Official '08-'09 Midwest Chatter Thread

**flatNshallow** · 12-15-2008, 08:13 AM

The lift served slack country was tracked out but no one had made the trek to the "real" OB lines... the reward for the 30+ minutes knee+ to Crotch deep post holing slog was boot top to mid calf creamy goodness. My legs are reminding me that I am a pussy and need to get into the gym.

Sunday's thaw was followed by a hard freeze last night - the great conditions saturday are now pretty icy - they'll need a couple days to chop things up and push it around... with luck they'll get some snow to help the process out.

REMINDER: 6 FOR 1 THIS FRIDAY AT BOYNE... BE THERE!

Aloha!

**emtnate** · 12-15-2008, 02:12 PM

Flat - thanks for the warning about the ice. We're getting ready to leave for cab now, we'll be there until Wednesday.

**Gnu** · 12-15-2008, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by flatNshallow

Sunday's thaw was followed by a hard freeze last night - the great conditions saturday are now pretty icy - they'll need a couple days to chop things up and push it around... with luck they'll get some snow to help the process out.

The Lower Northern went from Steamboat to Killington in a 24 hour period -- Sunday's warm temps and light rain compacted the powder base followed by a flash freeze provided by the hardcore cold front that rolled in at the break of dawn Monday with single digit temps and winds in the 20s & 30s.

Upside is that the wind coming across the Big Lake are generating more Lake Effect continuing all through the week.

**Roxtar** · 12-15-2008, 04:14 PM

Hey, I asked this in another thread but there's a much larger group here.
I'm looking for expert boot fitting (punching, grinding, footbeds, etc)for my wife and myself.
Viking, in Chicago, was mentioned but I have a distrust for most large MW shops because the tendency seems to be to fit for comfort, not efficiency.
(Keeps them coming back)
One place tried to put my wife in boots that were too big but hey, nice and comfy.

My plan was to wait to get fitted till we go out west but I'm willing to try local.

Anyway, I'm looking for recommendations. I'm just outside Chicago but will drive anywhere if it's worth it.

**Baja216** · 12-15-2008, 04:53 PM

You may want to give the guys at Snowcrest a call. I believe the guys name is John Doyal who is the boot fitting guy.

I stopped there last year and he seemed to know what he was talking about. It may be a little closer if you're in Indiana. I haven't had any work done with them.

**Lostinthetrees** · 12-15-2008, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Nohillsnearby

Who's skiing where & when???

http://www.perfectnorth.com/

They have been open since the week of Thanksgiving w/ a $29 day pass. completely open!

Now it is bumped up to $45. I turn mine in before 4 hrs and i get a $10 refund.

they do an excellent job of keeping snow on the ground and banking it for warm weather when it is cold enough to blow.

only molehills, ravines, & tree skiing among hardwoods, but it gets me out in Winter and keeps me in shape for trips out West.

**Jer** · 12-15-2008, 06:16 PM

Anybody going to go kill their skis at Bohemia this Fri/Sat?

**yooper** · 12-15-2008, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Roxtar

Hey, I asked this in another thread but there's a much larger group here.
I'm looking for expert boot fitting (punching, grinding, footbeds, etc)for my wife and myself.
Viking, in Chicago, was mentioned but I have a distrust for most large MW shops because the tendency seems to be to fit for comfort, not efficiency.
(Keeps them coming back)
One place tried to put my wife in boots that were too big but hey, nice and comfy.

My plan was to wait to get fitted till we go out west but I'm willing to try local.

Anyway, I'm looking for recommendations. I'm just outside Chicago but will drive anywhere if it's worth it.

I wouldn't put Viking in the "large MW shop" category. They cater to racers too.... so they probably won't put you in something too big. I'd check them out. Otherwise, if Ann Arbor isn't too far, try Sun and Snow Sports. Ask for Rob. They do a great job.

