The Turn (or: A Year of Famous Internet Skiing)

By:  Greg
July 26, 2010


Following this storm which was larger and deeper than any in recent memory, we had to turn our expectations down a notch or risk burning out early in the season. In the interest of keeping our ski-brains intrigued, our ski-legs strong, and our ski-blog fresh we headed out to enjoy some of the roadside attractions.
roadside attractions

I then took off for a west coast trip to various destinations for a few weeks, and Allen and Sam packed up and shipped out for India. Besides the Little Superior trip, my luck turned for the worse, and I largely struck out with snow quality out west. Indeed while I was west of the Mississippi, Burlington out performed Little Cottonwood Canyon over a two week span. Upon my return from the west, the first thing I did was head to the west of the east and made some turns.
back from the west; back to the west of the east

The scenery was incredible, but the snowpack was a little lacking. Schuss is better than no schuss though… we made our turns in peace and scenery.
turns in peace and scenery

A week later, sometime near January 25th 2010 a rain storm raged up the coast and turned our meager snow pack into almost nothing. It seemed like all hope was lost. As the low pressure system turned and headed away from the coast though, it ushered in an unsusually moist block of cold air from the northwest. As these relatively humid cold winds hit the ancient spine of the Green Mountains, a little bit of magic occured. Based on adiabatic calculations, air holding 85% of all the humidty it can hold at 2000 feet, turns out to have 120% (or so) of the all the humidity it can hold at 4000 feet. That extra 20% (or so) turns out to be Magic Snow (C) 2010 FamousInternetSkiers.
magic snow

Among the magic properties of magic snow, it turns out to enable a schuss participant to bounce of a rock wall to enact a turn.
turning a bounce into a turn

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Read about the author:   Greg
Enjoy this TR? Read another: TR: An Early Season Apology

Related Stuff:

  1. TR: The Turn
  2. Famous Internet Skiing Slideshow
  3. Why Do the License Plates Turn Green?
  4. Famous Internet Cigar Guy
  5. Famous Internet Whiteout
  6. SPAM #10: Magic Powder Turn

14 Comments

  1. Bill
    wrote on July 26th, 2010 at 6:55 pm  
    1

    I was reading in suspense for the first appearance of Christian, great story

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  2. Sam
    wrote on July 26th, 2010 at 7:21 pm  
    2

    Awesome man! Believe it or not, I was beginning to get burned out, but that was invigorating.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  3. Harvey44
    wrote on July 26th, 2010 at 9:15 pm  
    3

    TEO on Goat is still my favorite pic of the year.

    IMM, that TR was a “turning point.”

    My turns are long over, but I do consider myself an addict.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Sam
      wrote on July 26th, 2010 at 10:28 pm  
      4

      “IMM, that TR was a “turning point””

      How do you mean Harvey? A turning point for us as a group, for your way of thinking, what? I’m just curious; you’ve been one of our best supporters this year, and I’d like to know what you liked about that one TR so much (so that hopefully we can do it again).

  4. Harvey44
    wrote on July 27th, 2010 at 7:36 am  
    5

    The way I remember it, last November was a downer. After a promising October, the weather wasn’t cooperating. If you look through the Nov 09 Archives on Harvey Road, the whole month is about DREAMS. Long term weather stuff, etc. Then that storm came through. Many hills got NCP. But Mansfield magic delivered just enough for FIS skier/photogs to put up some incredible content. I was dying to post some actual skiing pics and to BE DONE with fantasy. I wanted TEO on Goat on Harvey Road in the worst way. I dropped Greg a note he was was cool with it.

    Up and down the east coast there was such a hunger for skiing. Hunger and curiosity generate search. Search delivers new visitors. I’d bet your numbers show that a LOT of new people found FIS.com that weekend. I saw that TR as a coming out party for FIS. Here we are, we will not be denied. Live your dreams. Sorry for the ramble.

