Who is interested in a West Coast Meet? - Page 3 - Snowboarding Forum

ShredLife · 10-04-2012, 11:52 AM

well dude, you're over a thousand miles east from me.

out here we wouldn't call CO the midwest, but no one i know out here refers to CO/UT the west, we'd call it the Rockies or the Wasatch but you're pretty far east from the actual west coast.

ShredLife · 10-04-2012, 11:54 AM

LMAO yea i guess in 1865 there weren't quite as many people this far west in the nation yet.

**killclimbz** · 10-04-2012, 12:02 PM

I am definitely not calling Colorado the West Coast, don't get me wrong. To a lot of people, West coast just refers to the Western state ski areas. Plus if you put a meet like this on, you got to think of hubs, if it is open to people from all over. The only reason I brought out Utah and Colorado is the good airport access. All of the West Coast states have this too of course. We are as land locked as you can get.

No one is quite a convenient as Salt Lake is. It's stupid easy. My only complaint there is about who is running that state.

I am not going to organize or run this thing. It's a nightmare. Plus, I don't really care for riding chairlifts, but most people don't share that passion. Which limits me to who I'll ride with.

tylerkat89 · 10-04-2012, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killclimbz

I am definitely not calling Colorado the West Coast, don't get me wrong. To a lot of people, West coast just refers to the Western state ski areas. Plus if you put a meet like this on, you got to think of hubs, if it is open to people from all over. The only reason I brought out Utah and Colorado is the good airport access. All of the West Coast states have this too of course. We are as land locked as you can get.

No one is quite a convenient as Salt Lake is. It's stupid easy. My only complaint there is about who is running that state.

I am not going to organize or run this thing. It's a nightmare. Plus, I don't really care for riding chairlifts, but most people don't share that passion. Which limits me to who I'll ride with.

I do wana do my first backcountry trip. So lemme know on that note =D but back to the west COAST lol

jdang307 · 10-04-2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poutanen

Yeah, if I was back in the Hamilton area I'd be going to the East Coast meet for sure. Jay Peak is 9 hours from Hamilton but 100% worth it. I'd drive up to that far to go to a meet out here.

I shouldn't say I have no interest in the West Coast... I guess I just keep hearing of the heavier snow and I count my blessings that we get the light fluffy stuff here. The heavy stuff kills my knees by the end of the day!

Ultimately I'd like to try out as many resorts as possible! I think it's going to take a few years to fully explore the Canadian rockies first, and IF we start getting bored with our local hills maybe we'll start doing some touring into Colorado, and maybe over towards Wolfies neck of the woods.

I'm hoping our finances are good next summer, in which case we're going to go check out Argentina for some boarding. I can't get enough of the local hills in the winter, so my tourist dollars would be better spent on a Southern Hemisphere resort in the summer.

A Canadian Rockies meet would be great! Maybe I should take the bull by the horns and get one going?!?

Good luck to this meet, sounds like fun!

Yes don't count west coast resorts out. There are a lot of quality resorts out there. Mt Hood, Seattle area, Vancouver, Tahoe, Mammoth. If steeps are your thing I think the heavier snow allows steeper pitches as well. Too steep in my opinion sometimes

**killclimbz** · 10-04-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdang307

Yes don't count west coast resorts out. There are a lot of quality resorts out there. Mt Hood, Seattle area, Vancouver, Tahoe, Mammoth. If steeps are your thing I think the heavier snow allows steeper pitches as well. Too steep in my opinion sometimes

Truth.

I'll get geeky on you.

Colorado has the lightest snow fall in the continental US. Also the most faceted snow due to the cold temperatures and high altitudes. It sticks to slopes just over 45 degrees. You can find a 50 degree shot here and there, but it's short lived. Less than 100 vert typically. Lucky if it's 50 feet of vertical actually. This is a continental snow pack. Rain rarely happens in winter.

Head a little more West to Utah. Slightly heavier snow, but more of it. We are only talking 1-2% more moisture content here. The snow will stick on slopes up to around 55 degrees. Rain is pretty infrequent here too. Snow pack does not get nearly as faceted. Intermountain climate. Best of both worlds in many people's opinion.

Now then, get to California, Washington, Oregon. Deep snows there. Comes in heavy and wet, though there are blower Colorado style days too. Rain happens. Snow will stick to slopes in excess of 65 degrees. You can ride some crazy steeps there and I will tell you it is damn fun. Cream cheese powder is fun as hell to ride. I don't care what anyone thinks. Powder is fucking powder and it's a blast.

poutanen · 10-04-2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdang307

Yes don't count west coast resorts out. There are a lot of quality resorts out there. Mt Hood, Seattle area, Vancouver, Tahoe, Mammoth. If steeps are your thing I think the heavier snow allows steeper pitches as well. Too steep in my opinion sometimes

How does heavier allow for steeper pitches? I'd think it'd be the other way around?!? I was on a 100% slope (45 deg) last spring in the back bowls of Lake Louise. My GF was complaining about the slush at the bottom of the resort, I went up to the peak and hit some of the best runs of my life!

