01/29/00-Whiteface [Ultra Prime 162]-Not a cloud in the sky, the view was amazing. Strangely uncrowded for a Saturday trip. It was nice beautiful warm weather and in the morning the summit was a blast to ride. The snow was good and fast too. We watched some of the pro's practicing on the mogul run for the following day's bumps competition. It was basically a great day till the end when it got very very icy.

01/15/00-Whiteface [Ultra Prime 162]-It was a bright sunshiny day. Typical Saturday crowd. Except there was a noticeable lack of etiquette on the slopes today. My Prime was perfect for the boiler plate ice conditions. There was definitely a lot of ice today but there was also some softer pack to be had. I got a new stomp pad for my Prime that works better than any other I've used with hard boots, the Da Kine Traction Bar, it's high profile grabs a smooth DIN sole with no trouble, you can actually turn getting off the lift without losing your free foot.

01/05/00-Mt. Abram [Alp 171]-My first trip of 2000 and the world now has one more skiing addict. I brought my 11 year old nephew up to learn how to ski today. He had a blast. While he was in his lesson on the lower lift I was the only person on the mountain, and I do mean the only person. It was fast, cold snow, it was great. The kind of snow that lets you go as fast as you want. Being the only person on the mountain was a little eerie but I could get used to it, I had first tracks on every trail and the corduroy was recognizable all day long.

12/15/99-Whiteface [Alp 171]-It's finals week but it's definitely time to hit up the mountains a little more. Isn't winter supposed to involve snow? I don't know where it is but it's not here. Today would have been a better day for my Ultra Prime, the morning was an unpredictable mix of ice and soft stuff and the after noon was ice from midstation up and spring skiing from there down. The snow at the bottom was so soft and wet that carving hard would bring you to a stop.

12/3/99-Whiteface [Alp 171]-The season is here, today was the first day out for the Taco Brothers. There were two trails open and they were test running the new gondi. It was completely spring riding conditions, the snow was pretty wet, soft, and quite carvable. My Alp can really tear it up. I need to get my legs back in shape though. By the end of a run I could have used a fire extinguisher for my quads.

3/27/99-Big Tupper [snowboard]-Spring riding is here. It was about 55-60 degrees out, many people were in t-shirts, I left my sweatshirt on because I didn't want to go inside long enough to take it off. The sun was shining bright and the snow was text book spring snow. It was soft enough to really lay a good carve with my Fosfor/plate binding combo. I still wish my Prime were in one piece but today was great anyway.

3/7/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-Today was one of the best powder days I've had for the last three years. It was knee deep on some trails. My Fosfor actually carves alright with my plate bindings on it. I will not be listening to Adam too much anymore. He had the brilliant idea of riding a closed trail to take a short cut to the upper lift. But as we got to the bottom of a great powder trail, there were two patrollers standing at the bottom, just by chance. The first guy was cool, he took the apology and was going to let us go. The second was not so cool about it, he took our passes and said "See you next week." I think he just wanted more powder for himself.

3/6/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-It was a bittersweet day. Great fresh powder all over. A really fun ride today. But, and this is a big but, I snapped my carve board. I was cruising along in the powder and I hit an ice block that was huge and totally buried. It snapped my board like a twig, right at my front binding. It was such a nice board.

3/5/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-The snow felt odd, but it was easily carvable. It was soft but firm at the same time. I pulled a Method air with my carve board. I got to lay down numerous times because the snow was just right for it. It wasn't too cold either.

2/27/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-Today was an utterly amazing day, period. I set the goal for myself that by the end of the day I wanted to lay down my board far enough so that my hand could touch the ground while also touching the side of my chest. Did it. It was such a beautiful day we rode in sweatshirts and I even got a tan. I've finally started to leave the ground significantly on my board. Later in the day I got a good air and pulled a sweet tail grab, yeah, on my carve board. It was good fast snow, and a generally awesome day.

2/26/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-A good day in general. There were few people, and the snow was pretty fast. It was a little windy and towards the end I really started to notice the wind drag slowing me down. It was a good day for carving the snow was soft enough to really sink an edge but cold enough to still fly.

2/19/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-Where's the snow? Tupper is pretty much an ice sheet with patches of rocks. So it's fast but without razor-sharp edges, forget it. That's what I get for being born in New England I guess. Any day on the hill is better than nothing, so I'm not complaining.

2/7/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-Well, there isn't much to say about today. I only took one run. The snow was beautiful and so was the weather. But, I didn't get to enjoy the mountain today because while clamping in for the first run down, the toe bail on my binding snapped of in my hand. I managed to buckle in anyway and ride down. Those bindings were brand new. And there's no replacement parts for probably a hundred miles. At least they're under warrantee. Burton was really nice about it, I should be riding again by next weekend.

