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I'm just gonna say it. Tucks isn't that hard. Sure it's steep and its open, but 95% of the lines people ski there and brag about are pretty straight forward and simple. It's these people who breed the "I've skied Tucks, I'm the best skier on the mountain" type of people, and I don't think anyone in truth likes talking to these people. Sure there's some gnarly shit at Tucks, per say the 30-40ft cliff in the smack center barely no one ever drops, or the much more technical stuff at Hillmans, but the people who ski that stuff are mostly humble about it (except A****** D****** fan boy type people). It's not supposed to be a weenie measure contest were basically every weenie is average. There's much harder and more adrenaline pumping lines on the east coast if your willing to do 40mph through some thick trees, but are they are beautify and fun to climb at tucks? no, they are for when you want to test your limits and maybe shit your pants. Tucks is about a great hike, meeting great people, and getting some nice unique lines in your day.
You should hear people that skied in the Kootenays. “Yeah, Ive skied whitewater, revelstoke and kicking horse so Im a top skier.”
But then they only stick to green circles, throw a tantrum, then get drunk at 11am.
um yea tuckermans is just a bunny hill, i never skied there but saw pics and maybe its good and hard for east coast gapers but you go to utah, idaho, washington or colorado, cali etc and there's 100x harder lines, i would ski tuckerman backwards its no big deal haha
b00mSkisum yea tuckermans is just a bunny hill, i never skied there but saw pics and maybe its good and hard for east coast gapers but you go to utah, idaho, washington or colorado, cali etc and there's 100x harder lines, i would ski tuckerman backwards its no big deal haha
I’ve skied in a few places you listed. Hit my first cliff at A bay.
Went to tucks for the first time this year and if you are a good skier you will have fun but theres almost nowhere I’ve been that I wouldn’t try switch too. You might be better than me at switch skiing, but good luck hitting it switch. Like you could do it for sure. Make it look like you aren’t a kook? Ha
b00mSkisum yea tuckermans is just a bunny hill, i never skied there but saw pics and maybe its good and hard for east coast gapers but you go to utah, idaho, washington or colorado, cali etc and there's 100x harder lines, i would ski tuckerman backwards its no big deal haha
Damn, tell us more about your impossibly flexible hips that allow you to ski 40 to 60 degree slopes switch.
Skiing east coast ice definitely teaches you to have better balance and edge control. I've skied all kinds of conditions in Colorado and while there are some big drops and lots of vertical, there isn't any terrain I've skied that made me think "wow this is way more difficult than anything back home". Skiing technical lines in shit conditions is like a batting weight for when you go somewhere better. I can confidently say I have better edge control having grown up skiing in NH than if I was somewhere out west. I'll still travel to ski better snow and obviously the conditions are better but that doesn't mean it'll make you a better skier.
jompcockSkiing east coast ice definitely teaches you to have better balance and edge control. I've skied all kinds of conditions in Colorado and while there are some big drops and lots of vertical, there isn't any terrain I've skied that made me think "wow this is way more difficult than anything back home". Skiing technical lines in shit conditions is like a batting weight for when you go somewhere better. I can confidently say I have better edge control having grown up skiing in NH than if I was somewhere out west. I'll still travel to ski better snow and obviously the conditions are better but that doesn't mean it'll make you a better skier.
Yes this is why so many fwt athletes come from the east coast and mid west...
“Growing up on indoor ski hills makes you a way better skiier because it teaches you to avoid rafters when you’re hitting jumps. I have skied in the alps and in Utah but I’ve never found anything that really challenges me like avoiding rafters in my indoor ski hill”
Craw_DaddyYes this is why so many fwt athletes come from the east coast and mid west...
Conditions that allow you to huck flips in natural terrain are rare in the east and midwest. You don't need amazing edge control to turn in pow, and people that ski powder a lot will be better at skiing powder. Another part of that is freeride comps. Not exactly easy to qualify for fwt if you grow up in the east due to lack of events in the pipeline.
jompcockConditions that allow you to huck flips in natural terrain are rare in the east and midwest. You don't need amazing edge control to turn in pow, and people that ski powder a lot will be better at skiing powder. Another part of that is freeride comps. Not exactly easy to qualify for fwt if you grow up in the east due to lack of events in the pipeline.
jompcockSkiing east coast ice definitely teaches you to have better balance and edge control. I've skied all kinds of conditions in Colorado and while there are some big drops and lots of vertical, there isn't any terrain I've skied that made me think "wow this is way more difficult than anything back home". Skiing technical lines in shit conditions is like a batting weight for when you go somewhere better. I can confidently say I have better edge control having grown up skiing in NH than if I was somewhere out west. I'll still travel to ski better snow and obviously the conditions are better but that doesn't mean it'll make you a better skier.
