Paging Str8BacardiL... I'm ready for the annual (sometimes bi-annual) drinking trip with a skiing/snowboarding problem!

Request for TWW Suggestions:
NC'ians... favorite location for a quick weekend trip? Sugar and Wintergreen made it onto the list in 2005. Prefer locations with lots of surrounding moderate to high-end rental property/homes.

[Edited on November 27, 2007 at 11:54 PM. Reason : ...]

11/27/2007 11:46:47 PM

11/27/2007 11:57:50 PM

Quote :

"Park City is definitely worth the trip. Park City the area, maybe not Park City Resort... Check out Snowbasin as well as the Canyons, both are great for snowboarding. You should also consider taking a day to travel to Sandy, UT and check out Brighton or Snowbird. But in short, yes definitely worth the trip. "

Park City resort is worth the trip, too. A lot of people look down their noses at the Canyons (I think back in the day, it was called Park City West, and it was poor man's Park City), but I like it. Less crowded and less expensive. It's big, too.

Hate that I didn't make it to Alta when I was out there. I was with some snowboarders (it was unavoidable--they lived out there and hooked me up with great deals).

Quote :

" How is Mount Baker? So far I've been to the Summit at Snoqualmie and Crystal Mountain. I live in Seattle, so Baker is kinda far."

I don't know. I've only been here since the summer, but I'm going to either Whistler or Mt Baker this weekend...can't decide what I want to do first. As much as I want to go to Whistler, I'm kinda inclined to do Baker first to get back in the groove (haven't skiied in 3 YEARS!!! I assure you, circumstances were beyond my control.) Baker got 17" of snow yesterday--with more on the way--and it's closer and cheaper by a wide margin...I figure I'll wait to hit Whistler in another couple of weeks (still in time for early season deals, though--that place is expensive).

Quote :

"if you fly to denver and drive west an hour or two, you really cant miss jackson hole..."

Jackson is MUCH more than 2 hours from Denver.

Quote :

" favorite location for a quick weekend trip? Sugar and Wintergreen made it onto the list in 2005. Prefer locations with lots of surrounding moderate to high-end rental property/homes."

Snowshoe, WV is by far the best. Beech/Sugar/Wintergreen are prob roughly equivalent. Go to who has the snow with those.

and high-end rental homes? You going to ski or look out the window?


[Edited on November 28, 2007 at 3:37 AM. Reason : asdf]

11/28/2007 3:36:07 AM

Quote :

" hopefully app gets some cold weather so they can get their park in order really soon. "

I can't imagine going to Appalachian Ski Mountain for the terrain park. It is hands-down the suckiest place I've ever skiied. There is no reason whatsoever to go there. Ever. Go to Beech or Sugar instead. Even if they got 5' of fresh powder, App's "black diamond" is really about like a difficult green slope or a very easy blue. It's also ridiculously short--500 yards or maybe a little more, if I remember correctly. There's a little trail through the trees beside it that's a little more fun, but not by much.

HOLY SHIT, i just looked at their website...their lift tickets rates are ASTRONOMICAL for what you're getting. I figured they'd be maybe $10.

11/28/2007 3:47:40 AM

Quote :

"Jackson is MUCH more than 2 hours from Denver. "

you're right, I was thinking of steamboat springs, even though i listed it prior

so if you drive between 2 and 10 hours you cant miss! hahaha

11/28/2007 8:32:43 AM

I've been to a few places out west and my favorite by far is Vail. Going there again over break to ski the back bowls and tree ski.

11/28/2007 9:58:20 AM

I am heading to snowshoe late dec. this year, and this will be my first year not renting a snowboard and bindings.

I need some advice on what board and bindings to buy. Looking at a K2 158 wide Access......and I have no idea about the bindings.

Any advice is appreciated

11/28/2007 11:26:47 AM

how about

ask the guys at the shop

11/28/2007 11:32:26 AM

yeah planning on asking the guys at the Alpine Ski shop in charlotte....but looking to get some additional advice

I plan on scooping up everything on ebay, and having them shipped to me hopefully by time I leave.

