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Ruapehu 2010
Nothing challenging over whakapapa just an easy scramble to the crater lake.
I will be sure to bear that in mind. Meanwhile I'll continue to enjoy riding new terrain challenging or not
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Europe 2011 - living the dream
^^ rightio. Just the same as Whaka really, heaps of blacks are just like advanced blues really...and now the bloody rain washed away some of the true black runs. The cirque is still great however.
Was far-west T fun or what on Sat?
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: Ride Against
I will be sure to bear that in mind. Meanwhile I'll continue to enjoy riding new terrain challenging or not
Don't listen to a muppet ride against. New terrain is always fun, I am still yet to fully explore every thing Turoa has on offer
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Don't worry mate I'm still a grom so I get stoked over pretty much everything 
Have you been out the BC at Turoa? It's pretty awesome out there on a good day, definitely worth a look.
Didn't get out on the T's too much, crew I was with were not quite as adventurous as the people I normally ride with and were happy lapping the quad and I hate riding alone so mostly chilled there and found some little drops and stuff. I saw enough of Whakas on Sat to guarantee some more exploring providing the snow holds out for a couple of weeks
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Europe 2011 - living the dream
Haha, nigel no mates is my name a hell of alot. Nothing beats boosting by yourself and taking singles at the front of the que.
I have been most areas at the darkside but just not the finer points...I would surely be missing out on voltaren's secret stashes on a pow day 
Drops are certantly plentiful ATM, gotta love whaka. You just gotta get good at landing on the hardpack...jut like how the cirque refrooze up withing a half hour at like 1.30pm
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
I noticed it got a bit firmer before it started snowing, I wasn't doing anything big enough to hurt on a hard landing though. Considered solo missions, would get heaps more days on the hill if I did, but for me you can't beat riding with the boys and having a laugh
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Europe 2011 - living the dream
Originally posted by: jedski
Haha, nigel no mates is my name
That explains a lot
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Punter Extraordinaire
*edited 12 Sep 2010 20:01
hmmm, thats not working. But anyway, dont feed the trolls.
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Punter Extraordinaire
Gues what, make our day and piss off
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: jedski
Gues what, make our day and piss off
wot like the rain
What she looking like 4 next weekend hopefully the wind piss's off ?
Originally posted by: Ride Against
I meant the blacks around the high traverse area, don't know all the names yet. Out west was fun but not particularly challenging, some champs had set up a few jumps which kept it interesting though. Was referring more to the Turoa blacks a la Snowbird which are more like blues
There is plenty of steep terrain out east at Turoa, I doubt there is snow for many and the black runs at whaka. sure snow bird is a bit of a joke for a black, it's probably back due to all the learners that head up there.
Go and check out hamilton's face on if you say turoa doesn't have anything steep. Whakapapa is generally a blue mountain but is loaded with awesome drop offs and 1/4 pipes. As well as the double black diamonds for the crazy, it don't get much steeper than the pinnacles
Originally posted by: ShreddingBenOriginally posted by: Ride Against
I meant the blacks around the high traverse area, don't know all the names yet. Out west was fun but not particularly challenging, some champs had set up a few jumps which kept it interesting though. Was referring more to the Turoa blacks a la Snowbird which are more like blues
There is plenty of steep terrain out east at Turoa, I doubt there is snow for many and the black runs at whaka. sure snow bird is a bit of a joke for a black, it's probably back due to all the learners that head up there.
Go and check out hamilton's face on if you say turoa doesn't have anything steep. Whakapapa is generally a blue mountain but is loaded with awesome drop offs and 1/4 pipes. As well as the double black diamonds for the crazy, it don't get much steeper than the pinnacles
You might be reading a bit too much into what I said there mate. Never said anything about Turoa not having any steeps, I've ridden Hamilton's and most trails east of the glacier. Last season I dropped a chute out there that almost made me sh1t myself, it was pretty damn steep, possibly more so cos I was still learning at that stage
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Europe 2011 - living the dream
Raining still 
Most of the lodge has gone to Turoa. I've just got a supply run to look forward too.
