Session 38 of the 2017 season: A carbon copy "spring day" of yesterday at Crystal Mt

Possibly the last downhill riding day of the 2016-2017 winter season for me.
A fantastic season with a trip out west to Montana and Wyoming as the highlight.
Put the board on for 23 straight days out west, 21 days of downhill riding and 2 days for snowkiting.

Crystal Mountain Highlights Today: Groomed, soft, warm, bluebird conditions - very forgiving conditions. Deep carving turns to backside 180s on the forgiving soft surfaces.
Temperatures:   upper-40s

Sky: Mostly sunny
Conditions:  warmed up soft groomers
Duration:    3.5 hours  (10:00 - 1:30)
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   7,831 feet in 3.5 hours  (34 runs)

Session 37 of the 2017 season: Slow start to an excellent Michigan "Spring Riding Day"

Carving figures 8s

A beauty of a bluebird day at Crystal Mt. Started out cloudy and grey but eventually it cleared up and made the riding exciting.
Lower 40s, soft pack and groomers.
It doesn't matter where you're at a bluebird day makes all the difference. Some of my best spring conditions happen in Michigan.
The conditions were so forgiving I could do any experimental trick without worries of crashing. Consistent soft surface made for deep carving to easy backsides.


Highlights: Groomed, soft, warm, bluebird conditions - forgiving conditions
Temperatures:   lower-40s

Sky: Bluebird
Conditions:  warmed up soft groomers
Duration:    4 hours  (11:00 - 3:00)
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   10,085 feet in 4 hours  (40 runs)

TRACK Sunday 3/19
MAX SPEED 52.80 km/h / 32.81 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 19.54 km/h / 12.14 mph
DAY AVERAGE SPEED 10.88 km/h / 6.76 mph
SKI DISTANCE 43.31 km / 26.91 miles
SKI VERTICAL 6157 m / 20201 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 38% / 21° / 1:3

Session 36 of the 2017 season: Back to the local ski hill for a Bluebird Day

A beauty of a bluebird day at Mt Holly. Didn't want to pass this one up.
Mid-30s and not a cloud in the sky. Soft fresh groomers and no crowds.
Doesn't matter where you're at a bluebird day makes all the difference.
I'm not use to conditions where you can see more then 20 feet or less.

Bright Bluebird Day

Highlights: Groomed, soft, warm, bluebird conditions
Temperatures:   Mid-30s

Sky: Bluebird
Conditions:  warmed up soft groomers
Duration:    2 hours  (12:00 - 2:00)
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical:   6,155 (30 runs, average of 206 vertical ft per run)
Mountain average vertical is 5k feet/hour

TRACK MT HOLLY, MI 3/17 Thursday
MAX SPEED  34.31 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 14.08 mph
SKI DISTANCE 19.18 miles
SKI VERTICAL  6,155 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 28% / 16° / 1:4

Session 35 of the 2017 season: Grand Targhee Day 2

Highlights: Another day of  fresh powder.

Today we had a better idea today which runs to be on, still visibility on top was near zero. In amongst the trees was better but still a vertigo type of day.

Sun is out after slopes closed

TRACK Day 23, Tuesday  3/7
MAX SPEED 32.81 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 10.75 mph
SKI DISTANCE 21.3 miles
SKI VERTICAL 24,431 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 68% / 34° / 1:1

Temperatures:   lower -20s
Sky: cloudy, foggy, blowing snow, windy, whiteouts 
Conditions:  another 8-10 inches of fresh powder
Duration:   9:00 - 2:15    
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   24,431  (5 hours, 15 minutes 20 runs)

Session 34 of the 2017 season: Grand Targhee Day 1 - Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming

Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming - a new destination for us.

Highlights: Fresh powder, too bad we didn't know which runs to take, couldn't see, visibility on top was near zero. Vertigo type of day.
Temperatures:   lower -20s
Sky: cloudy, foggy, blowing snow, windy, whiteouts
Conditions:  10-12 inches of fresh powder
Duration:   9:00 - 1:30    
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   23,921  (4.5 hours 19 runs)

TRACK Day 22, Monday 3/6
MAX SPEED 29.00 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 11.50 mph
SKI DISTANCE 21.3 miles
SKI VERTICAL 23,921 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 100% / 45° / 1:1

Session 33 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day - last dance at Big Sky

Highlights: Groomed, hard pack to icy wind scoured slopes - shortened day. Time to move on to Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming
Temperatures:   upper-20s

Sky: partly cloudy
Conditions:  hard packed to icy, probably one of the worst days due to weather and surface conditions
Duration:    2.25 hours (8 runs)    
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   11,6678 (2.25 hours 8 runs)

TRACK Day 21 Sunday 3/5
MAX SPEED 51.54 km/h / 32.03 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 22.91 km/h / 14.24 mph
DAY AVERAGE SPEED 16.45 km/h / 10.22 mph
SKI DISTANCE 37.48 km / 23.29 miles
SKI VERTICAL 7061 m / 23167 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 45% / 24° / 1:2

Session 32 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 20

Highlights: Sunny, some freshies, soft groomers. Did some early runs off of powder seeker lift to the south wall area  -  riding above the rocky cliffs on some very steep grades
Temperatures:    30ish degrees

Sky: Sunny mostly
Conditions:   groomers, fresh powder 1-3 inches
Duration:   5.0 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board


Daily Vertical: 24,416 (18 runs)

TRACK Day 20 Friday 3-3
MAX SPEED 56.27 km/h / 34.97 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 23.16 km/h / 14.39 mph
DAY AVERAGE SPEED 14.23 km/h / 8.84 mph
SKI DISTANCE 82.96 km / 51.55 miles
SKI VERTICAL 16046 m / 52646 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 47% / 25° / 1:2

Session 31 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 19

Highlights: Hard pack conditions
Temperatures:    cold -  20 degrees or less

Sky: cloudy, foggy, windy, lite snow
Conditions:   groomers, hard packed
Duration:   4.75 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board


Daily Vertical: 24,263(16 runs)

TRACK Day 19 Thursday 3/2
MAX SPEED 52.42 km/h / 32.57 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 22.71 km/h / 14.11 mph
DAY AVERAGE SPEED 14.77 km/h / 9.18 mph
SKI DISTANCE 80.89 km / 50.26 miles
SKI VERTICAL 14507 m / 47594 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 68% / 34° / 1:1