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    • Greg
      wrote on July 27th, 2010 at 9:21 am  
      6

      THANK YOU for the ramble. Love it. The numbers say this, I think that, you say another thing still… who knows what the real turning point was if there was one… All I know is that it’s really awesome regardless to see how this stoke fits in with people’s lives and search for the schuss…

    • Lionel Hutz
      wrote on July 27th, 2010 at 10:59 am  
      7

      Harvey,
      November was a downer. For sure. October was cold with a few early season snowfalls. However the climate changed in november as the system reloaded. I remember watching this unfold and thinking, just wait…just wait…just wait. The winter pattern simply wasn’t going to support a mild season. It was going to be a blockbuster. That’s why when the data started to come in two weeks before Thanksgiving that the AO and NAO would tank I knew the “turn” was approaching. I was sure of it. And really, from that point on, winter was here.
      Personally, I feel immense pride that I was slightly helpful in leading the FIS to some of this snow and thanksgiving was my first success. Most certainly a “turn” in the world of the Hutz.

    • powhounddd
      wrote on July 27th, 2010 at 11:11 am  
      8

      My turning point was pre-ordering a certain earn-your-turns DVD, which is the flavour for my entire next season…no pass for me. When it snows, go.

  5. K_C
    wrote on July 27th, 2010 at 11:25 am  
    9

    Wow G, nice writeup! Good to see some of the best photos of the season in one place. I forgot how much fun the season was, thanks for the reminder.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  6. Porter Haney
    wrote on July 28th, 2010 at 2:50 pm  
    10

    64 days until October.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  7. Harvey44
    wrote on July 29th, 2010 at 4:04 pm  
    11

    You gotta love a weatherguy who remembers his position on what the NOA was going to do – from nine months ago. FIS has a start of the (blogging) art weather setup. Lionel – you should meet our weather guy Jason sometime. He’s a really good skier, and a good ski forecaster. He did a killer job with his own call on Patti and Selma. I’ll never forget his the title post from Feb 19: Four Day Storm starting Tuesday … Maybe. Keep up the great work guys.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  8. icelanticskier
    wrote on August 2nd, 2010 at 9:44 am  
    12

    yowza!

    quite an interesting season to say the least, always in a good way. it’s what truly sets skiing the east apart from anywhere else in the world. the east’s high snowy places aren’t a world destination sought after by the masses. it’s ours, all ours, and on the right days,(and there are MANY, SO MANY) inch for inch, foot for foot, it’s as good, or better :) than anywhere else on the planet. why? cuz it’s it is and it’s not supposed to be.

    here’s to another amazing season ahead, they always are in one way or another. east side epic year this year perhaps? cmon w/nw winds, cmon!

    i’m truly honored to have shared some fine moments up high with the FIS crew.

    more this year fer sure.

    roger

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  9. Butch Chamberlain
    wrote on July 27th, 2011 at 9:21 am  
    13

    Hi All, just reviewed this once again. Brings ones mind to what may be in store for the future season to come. I did notice one pic that was taken on Mt. Adams. I have hike Adams more times than I can count. It is not a particularly easy mountain to hike. The rock bouldering can be endless, or so it would seem. I can’t imagine it is much better in the winter. It can be a very evil mountain at times, not allowing one to enjoy the pleasures of sliding down it’s slopes(if that is what one would call them.). I did find some fair lines on Camels Hump last season. Not very long, but somewhat amusing little runs, that required short bursts of aggressiveness. Here’s hoping the new season, so close upon us, will delight us even more. Hope the summer for you guys has been terrific. :)

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  10. Butch Chamberlain
    wrote on July 23rd, 2012 at 9:05 am  
    14

    Again and again, you guys do it, WOW! IT has been awhile since I had looked into this site. I have been busy for trip up to the Alligash, Me. But seeing all those pics of the last season, renewed my interests to get out this coming season a maybe do a little more. I enjoyed every picture in the review. ( You guys got pretty knarly, with some of the areas you picked :) ).
    Ofcourse that is the whole idea. To push the edge. If you are not on the edge then, you are taking up too much space! Keep up this great stuff. You have proven that Vermont, too, has a lot more to offer than what meets the eye. We may not have ol’ George, but we do have some pretty interesting stuff to rumble on. Try it, these guys did. Have a great summer all!

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