I'd like to see you hit the BC in wind blown, sun affected conditions out west. I'm sure your amazing edge control you learned out east will save you when skiing this super easy terrain and amazing snow we always have out here.
steezboxI'd like to see you hit the BC in wind blown, sun affected conditions out west. I'm sure your amazing edge control you learned out east will save you when skiing this super easy terrain and amazing snow we always have out here.
It certainly has! Well not so much in Colorado but I've skied some pretty sketchy lines in Scandinavia.
lets compare apples to apples here though. Tucks is arguably some of the hardest backcountry skiing on the east coast
And here's one of many mountains you can ski along I 70 about an hour from Denver.
yeah... I think CO has tougher terrain and better skiers...
What lines there are supposed to be hard? OOh steep line make turn fast. Any dipshit skiing a steep NH woods trail in November needs more experience to stay in control than that. You're right that Tucks isn't anything special.
jompcockWhat lines there are supposed to be hard? OOh steep line make turn fast. Any dipshit skiing a steep NH woods trail in November needs more experience to stay in control than that. You're right that Tucks isn't anything special.
You're right man. New Hampshire has the hardest skiing in the world.
**This post was edited on May 4th 2021 at 8:42:50pm
Is it particularly difficult to ski for the average Newschoolers user? No. But for the Irish boy from Southie that drove 3.5 hours(probably 2 the way they drive in mass) after skiing maybe 20 days at Okemo in the last five years, then probably yes.
The accessibility alone is a major draw to the bowl, an easy skin or hike will put you to some of the most unique terrain in the east. Who wouldn’t love that? Its also unforgiving, a mistake near the top will end up in a 800 vertical foot tomahawk while 1000+ of your best friends heckle you from the base of the bowl.
I still enjoy my days up there, not because the skiing is pushing the boundaries of the sport, but because the skiing is fun. There’s good people there, everyone is in a good mood, and there’s some very interesting conversations to be had.
Jihaddist_jibberYes and no. AD is a good skier but he is not one in a million and he will not be just an average skier out west. The east coast breeds much better skiers than the west coast, because on the east coast we learn how to straight line icy moguls for fun because we don't get powder days every week. I've heard so many west coast skiers complain about how the conditions suck there, when those same exact conditions on the east coast would be an awesome day. The west coast is definitely superior ski terrain, but you don't become a good skier just skiing powder all day and staying inside when there's a tiny bit of ice on the ground.
Rabble rabble my dicks bigger than your dick, my mountain's bigger than your mountain, my skis are bigger than your skis, my poles are bigger than your poles, the cliffs I hit are bigger than what you hit, the terrain I ride is better than what you ride, i can drink more beers than you, my state is better than your state.
Also I hate everyone that comes skiing where I rode. I've lived here for 3 weeks. I'm local as fuck. All these assholes coming and trying to ski here. Bunch of jerry ass noobs. I am the best skier on the mountain.
theabortionatorRabble rabble my dicks bigger than your dick, my mountain's bigger than your mountain, my skis are bigger than your skis, my poles are bigger than your poles, the cliffs I hit are bigger than what you hit, the terrain I ride is better than what you ride, i can drink more beers than you, my state is better than your state.
Also I hate everyone that comes skiing where I rode. I've lived here for 3 weeks. I'm local as fuck. All these assholes coming and trying to ski here. Bunch of jerry ass noobs. I am the best skier on the mountain.
With all the money I spent on a touring setup, avy gear, and aerae courses, you bet your ass I'm gonna flex on massholes circlejerking about their little hill. iTs jUsT As HaRd aS a mOuNtaIn oUt wEsT, wE SkI oN iCe CaUsE wE'Re hArDCoRe. My dog has run down gnarlier shit than tuckermans. don't @ me
pinkcamo1000scandinavians are the best skiers. why? because they have super long seasons and they ski a lot
skiing a lot makes you a good skier, not where you ski
A traditional nordic birth involves the mother skiing backwards down a slope no less than 10 degrees. The father follows and waits. There is traditionally a set of 3 rollers. On the 3rd roller she pushes as soon as she feels the uphill. The dad catches the baby and then proceeds to take it up the highest chair to show everyone.