1/30/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-Fast would be the operative word for the day. There was enough new powder on the surface from over night that the runs were very speedy. After the snow softened a little I could really lay down and get deep in the trenches. I rode the lift single a lot and met a ton of the nicest people ever. One of the hard-boot snowboard instructors came up to me and we talked shop for a while about hard bindings, there seems to be an interesting bond among hard boot snowboarders.

1/29/99-Big Tupper [on snowboard]-Another beautiful day, it wasn't too cold and the sun was shining bright all afternoon. Most runs were good fast groomers, they were probably preparing for the weekend. It was the kind of conditions that my ultra prime loves. Being a Friday afternoon there weren't that many people there at all. We had the place to ourselves and could really open it up. We discovered jalapeno and cheese hotdogs at the Getty on the way to the hill, excellent après ski snack.

1/23/99-Big Tupper [on skis]-First day at Tupper this season. I skied today, it was sort of weird conditions, it was almost 50 degrees, it was full spring conditions, this is January? Thin cover was prevalent. I had fun though. It was a beautiful day.

1/10/99-Sugarloaf [on snowboard]-First day out, yeah, that's my latest start ever. But it was almost worth the wait. My new board rides like a dream. The night before it started dumping powder and didn't stop until noon when it changed to rain. We called it quits at one and played Risk till 10:00pm.

1/9/99-Sugarloaf [on snowboard]-The rain from the day before knocked down all the powder that had been so plentiful, but the rain stopped in time for the mountain to be groomed into beautiful courderoy over night. I really got to open it up with my new board and lay it down on the groomers today. Fast fast fast.

97-98 Season

Trips to Tupper:12
Avg lift cost at Tupper ($50/number of trips): $4.16

3/29/98-Big Tupper-The last day of the season at Tupper. It rained last night so the snow was quite beat down. The sun didn't shine through and it was just a comfortable day. There were only 2 hits left on the whole mountain today. Needless to say, they were used extensively by us. Despite being extremely tired from yesterday's exploits we managed to dial up the mach 3 speeds that were so plentiful yesterday. Although, there were so few people on the mountain that it wasn't hard for the patrollers to tag us. They were under the ridiculous impression that we were going too fast. How silly! What could give them that idea? Maybe it was the two blurs that flew past them. Or maybe it was the fact that we were on the lift by the time they caught up to us at the bottom. They were talking out of their butts, we were in perfect control. So we were tagged and it was obvious that they were trying to catch us "speeding" again later. I have never gotten more dirty looks in my life. All in all, it's been a good season.

3/28/98-Big Tupper-Today was epic. It was one of the best days that I have had in the last three seasons. It had to be at least 60 degrees, and there was nobody there. I was in a t-shirt. The sun was out the snow was lightning fast. I was getting speed that gave me air off everything, even things that I've never gotten air off before. The hits that were left were great, I spent a large portion of the day in the air. Shot some great photos. It was sick. I tried an Iron Cross today and discovered that they feel sort of natural to me and aren't that hard. Pulled a whole bunch of Twisters and Plakes. Adam and I both were on fire the same day for once. Today ruled. Big, stylin' air would be today's theme. Yes, we're going back tomorrow.
Onlooker to one of my airs: "That's some work."
Heckler to Adam: "I'd have brought my wallet if I'd known there was going to be a Yard Sale."
 Jeff: "I broke on of my rental skis and they wouldn't give me new ones."
Damage to Equipment: One slightly bent GS ski (the steel cores will bend if tweaked right).

3/7/98-Big Tupper-This was one of the only days that I have ever gone skiing/snowboarding and just not had fun. Today was just bad for me. I couldn't do anything right. If I was carving, I was falling, if I was side slipping, I was falling. I was even falling when I was standing still in the line or trying to move in line. I was stepping on my tip, catching my edge in thin air, and every kind of possible mistake you could possibly make on a board. For the entire day I had a complete lack of coordination, until the last run at 1:30 when I decided to call it quits for fear of dismembering myself. On that last run, completely by accident, I pulled a backside 540 on the quarter pipe. How it happened I have no idea. But it was perfect and I couldn't help but laugh.

2/21/98-Big Tupper-Today there was Tupper's first Snocross race. They ran a boarder cross and a ski cross event, along with the "Max Air" competition. I entered the ski cross figuring it would be a good friendly competition of locals. The competitors were varied... both of us that is. He was 13 and was on rental skis. "Winning" wasn't hard although I would have rather lost to a bunch of people than beaten that poor kid by himself. But hey, he got second and there was a prize for that too. All I can say is that I hope next year there is some more competition. Oh yeah, the course bit too, the guys who set it up had no idea what makes a good snocross course. I got a little medal, a candy bar, and $7, not bad. It paid for my entry bought me some wax and gave me something to eat on the ride home.
The rest of the day was mediocre, the snow was fast but it was really foggy which made shooting photos bad and there was a considerable amount of ice coming through the snow. It was alright though, any day skiing is a good day.
Me: Yeah I thought about letting the kid win. But then I decided I could go for some chocolate.

