Whiteface Mt. 12/10

Jimski · Dec 14, 2000

Shirley and I got there around 9:45 and had to park way out in the second lot at the entrance. The walk down helped to clear the cobwebs and loosen the legs to get ready for what would turn out to be another extraordinary ski day. Quite a difference 24 hrs made temperature wise and conditions improved overall everywhere we skied. It was demo day and after booting up we decided to get right into the swing. Unfortunately, the Volkl rep quit for another job (I was told earlier in the week) and so we couldn't try any Volkl's. Salomon was there and had a rather meager stock of both of the new Pilot models in various sizes and some different 1080's and some ladies X-scream sevens. Shirley opted for the sevens in 163 and I grabbed the last available pair of Pilots in 192. The guy kept warning me they were too big but I insisted and felt I could at least get an idea how they skied. Shirley liked hers somewhat better than her current skies but that wasn't saying much. I reasoned they were a little too high end and too long for her and later that day our dealer would concur when we spoke to him. We started out on the same fantastic run from the day before with Excelsior to Lower Cloudspin and Broadway to Boreen. It had been groomed somewhat but not beaten to a pulp. A lot of the contour and looseness was still there and gentle bumps formed pretty quick right off the bat. I found the Scream 10 Pilots to be real stiff and not very quick for the type of skiing I like to do. They were definitely too long but I found the faster I went the better they rode. It seemed I had to do more deliberate planned turning then instinctive reactive turning. The next run Shirley returned to her own boards but I saw the 186's had come back so I decided to try them also. I had seen that Wilderness was open with the guns a-blazing but I didn't really think Shirley would want to try something like that. As you stand at midstation and crane your neck up to look it can be somewhat imposing. I really wanted to see what the skis would do in the steeper more demanding conditions. She nodded approval at the top and we headed down the Approach. Conditions were excellent, I can't remember if it had been groomed but it was very soft and edgeable. Shirley was having a great time and I got the feeling of impending doom like the eye of a hurricane or something. Approach is rated a black diamond but actually skis like Boreen, a green circle. The difference is what happens when you get to the end. Nuttin' but steep blacks. We stood poised at the top of Upper Wilderness peering down into the roaring abyss of swirling snow. I explained the other options of Mt. Run or Parkway and what they might be like. I guessed icier and more scraped off and Shirley opted for Wilderness. We encountered big mounds of loose but dense heavy powder much like flour. With guns sticking half way out in the narrower upper neck of the trail it made for sliders having to turn more in the same place and big moguls were growing. I watched Shirley disappear into the swirling snow and pointed down and let them go. I found them to be very responsive and super stable and somewhat quicker than the 192's. I still thought they were rather heavy and demanding and required me to plan my line more carefully than my own Volkls or Elans. My dealer later said I probably would have liked the Scream 8's better for the style I prefer but I never got around to trying them. The highlight of the day occurred on this run. Shirley got cleaned out by a boarder. Before you all condemn me please let me explain. We, actually I, stopped about half way down to catch my breath and wait for the Mrs. She reminds me of the energizer bunny by her style in the moguls and steeper trails. Slow and methodical, just keeps going and going. She catches up and is covered from head to foot with that awful nasty white manmade stuff and starts to chastise me for always stopping. Sheesh, give me a break. I am below her and she's scanning the trail to pick a line when 50 or 60 feet above us a beginner/intermediate boarder of lesser ability than out daughter goes down and starts spinning and cartwheeling like a battlebot. It's amazing how a second or two can seem like an eternity and I hollered twice in rapid secession for Shirley to move. Alas, the guns were too loud and splat---there goes Shirley and the boarder down the trail. They only slid another 50 feet or so and thankfully the snow had enough give that they didn't do one of those three hundred feet slide for life's that are seen more frequently later in the season. The amazing thing was Shirley came up grinning and crowed at how well she was able to recover and get her feet under her and actually stop the both of them. The guy was most apologetic and honestly concerned for her welfare but definitely was in over his head. He took off on his heelside sliding, attempted to come around toeside and caught his heelside downhill and deja vu. Oh well, that's the way one gets better I suppose. Our friend Dave then went skiing by and didn't notice us. He's wearing a helmet and with the gun noise I couldn't yell loud enough to get his attention. Dave like's to book and is experimenting with his brand new Volkl Vertigo G 31's. I am able to chase him down on those Pilots and again find they probably function better the faster one goes. No skid, no scrape, no bouncing around, they really truck. Next run Shirley tries out some Rossi Saphir-S in 150cm. I didn't really think there would be anything I would like so I opt for my freshly tuned Elans. We do the Cloudspin run and stick to the easier runs so she can relax and really get the feel of the difference in the skis. She has found something that really works for her and can actually tell the difference between the skis turning and her skidding or steering them. She actually seeks out the icier sections to test them and finds them excellent on ice and hard snow. On the flatter parts with better snow we practice just weight shifting and tracking on edge. Could be a keeper. On the previous ride up the gondi another couple we chatted with were raving about the different Rossis. The guy really talked up the T-Power Vipers that are slalom skis from 130 to 174 cm. When we take Shirley's back I ask to try the Vipers and get an instant rush as soon as they hit the snow off the fitting ramp. We do the same Excelsior/Lower Cloudspin run and this time I hammer the sides and occasionally rip the ice just trying to overpower them. I tried to put myself into calculated tight situations that might result in a potential blown turn or bail out. Ice, powder, moguls, hard crust, chunky crud, dense heavier manmade; anything I can find and I can't shake them. I'm into it so intently that I get down Broadway out of sight before Shirley comes off Cloudspin onto Summit Express. After waiting two or three minutes I gather she must have taken Upper Valley Run so I head down to Mid station and sure enough we meet just as we both arrive. Anybody want to buy some Volkl Ultra Carver's in excellent condition? There's a new love in my life and no room for more skis in the closet.

These Viper's are instinctive, reflex type turning skis. They are kind of like a Porsche compared to a high powered NASCAR vehicle in comparison to the Salomon Pilots. I would never think that a 174cm ski could be so high performance and stable. For a final run we try Wilderness again on our own skis and have an excellent time in the fresh snow and Shirley thinks she is actually doing much better than the first run on this. My only faux-pas was to stick the side too closely to the right where 1900 road cuts into Wilderness. It's all rock ledge and too well camouflaged with the manmade snow. Keee-runch, there went my fresh tune on the second run. Oh well, the fun is well worth it. Saturday night's party was taking it's toll and we split about 3:00 to head for the shop and see what we can set up. Shirley will have new skis by next Saturday. Jimski

Whiteface Mt. 12/10

Jimski

New member