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reine de l'hiver
Am I the only one annoyed with the slalom thing in the Valley? It seems it's been going on for weeks now and they always "close" the Pinnacle Valley
I have complained to various people up the hill about the gate training in Pinnacle valley. They should be training off the Valley Traverse (heading from Knoll across to Valley). It's a better spot and doesn't get in anyones way.
Complain.
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One good turn deserves another...
Originally posted by: Jude
Raining still
Most of the lodge has gone to Turoa. I've just got a supply run to look forward too.
Don't be too sad Jude, I'm sure you know now that all chairs at Turoa were on hold until early afternoon at Turoa and when they opened the visibility dropped and the snow was water logged.
The only lifts operating for most of the day were at Alpine Meadow and Wintergarden.
What was really fun was that Park Lane was closed so Wintergarden was pretty empty
Isn't turoa open now, theres people on the express 
Vis increasing at whakas, those rocks look stunning!
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: edgehi
I have complained to various people up the hill about the gate training in Pinnacle valley. They should be training off the Valley Traverse (heading from Knoll across to Valley). It's a better spot and doesn't get in anyones way.
Complain.
Yeah but...
A) I can't point out how my kid is better than your kid over a latte
B) No one can see how awesome I am
Edgehi - do you know why they don't make more use of some less used groomer like the old staircase T-bar line or skiers right of the knoll for pratice? Its a pity to see that apparently 'Race Squad' still take precidence over the general punter.
If its a comp day then... OK, the valleys setup for it but otherwise dont screw up one of the better advanced intermediate areas.
Arrogance.
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One good turn deserves another...
Much as I hate to say it kc, the tight-pants brigade are still pretty sure they own the mountain. A little less so than in previous years perhaps when the wee sh1tes used to go blasting down Yahoo when it was packed with people (saw one of the mightiest collisions ever down there) but they're still out there cutting lift lines and using half of Snowbird at 10am on a Saturday.
I think, at least, they've finally realised that they're not quite as cool as they once were, and that freeskiing is primarily responsible for the return of younger people to skiing.
Knoll face is one of the best groomers on the hill. Makes much better sense to use pinnacle valley than to block off an entire side of a T-bar IMO. Pinnacle valley can still be used even with a course running down there, however valley traverse is the perfect option
If you want the most upitty folk on the hill, talk to a ruapehu sport green jacket. They think it's ok to not wait there turn and merge as a group of 8 infront of a que...
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
*edited 27 Sep 2010 15:18
jedski
If you want the most upitty folk on the hill, talk to a ruapehu sport green jacket. They think it's ok to not wait there turn and merge as a group of 8 infront of a que...
So what are the rules about priority access to lifts?
I know that ski school and ski patrol can jump the queue but how far does that extend? The "baby instructors class" is also treated as ski school. Not sure about the rug rats in green jackets though. Presumably if they are actually training they should get priority access as they're not going to get much done otherwise.
Also there is no information about this on the RAL website that I can find.
I believe patrol should just cut in wherever if they need to get somewhere but they always will usually just move with the rest of the que and merge out when the others do.
Same with ski school. Sure give them a priority que but only let one pair of punters out each cycle of the lift line. What rattles my dags is instructors and racers funelling out 5 pairs at a time
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Hey do you guys know when we might see some spring day pass prices? I cant remember when they normally come out.. Is it not till November?
Originally posted by: jedski
I believe patrol should just cut in wherever if they need to get somewhere but they always will usually just move with the rest of the que and merge out when the others do.
Same with ski school. Sure give them a priority que but only let one pair of punters out each cycle of the lift line. What rattles my dags is instructors and racers funelling out 5 pairs at a time
What you describe is what I usually see happening for ski school.
It sounds like the problem is the usual one of the lifties not managing the queues.
I don't think I've seen any signage on the queues this year though. Very hard to tell where the singles queue is and ski school just seem to end up "scooting" around the side of the big queues.
Originally posted by: Lael
Hey do you guys know when we might see some spring day pass prices? I cant remember when they normally come out.. Is it not till November?
