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The Official Michigan Winter Thread

490K views 8K replies 153 participants last post by  sabatoa 
#1 ·
Alright everyone since Summer is over, fall has just begun and we've already had our first rail jam of the year, it's time to start a new thread for the 10/11 winter.

Last year we had the "Southeast" michigan thread, but I think we should do all of Michigan. Sure, most of population lives in S/E michigan but we all ride the same resorts in the LP and even the UP if we get a chance, so we should have one thread to bring everyone together.

Cheers everyone we're probably only like 70 days from open resorts!
 
#2,598 ·
Mike goes to CO or Tahoe every winter. He doesn't really ride park other than the occasional ride-on flat box or whatever. I haven't seen him hit any jumps either, although I know he used to hot dog it on skis when he was younger (now 39 I think). So he's mostly just cruising groomers around here. Out west probably looks for the steeps & bowls.

I think this is the appeal of Vail :)
 

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#2,600 ·
The Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin are what Vail is all about IMO, though there are plenty of good runs on the front too (Chair 11 = Northwoods area, Game Creek Bowl on the opposite side can be good also).

I'm guessing that the lady friend told you BC was more boarder friendly probably because Vail has a lot of cat walks to get to other areas... For example, to get from the front of Vail to Blue Sky Basin... normally takes like 30min at least. But its not too big of a deal.

Beaver Creek is awesome - probably my 2nd favorite of the Epic resorts out here, after Vail. Steep, a lot of vertical (over 4k I believe). Royal Elk Glades are awesome if there is good snow. There wasn't enough snow last year to go, but Stone Creek Chutes are supposed to be pretty cool too (pillows/cliffs).

You'll have fun at either place. One other bonus of Beaver Creek... at 3pm they bring out warm Chocolate Chip Cookies every single day.
 
#2,606 · (Edited)
Where's my props? I have ego that likes some strokin too :(

Edit: on a straight run, I'm sure we can at least keep up with Dave if we tried. When I say Dave is fast, I'm not talking about just bombing. Ride with the dude through crystal mountain trees. In dare you to keep up and take the lines he does at speed.

I'll never forget shouting out to Dave while he was riding his line about the tree jib he was about to pass... he immediately made a hard left and completely jibbed that tree without skipping a beat.

*Dave ego stroking
 
#2,608 ·
That comes with practice (obviously) :)

Generally speaking in freestyle speed is your friend because you don't need to balance as long, if you're going faster. But the flip-side of that is that any change in situation needs a much quicker reaction. Like, you notice you're off-balance... you need to do *something* and that something is to (as gracefully as possible) dismount, because you can't fight it, and if you don't dismount you'll eat shit.
 
#2,614 ·
Pine Knob was fun this morning. Soft corduroy and now crowds.

Now I'm sitting at my desk at work :(

Went on the smallest kicker they had a few times but didn't pull the trigger on anything other than straight air. I was practicing backside 180s off the knuckles and got real comfortable doing those, I just need to grow a pair and send it off a real jump now.

I'm also aiming for 10am on Saturday. I'm hoping the jumps are small enough to clear because I'd like to work on those and the park might be too slow to ride.
 
#2,615 ·
Pine Knob was fun this morning. Soft corduroy and now crowds.

Now I'm sitting at my desk at work :(

Went on the smallest kicker they had a few times but didn't pull the trigger on anything other than straight air. I was practicing backside 180s off the knuckles and got real comfortable doing those, I just need to grow a pair and send it off a real jump now.

I'm also aiming for 10am on Saturday. I'm hoping the jumps are small enough to clear because I'd like to work on those and the park might be too slow to ride.
Right on. That would be great because I finally started getting my straight airs dialed in at Hawk Island and I'd love to work on indy or something.

I can't find my crap gloves, I hope I can find them in case we use the tow :unsure:
 
#2,623 ·
Glad I went riding yesterday morning.

