Articles, Ski Movies

Can’t Beat the Meat

EpochSchooledIt is like they say…you can’t beat the meat. Meathead Films is an upstart East Coast film production crew bringing the best of East Coast skiing to a screen near you. Breaking away from the souless, bland, and homogenized movies produced by the big corporate ski movie outfits, Meathead Films offer up real skiing experiences featuring their closest buddies instead of pro skiers that huck cliffs for a living.

Dozens of home grown ski movie production outfits are popping up the world over. What separates Meatheld Films from the pack is their exclusive focus on the East Coast which has been ignored by most ski films. The Meatheads prove that despite being shunned by ski movie production outfits, the East Coast has some amazing lines and choice descents in addition to plenty of powder shots and freshies.

The soul of New England is what really shines through in the Meathead productions. Skiers in New England have less to work with, so we do more with less by cutting stashes in the woods and seeking out rare snow filled gullies. We work hard for just a small taste of perfection and smile all the more for our efforts when we are rewarded. The Meatheads bring the essence and soul of this dedication and mind set to the screen.

Meathead Films was the creation of Geoff McDonald out of Burlington, Vermont. Founded in 2001, the production outfit grew out of a UVM aired sketch comedy series. Elements of comedy remain in the ski movies; however, the production value and quality is substantially higher than a college version of “Jackass.” While the budget of Meathead Films does not provide for helicopters and ultra-zoom cameras to capture the best angles, the production outfit has the technology to make their well produced and well directed films worth every bit of the $20.00 selling price.

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Articles, Gear

A Ski of Legendary Proportions

Legend 8000Legend 8000
Taking over where the much raved about Intuitiv Series left off, Dynastar’s Legend Series was introduced during the 2004-2005 ski season to much fan fare. The Legend 8000 filled in the gap between the previous year’s Intuitiv 74 (equated to the Legend 4800) and the Nobis Inspired/Inspired Big (unchanged except the top sheet in the Legend 8800). The Super Nobis continues on as the Legend Pro Rider topping out the line.

The specs for the Dynastar 8000 include a 116/79/102 sidecut and a 20m radius on the 178mm length weighing in at a respectable 3530g. The wood core ski retains a decent weight due to the Autodrive SD cap structure which gives the ski some great action while retaining a solid feel under foot, but reduces the durability compared to a full sidewall such as in the Legend Pro Rider. The Legend 8000 returns for the 2005-2006 ski season with no major changes with the exception of moving the boot center mark 1.5cm’s (I recommend mounting in the 2004-2005 position as the new mountain point does not serve the ski well).

Before detailing my review further beyond the specs of the ski, it is important to preface my experiences with details regarding how I ski, where I ski, and what I enjoy in a ski. Too often people have a bad experience on a ski and simply say the ski is not good, when what they mean to say is that the ski is not a good fit for them. That said, any review detailing ski performance without details and background information on the person writing the review is not worth the keyboard it was typed on.

Weighing in at 220 pounds and standing six feet and one inch tall, I am a heavier than average skier that can bully lighter construction skis. My previous skis include a Rossi 9x 9.9,Volkl P40 Platinum, and Volkl P50 Motion with the P50 Motion with my preferences being towards the Volkls and especially the P50. I have a racing background but have since gotten off the groomers and look towards the woods and narrow lines of New England woods for my turns. I can always bust out the P50 for some groomer action, but I live for natural snow, tight turns, and lots of them.

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Articles, Technique

Crossing Over

The Author Skiing Natural Snow at Berkshire East

Few people would believe it, but only three major differences exist between an average skiers’ technique and that of an expert skier. Only three technical skills stand between limiting oneself to only skiing groomed trails and skiing any open trail on the mountain in any condition on any day. With a three year commitment and diligent practice, any skier with the desire and dedication can break through that invisible barrier separating the merely proficient skiers from those that define the grace and beauty inherent in a perfectly executed turn.

Let’s get one thing straight: you are not going to improve by simply reading an article or a book. A commitment must be made and followed through with training. Likely, the progression will take at least a three year time commitment and a lot of hard work. Crossing over is not a passive learning experience.

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2004-2005 Season, Because, Earned Turns, July, Mount Washington, Tuckerman Ravine

July Turns in Tuckerman Ravine

Glorious July Sliding in Tuckerman Ravine

“Yes, there really is snow up there.” “No, I am not carrying my skis to train for next season.” “Yes, I really am going skiing today!” At one point while hiking down the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, I was so sick of answering questions that I told the next hikers I saw “yes, I really just skied” before they could ask. It was funny answering all the questions at first but it got old pretty quick.

Nearly a month after making my first ever turns in June, I returned to Tuckerman Ravine to make my first ever July turns. Recent reports online had very impressive amounts of snow remaining in the Ravine. Recent rains and high temperatures had washed much of the snow away but more than enough was left for July turns!

Chute sported a small patch of snow remaining below the choke but was hardly worth the effort for the four or five possible turns. Two other skiers decided to try the Chute snow patch and had great difficulty ascending the patch. At one point, one of the slides fell and took a slide but managed to recover before falling off the patch.

The preferred option with the most vertical was the long but narrow snow patch under the waterfall. The run paralleled the Tuckerman Ravine Trail for approximately 150 vertical feet. Up to twenty turns could be had if you really milked the run and even less if you opened things up a bit. Those twenty or so turns were heaven! Wow!

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2004-2005 Season, Because, Earned Turns, June, Mount Washington, Tuckerman Ravine

Tuckerman Ravine, NH

Tuckerman Ravine from the Cache

My first ever June turns were had at Tuckerman Ravine. The big news in the Ravine today was a car sized rock falling off the headwall and nearly decapitating a skier. I was just clicking into my skis in Left Gully when a commotion of yelling and screaming could be heard from the Ravine proper. I could not see the action due to the gully, but when I reached Lunch Rocks, I was told that a car sized rock fell off the headwall and split into two pieces. The two pieces tracked in various directions with one hunk gunning for a person climbing up Chute. The rock looked to be heading straight down at first, but then started turning towards the bottom of the chute. word was the guy jumped at the last second and saved his life by two feet! The ravine cleared out pretty fast after that humbling experience was witnessed by most of the people up there.

The heat today was oppressive. The hike up to the bowl was easy enough. But once in the bowl, the sun came out and started baking everyone and everything. Even with minimal acceptable clothing for skiing the ravine for my standards, I was over heating. Having decided a warm up on the bottom part of Chute was in order first, I booted up below Lunch Rocks and began my ascent. While hiking up, a “river of snow” started sliding down the bowl next to me. How weird, cool, and concerning all at the same time! I only hiked up to the chock of the Chute as I wanted to conserve my energy for the hike up Left Gully. I clicked in and began making turns on the ridiculously wet snow. Making turns and stopping became a minor issue because the ski edges were cutting and sliding rather than digging in. It was okay skiing but left something to be desired.

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