Holiday Valley NY jan 23,24&25

[Tim Hancock]

Any chance of any Pelicanites skiing at Holiday Valley NY on Jan 23, 24 or 25? Any Pelicanites live near there?

[Eric 951]

Tim,


I taught at Holiday Valley 1996-97 ski season. I don't know if you have been up there lately, but they dumped alot of cash into improvements--unfortunately the "lodge vibe" never really caught on, and everyone still seems to congregate in the Ellicotville bars.

Still, very nice selection of slopes, I would drive up and join you, but our hunting cabin in Port Allegheny(where I lived when I worked there) suffered from burst pipes--which we won't get a chance to repair untill the Spring. Hvae fun--hope there is some new snow!

[Tim Hancock]

I have not been there since about '95 or '96. We used to go with the old fraternity gang and stay in a condo by the "Wall". I always liked the place because there were usually decent bumps to be found on at least a few runs.

I remember one year we saw Glen Plake (sp?) there, screwed up hairdo and all, out making some runs one evening.

The Boyne ski areas in Michigan that are about the same driving distance, usually mow all their bumps down so we happened upon HV in about 1990 and stuck with it for 5 or 6 years.

Unfortunately, as the years pile on, my body does not tolerate three days of bumps, bumps and more bumps. Most of the time I spend just following my daughters around as they search out every little jump along the tree lines to pull their "huge airs" (it is quite entertaining actually).

[Eric 951]

Tim,

The Wall is still there and steep as always(well at least for the East)--you will be quite surprised by the numerous new lodge facilities and high speed chairs, and the whole new face they opened up--lots of great terrain.

Funny you mention Boyne, I have been there and the other one right up the road--the name escapes me right now--with my GF's family--they have a place on Lake Chalervoix about 10 miutes from there.

Bumps at Holiday will be on Hawk's (I think hawk's--some bird name) anyways they don't usually groom it out--best to get there during the day, because the shadows creep on it pretty fast and hardens them. I too am a reformed bumper-- nowadays after 2 or 3 runs in the moguls my back screams. But man--back in the day

[Tim Hancock]

Eric, we went to Boyne Highlands and the "other" Nubs Nob, last year for a family trip.

I bought my daughters some shaped skiis for x-mas this year. Now I think it is time for me to make the change. I worked as a ski tech at the local ski shop back in college which meant I got to buy top racing skiis (200cm slaloms) for cheap. In fact I still ski on my old Elan Comprex slalom skiis complete with pink Geze G90r bindings.

Do you have any recommendations for someone 160 lbs 5'8" that still likes to think he can hammer the bumps and rip a helicopter off every now and then? I do not have a clue as to length and type with these new (to me) shaped skiis! I found some 1-2 yr old new Atomics reasonably priced on some Ebay stores, I may have to get a set, we will see.

Maybe I will try to demo some this weekend if they do that at HV.
If I remember correctly, we used to always find bumps as you get off the Mardi Gras lift off to the right. My thighs and back muscles are starting to get sore just thinking about it!

[Eric 951]

Tim,

Nub's Knob--that is it!

Regarding the shaped skiis--you are talking to a fellow dinosaur--have yet to switch to the "new fangled technology"

I used K2 extreme FXs 200cm exclusively throughout most of my skiing--2 years ago I delaminated a tip, so a buddy of mine gave me a pair of his Vokl GS skiis 201cm--and these things are freakin' planks So I have mostly boarded the past 2 seasons--but have vowed to pick up a pair of shaped skiis at the end of this season. I am probably going to go with a 186-194 cm range--I am just somewhat ignorant of the length-corrrelation.

Just think--all those years the goal was the better you are--the longer the ski. After achieving that 200cm mark--now everything is going in reverse.

Oh well--have fun in NY!

[joehahn]

E-Ville! Awesome!

