I've seen the future
December 30, 2012
Today, 12/27/12 at Mad River, 8-10" new when we arrived, 12-16 when we left, more coming tonight. The skiing was great, what else can I say. At 3:30, sitting in the pub, trying to muster enough energy to take off my boots, I turned to look at the skiers coming down. The tower 3 cliff is squarely in view, a little kid is sidestepping looking for his/her line. The kid finds the biggest line, then goes back up the hill a bit. I am suddenly worried, it is a tiny kid, not nearly big enough to be doing that. He is wearing the same color jacket as my 9 yr old grandson. The kid launches, sails a good 25 feet, lands cleanly, and skis up to my daughter and oldest grandson watching below. Holy s#+t it is my 9 year old grandson!
Nice! The little rippers there are unreal. On a visit last year, I was standing on the edge of a cat trail (I forget name) across an open (as opposed to treed) trail after coming through Paradise, catching my breath. Suddenly, to my right - foomph! foomph! foomph! - three kids about your grandson's age flying out of the trees - fast, catching rather impressive air off the cat trail lip and fly down the otherwise bulletproof open trail. It's no coincidence they populate the podiums in extreme ski competitions later in life (RIP Flyin' Ryan). But to realize it's one of your own - that has to be a variety of emotions! Nice tale. I hope to get up there some point later in the season - usually do. Good to see the snow arrive good and strong and make up for last year.
PS was in Park City earlier this week and wore my "Ski It If You Can" hoody out one night...got the usual inquiries from local friends and folks. It's this mysterious nirvana to many Western skiers..about the only place they admit they might want to check out back East. Of course, I tell them they probably can't cut it. They're Western skiers and too soft. ;-) PC was nice though.
Started following MRG on Facebook after I saw your post. They just put this up from the freeride team.
Wow