[Edited on November 28, 2007 at 11:35 AM. Reason : .]

11/28/2007 11:34:33 AM

in related news, im going to watch aspen extreme when i get home today i think

11/28/2007 12:26:38 PM

I can't imagine going to Appalachian Ski Mountain for the terrain park. It is hands-down the suckiest place I've ever skiied. There is no reason whatsoever to go there.


^Duke you seem a little confused. thats why i stated app's TERRAIN PARK. not their slopes. yes it is the shistiest mountain ive ever seen, but clearly you have no idea what a terrain park is. In the last few years app has paired with Board Paradise and a few other sponsors to build by far the best park in north carolina. it is the only redeeming quality of the mountain, but probably worth the lift ticket price by itself. I like to make a trip or two there every year just to spend a day in the park.

11/28/2007 12:32:35 PM

unless they've revamped the terrain park in the last 3 years, i've skiied it. It's the best part of the mountain, and better than any other park i've seen in NC, but that doesn't really say anything. the rest of the hill is COMPLETELY worthless. It's not even worth the price of the gas money, much less $40-50 for a lift ticket!

that price is absurd for such a crappy place to ski.

i'd much, much rather go to a real mountain with a marginally less impressive terrain park.




at any rate, Mt Baker opened today. I think we settled on going there this weekend instead of Whistler (hope it isn't overcrowded. that's one of my #1 pet peeves). 2 more days!

11/30/2007 2:56:15 AM

game day tomorrow! heading to Mt Baker.

12/1/2007 2:09:08 AM

App has revamped their terrain park in the last 2-3 years. There is a competition that is stopping there
this year and only going to about 5 other parks in the nation.

http://www.appterrainpark.com/ - check out the media gallery for flash videos.

12/1/2007 3:48:46 AM

Guys if you can make it out to Steamboat Springs Colorado at any time during your ski lives, fuckin do it



Been there 4 times with the family over the past many years and they always get tons of snow.... ALWAYS



Only setback is price and the fact that its 4 hours (in good weather) from Denver

12/1/2007 11:40:58 AM

carvebeast:

I snowboarded 5 days in Utah last year and stayed in Park City.

Canyons has the most terrain and some awesome natural half pipes.
Brighton had great tree skiing and a lot of drops (cliffs 3 - 10 ft).
Snowbird had really open terrain and a couple OK natural half pipes.
Park City had some OK tree skiing and their back peak is good.

I would definitely go to Canyons and Brighton if you can pick. Go to snowbird if the conditions aren't icy.
I would put Park City Resort last on the list. Check out Solitude also.

12/1/2007 4:12:21 PM

agree about steamboat

back when midway was in operation, they used to have daily flights right into steamboat springs during ski season

12/1/2007 5:24:20 PM

skiied Mt Baker today

the level that my skiing ability has atrophied to is pitiful (haven't skiied a single day since the 2003-2004 season). I've gone from NASTAR racing and ripping up black diamonds to floundering my way down intermediate runs.

hopefully i'll come back over the next few trips to the mountain.



Baker had a good deal of snow (for this early in the season). I think the base ranges from 35-50" or so, and they got 4 more inches today. Everything was open. The downside is that with it snowing and with very flat, low-light conditions today, it was hard to see. Combine that with the fact that not a single run was groomed, and it was easy to hit a big bump that you didn't see and bust your ass.

I caught about 4' of air one time off of a jump that I never even saw. Landed so hard that my thighs came up and knocked the wind out of me...then I had an ugly, tumbling yard-sale.

12/2/2007 3:36:40 AM

PAGING NCSULilWolf

12/2/2007 3:37:48 AM

Present!

12/3/2007 11:53:40 PM

Post here if you see any good snowboard deals.

Im trying to find a decent/good deal on a pair of Burton boots.


If anyone sees a cheap pair let me know (I know there are cheap pairs out there but they are usually really small or on ebay, I need size 12)

12/6/2007 1:53:18 PM

exactly 2 months till I find myself in Beaver Creek for 5 days

12/6/2007 1:54:35 PM

Beaver creek was the only time that I snowboarded out west.

