Best chairlift conversation?

raisingarizona wrote

 It was enough exposure to score some small sponsors

Z wrote

Back when I taught at Pico there was a bunch of original 10th Mt Div vets.  They told the best stories and I always tried to ski with them when I had the chance.  First time I rode up with them they explained all the talking only happens on the lift then they skied non stop runs - keep up Sonny boy.  They would ski every day until 10 then have a coffe and go on with thier day.

SBR wrote

The lift conversation of the night happened on the first run. Thursday happens to be "Cheap Night" at Hidden Valley, so it is the night when Mom and Dad drop off their spawn to slide down the hill for several hours. Mostly they hang out in the lodge, spewing hormones, creating a weird kind of high school dance vibe when you go in for break. It also means that despite a lift line, an old guy on skis will ride solo most of the time. The kids are too cool for sharing a chair with Grampa. But not The Little Girl in Pink (she is maybe 9, or 10). While I had resigned myself to a lone ride on the Bigwin Quad, she poled up beside me, gave me the look that let me know I was the Grown-Up in Charge of this lift ride, and off we went. I politely inquired if it was OK to lower the bar and she agreed with an emphatic "yes." After a few seconds, she looks at me and says, pointing left:

"When we get to the top, you should probably go that way."
Me: "OK, are you going right?"
LGiP: "Yes, I"m not very good at getting off the chairlift yet."
Me: "Well, OK."
LGiP: "I just got these skis today."
Me: "Oh, have you skied before?"
LGiP: "No, this is my first time."
Me: "Is anyone teaching you how to ski?"
LGiP: "No, I am skiing by myself."
Me (concerned but not wanting to sound like a weird old guy): "So, are you here by yourself?"
LGiP: "Oh no, my brother and his friend are here too."
Me (relieved, then putting my skis in the wedge position): "Do you know how to do the snowplow, you know, when you put your skis like this?"
LGiP: "Oh, yes, I do that. I am teaching myself to ski!"
Me, by this time we are at the top: "Well, good for you. Are you ready to get off? Stand up when your skis touch the snow!"

So I go left, then turn and watch her ski off the lift pretty well, stop, fall over, immediately get up and ski off, straightlining down the easy hill in full pizza stance. This girl is going to be a skier.

Brownski wrote

raisingarizona wrote

 It was enough exposure to score some small sponsors

RA just curious, who were your sponsors? That must have been pretty cool. What was your best score?

Brownski wrote

Z wrote

Back when I taught at Pico there was a bunch of original 10th Mt Div vets.  They told the best stories and I always tried to ski with them when I had the chance.  First time I rode up with them they explained all the talking only happens on the lift then they skied non stop runs - keep up Sonny boy.  They would ski every day until 10 then have a coffe and go on with thier day.

This one is the winner so far in my book.

raisingarizona wrote

Brownski wrote

Z wrote

Back when I taught at Pico there was a bunch of original 10th Mt Div vets.  They told the best stories and I always tried to ski with them when I had the chance.  First time I rode up with them they explained all the talking only happens on the lift then they skied non stop runs - keep up Sonny boy.  They would ski every day until 10 then have a coffe and go on with thier day.

This one is the winner so far in my book.

I agree, that sounds like there were some bad ass history lessons to be had.

Sick Bird Rider wrote

As many have said, there have been so many. This one really stands out, from an earlier TFTH report (Jan 13, 2011):

SBR wrote

The lift conversation of the night happened on the first run. Thursday happens to be "Cheap Night" at Hidden Valley, so it is the night when Mom and Dad drop off their spawn to slide down the hill for several hours. Mostly they hang out in the lodge, spewing hormones, creating a weird kind of high school dance vibe when you go in for break. It also means that despite a lift line, an old guy on skis will ride solo most of the time. The kids are too cool for sharing a chair with Grampa. But not The Little Girl in Pink (she is maybe 9, or 10). While I had resigned myself to a lone ride on the Bigwin Quad, she poled up beside me, gave me the look that let me know I was the Grown-Up in Charge of this lift ride, and off we went. I politely inquired if it was OK to lower the bar and she agreed with an emphatic "yes." After a few seconds, she looks at me and says, pointing left:

"When we get to the top, you should probably go that way."
Me: "OK, are you going right?"
LGiP: "Yes, I"m not very good at getting off the chairlift yet."
Me: "Well, OK."
LGiP: "I just got these skis today."
Me: "Oh, have you skied before?"
LGiP: "No, this is my first time."
Me: "Is anyone teaching you how to ski?"
LGiP: "No, I am skiing by myself."
Me (concerned but not wanting to sound like a weird old guy): "So, are you here by yourself?"
LGiP: "Oh no, my brother and his friend are here too."
Me (relieved, then putting my skis in the wedge position): "Do you know how to do the snowplow, you know, when you put your skis like this?"
LGiP: "Oh, yes, I do that. I am teaching myself to ski!"
Me, by this time we are at the top: "Well, good for you. Are you ready to get off? Stand up when your skis touch the snow!"

So I go left, then turn and watch her ski off the lift pretty well, stop, fall over, immediately get up and ski off, straightlining down the easy hill in full pizza stance. This girl is going to be a skier.

raisingarizona wrote

Brownski wrote

raisingarizona wrote

 It was enough exposure to score some small sponsors

RA just curious, who were your sponsors? That must have been pretty cool. What was your best score?

Best score? Hmm, not sure. The packages from Carrera were real nice. Lots of goggles, sunglasses, helmets, stickers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats etc. I was there poster boy one year for all of their trade shows and I was in a bunch of full page adds for them in Canada one year. That was nice.

I loved Fate clothing for their support and awesome all around positive attitude towards helping a guy like me out.

Lifelink covered the back packs, poles, and shovels.

And I had a good deal for a while with Technica/Volkl skis but that was more of a pro form thing.

My ski pass and some other gear like a BCA transceiver was covered under Storm show for two seasons.

It was all great but I didn't like punching a clock while skiing so I basically walked away from all of it just as it was starting to take off for me. Maybe I was just scared or facing the reality that my time was seriouely limited and my efforts basically futile. The early 2000's were the time where skiing was morphing and changing at crazy speeds and I knew I wasn't up for the challenge to keep up so I bailed. Or something like that I guess. :D

campgottagopee wrote

raisingarizona wrote

Brownski wrote

raisingarizona wrote

 It was enough exposure to score some small sponsors

RA just curious, who were your sponsors? That must have been pretty cool. What was your best score?

Best score? Hmm, not sure. The packages from Carrera were real nice. Lots of goggles, sunglasses, helmets, stickers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats etc. I was there poster boy one year for all of their trade shows and I was in a bunch of full page adds for them in Canada one year. That was nice.

I loved Fate clothing for their support and awesome all around positive attitude towards helping a guy like me out.

Lifelink covered the back packs, poles, and shovels.

And I had a good deal for a while with Technica/Volkl skis but that was more of a pro form thing.

My ski pass and some other gear like a BCA transceiver was covered under Storm show for two seasons.

It was all great but I didn't like punching a clock while skiing so I basically walked away from all of it just as it was starting to take off for me. Maybe I was just scared or facing the reality that my time was seriouely limited and my efforts basically futile. The early 2000's were the time where skiing was morphing and changing at crazy speeds and I knew I wasn't up for the challenge to keep up so I bailed. Or something like that I guess. :D

Oh yea --- well I got a t-shirt once from a Jay Peak bump contest just for showing up

In all seriousness I think it's really cool of you to share these stories with us. Like my buddy Pro, you're very humble about your abilities and easy to talk to. Thanks bro