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May, 2025

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How does one decide when to ski harder terrain?

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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
Curious what your process, if any, is for approaching trails you've never done and ones that are definitely higher in technical difficulty than you've done before?

For example, how does one decide, "hmmmmm I think I'm gonna huck this giant cliff today"

Is there any good reasoning, other than growing a pair, behind when you actually decide to pull the chain and finally send it down that line you've been eyeing all year? Obviously you need to be confident in your skills, but just curious.

I pretty much just try to push myself a little more each day I'm out and go a little more out of my comfort zone each time. Some days more than others. That seems to have a good impact on my progression. The only downside is usually the people I'm skiing with say fuck that I'll meet you at the bottom, which sucks cuz it's so much easier if you have another person saying hell yeah let's do this.
6 years ago
4 0
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zman420
Posts: 173 - Karma: 427
If the snows good just turn off your brain and send it, other than that I slowly work my up in increments of possible
6 years ago
8 0
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Dunderflip
Posts: 535 - Karma: 2,449
i just point it and go. im the best skier on the mountain.
6 years ago
11 0
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12705 - Karma: 120,047
"he did it so i must do it"
6 years ago
19 0
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Hansel9001
Posts: 197 - Karma: -74
I like taking little steps. Whenever i go on vacation i just ski groomers the first day to get my bearings and form in line and the juices flowing. Second day ill start hitting jumps and rails. I feel like if you add little by little you will have more leverage
When you get to trying new
Tricks. At least thats the way it works for me.
6 years ago
3 0
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,539
I always tell myself that if I don't send it right this moment, I won't in 5 minutes, so I might as well send it and not sit in the cold for any longer.
6 years ago
8 0
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,571
My rule of thumb is when I only get a touch of butterflies before attempting, I’m good to go.

If it’s a lot of butterflies, it’s a no go.

If it makes my knees tremble, stay far away lol
6 years ago
11 0
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vibecheck
Posts: 3112 - Karma: 15,206
PEER PRESSURE, and then you end up in the hospital
6 years ago
3 1
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
ButteredToast.My rule of thumb is when I only get a touch of butterflies before attempting, I’m good to go.

If it’s a lot of butterflies, it’s a no go.

If it makes my knees tremble, stay far away lol


Haha if my legs are jello, I'm about a 50/50 if I'm gonna drop in. The nerves quickly leave once you're skiing and your body begins to react.
6 years ago
3 0
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SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2794 - Karma: 16,914
Discretion is the better part of valor. Before I drop something I try to visualize whats going to happen in every step such as:

What condition is the run in?
Is the cliff etc a clean drop?
Have I scoped the landing?
What is the run out like? Do I have a place to scrub speed etc?

Depending on the answers to each step will usually dictate if I commit to it or not. Also, if your standing on top of a feature or line for more than 5 min then dont hit it, by that time you have psyched yourself out and your chances of falling are much higher. Just ski around it and scope the landing and your line. Sometimes just getting that perspective from the bottom of a cliff will give you a better idea of the best line and what the feature is going to be like which will give you confidence for the next time.

Another thing to try is to hit some comparable stuff on a different run that your more comfortable with to get your confidence up before returning. That or make a mental note to hit it again when the conditions are better. Remember, landing a cliff drop gives you a ton of speed so the run out conditions can be just as important as the landing.
6 years ago
4 0
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sNaubi
Posts: 1633 - Karma: 2,357
let your balls descend and man up, visualize if its possible, then just huck it

But only if you actually have the skills to do it

**This post was edited on Jan 8th 2019 at 5:31:29am
6 years ago
2 0
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,552
just do it terrain shouldn't really scare you at most resorts unless its some tgr and corbets shit.
6 years ago
0 4
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HaydenB
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 8,191
When you’re bored of all the other runs you’ve been riding
6 years ago
4 0
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profa_212
Posts: 9213 - Karma: 40,349
Being familiar with the mountian and terrain helps a lot. Knowing what goes and doesn't is very nice prior to standing above a large cliff trying to see over the edge. Takes a ton of the nerves away.

