Spirit Mountain 2011/2012

[rwmaron]

Is the snow starting to turn to granular/corn yet? Was it still sticky slow?

Not sticky slow like the weekend - in fact when you could find a stretch of untracked snow, it was fast and 'surfy'. Unfortunately there weren't too many untracked stretches to be had. Don and I are planning a couple of hours Thursday morning. The projected overnight temperatures starting Thursday are outlandish - things are going to go down the tubes pretty fast after that.

[khoward]

Had a meeting this evening after work that was canceled, but decided not to try Spirit with the heat. Heard that conditions weren't prime. Very unsettling for March 14th, and forecast to continue.
Jane and I are planning an evening session tomorrow - could be my last at Spirit this year if we don't stay open past this weekend. It's supposed to be a little cooler for one day.

[BobD]

At this rate I don't think even Lutsen will survive much longer

[bigwavedave]

Still thinking of coming up tomorrow, Friday, for one last blast of the season. Interested to hear how it was today.

BobD you might be onto something with the whitewater kayak, might be just the tool to get down the hill in the coming days.
Possibility of thunderstorms are in the NOAA forecast everyday for the next week starting Saturday. Let's see, do we shut down the chair lift when there's thunder and lightning? Sounds like summertime weather, guess were're gonna skip spring this year.

[rwmaron]

Got down to 35F last night, so things were pretty firm this morning, then gradually softened (and slowed) - nevertheless I stayed out until noon. Patroller Don has definitely got the hardboot stoke now after touching the snow a couple of times on Blue Ruin:


Forecast low of 33F tonight, so I suspect that tomorrow will be about the same.

[khoward]

I took a few runs from between 6 and 7 PM tonight, and Jane joined in after the Board Meeting. Started out okay, but it set up into hard crud pretty quickly after the sun went down. We were a bit surprised
since it has been so warm. It's starting to deteriorate with new water hazards and grass poking through in the middle of Four Pipe.
Otherwise, we're seeing some granular snow now, and a bit of grooming overnight might make for a great day tomorrow for those lucky enough to be off.

[bigwavedave]

Rode from 9AM to about 3PM. Started out firm and fast 1st hour and gradually warmed up. Snow is holding up quite well on all the runs, despite the one area picture above which is way over on the edge of the top of 4pipe.
Rode the Kessler twins (GS and then SL) while still firm, then switched to the 167ATV about 11AM when it started getting slushy. Did several runs on Gandy then found Russ, on a "lunch break" from work. We took several runs from Cinder Snapper to Blue Ruin and worked our way over to Scissor Bill. After lunch took my old Rossi Alpine FC(freecarve)160 out for a spin. It has the same scr as the ATV but is shorter and narrower and turned out to be way more fun than the ATV! Glad no one bought it when I was trying to sell it.

Here's video proof on Juggler Joe, 3/16/12 Friday 2PM http://youtu.be/wkt1n8pnPWI

[khoward]

Awesome video

[rwmaron]

Low of 41F last night, already 51F at 9am.....spent an hour surf-carving with Jolson. Rapidly softening and slowing, so I headed out but Jim was still getting after it. More about being outside at one of your favorite places with one of the brethren than snowboard carving today!

Time to start cycling - I'm pretty sure that Spirit will close after this weekend.

[khoward]

Looks likely Spirit will close for the season after today

[khoward]

We had an excellent season thanks to the hard work of the snow making operations at Spirit.
We're starting to get our gear ready for USASA at Copper at the end of the month.
We'll have one more carver on the hill next year.
Stay healthy and train hard. We'll post updates from Nationals.

[rwmaron]

You go girl!!!!!!

Now help me think this through...we're going to have a hardbooter on the Spirit Mountain board of directors next year?!?!

[bigwavedave]

Good luck at the nationals.
Is that a standard width metal AX? It looks wide. Can I ask what the specs are? I'm getting a stock 172 metal AX for next year.

Russ: I'm pretty sure a carver on the board (accidental pun) means that we will start seeing exclusive runs for carvers and mid-day grooming.

[bumpyride]

Hey Jane,

You kind of look a bit excited. Have fun out West. Very unfortunate that Spirit closed before you got a chance to take it for a spin. It will be fun if the 4 of us every get a chance to hit the slopes.

Fischer

[Gramma Jane]

Of course we will have dedicated runs for carvers, and our own private groomer, and for sure a 1/2 pipe--sorry, I'll never give up the 1/2 pipe! I'm delighted to be part of this elite group--now I just have to learn how to do it!! Gramma Jane

PS a new picture--that other one made me look fat--Ken tells me nobody was looking at me, only my new board!

[bigwavedave]

Just trying to guess your board's measurements, it doesn't look so wide now, but this thread is starting to look like it belongs in the board porn section.

I've always wanted to drive a groomer.

[khoward]

It's a 20cm waist - standard. The perspective
on the photo was deceiving.
Wouldn't have been a good week even at Spirit even
if it were open.

[khoward]

Celebrity photo of the day with Sean Martin at USASA.
He's bringing demos this week

[bigwavedave]

Hi Ken, I'm getting a 172 metal AX and a 164 Nomad, both demos, from Sean after the season is over. Sold the ATV and baby Kessler. Hope you're having fun.

[khoward]

Getting some good riding in.
Jane had a couple of good clean runs in the Pipe
Slopestyle tomorrow
Celebrity photo of the day

[khoward]

Good day at USASA. Jane had good clean runs on slopestyle.
Started out rather crusty, but softened up this afternoon for
some nice runs off American Flyer.
Celebrity photo of the day.
Mimi Wiencke takes Gold in Women's Open Division for GS.
(Dave - I'll send you more shots)