bumps if any, and it's very "skiable" and fast, and most interestingly, it has no icy spots, so the turning is always predictable, it is an idea surface to ski in; plus the nice sunny warmer weather, spring skiing, as it's happening now in later half of March till the end of season, remains one of best time to ski, so it is also one of most popular time for resorts' locals, but most of flatlanders would miss it.

'later, :)
IS

[snowrider]

Yes, the "cement" snow has a very narrow margin of balance; if you have a little more pressures on the tips, it brakes you and a little more pressures on the tails, it makes you go fast and wobble, it is very difficult to balance, and the only way to ski it is to hold on skis' "sweet spot," which makes you slightly "back seated," very tiring on the thighs, and that's what makes "cement skiing" very tedious and tiring.

While the snow in the trees maybe "cemented" up, the groomed trails usually have really good spring snow. Spring snow, soft, smooth, small bumps if any, and it's very "skiable" and fast, and most interestingly, it has no icy spots, so the turning is always predictable, it is an idea surface to ski in; plus the nice sunny warmer weather, spring skiing, as it's happening now in later half of March till the end of season, remains one of best time to ski, so it is also one of most popular time for resorts' locals, but most of flatlanders would miss it.

'later, :)
IS

taichiskiing - Good news ... I (and some friends in our group) have already purchased the Epic Local Pass. We will see you again next season at Heavenly.

[pku]

taichiskiing - Good news ... I (and some friends in our group) have already purchased the Epic Local Pass. We will see you again next season at Heavenly.

I check the site, it's $379.00 ( the cheapest )

If you aren't stay that long, it isn't worth

[snowrider]

I check the site, it's $379.00 ( the cheapest )

If you aren't stay that long, it isn't worth

pku - We got the Epic Local Pass, which allows us to ski all Vail group's resorts:
http://www.snow.com/epic-pass/passes/ep ... -pass.aspx
We are planning to take 2-3 ski trips next season, so the average cost per day will be much cheaper:
2 Ski Trips (10 days) - average cost will be $50 per day.
3 Ski Trips (15 days) - average cost will be $34 per day.

Our plan:
Trip-1: A-Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek
Trip-2: Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood (, and Squaw Valley 1 day)
Trip-3: Vail, Beaver Creek

[snowrider]

I check the site, it's $379.00 ( the cheapest )

If you aren't stay that long, it isn't worth

BTW, Northstar's lift ticket is $99 per day this season. I believe that it will go beyond $100 next season. Remember when we were searching for coupon or discount tickets, there was nothing could be found for Northstar. Therefore, if Northstar is one of the ski trip's destinations, it's better off to get a season pass (Tahoe Pass or Epic Pass).

When we were at Northstar this season, everyone in our group enjoyed that resort very much. They have a super long bump trail. It is probably the longest one that I've ever seen. I did not ski that trail though (because it is too long). Also Northstar's groom is very good. If you enjoy carving, Northstar is where you will love it.

Another thing is about Vail's lift ticket, it is $120 per day this season. It will be more expensive next season. Since Vail is so good, we want to re-visit it again.

[pku]

BTW, Northstar's lift ticket is $99 per day this season. I believe that it will go beyond $100 next season. Remember when we were searching for coupon or discount tickets, there was nothing could be found for Northstar. Therefore, if Northstar is one of the ski trip's destinations, it's better off to get a season pass (Tahoe Pass or Epic Pass).

When we were at Northstar this season, everyone in our group enjoyed that resort very much. They have a super long bump trail. It is probably the longest one that I've ever seen. I did not ski that trail though (because it is too long). Also Northstar's groom is very good. If you enjoy carving, Northstar is where you will love it.

Another thing is about Vail's lift ticket, it is $120 per day this season. It will be more expensive next season. Since Vail is so good, we want to re-visit it again.

Now I understand, thanks!

[taichiskiing]

taichiskiing - Good news ... I (and some friends in our group) have already purchased the Epic Local Pass. We will see you again next season at Heavenly.

Congrats, lucky dog you, now you can really plan for next year's ski trip. I'll get my Tahoe pass before april 15 for sure. Hopefully, we should have better snow conditions next year. Though people would think this season's weather kind of crazy, but I still feel it's normal, just late. We are enjoying the belated mid-winter/Februrary conditions with spring skiing right now. Neverthelss, that was yesterday; today, Heavenly's upper mountain lifts are on wind-hold, go figure.

Whitecrane Taichi Skiing/Flatboarding: spring skiing, Ridgerun, Heavenly - YouTube



Have fun, :)
IS

[taichiskiing]

BTW, Northstar's lift ticket is $99 per day this season. I believe that it will go beyond $100 next season. Remember when we were searching for coupon or discount tickets, there was nothing could be found for Northstar. Therefore, if Northstar is one of the ski trip's destinations, it's better off to get a season pass (Tahoe Pass or Epic Pass).

When we were at Northstar this season, everyone in our group enjoyed that resort very much. They have a super long bump trail. It is probably the longest one that I've ever seen. I did not ski that trail though (because it is too long). Also Northstar's groom is very good. If you enjoy carving, Northstar is where you will love it.

Another thing is about Vail's lift ticket, it is $120 per day this season. It will be more expensive next season. Since Vail is so good, we want to re-visit it again.

Wow, Heavenly this year's price is $96, and I thought that was expensive, and Vail's $120 a day? didn't know that lift ticket price has gone up that much. Yah, I'm quite outdated, I ski about $4 or less a day.

:)
IS

[snowrider]

Wow, Heavenly this year's price is $96, and I thought that was expensive, and Vail's $120 a day? didn't know that lift ticket price has gone up that much. Yah, I'm quite outdated, I ski about $4 or less a day.

:)
IS

taichiskiing - Let me tell you ... that wil be my (and also friend Jack's) retirement life ... just like you ... skiing 150 days a year (and we don't need gym time anymore).

[taichiskiing]

taichiskiing - Let me tell you ... that wil be my (and also friend Jack's) retirement life ... just like you ... skiing 150 days a year (and we don't need gym time anymore).

Interesting, nothing by chance, you guys just have to "plan it," and "make it." Tahoe is a tough place to get in now (only money though), but twenty miles down mountain, Minden, NV, would be a good place to retire too, there houses are half the price and twice as big as in Tahoe.

This season is kind of weird, now it is officially Spring, but our Winter old man has just arrived. It was full blown winter skiing the day before yesterday,

Taichi Skiing/Flatboarding: shadow tree skiing, Galaxy trees, Heavenly - YouTube



but today forecast temperature is 58 degree, cement skiing, or spring skiing? We'll see.

Gone skiing, :)
IS

[snowrider]

...

but today forecast temperature is 58 degree, cement skiing, or spring skiing? We'll see.

Gone skiing, :)
IS

Nice! A lot of snow! Next year when we are there, please take us to this glade.

[taichiskiing]

Nice! A lot of snow! Next year when we are there, please take us to this glade.

Well, a lot of snow plus warm temperature equal to cement skiing, and that was what I got yesterday, I've called it "spring skiing with cement snow," sucky, but I have fun.

'later, :)
IS