I've got a buddy in Vancouver so one day I'll have to catch a seat sale and hit up some of the hills there. Maybe after I've had a taste for it I'll want to tour my way down into Oregon and the other states...

Thanks!

ShredLife · 10-04-2012, 01:02 PM

and typically unless you're a weekend warrior who can't pick their days noone really rides in the rain but it does solidify the snowpack as it always returns to a below freezing cycle after the front part of an unstable storm pushes in (the warm & wet)

temp wise:
30-32 degree "powder" (chowder?) does kinda suck and an be very draining physically cuz it really wants to throw you over the handlebars if you try and relax - but it is pretty rare, maybe 3-4 times a season.

25-28 degrees is alot more common out here and really its fucking great especially at the lower end of that scale. it does get tracked out tho (at resorts), and that too can be tough for people not used to it - especially if you aren't riding a stiff board that can knock that shit down.

if its below 20 and there is fresh the PNW is as good as it gets. except there's always the flats

almost everything we ride out here is a volcano so there are always some flat areas, either to keep your speed on at the resort, or to have to slog thru on the hike in in the BC.

ShredLife · 10-04-2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poutanen

How does heavier allow for steeper pitches? I'd think it'd be the other way around?!? I was on a 100% slope (45 deg) last spring in the back bowls of Lake Louise. My GF was complaining about the slush at the bottom of the resort, I went up to the peak and hit some of the best runs of my life!

I've got a buddy in Vancouver so one day I'll have to catch a seat sale and hit up some of the hills there. Maybe after I've had a taste for it I'll want to tour my way down into Oregon and the other states...

Thanks!

what you experienced is a function of temperature gradient thru elevation. higher = colder.

warmer snow = wetter = more cohesion. think of packing a snowball with wet vs superdry snow...

tylerkat89 · 10-04-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poutanen

How does heavier allow for steeper pitches? I'd think it'd be the other way around?!? I was on a 100% slope (45 deg) last spring in the back bowls of Lake Louise. My GF was complaining about the slush at the bottom of the resort, I went up to the peak and hit some of the best runs of my life!

I've got a buddy in Vancouver so one day I'll have to catch a seat sale and hit up some of the hills there. Maybe after I've had a taste for it I'll want to tour my way down into Oregon and the other states...

Thanks!

Kill answered that for you

View Poll Results: Are you interested in having a Meet for the West Coast?
Yes	21	58.33%
No	5	13.89%
Maybe, with different options	10	27.78%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

10-04-2012, 11:52 AM	#21 (permalink)
ShredLife The Rooster King Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,332	well dude, you're over a thousand miles east from me. out here we wouldn't call CO the midwest, but no one i know out here refers to CO/UT the west, we'd call it the Rockies or the Wasatch but you're pretty far east from the actual west coast. __________________ get the hell off my lawn.

10-04-2012, 11:54 AM	#22 (permalink)
ShredLife The Rooster King Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,332	LMAO yea i guess in 1865 there weren't quite as many people this far west in the nation yet. __________________ get the hell off my lawn.

10-04-2012, 01:02 PM	#28 (permalink)
ShredLife The Rooster King Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,332	and typically unless you're a weekend warrior who can't pick their days noone really rides in the rain but it does solidify the snowpack as it always returns to a below freezing cycle after the front part of an unstable storm pushes in (the warm & wet) temp wise: 30-32 degree "powder" (chowder?) does kinda suck and an be very draining physically cuz it really wants to throw you over the handlebars if you try and relax - but it is pretty rare, maybe 3-4 times a season. 25-28 degrees is alot more common out here and really its fucking great especially at the lower end of that scale. it does get tracked out tho (at resorts), and that too can be tough for people not used to it - especially if you aren't riding a stiff board that can knock that shit down. if its below 20 and there is fresh the PNW is as good as it gets. except there's always the flats almost everything we ride out here is a volcano so there are always some flat areas, either to keep your speed on at the resort, or to have to slog thru on the hike in in the BC. __________________ get the hell off my lawn. Last edited by ShredLife; 10-04-2012 at 01:24 PM. Reason: holy crap i used there instead of their!!!

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10-04-2012, 12:02 PM	#23 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,166	I am definitely not calling Colorado the West Coast, don't get me wrong. To a lot of people, West coast just refers to the Western state ski areas. Plus if you put a meet like this on, you got to think of hubs, if it is open to people from all over. The only reason I brought out Utah and Colorado is the good airport access. All of the West Coast states have this too of course. We are as land locked as you can get. No one is quite a convenient as Salt Lake is. It's stupid easy. My only complaint there is about who is running that state. I am not going to organize or run this thing. It's a nightmare. Plus, I don't really care for riding chairlifts, but most people don't share that passion. Which limits me to who I'll ride with.