Degrees of Spatula separation...

[Rasputin]

I have a pair I bought on TGR from stoicchris.

I ski Snowbowl where more than half of the terrain is tree skiing. You do the math.

[Lane Meyer]

Thread Hijack - First Run

I bought my first pair having never tried them. I met Shane a few times as a young skier, followed him closely as lots of us did, and somehow you just know some things are right before you actually experience them. So I found a pair of Spatulas on eBay in Utah, picked em up, mounted em up, and headed to the top of Alta. I distinctly remember my first run.

It was one of those sneaker pre-season week days. Early December. Hardly anyone on the mountain. Blowing like hell to make it buff - pretty much as ideal as it could be for Spatulas. I headed out to Thirds off the High T, and looked down between those funky tips at a track-free line. The funny thing about that ski was, with all the talk about learning a totally new technique and how paradigm-changing the design was, there was virtually no learning period. You just just went, imagining what you wanted to do, and schmeaaaarrr you're a convert! That first run was the fastest and smoothest I'd ever skied that particular line, and it was my first time on the things. And it wasn't over yet.

From Thirds I wrapped around to Rope-a-Dope in Eagle's Nest. There are some nasty flute features below a rope that are normally just a thin veneer over edge-hungry rock. However, this particularly warm storm plastered that stuff with almost PNW-style powder. This may sound like a joke to someone familiar with Utah snow, but I tell you: On my first run on Spatulas, I found spines. Before or since then, I'm not sure if that particular run was ever again in such a condition, and there I was, looking down it with the only appropriate ski in the world at the time on my feet. It was laughably easy and logical the way I was able to flow down through that terrain, something that with traditional skis was such a precarious and ungraceful challenge. As I came out at the bottom at the Transfer Tow, I just looked down at my feet and shook my head as new worlds of possibility opened up in my imagination. Thanks, Shane.

Alto, that's awesome.

Makes me think of my first run on Spatulas. It was early season 2002. I came down to Tahoe from Oregon, where I had temporarily moved for grad school (the first time). I remember getting a ration of shit from Shane for that move. He just couldn't understand why me, or anyone, wanted to move away from the ski life in Tahoe? "You'll be back" he said, and he was right, of course.

Anyway, I was in Squaw for Christmas-New Years, and had been following the evolution of the spatula from afar. Shane had a couple pairs mounted up with demo bindings I think, and he gave me one of those to try out for a few runs. KT wasn't even open yet, it was just Exhibition (which he used to call "Extra-bitchin"), and there was like 1' of fresh, typical Squaw manky pow that we love so much. 1' could have been 4', you only sank in like 6". Pretty much exactly what he designed the spatulas for. I recall riding up the lift with him, and him telling me all excited just oozing with his unique brand of Shanethusiasm how I had to put equal weight on both feet and steer through the turn with both feet and totally forget everything I thought I knew about how to turn normal skis - "go as fas as you can and just throw 'em sideways!" he told me.

So I did just that on the tiny hill to the lookers right of the short chair. Although the terrain on Extrabitchin doesn't compare to the stuff Alto was hitting at Alta, my experience was identical to his. It was like a light went off in my brain, and all of a sudden I could ski the way I wanted to in my head but somehow never could in actuality - as fast as Shane and Scott and JT. The problem was, they were now on spatulas as well so they were that much faster too. So much for that idea....What a ski! What a fucking idea! Pure, unadulterated genius - like all great ideas, simple, and sitting right there in front of all of us. What was missing was only a truly unique visionary like Shane to bring it to fruition. From then forward for me it was (and is) a whole different sport. Thanks indeed.

[verbier61]

has anyone skied 172 spats? how short do they ski? any good for trees after a big storm?

[Big E]

has anyone skied 172 spats? how short do they ski? any good for trees after a big storm?

I don't think any such animal exists. 186 only AFAIK.

[SiSt]

I don't think any such animal exists. 186 only AFAIK.

