Hello again.
I had not skied at all last year because of a knee injury (patellar tendonitits) but today I went over to Willi's Ski and Tennis and bought a pair of Atomic Smokes and a pair of Dalbello Aerro 5.9s. I am a beginner and had always wanted to ski more but never seemed to find the time until recently.
With my knee just about completely healed I am looking forward to going around 4-5 times this year.
While there the rep for Whitetail (where I ski) Liberty and Roundtop was pushing their Advantage package. it is $84 before October 31 and is supposed to give you a 40% discount on lift tickets at any one of the three.
Has anyone who skis there taken advantage of this? Is it worth it? My buddy, who bought skis last year, is actually thinking of getting a season pass ($439) if you buy early, but I doubt I will be skiing enough this year to make that happen.
I was stoked though because I had so much trouble finding boots that I thought fit well. ( I am a regular size 12 but I have large calves) The Dalbellos (while pretty cheap @ $170 ) actually fit me the best of the three pair I tried on. I picked the Atomic Smokes because of staff recommendation - since I am a beginner it is not like they have to be the greatest as I will be on the greens for a while.

Now all I need is ..... lessons and time I guess.

Good luck with the new skis and boots. Hopefully you will have some fun with them out on the slopes.

As for the advantage card, I just bought one today. I figured the discount would give me an incentive to hit the slopes more, especially since Whitetail and Liberty are close enough for the occasional night skiing trip. However, I'm not sure if the advantage card will save you much money if you only go 4 or 5 times. It does include a 40% discount on group lessons, so if you take lessons each time you go then the card should be worth it for you.

When I purchased the card, I was told that I will need to drive up to one of the three ski areas sometime to have my picture taken for it and they advised me not to wait until the ski season starts to get that done.

Keith

Cool! Have fun! Dalebellos are a decent boot. Take lessons right away and your experience will be 10 times better for the year and probably motivate you to take advantage of that card!

We got a family season pass last year, and for us it was a good deal. Between lift tix and lessons for 2 kids, it worked out well. Last year we were able to upload pix online, you may want to check that out. You do have to pick the card up the first time you use it, though, so factor waiting in a ticket line for that.

Thank you. I will have to check on the Advantage card. I thought the rep told me that it gave me 40% off of lift tickets. I figure only a couple more lessons (I have had two and let's face it they vary from pretty good to pretty terrible depending on who you get) and a lot of time on the slopes (early one weekday) say 9:00am on a Thursday should give me much more time on the slopes.
Either way, a day on the slopes (even struggling on the greens) beats a day at work anyway you slice it.

Marshall,

If you go mainly at night, another good option is a night club card. Although more expensive ($160?), skiing is free if you go after 04:30. You can add an advantage card for around $20 and ski lessons for close to that. So for about $225 or so, you can ski free in Jan & Feb at night, take a lesson every time you go, and if you go on a saturday or sunday, get the 40% off. You have to join a club, but there are a couple to join and make your decision before the end of Oct. Good Luck, welcome to DCSki. Steve

If you go to the Snotime resorts (Whitetail, Liberty, and Roundtop) often, and enjoy night skiing, the Night Club Cards are a good deal. It's usually less crowded, it doesn't get that much colder here at night, and "nights" start at 3pm on Sundays.

As Steve said, you can get lifts, lessons, plus Advantage for $239, and ski as many nights as you want starting January 2nd. This will improve your skiing - it doesn't cost you any more to go for just 2 or 3 hours at a time, if that fits your schedule better.

http://www.libertymountainresort.com/mountain/tickets-passes-equipment/night-club-card.aspx has the full price breakdown.

The breakeven point for night club is 4 or 5 night skiing trips; after that it's always cheaper to have done Night Club. The Advantage add-on is worth it as soon as you go more than once on a weekend.

I broke down too and in the latest Dilly in Chantilly, I purchased a new (2012) pair of Blizzard Bushwackers. After reading the reviews, I went over and they had only one pair left of the 2012 skis at my size. I chose the 166s this time.

Now I've got three pair of rock skis and a prime pair. The 2008 Volkl AC-40s, my 2009 Head Monsters, and the 2010 Peak 78s. I'll have two at Snowshoe and two at home...

What's the width on the Bushwackers?

(I'm trying to remember what nice the Bushwackers and Bonafides hit. IIRC, the Cochises are the big boys.)

I got the Blizzard The Ones last year. Jimmy also bought a used set. Great skis. Blizzard is on a roll.

I broke down too. Just got a pair of Dynafit bindings from Backcountry.com. Alpine touring bindings at 1.5 lbs. per pair. While it will heal in time, the knee may not be ready for tele in early season.

Glad to see that we are all doing our part to help the economy.

Bushwackers, nice Lou. 88mm, flipcore, rockered, not quite a twin tip, great on groomers and from what i've read it really likes off piste, bumps, cut up and fresh pow. Nice eastern one ski quiver.

Do we actually know what flipcore really is, anyway?

It's a patent pending new technology .

http://articles.starthaus.com/2011/05/19/blizzard-flipcore-explained/

I don't understand the science or whats patent able obout it. Maybe someone who is familiar with building skis or patent law could better explain. Seems like it results in a O or reverse camber ski.

I'm ecstatic with the purchase. I can't wait to try them... once we get enough snow. I may also take them to Switzerland for my retirement celebration trip at Zermatt.

This is possibly an example of "Even though I have The Answer, I still don't know"



To me it seems to me more to do with the actual bending form they use, maybe they can get away with using less of a radiused form and thereby avoiding residual built-in stress? /shrug/ Will keep looking.

No no I have the One, not the Answer. The Answer was for a question never asked?

Gots to try me some rockers this year.

_I_ have the Answer.

You can't possibly have the One if JohnL has another.




*sniff* You're just hurting the Blizzard's feelings now.

No I have the One You have the Answer ?

I'm curious, is there only One Answer?

*Sean Connery voice*

There can be only one.

Ya gots ta lets the wimmins give teh Amphibios a spin.