Was October 1st last season but that was with better prospects for a decent spring season / snow coverage. Dunno if they will do em this year. I ahd more use out my spring pass from last year than i have out of my season pass this year
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*** Blinding Night ***
^^Greameh
I agree on the signage this year. I havn't seen the catagorizing signs on the Waterfall Express once this season. However on the T-bar's there is always a ski school/patrol only sign in the first line (closest to the lift.
One thing I would like to see on the valley, knoll and far west T's is... a big sign saying "IF THERES A QUE, PAIR UP OR FUK OFF" The waterfall T is for the novice T-bar riders and to learn to ride paired
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: jedski
^^Greameh
I agree on the signage this year. I havn't seen the catagorizing signs on the Waterfall Express once this season. However on the T-bar's there is always a ski school/patrol only sign in the first line (closest to the lift.
One thing I would like to see on the valley, knoll and far west T's is... a big sign saying "IF THERES A QUE, PAIR UP OR FUK OFF"
Most of my season this year has been in Wintergarden. There are no signs there but a very good lifty.
I met some people you would love this weekend. We were lined up for the Parklane chair (3 seater) the group in front of us had two people, behind us there were two lots of two people. Nobody wanted to split up their cosy little groups and the only "queue management" going on was checking passes.
Behind these losers was the usual huge queue.
Thinking back, last year I did quite often feel like I had leprosy when shouting out 'single'. But generally the lifties worked the ques quite well.
I think they get bullied a bit by the instructors sometimes.
They are meant to just treat the ski school que as another lane but, I hate to say it, I think you get just as many dckhd staff as you get dckhd punters
Dickhead staff - pretty much but there ar 2 lifties at whaka this year that don't take sh1t. One won't even give people t's if their single and there's a que.
People need to speak up, people don't learn till a handfull of the crowd are hurling it. I don't know why people are afraid of the "single" call. I quite often will call out for other people as if they say it, they seem quite scared and it often comes out as a whisper. Call it and repeat
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
*edited 13 Sep 2010 17:21
Ha! I got a hell of a mocking after calling "single" this year. A retort from the guy behind was "yeah, no doubt, look at the state of you"...then that opened the flood gates from other people keen for a laugh too. I had my funny cap on, so called "single with low morals, i can dance good for a white guy" as a repeater straight away.
Sigh...Then i rode the T single
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Punter Extraordinaire
People for you ae. Sound like some people need their bindings unclipped and their gear biffed off the bank
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
*edited 13 Sep 2010 17:46
Speaking of biffed off the side. I saw a guys rental go shooting over the cliff (the fingers?) half way up the 6 the other week. It stopped about 30 metres down and skiers left from the container next to the park.
"old mate" was running down vertigo and peering over the cliff trying to find his white topped board in the snow.
Nasty. Was talking to a friend who was in the park coaching when it came over the cliff, unimpressed as you'd expect. Man that thing was hoofing though!
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Punter Extraordinaire
Some people don't even think about their boards. On sat out west a guy just chucked his board on the ground, Lucky he grabbed it before it shot off like a missile. A lose board = most dangerous thing on the hill
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
A wet warm low from Aussie about to be hit with a cold low from the south may = a decent dump this WE.
there used to be a strategy for using the t bars where if you got into the queue early you would stay quiet until your mate was about to get to the queue and then call out single and up you both go...my favorite was riding down and spotting a single loading on to the t and getting on just as the liftie placed the t..good days..
^^What, you don't have to do that anymore on a padded espress?
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Originally posted by: jedski
Dickhead staff - pretty much but there ar 2 lifties at whaka this year that don't take sh1t. One won't even give people t's if their single and there's a que.
People need to speak up, people don't learn till a handfull of the crowd are hurling it. I don't know why people are afraid of the "single" call. I quite often will call out for other people as if they say it, they seem quite scared and it often comes out as a whisper. Call it and repeat
yeah I've seen 3 or 4 single go up in a row this year when there is a 5-10 min que, really why can't people go together it really isn't that hard, I've also had a few people who pretend they are going to go with up but then at the last minute just let you go single so they can as well, it's just stupid.