**INDY GS** · 12-15-2008, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by Roxtar

Hey, I asked this in another thread but there's a much larger group here.
I'm looking for expert boot fitting (punching, grinding, footbeds, etc)for my wife and myself.
Viking, in Chicago, was mentioned but I have a distrust for most large MW shops because the tendency seems to be to fit for comfort, not efficiency.
(Keeps them coming back)
One place tried to put my wife in boots that were too big but hey, nice and comfy.

My plan was to wait to get fitted till we go out west but I'm willing to try local.

Anyway, I'm looking for recommendations. I'm just outside Chicago but will drive anywhere if it's worth it.

Shoot me a PM We have a guy who can do anything you want to your boots and will make them work. He can work you in by appointment in, South Bend, Elkhart, St. Joe MI, Kalamazoo MI or at The Ski shop at Swiss Valley. He fit me with intuitions last year and is setting me up with new foot beds this week. He knows his shit, and will get you set-up.

**emtnate** · 12-16-2008, 05:59 PM

I have a feeling this will be bad for the base of I-75 this year. Anyone notice it this weekend?

Anyways, conditions seem to be improving. Everything is still fairly icy, but there's been light snow all day today and good lake effect snow last night. Caberfae was blowing snow on South Peak all day as well. I'm hoping they start open it up before I leave tomorrow.

Edit: I'm in luck. According to their website, south peak lift will be turning tomorrow.

**Yukonrider** · 12-16-2008, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Roxtar

Hey, I asked this in another thread but there's a much larger group here.
I'm looking for expert boot fitting (punching, grinding, footbeds, etc)for my wife and myself.
Viking, in Chicago, was mentioned but I have a distrust for most large MW shops because the tendency seems to be to fit for comfort, not efficiency.
(Keeps them coming back)
One place tried to put my wife in boots that were too big but hey, nice and comfy.

My plan was to wait to get fitted till we go out west but I'm willing to try local.

Anyway, I'm looking for recommendations. I'm just outside Chicago but will drive anywhere if it's worth it.

Verticle drop in st charles IL

**swerve** · 12-16-2008, 06:30 PM

Ill be at http://www.perfectnorth.com/ alot over Christmas break

**stompinlines** · 12-17-2008, 12:59 PM

Looks like the ingredients for a quality puking rally.

**BmillsSkier** · 12-17-2008, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Lostinthetrees

http://www.perfectnorth.com/

They have been open since the week of Thanksgiving w/ a $29 day pass. completely open!

Now it is bumped up to $45. I turn mine in before 4 hrs and i get a $10 refund.

they do an excellent job of keeping snow on the ground and banking it for warm weather when it is cold enough to blow.

only molehills, ravines, & tree skiing among hardwoods, but it gets me out in Winter and keeps me in shape for trips out West.

Originally Posted by swerve

Ill be at http://www.perfectnorth.com/ alot over Christmas break

I'm out there usually twice a week, green and white jacket, grey pants, orange goggles, on Sollys. Ask for change; I've usually got a couple extra Natty lights in the cooler that I'm happy to share.

Originally Posted by Jer

Anybody going to go kill their skis at Bohemia this Fri/Sat?

With runs named like this?

No. Fucking. Way.

Seriously though, send us another TR. That last one rocked.

**pbourdon** · 12-17-2008, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by stompinlines

Looks like the ingredients for a quality puking rally.

My fingers are crossed....Flat, I still probably won't make it up to Boyne for 6-4-1, but I may hike the Dunes around here if we get dumped on...PUKING RALLY!!! <a href="http://www.clipartof.com"><img src="http://www.clipartof.com/images/emoticons/xsmall2/2202_puking.gif" alt="Free Smileys & Emoticons at Clip Art Of.com" border="0"></a>

**Boom Heir** · 12-17-2008, 06:34 PM

^^^
Tried to fix it for ya... Failed miserably...

**mnflyfish** · 12-17-2008, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by stompinlines

Looks like the ingredients for a quality puking rally.

Whose up for a powder day at Hyland!!! I love the idea that we're caught in a storm cycle. That doesn't happen very often.