Its so much different than here.

It took a ridiculously long time to get down the mountain and each slope was like one giant trail with mini slopes and all kinds of stuff.


I really want to go back, if I can.

12/6/2007 2:54:11 PM

how's the snow out west the 3rd week in March usually?

I wanna go so bad but m'fin flights from RDU to Jackson Hole are expensive as crap

[Edited on December 7, 2007 at 12:42 AM. Reason : .]

12/7/2007 12:41:53 AM

they should be just fine

you know jackson is way out in bumfuck egypt, right? you don't just "fly to jackson".

12/7/2007 2:08:36 AM

yeah, could go to DEN or Salt Lake I guess...but Jackson Hole just seems so "out there"

i.e. I wanna go and not be in a city, plus I wanted to visit the Tetons / Yellowstone, so if I do all that at once, Big Sky or Jackson Hole are my only 2 options really

12/7/2007 2:57:42 AM

I'm going to Jackson Hole the 2nd week of February and snowboarding 4 days. I did a lodging, air, and lift ticket package that was a good price. Check the link below. Depends on how many people are going also.

http://www.jacksonholewy.com/w-specials-packages.php

12/7/2007 12:14:52 PM

If you are going out west you really cant beat what is going on in and around park city. three world class places in park city with alta and snowbird a short drive away. I always thought the canyons was amazing and absolutely huge, you would really need three solid days to ski the whole resort. Park city mountain is good for starting off with, they have plenty to keep you busy, if you are into skiing, you have to go to deer valley. It is the ultimate paradise for a skier. they take care of everything you could ever want and since they limit the number of lift tickets they sell, the place is never crowded and lift lines are rarely longer than 5 minutes.
I'm going out to whistler-blackcomb this year, I've heard so many great things about it I cant wait to get there.

12/9/2007 3:14:43 AM

went to copper mountain last week. broke arm on the second run of the day.....

i didn't realize it was broken so i kept snowboarding for the rest of the day. we just got dumped on again yesterday (a few feet) but i can't go back up for at least 5 more weeks.

12/9/2007 5:19:27 PM

^damn that sucks

^^Im going to park city on tuesday....cant fucking wait especially since they got dumped on this weekend

12/9/2007 9:32:14 PM

i'll probably hit up park city again this year for sundance, too bad my breck and aspen connections moved

12/9/2007 9:46:18 PM

SFAOK: how'd you break your arm?

12/10/2007 1:49:31 AM

^^^^ i broke an ankle on Christmas Day one year in college, right after I'd bought a new pair of either boots or skis (can't remember which it was) and right before I was planning on heading up to Snowshoe for a few days. Ended up missing a whole season of skiiing.




search just got called off for 3 snowboarders who went missing somewhere on Crystal Mountain last week (a few hours from here). they think they got killed in an avalanche.

[Edited on December 10, 2007 at 2:13 AM. Reason : asdaf]

12/10/2007 2:12:48 AM

someone tell me about some good package deals out west you found - im lookin to set something up ASAP

12/10/2007 2:21:12 AM

^^^i was going down a nice easy blue, it had just dumped a ton of snow so it was super powdery but also extremely choppy in parts (since everyone was there for the powder day). anyways, i hit a super lumpy part going really fast, and lost control. I would've just skidded out - no big deal - but my arm got stuck behind me and as i went forward, my arm went back. Needless to say, i heard a loud crack and immediate pain. I thought i had broken it, but when i could move it after a few minutes i thought i had just hyper-extended it. So i kept riding for the rest of the day.

I went to get it checked on the next day because i couldn't move it when i woke up the next morning. X-rays showed i had fractured it at the elbow. I live in colorado and i'm out for atleast 5 more weeks. I got a season pass to copper/winterpark/mary jane. They are getting nailed right now and another system is moving in to dump even more. it makes me sad.