2/7/98-Big Tupper-My Kastles are fast. I got to really open it up with them for the first time today. GS skiis are a blast.

2/6/98-Big Tupper-Warm day, shining sun, took a few photos. Played around, no lines at all.

1/31/98-Big Tupper-I don't know what my problem was today. No matter what I tried to jump off, I ate crap. The tiniest little thing was putting me down. I did okay on the quarterpipe. Pulled a couple nice Indie Airs. Basically imagine the perfect weather; bright sunny day, ski-in-your-fleece temps, but absolutely no performance at all. I couldn't even lay down a carve today. Adam in the other hand was on fire to make up for lack of performance in the previous week.
Me: “Man, I suck.”

1/25/98-Big Tupper-Unreal. Heavy powder. Just plain fun to blast through not really caring what happens on the other side. The trees were great until a bunch of people who really shouldn't have been in there destroyed some of the best lines of virgin. The natural quarterpipe on chair 2 was a blast. Attempted backflip. Failed. Heckled by local kids who made fun of us for actually attempting maneuvers when they themselves were riding extremely conservatively. Found some excellent places to set up and take some crazy action shots.
No quote for today.

12/28/97-Sugarloaf-This was the first I had been to the loaf since the new developments, the new Whiffletree Quad rocks, and the old quad they hauled up to create Timberline Quad" also rocks. The out of bounds has moved over a bit. A big "Booooo" goes to the ASC for labeling all the glades that no one used to know about and especially for opening up Hell's Highway. That should have been left alone, as should the names of the shops at the base. Although, I got to ride a Factory Prime. Ooo baby. Tupper actually had better snow (shudder). I got a nasty gouge that looks like I ran over a knife blade in my P-Tex. It was a rock that was barely buried in some soft stuff.
John: "Your board is faster than Tom's Factory Prime."
Me: "Where'd the snowboard shop go?."

12/13/97-Big Tupper-Today was great. With a few fresh inches over night, the surface was soft and fluffy. Since last weekend the base has substantially improved. Still a bit thin in the trees in some places. Previously unopened trails join the roster this week. Pretty much the snow was soft pack enough to really lay down a good carve. The most fun I had was in the trees, without a doubt. There are so many different variable terrains to play with. Adam complained of not enough base in the woods, but I had no troubles staying on top with my board, which is made for the powder.
Adam:: "I'll give you this cupcake if you can fit the entire thing in your mouth. If not you owe me fifty cents."
Me: "Is that drop as far down as it looks?-Well, here goes nothing."

12/11/97-Hiked Cold Brook [a long abandoned ski training hill]-Excellent fresh powder left unexplored by others in the trees. I had an excellent run. A bit tight in the upper part due to some felled trees, but navigable on a board (major grinding practice). This was the first time we tried Cold Brook. We will be returning. It's only twenty minutes from Clarkson so we can go there in the afternoons after class.
Adam: "Adam almost pissed his pants because he couldn't find a way down with out messing up his skis, and wouldn't stop whining because his feet hurt from hiking in ski boots before his feet were properly conditioned for the season."
Me: "Oh crap, is that a fence?"

12/7/97-Big Tupper-An excellent day in general. Hung with the group for the morning. Tested the effectiveness of my helmet in direct view of the lift, recieving guffaws from an 8 year old who later told me I suck (I bet his parents are proud). Later, I finally ground the entire waterpipe that I had been trying to. The six inches of overnite fresh made the conditions prime. In the afternoon Adam and myself hiked to the top of the second lift twice, learning that the first route was far superior (choke, wheez, major understatement). The powder up top was sheer beauty, oh yeah baby. Not many had ventured above and there were fresh tracks all over. The hot wax and F4 treatment that we gave our boards/skiis the night before turned them into greased lightning.
Adam: "I should quit smoking."(while hiking)
Me: "Just think how much fun this will be on the way back down."

12/6/97-Big Tupper-Most excellent. Fresh powder from the previous night. Fresh tracks to be made everywhere. Tried to demo an F2 speedster board, alas I have big feet, my ski boots were incompatible with the race bindings. Oh yeah? Well I laid some deep ruts anyway in the courderoy anyway, thanks to my newfound stance. Carve, carve, carve. Also discovered an excellent pipe to grind.
Matt: "These damn skiis are too slippery!"(upon getting demos coated with F4 and trying to go uphill)
Me: "Lunch? What's that?"

11/15/97-Big Tupper-First Day Out!!! One half of one trail open. Fresh powder, no base. Unusually high concentration of snowboarders. Several kickers were built by some kids. Mostly we just cruised and got back into things. I discover that my new Vans kick butt. Lift line so long that we only got about seven or eight runs (free lift tickets that day).
Me: "You just carved a trench in my top sheet from under my right foot to the tail of my board with your ski."
Matt: "Chill out, it's just a piece of plastic."
Me: "It's not just my board, it's my baby, you just cut my baby."