Loon mtn, NH 12/02-03

[joegm]

dec 1 means cheap condo opens back up at loon , and so do i... <BR>tues and wed- essentially the same facts- 2 ways down... 1) off gondy- upper picked rock to lower picked rock---2) off gondy , upper picked rock to cross cut to double dipper double chair. packed fake till about 1pm then patches of slick... they were blowin all over and on the picked routes t to b till about 2 pm on wed.. they are blowin all over off the top triple and through the grand junction area for the weekend i would assume.. they called it 7 but its really 2 routes as of 4 on wed... i would say they will likely be spinning the triple by weekend by not for w boss or flume... bottom half of mountain has naothing more than a dusting on it... very cold both days, about 10 to 15... crowds were fine before 1p and then kid racers showed up.. it was still manageable though. not too bad... good shake, ( ie thick: sticky man made ) as my budy gil calls it, of about 3 or 4 inches on the sides of lower picked to work on . i think he calls it " shake " cause if you are not on your skis, u instantly get exposed and the4 body does that little shake thing . <BR> loon layout update: not that loon seems to be a popular place for the hard core on this site, but loggin on to their site a few weeks back i was horrified to see that they were touting a something called the new northstar terrain park. northstar happens to be the blue run under the quad which they have let bump for the past few years. frantic calls were made and on wed got the live update from jeff, the head of gooming ops ( good guy too, spent a lot of time with us as we were peppering him with questions ) and an upper level guy ralph lewis. both stated that plan does indeed call for a jib park with a SECOND PIPE, going in under the quad... they claim they are just going to shift the blue bump trail to the skiers right by one and maybe 2... they say lower rampasture will be the new bump trail along with the blue ox... my buddy gil thinks thinks this is a load of crap and that they will not give up 2 blue cruisers for bumps and that both those trails will never be allowqed to bump... but both guys were insisting that's the plan... we pleaded our case and told em that's the only reason we ski there. they gave us the feedback about how the marketing studies are forcing them to cater to the snowboarders, who, and i have to agree with this, have essentially taken over loon mountain... this will bear watching for any fans of blue bumps runs.. hopefully they follow through on their word. back on mon and tues from loon, unless something big happens over at k. <BR> both guys stated they need to hear feedback to get things done.. both stated the boarders are loud and are willing to go in and pound on the desks of the suits... if you care at all about the issue email ralph lewis at loon, <A HREF="mailto:info@loonmtn.com">info@loonmtn.com</A> and voice your concerns.. he told us they have been getting some concerns voiced over this , but every little bit helps. let him know bumps are the ultimate terrain park and they cost nothing!!!

 

[hamdog]

they used to have the park under that quad. they used to have the jumps right under the chair. as long as they don't put jumps right under the quad they'll be fine. i used to have to be so careful about not hitting the chairs. the level of riding is so much higher now of the riders riding these feaures. a second place is good, but how many jumps can they actually put on that trail without people clipping the chairs? if they can do it, then more power to them. i used to be a local rider at loon, and i would take part in voiceing a lot more if i was still around there, but i'm not. hopefully it all goes through. out here in montana Big Lye doesn't even acknowledge snowboarders or skiers who like to ride these features. we've been over this before, so i won't blow up about it. <BR> <BR>loon might want to consider making an 'EXPERT' park and an intermediate park instead.....if they're gonna make two parks. i don't know. they're gonna have a second SUPERpipe? nice.

 

[anon]

You pull out a nice big bud, then another, then another.....finally you look in the bottom of your baggie and all that's left is loose fluffy remnants that got passed over......THAT'S "shake". <BR> <BR>Excellent turn of phrase by your buddy Gil. <BR> <BR>Let me guess, Gil sometimes disapears in the trees for a while, then comes back all smiley?

 

[joegm]

hamdog, i don't believe the 2nd pipe will meet the criteria for a superpipe, and i too have trouble envisioning any sort of substantial booters on that run, considering how much the level of skiing and riding has risen in the past 2 years.. that lift is way too low... i know out a blackcomb they run that multi tiered system of parks.. i would assume other big time mountians do also.. i can tell you that there does appear to be substantial tension between some of the old guard loonites ( ie 50 plus retirees ) and the younger nu skool approach... and unfortunately, the old school bumpers appear to be gettin tossed under the bus. i am curious as to your beef with big sky...what are your issues? <BR> anon i passed your crack on to my buddy gil... we both got quite the kick out of it... gil's comment was he has enough trouble trying to ski bumps sober, never mind after some KIND... and me, my employment by a local constabulary probably precludes me from partaking in the KIND at this point, ( i just wish i skied in college !!!!!) if u know what i mean . that's all right, all i need to get smiley is a couple of bump runs!!!