12/10/2007 4:01:21 PM

pls post your ski trip packages, looking for a cheap one out west. cheapest ive found is jackson hole

12/12/2007 11:19:42 AM

Southwest $99 each way to denver

stay with a friend in Beaver Creek

drop money on a lift ticket

that's my package

12/12/2007 11:22:10 AM

Quote :

"^^^i was going down a nice easy blue, it had just dumped a ton of snow so it was super powdery but also extremely choppy in parts (since everyone was there for the powder day). anyways, i hit a super lumpy part going really fast, and lost control. I would've just skidded out - no big deal - but my arm got stuck behind me and as i went forward, my arm went back. Needless to say, i heard a loud crack and immediate pain. I thought i had broken it, but when i could move it after a few minutes i thought i had just hyper-extended it. So i kept riding for the rest of the day. I went to get it checked on the next day because i couldn't move it when i woke up the next morning. X-rays showed i had fractured it at the elbow. I live in colorado and i'm out for atleast 5 more weeks. I got a season pass to copper/winterpark/mary jane. They are getting nailed right now and another system is moving in to dump even more. it makes me sad. "

not to take away from the pain that a fracture causes...

but saying "i broke my arm and kept boarding" and then it turns out that you really just fractured and kept boarding....those are orders of magnitude apart

12/12/2007 11:23:09 AM

Tomorrow night I leave for a 4 day trip to Colorado. 5 of us are staying at the base of Breckenridge, and our passes are good for 3 different mountains in the area. Breckenridge, Vail, and Copper I think are the places we are going to hit.

5 people, lodging, lift tix, airfare, car rental (suburban) all for under $700/person

My buddy organized the whole thing, apparently it's the week before the "season" starts so it's super discounted. God bless Southwest airlines too, for knocking 100 bucks on a deal they ran AFTER we had plane tickets for like a month.

First trip out west too, I dominate everything I've ridden here (WNC, VA, Snowshoe, Vermont). I can't wait to find out if the hype is real.

I bought a helmet too, never needed one up to this point but it was recommended to me by some guys I board with.

12/12/2007 11:45:08 AM

you might need a helmet to go down the bowls at breck

they're steep as fuck from the top...you can end up upside down real quick

but you should be fine for most everything it offers

12/12/2007 12:14:51 PM

^^ i apologize for getting my terminology mixed up. its not like i was trying to make myself out to be some macho girl who keeps snowboarding while her arm bone is poking through the skin or anything, just sharing a story.

Regardless, it hurt, and it still hurts. And it makes me sad.

12/12/2007 4:08:50 PM

im just sayin

embellish like a champ or be accurate, one or the other

otherwise it's not as cool of a story

12/12/2007 4:18:46 PM

ive found is $766 / person for Jackson Hole in the end of Jan

im also looking at Crested Butte, Telluride, maybe Park City again, maybe Vail / Breck

need more package deals! someone point me to a good deal for 8 ppl

12/12/2007 7:55:01 PM

anyone done any of the small NC places yet? app, beech, sugar? sadly these are the only places i can get to right now but i'm dyyyyying to go snowboarding asap

12/23/2007 8:03:41 PM

I got back from Heavenly tonight... it was freaking outstanding. Perfect fresh powder, all trails open and crystal clear blue skys.. the Lake looked great.

12/23/2007 11:30:12 PM

well by mad i mean jealous

12/23/2007 11:34:44 PM

If it makes you feel any better I lost all $500 I took with me to the casinos...

http://www.skiheavenly.com/video_cams/snapshots/

Is what it looked like (the Dec 21 pictures even though I was skiing today and yesterday)

12/23/2007 11:44:08 PM

whered you stay at heavenly?

12/24/2007 2:20:35 AM

Embassy Suites resort right on the CA/NV border. I guess it's address is in South L. Tahoe, CA but I always say Stateline, NV... It opens right to the Heavenly gondola...

[Edited on December 26, 2007 at 5:51 PM. Reason : x]

12/26/2007 5:49:38 PM

I am leaving for Tahoe the 6th of January. Staying in the same Embassy Suites. I have been there twice before. Which side of the mountain did you enjoy the most. I have not spent a whole lot of time on the Nevada side. Super excited about going again.

12/26/2007 6:41:29 PM