Here: http://cgi.ebay.fr/SKI-FREERIDE-CAMB...634.m351.l1262

Or if it isn´t a 172, then it´s a pretty good offer...

[verbier61]

yeah exactly. I knew it was 186 only, then i read of these on sale....

[HankScorpio]

so what's this about Spatula's being banned at certain mountains?

[powpig]

Put me down for 2.

Found a pair in late 02 or 03 in the North Tahoe Truckee Week classifieds owned by a guy who worked at The Resort at Squaw Creek, only ski'd 2 days and mounted for my boot sole length. Got to try 'em a few weeks later, got onea the first 5 Disney chairs on a storm AM and they delivered. Have probably put over 100 days on 'em since then, they are beat to hell and now my early season rock skis if there's any fresh.
When I thought they were getting scarce I scored another pair a couple years ago and still have 'em, brand spankin' new, still wrapped in plastic with Shane's write-up attached.

Thanks Shane!

[Rasputin]

so what's this about Spatula's being banned at certain mountains?

To be honest, it sounds like a bullshit rumor which I've never heard of before.

[Arty50]

I still have mine. Unfortunately, I can't ski them ever again. Their last run was at the end of the day at Squaw about an hour before Shane's Memorial. Huge delam underfoot. Fitting I guess. It was hardly a day for Spats, but those things killed it nontheless. Got lots of nods too. I mean how couldn't you ride them that day.

I'll never forget my first day on them either. Kirkwood had only gotten 2-4" but it had filled things in just right. Sunnyside had gotten perfectly windbuffed and was untracked. I normally never ski that face, but it was $$$ that day. I dropped in and skied faster than I ever had up to that point. Just mindblowing schmeary fast goodness. On the way back up chair 4 I just stared at my tracks in disbelief, and I think I giggled non-stop for the next 2 hours...until I hit an ice patch and almost killed myself.

The other thing that not many mention is how well they carve switch. There are a couple of ways to ski Spats on groomers. One involves sort of sliding them a little off kilter. The other, which not many people figured out, is to weight your heels and carve the tails. Which also means when you flip 'em switch you can pressure your tongues and rails turns backwards. I could fly on those things skiing switch.

Then there were all the questions when I took them down to Lenas 5 years ago. Everyone down there was dumbfounded. A few days later a random dude rolled up to me at Catedral and said, "Spats? You must be from Tahoe. Hi, I'm Gunnar."

And how can I forget the mount. I rallied up to Granite Chief from South Lake and dropped them off a little before they closed. I had never set foot in the store before and obviously there was a ton of work ahead of me, but the guy in the shop told me the following... "Spats! Cool! You get the McConkey special. Leave your boots and come back in an hour with a 12 pack or 2." I came back with a couple of nice 12ers and walked out with my freshly mounted skis, no charge other than the beer. I mean, who else other than Shane could inspire something like that?

I loved everyday on those skis and will miss them immensely. Thanks, Shane! You changed my life forever.

[AsheanMT]

Pics please! I can't keep track of how many the maggots actually own. We need proof. Time snapped digital photos.

[hop]

I still have mine. Unfortunately, I can't ski them ever again. Their last run was at the end of the day at Squaw about an hour before Shane's Memorial. Huge delam underfoot. Fitting I guess. It was hardly a day for Spats, but those things killed it nontheless. Got lots of nods too. I mean how couldn't you ride them that day.

You, lph, and Skier666 giving the Spatulas some special treatment:

[ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156786"]TR: Honoring 'The Man' while hoppin' around KW & Squaw - 04/05/09 - Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]

[mntlion]

my best ski partner over 20 years is/was the volant rep, so I went thru a few pairs. Actually sold more pairs of his/my spats then the rest of alberta did (8+ pairs)

My first run was similar to other peoples first time. float/fly over the snow, and smear a turn when needed. Great for the 2 years working at a heli ski lodge. 2nd year I has them mounted tele, with step in tele bindings (linkens?). Both sets sure got a lot of guest questions...

