Conference bgsdev::skiing

  The snow was fine again last night, especially in light of the recent rain 
  and hard freeze.  It rained at the mountain this morning, however, so we will 
  be starting from scratch again when it gets cold (pun intended).

  The courses were a bit more interesting last night; still not too many gates, 
  but they used some of the whales to create a few fallaway turns, and one 
  course actually went uphill at the end of the flat quite sharply.  There 
  were a couple of "catchy" ruts as well.

  The pace time was a bit soft, judging from scores vs. average performances.

  Clark

    Conditions last night were much better than expected given the rain we
    had in the morning.  There were patches of ice, the transparent
    semi-see through type, here and there.  Overall it was quite skiable
    though firm.  They were blowing snow on Smith but Conifer and 10th were
    both in surprisingly good shape.  The NASTAR course was deceivingly
    straight.  There were a few gates that looked like big turns that
    actually were not that bad at all.  The start area has been reworked a
    bit and was much easier to get out of than last week.  No more glare
    ice and you were able to create a pocket for your poles to launch with.  
    There were relatively few participants last night possibly due to the
    rain we had earlier.  If you are going up tonight or tomorrow to race,
    take a few runs off the top.  Nobody was there and the snow was pretty
    good.  
    
    Brian

    Conditions last night were quite nice - the rain/mist ended about the time
    I hit the hill.  The lift attendants were a bit lax in filling in the 
    loading areas with fresh snow, however - pretty bare and dirty.
 
    The racecourse was virtually straight.  In fact, I have never seen a
    course like it - only very subtle direction changes every few hundred feet.
    I was bummed out because I was ready to turn, turn, turn after attending
    a race clinic over the weekend. 

    Clark

    Conditions last night were pretty good.  Better than I was expecting. 
    Good cover everywhere.  It was a bit scratchy in places but you could
    easily get an edge into it.  NASTAR was not as straight as Monday night
    reportedly was.  Some larger turns at the bottom and it did get slick
    in a few spots.  Times seemed higher this week compared to last week.  
    
    It snowed pretty hard last night but the rain on top won't help in that
    regard.  They should be able to work it after it stops though.  Crowds
    were down last night as well.  Short lines before 8:00 and no lines
    after 8:30.  
    
    Brian

    Conditions over the weekend were pretty good.  They need some natural
    snow though as what is there has been worked to death.  This seems to
    be common to the areas down here that haven't really had any natural
    snow this year. 
    
    Coverage was decent on all the major trails and it got kind of scratchy
    in the late afternoon.  Crowds were up though due to the nice weather. 
    Typical pattern for this time of the year I guess.  
    
    Brian

    Conditions last night were excellent.  They must have been making snow
    over the weekend as the snow quality was pretty good.  Typically
    scratchy in the middle after some traffic but overall pretty good.  The
    bumps on 10th looked a little sickly but what the heck.  
    
    For you NASTAR people, check out the Wachusett website
    @www.wachusett.com.  NASTAR standings are listed there.  
    
    Brian

    Skiing was pretty good last night again.  Snow was soft pretty much
    everywhere.  NASTAR was fairly straight with a few minor turns at the
    bottom.  They were making snow on Hitchcock and Look Ma.  Crowds were
    very light with less than a minute wait for the summit lift after
    racing.  
    
    Brian

    Skiing was great last night.  President's Day skiers were parked in the 
    lower two lots, but there were only a few more night skiers than a regular 
    Monday.

    The NASTAR course was really fast with decent turns, top and bottom.

    Clark

    Last weekend hurt the skiing a great deal.  Last night the upper Mountain 
    had "adequate" snow, but where the groomers had been it was heavy chopped 
    sugar, and where they hadn't been in a while, it was icy.

    The NorEaster area was sad - Only Ralph's Run and Challenger open (the 
    later was closed off for NASTAR).  Lots of real ice in the areas where the 
    groomers didn't have enough to work with.

    There was enough snow on the racecourse, but it was very choppy and rutty.
    The pacetime was much stiffer than any this year.  If you ran late, a 
    40 mph wind blew back up the course - not condusive to good scores at all.  

    Clark

   Conditions last night were about the same as a week ago.  The top was 
   open, but I didn't get up there since we were allowed to run the racecourse
   as many times as we wished.  Racecourse was again choppy and rutty.
   
   I heard that on Saturday they had to run the Harry Miller Classic on 
   Challenger.  Supposedly they built a tall start ramp at the junction of 
   Look MA and Challenger and ran from there with pro-style jumps.

   Please let there be snow (or cold enough to make snow) before The Great Race.
   
   Clark

    I was up there last night though I did not ski.  The word is that there
    is enough snow on top to move around to have the great Race on Smith
    still.  The start may have to be moved closer to the pitch but we
    should be able to set on Smith.  I also heard they will make snow if
    given the opportunity weatherwise.  Keeping my fingers crossed also.  
    
    Congratulations to all the racers that made it to the Great Race!  Good
    luck and go fast!

    In speaking with Wachusett mgmt. last night, the Great Race is still
    scheduled to be held on Smith.  They were making snow up there last
    night and will continue to do so as long as the temps cooperate.  For
    those of you racing, be advised that the race is going to start at 9:00
    and not 10:00 as the flyer indicated.  Course inspection should be
    ready at 8:00.  
    
    Brian

    The Great Race went off yesterday without a hitch.  Congratulations to
    the Golden Oldies for pulling off a first place and Team Extreme for a
    second place finish for Division II!  You would never have guessed it
    but the conditions yesterday were nothing short of miraculous given the
    condition things were in two weeks ago.  See you folks next year.
    
    Brian

 

  There was fine skiing again last night.  The weather was clear, providing a 
  superb view of the comet from the summit, and a large, bright, near-full moon 
  for many star-gazers.  There were enough skiers to have an occupant or two 
  on just about every other chair heading for the summit, but no line whatever.

  Last night was the end of night skiing for the year.  They will be open days 
  through Saturday 3/29, closed for Easter Sunday, and will reopen Fri, Sat 
  and Sun 4/3-4/6, weather permitting.

  Mountain operations are certainly to be congratulated for the wonderful 
  conditions they have provided all year in spite of having vitually no 
  natural snow to work with except in early December.

  Clark