While the child won't be allowed to ski until 4 months old this style of birth has resulted in some of the top talent in skiing.
jompcockNH isn't anything special either. The west gets a lot of snow and has a bit more vert. The terrain itself isn't anything special.
“Everything sucks. Nothing is special. NH woods create the best big mountain skiers in the world, no I don’t have any examples, take my word for it. Also skiing fast and doing big lines in the backcountry is easy. No I haven’t skied Colorado but when I skied in Scandinavia my east coast edge control was sick.” I’m sure the East is great but shit man it seems like you have no idea what you’re talking about
Brayblade“Everything sucks. Nothing is special. NH woods create the best big mountain skiers in the world, no I don’t have any examples, take my word for it. Also skiing fast and doing big lines in the backcountry is easy. No I haven’t skied Colorado but when I skied in Scandinavia my east coast edge control was sick.” I’m sure the East is great but shit man it seems like you have no idea what you’re talking about
I was mostly mocking the elitist attitude that skiers from Colorado are better in general. I said icy conditions make better skiers, not "tHe BeSt BiG mOuNtAiN sKiErS iN tHe WoRlD", and that there is technical terrain all over, especially if you know where to look.
I've skied a bunch in Colorado in all kinds of conditions, as well as a few places in the Alps.
I was stating a pretty obvious reason why there aren't many people in FWT from the east. I could list a bunch of anecdotes of great skiers I know but anecdotes are pointless.
Not trying to pick a fight. Soft grippy snow is easier to make turns with. The snow out west on the coldest and windiest days after it being 40º is still easy to lay a carve with your hip to the ground, even on a dull park ski.
jompcockI was mostly mocking the elitist attitude that skiers from Colorado are better in general.
Dude skiers in Colorado are better than skiers from the east in general just like skiers from interior BC or AK or the Alps are better than skiers from Colorado in general. It's not elitist to acknowledge objective reality.
Craw_DaddyWith all the money I spent on a touring setup, avy gear, and aerae courses, you bet your ass I'm gonna flex on massholes
Dude thats so sick. Please tell me more about your touring setup. How many grams is it? What length do you ride? Where did you get your dental degree? What boot/binding combo do you use. Earn those turns my man amirite?
GrandThingsDude thats so sick. Please tell me more about your touring setup. How many grams is it? What length do you ride? Where did you get your dental degree? What boot/binding combo do you use. Earn those turns my man amirite?
Craw_DaddyDude skiers in Colorado are better than skiers from the east in general just like skiers from interior BC or AK or the Alps are better than skiers from Colorado in general. It's not elitist to acknowledge objective reality.
how is it objective? What makes them better skiers?
jompcockhow is it objective? What makes them better skiers?
Well, they're better *big mountain* skiers, for obvious reasons that have already been stated. And your ability to make it down a mountain is the essence of what it is to be a good skier(at least that's what it is to me and many others). The gnarlier the mountain you can ski the better the skier you are. Could someone from New Hampshire go ski a line in Haines Alaska? Maybe, but they'd be pretty slow going and would need to stop a lot on the way down. Could someone from Haines Alaska ski an icy groomer in New Hampshire? yeah, they definitely could with no problems.
Craw_DaddyWell, they're better *big mountain* skiers, for obvious reasons that have already been stated. And your ability to make it down a mountain is the essence of what it is to be a good skier(at least that's what it is to me and many others). The gnarlier the mountain you can ski the better the skier you are. Could someone from New Hampshire go ski a line in Haines Alaska? Maybe, but they'd be pretty slow going and would need to stop a lot on the way down. Could someone from Haines Alaska ski an icy groomer in New Hampshire? yeah, they definitely could with no problems.
Could a good NH skier ski a spine in Alaska? Most likely. Why would they need to stop? I get that they wouldn't be in their element the way someone who skies spines all the time would be but unless you have some massive drops, I don't see why it would be all that difficult.
Could an Alaskan skier ski an ungroomed icy trail? Technical tree run? Obviously but not as fast as a NH skier.
