The Official Michigan Winter Thread

[david_z]

Originally Posted by ankkassa

Anyone snowboard at alpine? I was wondering if the season pass is actually good are there any black out days?

If you get Alpine's season pass I am pretty sure there are no blackout days on that. I rode there quite a bit the last few years, moreso 2 season ago because last year was kind of a bust and also because Pine Knob put up a really legit park (finally!) last season. I will probably spend most time at PK because it is closest to my work/house but I can always be persuaded to trek out to AV on a sunday morning or something.

[sabatoa]

Originally Posted by david_z

I'll probably be riding there once a week or so, as long as they keep their park as good as it was last winter.

I'm interested in checking out PK some time I'm not running up north.

[david_z]

Originally Posted by sabatoa

I'm interested in checking out PK some time I'm not running up north.

word. i'm still shooting for occasional after-work rides but probably be doing more weekend stuff now.

FWIW Alpine's beginner park is still better; less crowded, better maintained, etc. PK's timberline park is better but you have to be I'd say at least "intermediate" comfort level on boxes and the occasional rail to get the full experience out of it.

[sabatoa]

Originally Posted by david_z

word. i'm still shooting for occasional after-work rides but probably be doing more weekend stuff now.

FWIW Alpine's beginner park is still better; less crowded, better maintained, etc. PK's timberline park is better but you have to be I'd say at least "intermediate" comfort level on boxes and the occasional rail to get the full experience out of it.

Maybe I'll hit intermediate level by mid-season in park? Maybe that's too lofty?

I'm solidly intermediate all mountain, maybe beginner/advance beginner in park? I dunno, you saw my last park run. If you can call it that. LOL

[david_z]

I guess it depends how you define "intermediate" i didn't see your last laps this year just that one day at Hawk.

The park is mostly box-type features with a few rails and flat bars/etc. which you can obviously avoid or pick a different line. The box-type features in this park tend to be bigger (longer, and they are not really "ride-on") so you want to have good command of a few tricks on boxes long enough to make it to the end

You could of course go through the whole park doing nothing but 50/50 on most of the features but to have more fun you probably want a few more tricks in the bag otherwise it's like "Hey, I'm going to do this sweet line: 50/50 the down rail, 50/50 the flat rail, 50/50 the battleship rail and 50/50 the flat-down bar"

[sabatoa]

Originally Posted by david_z

I guess it depends how you define "intermediate" i didn't see your last laps this year just that one day at Hawk.

The park is mostly box-type features with a few rails and flat bars/etc. which you can obviously avoid or pick a different line. The box-type features in this park tend to be bigger (longer, and they are not really "ride-on") so you want to have good command of a few tricks on boxes long enough to make it to the end

You could of course go through the whole park doing nothing but 50/50 on most of the features but to have more fun you probably want a few more tricks in the bag otherwise it's like "Hey, I'm going to do this sweet line: 50/50 the down rail, 50/50 the flat rail, 50/50 the battleship rail and 50/50 the flat-down bar"

haha, that would make the worst edit ever.

This season I'm working on ollies so we'll see if I can hop onto anything at the end of the season.

Regarding how to define intermediate; yeah good point. It's relative I guess. I gauged it by what I've read snow wolf write here on the forums. I guess I should be fully switch before calling myself "solidly intermediate".

I guess I just mean that I can keep up with good riders at these michigan hills now. I'm not pulling the sweet shit they're doing but I don't think I was slowing anyone down by the end of the season.

[david_z]

Originally Posted by sabatoa

haha, that would make the worst edit ever.

This season I'm working on ollies so we'll see if I can hop onto anything at the end of the season.

Regarding how to define intermediate; yeah good point. It's relative I guess. I gauged it by what I've read snow wolf write here on the forums. I guess I should be fully switch before calling myself "solidly intermediate".

I guess I just mean that I can keep up with good riders at these michigan hills now. I'm not pulling the sweet shit they're doing but I don't think I was slowing anyone down by the end of the season.

I'm comfortable riding switch but I don't do anything switch in the park. I did hit a few jumps switch last year at alpine, but they were very small. I should probably work on that this year, but I have enough to work on regular that I don't want to mess it up with switch. besides i'm old enough it's not like I'm going to be entering contests or going pro any time so I might as well stick to stuff I can actually (kind of) do.

[chomps1211]

Hey Guy's,

1st thing, Thanks DaveZ & Sabatoa, for the info on misfits. You saved me wasting time & gas money! (...Oh yeah, Haven't seen anything from Leo in a while? Anyone know if every things alright with him? )

2nd.
I am hoping that I can put together the money to take a trip to Big Sky for my vacation. At the moment, it's "iffy". Want to ride at least 4 days! Flights seem to b around $450-$600. 4 days-5 nights lodging in a decent room, close to/on the mountain, anywhere from $5-600 to $1000. (package prices so lift tickets included) Then of course all the misc. expenses,.. food, drinks, ...condoms!

Anyway, not sure if it will come together like I hope, but if it doesn't, I was wondering if you guy's here had any recommendations for trips closer to home! some places I could hit with a rental car & say 1/2 to 2/3rds day drive.

I would like to hit a place with some elevation. Some nice terrain, longer runs,.. not the 2-3 min. down, 10-15 min. back on the lift, repeat! repeat!

The only one that I'm aware of like that that is relatively nearby, is Luetsen, MN. Pretty sure that's at least a full day's drive from SE MI. if not a lot more with weather & roads!

Anybody got some recommendations for an alternative trip? without one I'll probably just split what I've saved for a couple extra trips up to Boyne.
TIA.

[sabatoa]

If you have a passport you can get to Killington in 11 hours going through Ontario. They have 3000 vert.

[chomps1211]

Hey Dave,

Read your post in my Big Air thread. Thanks! Good to know! I was planning on checking out Alpine this season. My new schedule @ work has me off by 6:30-7:30 most nights instead of 10-11 pm. like last season, so I'm hoping to get a bunch of weekday night sessions this year. Alpines closer than PK so I want to check it out & see if it's worth it.

I've also got to check out Mt Brighton better this season. Haven't ridden there since my 1st two sessions, & one of those was my lesson! Only been down one hill there! Like to see what else they have now that I can stay upright on the board!