rbw1966 Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 I've only been skiing a few years and exclusively telemark with a few failed attempts at AT (only downhill I've ever done has been on Tele or AT gear). It was about my second year that I finally swallowed my aesthetic pride and ventured forth on the groomers. Even then, I rarely encountered the steeps, instead favoring the gentler "bunny" slopes and their emasculating names. Soon, I found my ego spitting me onto steeper terrain where I encountered a strange phenomenon (and a plethora of injuries and broken ski poles). I am not completely familiar with skiing etiquette but a friend well versed in the subject told me that the downhill skier generally has the right of way and that you should remain in control at all times. Admittedly I failed miserably at the latter point. However, mostly out of fear I always remained conscious of my position relative to those above me so as to not get creamed by someone as shitty as me barreling downwards. I've noticed a strange phenomenon though. I've been to Meadows, Timberline, Nelson, Manning, Whistler and Vail and I've seen it in all these places: snowboarders lounging in the middle of the slope. Now, I don't have anything against snowboarders at all. I'm just curious as to the reasoning behind this. Often it has happened where I have crested a hill, schussing downward in my not-so-elegant arcs and having to resort to "survival turns" to avoid these folks sitting on the slopes. And its almost never just one. So what gives? Quote
gregm Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 they're snowboarders. they think it's cool to be rude to rest of the world. that's why they call them snowboarders. my advice is to head to the backcountry. even if i go to a super popular bc area the worst i've encountered is the occaisional boarder sitting up to his waist in snow 200' past the trailhead smoking a fag and saying something about how he needs a splitboard or verts or a helicopter or something. disclaimer: some boarders are cool. Quote
COL._Von_Spanker Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 Regarding lounging snowboarders: Fuck em. It's their problem if they are sittin there and they get plowed into. And all the yahoos waitin at jumps? Just snake em. I hate that shit and I hate stoppin 50 times before I get to the bottom. These boarders are wankers and deserve a big roostertail of snow on them. PS I ride snowboards, in the past mostly at baker where this happens a lot. and people lounge around to go off some crap jump with a flat landing and shit. That's why I want to earn my turns this year. Quote
allthumbs Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 My advice is to run the fuckers over. If they're lounging in the road they get what's coming to em'. Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 Anyone in front should be considered a speed bump. Quote
ryland_moore Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 What is the difference between a first-time snowboarder and a snowboard instructor? 'Bout three days! Screw 'em! I know there are plenty of snowboarders out there with etiquette, but the other punks just give the group a bad name........Enjoy the snow! Quote
ChrisT Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 Rob just think of those snowboarders sitting on their asses as an opportunity to improve your turns. It's helped my skiing tremendously! Quote
rbw1966 Posted January 9, 2003 Author Posted January 9, 2003 My question is more towards "why" they do this? Any thoughts? Quote
iain Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 ah hahaha! A friend and I were running a terrain park at Timberline awhile back and we were stopped after a rail slide to check the base damage. We got yelled at for loitering in the SNOWBOARD park! Are you gonna huck or what dude? The worst about those campers on runs is that they are usually in packs of 50 or more. They also tend to hang out right below kickers. Quote
iain Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 as to why they do this, it's probably because on steeper runs it's hard to hang out on a board standing up. I wouldn't mind trying snowboarding but I don't want to put up with the 1 year of hard biffs to get good enough to do the stuff that is fun on a snowboard. Quote
allthumbs Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 move off the trail to kibbitz difficulty factor = zero Quote
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 Yeah, ALL snowboarders are dicks, because they're snowboarders. Fuck, this has gotta be the dumbest attitude ever. As Dr. Flash Amazing recalls, all types of idiots park themselves all over the place, despite what happens to be strapped to their feet. Gaper snowboarders sitting at the top of good kickers, snowplowing gumby skiers capriciously veering from side to side, telemarkers cutting wide turns across the runs. Whatever, tools. Quote
allthumbs Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 I never said that moron. What I said, if you could read, was that boarders, skiiers, or even snowshoeers should get the hell off the main trail or run, if they want to sit around doing whatever. Jeez FDA, do I have to 'splain everythin to ya? Quote
Roger Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 all types of idiots park themselves all over the place, despite what happens to be strapped to their feet. maybe, but it seems like 8 times out of 10 it's a band of boarders on their asses, in a straight line across the slope. But I think the issue is mostly age, not snowboarding itself - most of the annoying boarders tend to be teenagers who are clueless about their actions simply because they're clueless teenagers. Some of my best friends are 30+ year-old boarders, and they don't piss people off on the hill. Quote
rbw1966 Posted January 9, 2003 Author Posted January 9, 2003 Gaper snowboarders sitting at the top of good kickers, snowplowing gumby skiers capriciously veering from side to side, telemarkers cutting wide turns across the runs. The original question referred to boarders squatting on the hill. Whats so wrong about someone snowplowing down a hill or moving side to side in wide arcs? At least they are making downward progress and not loitering on the hill. Its the squatting mid-hill I was wondering about. Quote
Roger Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 telemarkers cutting wide turns across the runs. DFA, it sounds like you're hangin' with the wrong crowd of telemarkers. Quote
COL._Von_Spanker Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 What I find annoying is the snoplowers (is it called a stem-christy) that do big turns; they are like horses with blinders on. This is annying as shit on skiis or a snowboard. Now, i know they are learning and all, but my passing commands seem to evokes all sorts of crazy reactions. "passing on your left" all to often is followed by a big left turn from the snowplow with blinders. Quote
allthumbs Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 just holler, "Get the fuck outta the way or die!" Quote
COL._Von_Spanker Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 I think the blinders come stock with ear plugs Quote
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 Just tryin' to get y'all to look at things differently. The problem on the hill is gaping and/or inconsiderate idiots. When you say "oh, those snowboarders suck blah blah blah," it's pretty narrow-minded, and an affront to those of us who prefer to carry great speed down the hill and not stop until the lift lines demand that we do so. Quote
COL._Von_Spanker Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 It's not really snowboarder vs skiier, it's more of a people who go fast and don't stop or turn a lot vs dumbasses that clog shit up. Quote
glen Posted January 9, 2003 Posted January 9, 2003 A friend of mine had her back broken when someone snaked a jump and landed on her back. She had taken the jump, fallen, and the 'snaker' landed on her before she could get up. And yes, she was on a snowboard. Don't compound the situation by being a dick. Quote
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