I was reading this on another forum. Since I gave up on skiing many years ago and returned to board, I was a bit out of the loop with many terms.

Im sure you have all heard the phrase Yard Sale. When someone on skis wrecks and loses everything they are wearing from the point of impact downward the fall line to the point of rest, leaving behind articles of clothing and gear.

Well, this term I found funny too. Gaper.
Thankfully, I avoided all the definitions of one; although, I did have a few tickets on my coat from just being lazy between trips lol.

Gaper:
#1 (I love this one)
The ineffecting snowplow/racer tuck/uncontrolled descent. Always best when viewed from the lift, the gaper is most accurately personified in this gaper maneuver. The gaper is descending a slope well beyond the range of their abilities, attempting to snowplow, only to discover that it doesn't work if you don't use your edges. Finally abandoning all hopes of control, the gaper tucks into the "racing stance," with poles serving as lightning rods, although only slightly higher in the air than their butt, and proceedes to descend the hill in this wobbily, ungraceful fashon, while yelling at the top of their lungs.

#2
Pom-pom hat, camouflage pants, and a Pittsburgh Steelers jacket in an eternal snowplow down the beginner slope, all the while yelling to his buddy, "Hey Joey, I'm doin it, I'm doin it"!

#3
A skier or snowboarder usually with ten (10) to fifteen (15) lift tickets on their coat all from the same 375 vertical foot hill on the east coast.

#4
A gaper is a skier or snowboarder who is completely clueless. Usually distinguished by their bright colored clothes and a gaper gap, the gap between goggles and a helmet/hat.

#5 (not a definition , as much as a description)
I especially like sitting in the bar and watching a frozen, snowcovered, rear entry boot & tossle cap wearing guys belly up and ask....what kind of beer do you have here?, as they take off their Steelers jacket. Crap falling out of pockets, leaving a trail of gloves, scarves etc from the entry to their seat. "Man---that is fun" usually first words from their mouth after the first gulp. "Those black diamonds are harder than they look from the lift, it took me an hour to get down." being the second. "can't wait to try it again--after a few of these, cause I ski better when I am 'loose' ".

#6 (used in sentences)
1. My eyes are burning from that gapers bright colored clothes.
2. I fell off the chair laughing at that gaper tuck.
3. Did you just see that gaper getting landed on because he was sitting like a dumbass at the landing of a jump.
4. I couldn't ski fast because I was too busy dodging all the gapers
5. "Did you see that Gaper? She's wearing a dead animal on her boots."


lol that is all...
Some Pittsburgh references in that one...

none of these came from me.

Don't forget the word JONG.

Jong: Jack-Off-Newbie-Gaper. Used in skiing to describe someone who is completley new to the sport but has no idea what they or doing, or why they are doing it.

These type of threads always crack me up. Don't judge a book by its cover. Some of the most weirdly dressed and poorly equiped sliders can really rip, from Mad River Glen to Whitetail to Timberline to Alta to wherever.

As long as you don't hit me or get in my way, I say go for it.

And from time to time I'll proudly wear a hat with a pom-pom on it. And when I do wear a helmet, for all I know I do have the infamous gaper gap.

Bro Gressive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDyhiq0vJGo&list=FL43nJz7kDO80p1Rz0DQSTsw

I'm also guilty of leaving lift tickets on my jacket. Though not as often as in the past with the proliferation of smart card tickets and a seasons pass. I'm surprised TSA never raised a ruckus with all the metal wickets on my coat.



?

I know several posters here and on Epic that regularly wear a tossle cap. If I understand what a tossle cap is. And they rip. One of whom is an upper level instructor.



Stuff selling for killer deals on backcountry.com usually isn't found in the most popular colors. I'm gonna scare some folks on the slopes this year! And bright clothes are easy to pick out when its puking snow. Proves useful in Utah to keep yer group together.

So, I guess I've got a lot of gaper in me.

Says the guy who wears his hockey helmet when he skis.

Only when you're on the slopes.

I love the true, new gapers and JONGs. They're the future of our sport and pay to keep the bullwheels turning.

Amen. We were all gapers at one time. As one of my friends says, "Just friggin ski".

Just read Sincraft's post on gaper's and yard saler's. Started to reminisce about my early years of skiing. I have been both a "# 1 gaper" and Yard saler". I remember my first run down TL's White Lightning and falling numerous times on the top 200-300ft before getting down in the classic tuck/lighting rod pose and pointing the tips straight down hill and hoping for a safe landing. That was 12 yrs ago, I am still guilty of an occasional "yard Sale" but have moved past the "gaper" stage. Thanks for the post Sincraft.

Charlie, don't feel bad. I too was a 'yardsaler'. I can remember one of my first days on skis at Canaan Valley. I finally got the gumption (cajones) to go to the top. Followed some people down Timber Run. Made it to the first sharp left turn only falling <10 times. Gathered up just a little too much speed heading into the the turn, actually made the turn without falling, and ending up pointing straight downhill. Realizing I had way to much speed and unsure about how the whole stopping thing worked, I bailed. I can remember hitting on my left shoulder, bouncing back up in the air barreling rolling once, and splatting back down HARD. Next thing I knew, both skis where off and I was missing my right boot as well. It was no 10 feet below me (attached to the ski) and gaining speed as it pointed downhill. Luckily a friend was able to catch as I slid down to him on my butt. That was almost my last ski trip as I thought I just wasn't cut out for that stuff. I'm sure glad I didn't quit!!

Bright colors also rock in backcountry, foggy conditions, and/or potential avy conditions. My girlfriend loved my neon baby blue shell when we staying out in Driggs...Targhee would get socked in regularly with 1-2 chair vis days. Here is a pic of my bright baby blue shell in use in the Teton backcountry on a 40 degree pitch and deep snow...

oh gentlemen, I just found out that bright colored jackets matched with dark color bottoms are back in style. YES I'm back in style. My jacket is a high hue blue with black pants.

If you never hold a yard sale you're not pushing yourself.

You know you're not a gaper when you don't give a sheet if someone thinks you are

Nice portrait Tucker! I think I see a smiley face in there somewhere

the only true non-gapers are those who monoski.

Not only do I fit other parts of the description. I celebrate it.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv