2007-2008 Season, Jay Peak, March, Powder Day

Crowded Wind Blown Powder Day at Jay

Singles Line on the Bonnie Extending to Second Lift Tower

Lots of options were on the table today. But with the lifts closed on Friday, I figured Jay would be the best pick despite the anticipated crowds. And holy moly were there crowds. This weekend was a “Perfect Storm” of sorts. No major powder days since March 1st, almost two feet of Fresh snow heading into the weekend, lifts not spinning on Friday, early Easter Holiday weekend that usually does not come into play during April Easters, Downhill Race on Haynes (after two postponements), etc. Add in the Tram not running until noon and the Flyer not running at all and you have a recipe for the longest lines I have ever experienced at Jay. The singles line on the Bonnie extended to the second lift tower and there was a ten minute wait for the Metro Singles line at one point. Tram car waits were reported to be four or five cars. So, was it worth it?

The rush hit earlier than normal, but I was able to get in an hour and a half of competition free pick your line powder festivities before the crowds arrived. Since it stopped snowing yesterday, the wind did its thing and leveled out most of the snow into a super dense wind slab. I was glad to have my fat skis today for sure! Nailed some sensational boot to knee deep early. Boot deep was the general rule for the untracked. Decidedly not as deep, soft, or good as yesterday’s earned turn powder in the same locations thanks to wind over night without any new snow.

Things looked bleak with no Tram and no Flyer at noon time but I soldiered on despite the crowds. I would have been quite alright with those lifts not running had it not been for the lines. Full cycles from the Bonnie to Tramside were taking around 45 minutes but yielded boot deep untracked late into the day. I quit at 2pm despite having just hit yet another section of untracked woods late in the day. But the lines were beyond my tolerance level at that point and I had already taken my fill. Had the Flyer come online sooner, I might have stuck around but the chairs were not even on the line at 2pm and the Bonnie singles line was back to the second lift tower again.

Lines aside the skiing was sensational despite the extremely wind slabbed snow. Base depths extremely deep at this point. It feels like early season in the woods again due to the constant need to cross block branches with poles. Instead of blocking trees not yet buried, we are instead blocking high branches that normally do not come into play! Canopy levels are getting into head chopping range. Some downed trees and bent limbs also made normally open lanes tighter than normal.

2007-2008 Season, Earned Turns, Jay Peak, March, Powder Day

Major Earned Turn Powder Day During Jay Lift Hold

Headed up to Jay on Friday with moderately reasonable hopes that at least one of the Stateside lifts would turn (probably the Jet). Despite hopes of a late afternoon opening, it was not to be. Friday could have been my best day of the season had the lifts spun. It was still sensationally epic skiing none-the-less.

We skinned up Meadows to Wiggle where the game planning began and continued to evolve. Skiing would involve dropping down to the flats and yo-yo’ing whatever looked good. Several tree options provided sensational knee deep powder with more face shots than I could shake a skinny touring ski at. One particularly wind favored section saw me sinking below my croch for a few turns. We ascended to the top of the Jet twice and Kitz Woods was the best I had ever skied it. We made a poor selection on the next run off the Jet sliding into an area that was severely wind buffed and not protected. The wind directions seemed to change throughout the day so it was not easy predicting what areas would offer good skiing.

We got in four runs on some of the deepest snow of the season. Knowing I had two more days this weekend and probably a rather demanding Saturday, I decided to call it quits before my legs completely gave up. The snow was dense wind blown with some mammoth drifts in places. No regrets on the decision to ski and earn turns at Jay Peak which received two feet of snow compared to other Vermont resorts that had lifts turning with half as much or less powder.

Articles

The Ski Journal Delivers Again

The Ski JournalDuring these trying days of above freezing temperatures, lack of powder, lack of corn snow, and general lack of good options, one must try not to become discouraged. Bases are deep and spring skiing in April and beyond will be epic (when it finally arrives). But New England weather can be a bitch sometimes. Normally one of the snowiest months, this March has been a horrendous with exception of the first two days, of the month. Times like this call for vicarious living and skiing and there is no better way to do so than ski magazines.