I am going next Thurs and Friday 1/27-28. The Wall area is great, those condos are called "Snowpine Village". Great place to stay. I prefer the Falcon run for bumps but Chute is still the best (it was widened so you're not right under the lift). The Yodeler lodge was totally rehabbed 2 years ago and it looks like you're in Vail (kinda). Finally, I went from 210cm K2 extremes (6ft 180lbs) to Salamon X-Screams at 179cms!!! It has changed the whole sport for me. Totally easy to control, great all mountain. Not a real huge "shape" but enough that it take's a lot of the effort out of turns in bumps etc.

have fun,

joe 68 L

[PeteBrown]

I grew up skiing HV as a kid from '78-'86 with sporatic trips in the early '90's. My best man's family had a house in town and we would go up with our folks every week-end as kids and then in college with our significant others over New Years. Sadly, my friend who taught me to ski has not skiied in 5 years! Picked a non-skiing spouse who wears the balls in the family.

Great town and mountain. Look to find a dump in town over the next few years.

FYI - Holimont is open during the week to the public now. It has a better verticle and is steeper.

On skis: I was in the same situation as you, I've skiied Salomon Screams Pilots Hot and Atomic R:EX. I recently bought a pair of used R:EX on ebay and am very satisfied.

[joehahn]

Pete, go here: http://www.holidayvalley.com/realty.cfm Click on select all to show all the properties, go to the end. I am seriously thinking of one of the crack-den cheapo mobile homes! This would be the ultimate ski-bum lodging! It would be nothing but roof, heat, bathroom and TV.

joe

[PeteBrown]

I have the same urge. My only requirement is that I be walking distance from town.

[Eric 951]

Originally posted by joehahn
E-Ville! Awesome!

I am going next Thurs and Friday 1/27-28. The Wall area is great, those condos are called "Snowpine Village". Great place to stay. I prefer the Falcon run for bumps but Chute is still the best (it was widened so you're not right under the lift). The Yodeler lodge was totally rehabbed 2 years ago and it looks like you're in Vail (kinda). Finally, I went from 210cm K2 extremes (6ft 180lbs) to Salamon X-Screams at 179cms!!! It has changed the whole sport for me. Totally easy to control, great all mountain. Not a real huge "shape" but enough that it take's a lot of the effort out of turns in bumps etc.

have fun,

joe 68 L

Ha--Falcon, I was close with "Hawk"--I knew it was some bird name!

When I worked there I lived in Port Allegheny PA--and it was a 40-minute haul, so between the morning and night line-up sessions I would head into E-ville with a few fellow instructors and party-up in their shanty. the house was a dump--but perfect for ski-bums. We would also party at --cadillac jacks', balloons, and the mill? or something similar--too much partying has taken its toll on my memory.

It is good to hear Holimont is now "open to the public" There was a slight negative attitude towards some Holimonters during my time at HV--because of the "private" nature of the area--most were laid-back locals, but some were elitist jerks--which gave the rest a bad name.

Damn--from 210-to 179. I guess my original "guesstimate" for shapes was too long--I am 5-10 and 165 lbs-good thing I didn't buy any yet!

[joehahn]

Eric, it's hard for me to really speak to you, being from the da-Burgh and all (you lucky dog!) but I will for fellow skier! Anyway, you MUST demo a couple sets of these things if you're seriously thinking about getting a pair. It's not like when we were growing up getting skis where you walk in and say "I got better and heavier, what do I get next/now" and then the ski guy hands you a longer pair, similar to what you already have. The skis are so different and the integral bindings make each one behave much differently. I got lucky, I was at the Canyons in Utah (where those people just died) and there was an on mountain tent demo area. It was real neat, for a fee they let you try whatver you want, ski up...they lock you in, take a run, if you like it keep going. If not, ski up, they lock you into another and you're off. I fell in love with my skis instantly.

[Tim Hancock]

Eric, snowboarding?, say it aint so! I am guessing maybe 170-175. I have looked at Atomic Supercross SX9 or SX11's. When I was a teen my parents bought me some cheap package skiis and I delammed the tips on two sets before the shop ended up exchanging us for some Demo Olin comp IV's, which I was unable to break (even after hundreds of tail landing, tip slapping jumps on icy lower Michigan slopes). Ever since, I have have been paranoid about my tips!

Oh to be young and stupid again (I lost a couple big toe nails from long weekends of poor landing techniques when I was a kid but man it was fun!).

