Well, what can you say about this weekend huh? Awesome snow, goggle tans, Marshall Tucker, beverages on the plaza and friends to rip with. I arrived at work on Saturday and chatted it up with some gentlemen from Skiing Magazine. I have had the pleasure of meeting them before so perhaps gentlemen is not the right word, but regardless they are awesome skiers and super great guys.
Since I was still in my street clothes and they, already in their in the boots, we decided to catch up after a few runs so that I didn’t hold them up. If you have read any previous “The Way I Ski Its” you may recall that Dax often refers to me as “Junk-show Jones.” I am not sure this is an accurate description but nonetheless I was not ready to ride.
I suited up hit the slopes, straight towards the Tram. I as arrived at the top of the triple I ran into Mike Mannelin, Troy and Emily Nedved, Neil Johnson and Matt Dodd. They had just completed a Couloir lap and we slid into the Tram line. Nearly simultaneously I received a phone call from the Skiing Crew saying they were heading down the North Summit so we decided to meet later.
I feel it’s necessary to mention that those gnarly lines you see down Little Couloir and Apple Core are courtesy of Mr. Mannelin and the Editor of Skiing Magazine Jake Bogoch. How’s that for a warm-up run. Mike said it was great, but I am not sure I could enjoy it after such a hairball entry.
As we waited in the short line and soaked up the sun, and by the way the wait was totally worth it, we figured out our plan of attack. Got to the top and executed. We headed down Otter Slide, soft wind buffed snow and then headed towards the Dictators. Once again, just buttery, from there we crossed over towards Wave Wall and Castro’s Beard.
Matt was filming and once you hold a camera up Mannelin just turns it on. He left Troy and I standing at the top of Castro’s Beard and didn’t look back, dropping a nice rock at the bottom and sticking it. Troy took off next and picked a dubious line down and I followed a similar path. The snow was wind groomed ,carvy and excellent.
I met up with Skiing Crew joined by our own Victor DeLeo, Kene Sperry and Chad Robbs. They had been tearing it up all over the hill as well and had a great time on the North Summit Snowfields. At the base we decided that we hadn’t had enough so we hopped back in the tram line and did it again. If they hadn’t closed the Tram we would have repeated the cycle until dark. Why would you want to stop on a day like that? See you on the hill.
Chad