Enter volume two, number two of The Ski Journal. Readers may recall my fond review of the second issue of this new magazine earlier this season. This third issue continues to build on the values and direction that the first two issues have established: stunning design and layout, excellent content in words and images, and a focus on skiing uncompromised by advertisements and fluff. This new issue features a few additional advertisements compared to the first two issues; however, this is a very minimal increase. In keeping with the layout and style of the magazine, the advertisements are only located at the front and back of the magazines and the content is generally uninterrupted.

Although disappointed with the lack of an eastern feature in this issue, the articles and photographs retain a universal flavor and appeal not found in most other magazines. Lines In Skiing, which featured articles and photographs of various “lines” in skiing (lift line, production line, fall line, boundary line, etc.), was particularly interesting. And though I will never travel to Oz, Tony Harrington’s Australia article drew my attention as a New England skier due to the default presumptive nature most skiers have regarding the skiing down under.

The Ski Journal delivers great content yet again with the bar being raised due to some stunning photography. Writing quality seemed to be stepped up as well. The cover price remains steep at $12.95 USD; however, the $39.99 four issue subscription delivered to your door is a reasonable and acceptable price tag for a magazine that uncompromisingly sticks to quality style, layout, presentation and content that is unparalleled in ski industry journalism and periodicals.

2007-2008 Season, March, Pats Peak, Racing

King of the Hill at Pat’s Peak

King of the Hill is the final race night for the adult corporate race league. This is not part of the regular season and is a special race following the finals costing each racer an additional ten dollars. Competition was fierce as the race is open to all corporate racers from every night which includes the higher competition Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night racers. Instead of the usual Nastar course, King of the Hill is a top to bottom minute long giant slalom style course that could almost meet the requirements for a FIS course lay out. Much more my preference compared to the straight line Nastar courses typical of Pat’s Peak corporate race leagues.

Unfortunately, I was running late due to work and drew a very high seed number. With snow conditions being solid, fast, and firm, this meant the course was entirely scraped down by my first run and my second run was a sheet of ice. My times were surprisingly middle of the pack, not bad considering the fierce competition from the GS suits. But a far cry from my potential had I had freshly tuned and sharpened skis and a better seed number. Still a fun night overall and great way to end the race league portion of the ski season.

Gear

Review of the Fischer Atua

The Fischer Atua was part of Fischer’s Maori lineup of twin tipped freeride skis prior to the 2007-2008 season when the lineup was revamped. The Maori lineup featured various sized freeride skis with a Maori tribal naming scheme and top sheet theme. All of the various skis including the Riu, Rangi, Kehua, Atua, and Watea were each available in only one length. A telemark version of these skis was marketed in the T-Stix name with the numerical width added as a suffix to differentiate the various skis.

The T-Stix numbering scheme was brought over to the full Maori linup as Fischer took major strides to better promote and market this lineup of skis in the 2007-2008 season. Fischer combined the Kehua, Atua, and Watea skis into the Watea Series which features various numerically width distinguished versions including the 84, 94, and 101. The new Watea series (not to be confused with the previous “Watea” ski which was exclusively the 101 size point) eliminated the twin tips in favor of turned up tails and better distinguished each ski within the current realm of designations: all mountain mid-fat, all mountain fat, and fat powder. Additionally, the 84 and 94 are available in more than a one size fits all.

In obtaining the Atua, I concluded a search for a powder ski to round out an ideal quiver which includes a carver (64) mid-fat (79) and a fat (96). My requirements for the fat ski included a healthy side cut, a wood core, a light and lively feel, quick turning despite the width, great float, and ideal for tight New England tree skiing. A minimum of mediocre bump and groomer performance needed to be within tolerance ranges as these conditions are skied in between untracked powder shots at most New England mountains. The short list included the likes of the Volkl Mantra, Salomon Sandstorm, Karhu Jak and Jak BC, Black Diamond Kilowatt, Scott Mission, Voile Insane, and the Fischer Watea 94.

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