Yep, the season is basically over. I'm headed back down the hill today, and Sunday is closing day for skiing at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. I did some late season skiing on Monday (Kirkwood), Tuesday (Heavenly), and Wednesday (Heavenly). While I'm glad I did, it wasn't great skiing: a lot of heavy, wet, sticky snow at Heavenly, and relatively few options (although a few good ones) at Kirkwood.
Total stats for the season (not counting four days & nights at non-Vail Management resorts) are:
32 days at Vail resorts (Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Canyons, Breckenridge)
(36 days grand total: including Mt. Rose, Brighton, and Snowbird)
376,593 vertical feet
I definitely progressed from being a high green (beginner) skier who could negotiate basic blue (intermediate) runs, to a solid advanced intermediate skier who can confidently go fast on most blue runs. By the end of the season I was choosing some black diamond (advanced) runs.
Several friends gave me basic pointers (square to the slope, hands up, lean forward, carry a tray) which definitely improved my skiing. I still never got around to taking any formal lessons, and perhaps the biggest impediment in my becoming a true advanced level skier is my lack of formal instruction. (I've had one "lesson" ever, an hour or so with J's father about eight or nine years ago.)
I have to admit: I have kind of fucking loved being a ski bum for the season. Not that I haven't continued working, and the fantastic snow of March was essentially lost to me due to a ton of travel. But it was a pretty damn lucky, privileged life to lead for a season.
Now I'm starting to pack up the apartment in South Lake Tahoe, moving stuff back to Sacramento, and waiting to hear on a couple balls that remain up in the air. The future remains wide open.
Total stats for the season (not counting four days & nights at non-Vail Management resorts) are:
32 days at Vail resorts (Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Canyons, Breckenridge)
(36 days grand total: including Mt. Rose, Brighton, and Snowbird)
376,593 vertical feet
I definitely progressed from being a high green (beginner) skier who could negotiate basic blue (intermediate) runs, to a solid advanced intermediate skier who can confidently go fast on most blue runs. By the end of the season I was choosing some black diamond (advanced) runs.
Several friends gave me basic pointers (square to the slope, hands up, lean forward, carry a tray) which definitely improved my skiing. I still never got around to taking any formal lessons, and perhaps the biggest impediment in my becoming a true advanced level skier is my lack of formal instruction. (I've had one "lesson" ever, an hour or so with J's father about eight or nine years ago.)
I have to admit: I have kind of fucking loved being a ski bum for the season. Not that I haven't continued working, and the fantastic snow of March was essentially lost to me due to a ton of travel. But it was a pretty damn lucky, privileged life to lead for a season.
Now I'm starting to pack up the apartment in South Lake Tahoe, moving stuff back to Sacramento, and waiting to hear on a couple balls that remain up in the air. The future remains wide open.
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