Shoot me a PM for a midwest mini if anyone is interested.

Jay

**kkerley33** · 12-17-2008, 08:40 PM

Hey Nate, they opened up I-75 for about 20 minutes on Saturday and those that skied it said it got thrashed pretty good. Flat and I were commenting though that it looked ripe for some thing to break off as it looked like they had possibly been pushing snow over the edge with the CAT.

They'll keep doing controlled openings to pack it down as the season progresses.

**emtnate** · 12-17-2008, 08:44 PM

I must have planned for the wrong days to spend at Caberfae. Just missed the dump last weekend and had to leave before this next storm moves in. At least today the snow was good. About 4" of fresh Tuesday night, just enough to cover up the ice. South Peak turning.

Might go to Swiss Saturday or Sunday, for real this time.

**kkerley33** · 12-17-2008, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Roxtar

Hey, I asked this in another thread but there's a much larger group here.
I'm looking for expert boot fitting (punching, grinding, footbeds, etc)for my wife and myself.
Viking, in Chicago, was mentioned but I have a distrust for most large MW shops because the tendency seems to be to fit for comfort, not efficiency.
(Keeps them coming back)
One place tried to put my wife in boots that were too big but hey, nice and comfy.

My plan was to wait to get fitted till we go out west but I'm willing to try local.

Anyway, I'm looking for recommendations. I'm just outside Chicago but will drive anywhere if it's worth it.

I have had Bill at Grafton Ski and Cyclery in Grafton, WI do some good work. Dave at the Ski Pole in Fort Wayne is not bad either, but to be honest, I have most of my major work done out west. There is a guy in Winter Park named Eric that really knows his $hit but he shop hops and no he doesn't work at the Le Feet Lab.

**fonixmunkee** · 12-17-2008, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by Jer

Anybody going to go kill their skis at Bohemia this Fri/Sat?

Currently, I'm heading up to Lutsen (close and cheap) but am watching closely to see if I may need to head to Bohemia this weekend. I'm anxious to see how the year is going to stack up, and see if Lonnie's snow reports are bunk...

**flatNshallow** · 12-18-2008, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by emtnate

I have a feeling this will be bad for the base of I-75 this year. Anyone notice it this weekend?

What looks like a fracture line near the top is actually a wad of snow pushed over the edge by a snow cat (had the tell tale plow blade shape to it)... Skiers right of I75 must have been $$$ for the lucky few that got to hit it beefore they closed it... I was not one of the lucky ones as Kyle and I were OB when it opened... A buddy on Patrol was told me that a boarder got firsts and schralped it nicely and some chica on skis went next and had her way with it too... and then teh shit shitshow started - he said it was starfish city. lol

In other news - 7-12 to 10-15 forecasted for Oakland County depending on which models you look at... Pine Knob will be OFF THE HOOK!

PB- regretably, once again, my plans have changed for the skiless... BOO! It occured to me that I probably should get some Christmas shopping done. lol So no 6-4-1 4 me.

2nd system forecasted for Sunday so gonna keep an eye on that one... maybe a day trip to Cab on Monday...

**baseWeldr** · 12-18-2008, 08:03 AM

y'alls put a bootpack up tournament or somethin?
I'll check it out next week, the skinnin's easy but between the put-on and take-off time, it'd be just as quick walkin...
I skinned around the other side to Speak last yr, might be fun for a total circumnavigation with some pow lines sprinkled in...
/the speed addiction and tight fam schedule might just mean bangin fastlaps neway...
gray over black w/supermtns&fritschis, w/1or2 groms in tow
or
ballcap over black on a barstool

**flatNshallow** · 12-18-2008, 09:33 AM

yeppers... The Post holing last weekend was dickdeep but it'll just fill in leaving unseen random hard bumps to stumble over. I'm gonna be looking for some daywreckers and skins after the holidays... Did a recon mission last spring in the Natiional Forrest and found some stuff that looks like it'd be fun...