Hey everyone,

I’m in my 40s and just learned to ski this year. Over the past two months, I’ve been out seven times, taken two lessons, and feel comfortable on all the greens and blues at Butternut, Sunapee, and Okemo. That said, I know not all blues are created equal—Butternut’s blues feel more like Okemo’s greens, so I’m trying to gauge what to expect at Stowe.

I’ve heard Stowe’s blues can be a step up in difficulty. Are there any that are particularly steep, moguled, or otherwise tricky for someone still building confidence? On the flip side, which ones are more manageable for progressing?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Can 100mm be a one ski quiver for the icecoast, plus a trip out west each year?

I'm 5'10 (178cm) 175lbs. Lifelong advanced skier, with a playful tendency. I love anything off trail and un-groomed, but still appreciate good carving. Currently have Ripstick 96 172cm. I love them in bumps and trees but I am finding myself overpowering them at times, (I think they're too short) and they hold me back in the powder out west. Maybe I just need a longer length?

Considering something a little wider, QST 98. 176 or 183? I love the purple.

Head Kore 99? I like the idea of them being stiff and light, but are they too stiff for bumps and trees?

Ripstick 102, blue or black, 175 or 182?

Or maybe Ripstick 96 black in 182 length.

Anything else?

TIA

Anyone else find some of the glades at jay need a bit of clearing? A few entrances are basically blind narrow runs with low branches. Maybe I wasn't where I was supposed to be, maybe I just suck, but at jay I feel I'm always having to frequently duck branches.

Tonight, they all got 4+" based on cams. Okemo cam is the only good snow stake is 5+". Not sure about Whiteface due to cams probably same as Stowe 1+". Happy powder party Saturday youz lucky first trackers.

skiing saddleback for the first time tomorrow, but usually ski the loaf or Sunday river.

I'm a cautious but strong intermediate. I can do most of the black at sugarloaf but nlt the double blacks.

I know the trail ratings are different everywhere so a black st loaf may not be a black at saddleback.

that being said, can anyone tell me if the blacks or blues are similar? steeper? less groomed?

thanks

I know I'm jynxing it..

Stratton at 100 inches at the end of January is basically unheard of at this point. It has been snowing every week and hasn't ra*ned a significant amount above 2000 feet in a month. I'd estimate that snow depth is 3-4 feet at elevation. Killington is at 140% normal season snowfall for the end of Jan.

Does anyone remember a better start than this? The only real competition I can think of is 2018-19.

Is this year something special? Maybe Killington could even break 300 again?

Typical Ice coast or better?

So what’s everyone thinking about Stratton skiing tomorrow?? Ice? Snow? Rain?? Let the world know if you have deets!! I NEED THE DETAILS!!

Planning a snowboard trip to VT in early March. We have a 5 year old that we want to put in snowboarding lessons. Please help us decide between Okemo vs. Stowe!

STOWE

• must go over the weekend because Stowe only offers kids snowboard lessons on Saturdays & Sundays

• would stay at Spruce Peak Lodge for easy ski-in/ski-out access

• husband & I can’t start doing our runs until after 9am (after dropping off our kid at class, which starts at 9am), so can’t get a super early start

• snow looks REALLY good this year so far. Are the conditions worth the weekend crowds?

OKEMO

• can go midweek because Okemo offers weekday kids snowboard lessons, so no crowds

• conditions sound not as good as Stowe. Hearing that it’s more firm & hard packed at Okemo. How true is this?

Please I need to know

Going to Killington tomorrow and staying ~ 1hr away at an Airbnb. A friend is renting gear so have to go to K-1. I see that there are 31 Tesla destination chargers, so how early should I get there to have a good shot at it? Asking because I’m also considering preferred parking as an alternative. Any advice appreciated!

I know its not much but I was proud. None of my fam or friends ski so I just had to share it with people who understand. I watched a family member have a bad accident skiing when I was a kid so this was my first year back at it.

Hey everybody.. on my last run at like 330 on Jolly Green Giant at okemo on Friday 1/31.. I lost my tele ski. I lost balance and somehow lost the tele. My cable leash somehow unclipped.. the ski took off. I tried to chase it. I was not successful. I tried to search I couldn't not locate it and had to come off the MTN. If anyone is planning on cruising the glades and jolly green at okemo tomorrow please keep an eye out. I'd be eternally greatful.

Real talk here. I have successfully sent most of the stuff in the Castle Rock section of SB. Is Mad River Glen that much more difficult? Please put all hype-based bias aside when pondering this one. I would like to go to mad river this season and want to legit know if I’m ready.

I want to participate in the jack jumping race this year at Mount Snow, but I’ve never even seen this done. I’ve only read a few things over the past couple of years.

Any resources on building one and rules? Trying to search on Reddit mostly results in videos and GIFs of naked women doing jumping jacks. While entertaining, they don’t do much to help my understanding of what is allowable.

Seems pretty home built with minimal regulations/rules. Slap some shit together with trash and call it good.

1. Does it need to be built on a ski?
2. Would something more in the vein of skibock go too far and not be in the spirit of the competition? (Are ski skates/shoes allowed or discouraged?)
3. Feet up and foot rests or feet down for stability?
4. Recommendations for a leash and where to attach?
5. Ideal type of ski? Old school long skinny, more modern ski with a tight side radius?

Always intrigued but neber been to Le Massif. Is it worth the extra 2-3 hours over Jay or Sutton? (Or even more over central VT or even Gore)

Advanced/LowExpert skills. Like blue-ish more open glades.

3-4 day trip from NYC.

Hey! Trying to uphill at greek peak in cortland but hours are so early 7-9. How stingy is the uphill timing policy, and has any one approached from the back?

What do we think for Hunter/Plattekill/Bellayre tomorrow?

Seems like it’s light rain today turning to an inch or two of snow but worried warmer weather/rain today going to create concrete conditions tomorrow with the quick cold.

Thoughts? Anyone out there today?

I have a pandora 84 158 and find it difficult to hold an edge. The lines are very shallow and sometimes slips on ice. I am also 115lbs! Please drop your recommendations below.

Taking a trip to Jay Peak next week, I’ll be driving up this Sunday. I’ll be skiing Monday 2/3 - Thursday 2/6 and driving back on Friday.

I was hoping during this trip to get my first experience back country snowboarding - I’ve been snowboarding since I was 3 and am a master of groomers and have gotten to what I consider to be an expert level of glades that are available to me up and down the East Coast. I wanted to try out Big Jay and work my way up to bigger back country that I would have to travel out west for.

The issue is I’m taking this trip with my lady and this would be her first time on a snowboard EVER which means I’m out a buddy to go up to Big Jay with. Usually in a situation like this I rely on my charisma on the chair lift up but I really want to do Big Jay and don’t want to leave a chance of me not finding a buddy.

Would any one of you fine folks be willing to show me the hike to Big Jay and accompany me for a few runs down it? Lunch and beer is on me!