Joe and Pete, it sounds like you have skiied the Soloman X-screams, I will have to check them out also. Either one of you two go to the Stoddards open house deal? I was there last summer for a couple of hours. Either of you two know Tab Tanner from over in my neck of the woods?

I remember an "in the trees" run at HV that was kinda fun on the mornings when there was fresh snow (not very steep though)

[joehahn]

not to contradict myself about demoing but....BUY THESE: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21246&item=7128716832&rd=1

Yes on Stoddards BTW.

[PeteBrown]

I spent may early Sunday mornings trying to get first tracks in the trees! I honestly have not been up there since '97 and I'm sure a lot has changed.

As for skis, I like the Saly X-Screams a lot. I used to ski 205cm Salomon Equipe 9.2 and found the best was a 180 X-SCREAM. The 190s I tried were too long. I'm now skiing 184 cm Atomic R:EX which are very similar to X-SCREAMS but a little stiffer which I need at 5'9", 190 - no comment.

I do not know Tab Tanner.

[Eric 951]

Joe,

Thanks for the vote of confidence for the Steelers! Looking forward to the game--I already took Monday off

I know I should demo, but due to time constraints--that isn''t really possible--I will probably go with K2 all-mountain something--the length is the big ?. I have been a pretty loyal Tecnica boot/K2 ski/Salomon binding guy since I started. I used to get good prices on equipment through pro-deals when I was still an active membner of PSIA--taught me how much equipment is marked up--my 180 boots retailed for 400+!

Tim--yeah I know--skiing is my first love, but there is something to be said for boarding---I never would have tried it, and didn't actually start untill 94. Out of college, I was living in Idaho, and the resort at which I worked(Lookout Pass on the ID/MT border) had 2 total flake snowboard instructors--the ONLY snowboard instructors in our school of 12. So, afer the second time they both bailed on work--thus cancelling all snowboard lessons for the day--our director took all the ski instructors to the rental shop--had us strap up with boots and boards and iaid "today we are all going to learn how to snowboard"--this is without the benefit of instructors--just strap up and wing it. After about 2 hours I got all the basics down, and had everything pretty well fine-tuned at the end of the day--linking turns, some carving, speed control, etc. Only me and 2 other ski instructors stuck it out--so the next week we were "promoted" to dual ski/snowboard instructors. The learning curve for boarding was much simpler than skiing, and for the rest of that season I alternated depending on conditions(and lesson demands)--I still prefer skiing to baording(can't do moguls properly on a board!)
But really came to appreciate snowboarding and have been "mixing it up" ever since

[Tim Hancock]

Eric, just joking about the boarding (well kinda . I learned to ski in the early 70's and was really into it about the time the skateboarder nut jobs (not that there is anything wrong with that) started showing up wearing ripped up rags and carelessly crossing over our tips. To me it seems kind of like the old saying about fat girls and mopeds.... Both fun to ride until your friends see ya!

BTW: Funny as hell about the director saying "today we are all going to learn how to snowboard"! I am envisioning scenes from that movie with "The Chinese Downhill" in it from about 15 yrs ago!

[joehahn]

the movie was called Hot Dog. Harkin Banks was the main skier. Rudolph Garmischt was the bad guy. What the fuka isa chinea downhill?

Another great moment was when Harkin won the freestyle event with the "lay tuck tuck triple". (even better was when Squirrel got a bj in the gondola!). good times.

[Tim Hancock]

The Chinese guy asking WTF is a chinese downhill was definately my favorite part!

[joehahn]

OK last post on this.

Just a coincidence but this just showed up in my inbox. It is a great deal.. Apparently the Inn at the base of mardi gras was completely redone and has indoor/outdoor pools etc. You show up and they give you 2 night skiing passes and 2 tix for the next day. Ends up being only about $50 for the room.


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Ellicottville Inn E-Mail Club Update:

Winter Is Here To Stay

12 inches of fresh powder have fallen in the last two days along with optimum snow
making conditions...
If you have been waiting for great snow..It's here!

Rooms available this weekend
or
Get away from it all during the week with our lodging and ski package.
$164 for two includes a cozy Queen room, two lift passes and continental breakfast.

Reservations or Information

716-699-2373 or 888-856-9298

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