I've only seen decent que management on the chairs this year, I remember last year there was a lifty that would yell at you if your were single, but not this year.
The interesting thing about snow school I noticed when I was down at cardies is they never let more than one chair of snow school go at a time and they were very good a making sure no less than 4 were on each chair.
But then you take the space between two people on the high noon and they just wait so they aren't split up messing up the que behind, not that I really care since I've hardly had any ques all season.
Originally posted by: jedski
Some people don't even think about their boards. On sat out west a guy just chucked his board on the ground, Lucky he grabbed it before it shot off like a missile. A lose board = most dangerous thing on the hill
talking of out of control boards, earlier in the season this board came flying out of no where off a rock about a foot in front of my head and all he had to say was sorry from somewhere 500m or so away.
People need to take better care of their gear, boards only run away when people let go of them and there is no reason to be taking you board off at the top of the why nots.
I should have ridden off with his board and given it to patrol that would have taught him a lesson.
Originally posted by: fattrav
*edited 13 Sep 2010 17:21
Ha! I got a hell of a mocking after calling "single" this year. A retort from the guy behind was "yeah, no doubt, look at the state of you"...then that opened the flood gates from other people keen for a laugh too. I had my funny cap on, so called "single with low morals, i can dance good for a white guy" as a repeater straight away.
Sigh...Then i rode the T single
Told you not to wear that ghetto gown
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reine de l'hiver
Monsooning all day. Heard that Waterfall Express might be access only as the waterfall is decimating the track.
Hauled up 20kg of supplies today only to find the lift closing at 3.15. Lifty wouldn't let me up so I had to walk up in horrible rotten snow. He's off my cake list 
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reine de l'hiver
*edited 13 Sep 2010 21:26
Originally posted by: Jude
Told you not to wear that ghetto gown
Yeah, need to stop borrowing yours, and get me one of those ghetto hoodies (believe the term is "thuggie") down to mid shin with "taihape" across it.
For those of you scratching your head, heres a link that may clue you up: http://www.angrysnowboarder.com/?p=6872 [angrysnowboarder.com]
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Punter Extraordinaire
^I've been meaning ask about them...I saw a few at Turoa a couple of weeks ago and I just don't get it. Exposed cotton in the snow? Also saw a gangsta wannabe wearing his colours and hustling on the Alpine Meadow yo. Snowboarding's "cool factor" that appeals to these kids has got a lot to answer for.
Anyway, rocks on the Express cam at Turoa is not good. Fingers crossed for some snow
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Europe 2011 - living the dream
Slight scuff of snow-like stuff. Pity I'm off to Taihape to get Fattrave a new ghetto gown
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reine de l'hiver
...and yourself one, you'll be the most 'stylin' Custodian around
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Nearly fell trap to the RAl report scandal. Everything open 15 mins agowith 500-unlimited vis with huge clear patches around...Now all on hold and you can't see 50m infront of you with strong northerlies
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
So I've booked leave to go down Thursday - Sunday, and the forecast looks absolute mud. Is there any hope for me?
^^You better have everything crossed because this week we are all hopeing for major dumpage
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Absolutely everything is crossed, the number of times I've been skiing in rain this year is crazy! And this week I've ditched the mrs so I can properly go exploring by myself. It could turn out to be the jackpot or a serious blowout.
I had tentatively booked to come down Thursday for a week or so... But might end up being Friday. Argh, work is just getting in the way at the mo. Part 2 of my holiday keeps getting further and further out
Weather clearing up. Blue skys here in the Park and Turoa looks like it's clearing...damn
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
Mt Hutt looking very marginal day after day too with NW winds. I might take a punt
tomorrow.
^^You talking like rain washed away all the snow or just weather? This next storm does however look like it will fill south feilds back up
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
10 fresh overnight
Tomorrrow high freezing level so probably rain
Snow to 800 for the next few days after
YEHAAA
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"If in doubt, straighten 'em out"
bring on the weekend and fingers crossed for some fine spots, excited!!!
I'd like another 0 on that 10...
crossing fingers for that snow down to 800 after!