Again, I'm not saying a NH skier is better (or worse), but someone who skis steep/technical terrain will be just about as good as someone who skis the same amount of steep/technical terrain in a different area.
schussonBut for the Irish boy from Southie that drove 3.5 hours(probably 2 the way they drive in mass) after skiing maybe 20 days at Okemo in the last five years, then probably yes.
i chuckled at this. trick question, they'd be too hungover from closing down capo basement the night before
I've hardly read this thread but MAN spring at tucks is some sketchy ass shit. the hike up is whatever, just takes some time. I went in Spring 2013 I believe when I was back in vermont after college in BC. we got up to the bottom of the bowl and stop for lunch, start eyeing out where we are going to hike up and ski. we chose a zone on lookers left in the bowl. at this point we are feeling good- decide to pack a bowl and put a couple of beers in our backpacks so we can chill at the top and enjoy them before we drop in.
well we start hiking and realize just how steep it was, and soooo icey. it was one of the most uncomfortable times I've had on a mountain- just bsahing the toes of our boots into the snow trying to keep climbing. you slip and you're fucked.
finally get to a "safe" zone to put on our skis- I was borrowing a pair of my dads touring setup with pin bindings which I had only used once before, so I was having a super hard time getting clipped in. finally do and stop above a bush and my buddy drops first- skis it well. my turn comes and I drop and something feels waaaay wrong. like so sketchy. finally able to stop maybe 1/4 of the way down and realize my boots were in walk mode! got that shit sorted and continued on. then we built a small kicker and seshed that a bit before we headed back down.
needless to say, there was no way in hell we were cracking a beer or smoking a bowl up there, we were shaking and just trying not to slide down hudnreds of feet of steep as ice.
I had a short edit made at some point. I will try and find it and post. im sure it won't do the steepness justice, but whatever.
If you live on the east coast it def seems like something to put on your spring to do list.
VT_scratchI've hardly read this thread but MAN spring at tucks is some sketchy ass shit. the hike up is whatever, just takes some time. I went in Spring 2013 I believe when I was back in vermont after college in BC. we got up to the bottom of the bowl and stop for lunch, start eyeing out where we are going to hike up and ski. we chose a zone on lookers left in the bowl. at this point we are feeling good- decide to pack a bowl and put a couple of beers in our backpacks so we can chill at the top and enjoy them before we drop in.
well we start hiking and realize just how steep it was, and soooo icey. it was one of the most uncomfortable times I've had on a mountain- just bsahing the toes of our boots into the snow trying to keep climbing. you slip and you're fucked.
finally get to a "safe" zone to put on our skis- I was borrowing a pair of my dads touring setup with pin bindings which I had only used once before, so I was having a super hard time getting clipped in. finally do and stop above a bush and my buddy drops first- skis it well. my turn comes and I drop and something feels waaaay wrong. like so sketchy. finally able to stop maybe 1/4 of the way down and realize my boots were in walk mode! got that shit sorted and continued on. then we built a small kicker and seshed that a bit before we headed back down.
needless to say, there was no way in hell we were cracking a beer or smoking a bowl up there, we were shaking and just trying not to slide down hudnreds of feet of steep as ice.
I had a short edit made at some point. I will try and find it and post. im sure it won't do the steepness justice, but whatever.
If you live on the east coast it def seems like something to put on your spring to do list.
Here it is- didn't realize I had two youtube channels...
This is more of a testament to how Tucks is accessible and beater jerries from Boston think its the crown jewel and try to ski it, less that its gnarly. I've skied Tucks three times in my life, twice on bluebird perfect days where the bootpack was fine and once on a day like you described where the bootpack was sheer ice, you had to get to a safe zone-basically a rock to put on your skis and then ski bulletproof ice on the way down. I don't think that's a testament to how GNARLY east coast skiers are but more how dumb and unprepared they are because Tucks is really the only alpine skiing experience they can get. I'll tell you what would have made the bootpack a piece of cake-crampons. If you or I had crampons, the whole sketch factor is slim to none. Sure it's steep but you're not in crazy technical terrain compared to anything West of the Mississippi. No mando rappels, nothing like that. The only reason its gnarly is because to your average jerry from Boston its gnarly. Theres lift access zones at Snowbird that are gnarlier terrain than Tucks lol.