[mntlion]

some spat pics

[glademaster]

I bought a pair mail order from a shop that Dude Le worked at the year that most of them were available.

Sold them maybe two years ago to Reverend Floater.

I kind of wish I had held onto them, but I'm sure they're seeing a lot more use now than they ever would have if I had held onto them.

[Lone Star]

over the past couple of seasons I've bought two pair, both intended as backups for my pontoons. sold both to friends at the gmd because they threatened to steal them from me if I didn't ski them myself. kylie and rex are going to be so cute in their matching spats this season.

[Pow4Brains]

Still got 1 pair I bought from elchupanebre4 a few years back. I was going to make them in to a chair so they wouldn't be collecting dust somewhere unseen, but now thinking they have to remain intact. I had no idea so few pairs were produced.

My first run on them was down the backside of Telluride, which I completely flailed. Now that I seem to have the reverse thing down, it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever ski any else with any regularity. Thanks Shane!

[dookeyXXX]

what's that shop on looker's right on your way into Squaw (it's near the Post Office)? any way, a few seasons ago they had a faded and super beater pair in their window display, so that should probably be counted.

i'm slow on the uptake, so it's taken me about 3 seasons to really get dialed into my Spats (probably only riding them 10 or 15 days out of 65-80). i usually ride 'em Yosemite Sam stylee on the groomers (hella bowlegged) or you do the power slide-straightline-powerslide (but this is murder on your thighs). as for what Arty said about carving the tails? i haven't tried that yet, but Bklyn coaxed me into trying to do normal carves on the Spats this past season at Loveland (she has Praxis Pows) and that kinda worked, rolling my ankles and not being afraid to lay 'em on edge a bit (though it you go too far they'll buck out from underneath you).

honestly, the best fun i had this season was Alpine Meadows in mid-March on a 17 day streak. i'd ski my Lib-Techs in the morning, break for lunch, then bring out the Spats for afternoon slush slaying. One Monday when they had Summit closed, I was lapping the Alpine Bowl chair, hiking over to Pete's Peril and ripping down the mini-bowl between Sunspot and Peril's Ridge. it was super slushy and surfy, but nobody else was on the run, so it was kind of magical. there were also a couple of late season mini-pow days there where i would ride the Spats on the groomers of Dancefloor to Ladies Slalom and then duck off and hit Gunner's Knob for some untouched. i found the combo of skiing the groomers first and then hitting the pow totally helped me understand the finer nuances of the ski. also working the Spats on groomers definitely helps with finding the sweet spot where you're not Pinto deep in the bucket seat.

[verbier61]

I don't think any such animal exists. 186 only AFAIK.

they do exist, I just received a brand new pair 5 minutes ago.
The only insight I got from the web was a 2004 site were they wrote "rumors of a 170-something spatula to be released in 2005".
Now, how many of them were made it's currently unknown...

by the way, they look great with their full rocker. Can't wait to try 'em in tight trees.

[SiSt]

they do exist, I just received a brand new pair 5 minutes ago.
The only insight I got from the web was a 2004 site were they wrote "rumors of a 170-something spatula to be released in 2005".
Now, how many of them were made it's currently unknown...

by the way, they look great with their full rocker. Can't wait to try 'em in tight trees.

You´ve measured them?

I was hoping they were mislabeled 186´s, however unlikely that was.

[verbier61]

they're actually more 171 than 172.....
but they look great for the use I have in mind......

[Big E]

Wow. Quite a find there.

[Huck_Schmuck]

Bravo Francesco!

[skiingislife]

Now, how many of them were made it's currently unknown...

Nice find.

My girlfriend skied on a demo pair of the short ones a long time ago. So there's at least two pair floating around.

[marshalolson]

i've had 1 pair. donated them to blurred.