Other than that....walking your way up in size is the best way to gain confidence. Start at 5 feet, then when you are comfortable on those bump it up to 8. Then 10....then 15....etc. you will start understanding what terrain you can hit confidently, and then the mountain opens up with options.
6 years ago
4 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
Forgot to mention. My best motivation ever was when I was in middle school at 7Springs. I was too chickenshit to go down this trail....until I saw a blind person skiing it. Best motivation ever.
6 years ago
3 0
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chrispyminis
Posts: 99 - Karma: 216
I just try to ski with people who are better than me and follow them off shit. Also if everyone is super stoked and the snow is good it’s way easier.
6 years ago
2 0
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TOUCHE
Posts: 1183 - Karma: 162
For me i'll gradually scout different lines through the season that scare me, then one day when you're riding with a good crew (ideally a couple of people better than you) and stoke factor is high then you just SEND IT!
6 years ago
4 0
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9616 - Karma: 71,531
Skiing with people who are better than you wwill definitely push you out of your comfort zone and into a state of mind where you're more willing to go for it.
6 years ago
5 0
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skiguy04
Posts: 1640 - Karma: 1,275
runforlove2018Curious what your process, if any, is for approaching trails you've never done and ones that are definitely higher in technical difficulty than you've done before?

For example, how does one decide, "hmmmmm I think I'm gonna huck this giant cliff today"

Is there any good reasoning, other than growing a pair, behind when you actually decide to pull the chain and finally send it down that line you've been eyeing all year? Obviously you need to be confident in your skills, but just curious.

I pretty much just try to push myself a little more each day I'm out and go a little more out of my comfort zone each time. Some days more than others. That seems to have a good impact on my progression. The only downside is usually the people I'm skiing with say fuck that I'll meet you at the bottom, which sucks cuz it's so much easier if you have another person saying hell yeah let's do this.

Did not read
SuspiciousFishDiscretion is the better part of valor. Before I drop something I try to visualize whats going to happen in every step such as:

What condition is the run in?
Is the cliff etc a clean drop?
Have I scoped the landing?
What is the run out like? Do I have a place to scrub speed etc?

Depending on the answers to each step will usually dictate if I commit to it or not. Also, if your standing on top of a feature or line for more than 5 min then dont hit it, by that time you have psyched yourself out and your chances of falling are much higher. Just ski around it and scope the landing and your line. Sometimes just getting that perspective from the bottom of a cliff will give you a better idea of the best line and what the feature is going to be like which will give you confidence for the next time.

Another thing to try is to hit some comparable stuff on a different run that your more comfortable with to get your confidence up before returning. That or make a mental note to hit it again when the conditions are better. Remember, landing a cliff drop gives you a ton of speed so the run out conditions can be just as important as the landing.

Did not read
Profahoben_212Being familiar with the mountian and terrain helps a lot. Knowing what goes and doesn't is very nice prior to standing above a large cliff trying to see over the edge. Takes a ton of the nerves away.

Other than that....walking your way up in size is the best way to gain confidence. Start at 5 feet, then when you are comfortable on those bump it up to 8. Then 10....then 15....etc. you will start understanding what terrain you can hit confidently, and then the mountain opens up with options.


Stick to walking
6 years ago
2 7
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beckums
Posts: 342 - Karma: 631
If you’re skiing at your ability level your body won’t feel cold. Also just ramp up slowly to it too. For example practice small drops then gradually work up to a big cliff. You don’t see a kid who figured out how to hit a jump yesterday going straight to Olympic ski jumping you know
6 years ago
0 0
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chrispyminis
Posts: 99 - Karma: 216
bike.life.beckIf you’re skiing at your ability level your body won’t feel cold. Also just ramp up slowly to it too. For example practice small drops then gradually work up to a big cliff. You don’t see a kid who figured out how to hit a jump yesterday going straight to Olympic ski jumping you know
Liz Swaney pretty much did that
6 years ago
5 0
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Govygen_gourmet
Posts: 380 - Karma: -477
Whenever I see a good drop I have a few rules in fact it’s almost like a mathematical process
1– I think of conditions
2- If it is the second day of heavy snowfall (that means the layer of snow under the fresh powder is nice and packed not icy, tracked, or non existent) I disregard all the rules to follow and just send it when and where I can the only precautionary methods I take are wearing a healmet and having a friend with me at all times
3- If conditions are not prime I ski a few lines on the groomers to get my body warmed up
4- If I see a line I might like I ski around the vicinity, scout the landing, distance, obstacles, etc.
5- I then send off said line
6- If I was feeling it I go again and try something new
7- repeat the same processes in different areas of the mountain including but not limited to parks, sidecountry, inbounds terrain, natural and man made features, etc.
6 years ago
1 0
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