getting to enjoy a few runs every day after work is sweet, but could be better if there were more folks out here skiing in canaan valley mid-week besides these guys. http://vimeo.com/34871941

yeah, its amazing...I get over every afternoon for atleast a couple runs and a ski up sally...I am amazed how good the skiing is and how there is never anybody on the slopes aside from employees and locals during the week....I guess it may have something to do with the t-line not having a marketing department, but that is just a guess...still as much as the conditions and total lack of crowds is discussed here you would think some folks would know by now that the valley is the hot spot during the midweek...

Gone to the darkside have ya?

proximity? How many skiers live within 1.5 hours of there? Enjoy your solitude and midweek freshies. Or send those freshies this way.

So I tried to check the Tslime website to see what trails are open for Friday a week day and forecasted for snow when what does appear before me but a refusal for data acquisition which means they are being held out from the server most likely due to not paying their bills.

This has NEVER happend before.

Pretty empty a little south of the valley too . This is from Monday morning right before the heavy snow squalls started . Sorry its a little shaky the helmet was a little loose

http://youtu.be/aPyqH-igcd4

www.visitcanaan.com The report is listed under the Timberline banner. Timberline links to this page too

That's why I'm not there midweek. 3 1/2 plus drive each way is too much for me to make during the week when I can get some skiing in with 1 1/2 drive each way from home.

So I took the day off and tried out my Palmer P02's at Liberty. In the changing room I was surprised to see Dennis just getting his stuff on and ready to go out. Capped in his sliver helmet I could see he was getting set up at noon since he had no snow on his boots.

Short conversation and I was off too on my brand new Palmer P02's straight from Lithuania. Frozen granular base but fairly air-y with hardly anyone about.

First run I totally did not get the Palmers ... I kept trying to step on them as usual but that was not working.

Observed Dennis taking on a very bare mogul run - he carefully picked his way through it with what seemed to be a clear plan to execute.

Second run I sort of got it ... no pressure just tip over and pull your inside knee as high up as you can, best to have it on your chest and let them do what they need to do.

I found Dennis standing at the top of the backside lift so we hooked up and did it together.

With two runs under my belt I started playing with the Palmers and every run got better and better. 100% linked turns with my hands on the snow and eventually got the elbow down a little too. Dennis was right beside me and we picked our runs together - all good very much like spring skiing a little mashed potatoes that made me loose contact a little here and there and outside pressure would say bye bye but I have two legs so ski the inside edge a little and no problem.

The Palmer P02s do *not* have a lot of rebound. They lay very calmly on the snow are not to be stomped on. Since they have not the rebound of say my Tigershark 12's, I had to consciously huck my torso over and forward and that worked well. Just huck and do a slow edge change and extend the outer leg, retract the inner one as much as possible, keep your arms out wide and lay out for a clean carved 12 meter turn with +60 degrees of full body inclination.

Last experiment was to turn my torso into the hill at the end of the turn so I face the hill and transfer much weight to the inside ski. Perfect response from the Palmers - two trenches with both skis carving equally.

One thing - they are really not slalom skis - not disco-sticks. They are for GS to Super G tuns and that is fine by me as JohnL knows.

All in all a great day. It was very nice to ski and talk with Dennis who I felt very comfy with and enjoyed his conversation. He skis very very well and never mind that he is recovering from injury - it did not really show at all.

Yay - fun!

Thanks, Crush. I enjoyed it too. Great skiing and great company. And those turns of yours. Oh my!

yeah, its amazing....as I am getting older, I am catching myself watching the republican debates and being overcome with the urge to ski

So you're turning into Jimmy?

I hear ya, the silly things we do when we get older.....I actually skied Liberty on MLK day this year.

wow, sweet blue sky and sunshine out there today!! best time to ski! setting a goal to get at least an hour or two of skiing later in the afternoon!