I am still not worried about tomorrow. MTH plans on opening tonight, but even if they remain closed today, all the forecasts say no rain tomorrow. They'll be open as long as it ain't raining. Conditions, well that's another question altogether. Hopefully the park is rideable. Few things hurt less than crashing in wet slush, so it's a good day to work on progression :)
 
#2,626 ·
Glad I went riding yesterday morning.

I am still not worried about tomorrow. MTH plans on opening tonight, but even if they remain closed today, all the forecasts say no rain tomorrow. They'll be open as long as it ain't raining. Conditions, well that's another question altogether. Hopefully the park is rideable. Few things hurt less than crashing in wet slush, so it's a good day to work on progression :)
I've got a trick or two in mind that I may try if I have the chance.

We should bring our own brews for a parking lot craft sesh.
I still have the Todcaster and the Nut Brown Ale from Sam Smith.
 
#2,630 · (Edited)
Are you serious, rain? Not only that but I can go outside in a t shirt and jeans and be alright.
Oh well, any of you been to PK recently? It is looking nice. Timbo isn't quite as good as last year but they're getting there. They have a jib that's 3 flat rails in a row, each one having a drop-off to the next. Well, stupidly I went for one last hit in my last run where I knew I was very tired, slid out on the second rail and landed on my back. Kept sliding, landed on my head on the third rail. Thank fuck I had a helmet on.
 
#2,631 ·
I was at PK yesterday morning. Didn't do a full writeup on Timbo but they had added some features since the last time I was there which was Saturday. New features were c-box and I think what is referred to as a bike rack rail, even though it does not resemble a bike rack at all.

It's pretty close to where it was last season. That rainbow rail with the hip is insane, if you're good enough (which I am not) I saw some kids boosting that hip and tail-tapping the top of the rainbow out and off the other side. Pretty rad. but you can also hit the hip as it's own feature.

I'll probably play hooky from work again next week one day and get out there when the slopes are empty.
 
#2,632 ·
If there's snow left. 61 tomorrow.
Yeah, I don't have the balls right now for the rainbow rail. I saw some video of a guy flying off a rainbow rail and it scared me shitless.
Bike rack rail as in the one after the C-Box? I like that one - it's really smooth.
My favorite feature right now is the right-most flat box at the bottom. You can either ride it as a normal box, or stay on the edge of the box and use it as a hip.
 
#2,634 ·
Confirmed,.. Holly's open 9 am. (guess with the weather they didn't get their pm session open last night)

Sabatoa, I've got the over mitt protectors. I'll bring them in case you haven't turned up your crap gloves for the tow rope. See y'all out there!

Oh yes, I'm bringing the GP. Hoping someone will help me out with a follow along or two. I'd like to use it to get some critique on my riding, compare my progression etc. (...not to mention proving I'm not just a creepy "Old" dude, but I can ride also!!) ;) :thumbsup: Then I can be the "Steezy Creepy Ol' Dude!" :laugh:

Might have to change my user name after,.. How does "Suzy Creep Steeze" sound!!! :laugh:
 
#2,635 ·
All hills closed today as expected...

Good news is there's a small amount of snow in the forecast tonight (1" or so) and temps look prime for them to be able to blow a lot this week. I'd expect them to re-open Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.
 

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#2,636 ·
Yeah,.. this weather definitely SUCKS!!!

X2
 
#2,642 ·
Out of the hospital today. I've got a really positive prognosis, just gotta get healed up and I can ride again.

I'd love to be riding again in March but I'm not counting on it.

I'm done with kickers though. I love them and wanted to pursue that style of riding but it's not worth the risk. My break was in a fortunate position they say. I could've been paralyzed.
 
#2,643 ·
there's always butters, natural features, & jibs. plenty to keep you occupied outside the jump line.

Of course, you can hurt yourself on all/any of them, or by a random toddler-missile. Perhaps some day you will decide to try jumps again, but if you're not comfortable there (and who can really blame ya) there's no shame in hanging that part of your game up.
 
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