renovations & spring build on supe

[Highway Star]

Renovations are a BS term. They were already called out for it on alpinezone.

That's a bit misleading, HS. K was called out, but Chris Danforth responded, and explained how it's different. My interpretation was that they used some different tooling and were actually aerating the snow (or the ice pack). I'd be interested in seeing a video of the machine in action and/or skiing the results. If it's really different, they should put a new symbol on the trail report indicating "renovated" (as opposed to merely groomed).

No. Try googling "renovation" in relation to snow, grooming, etc. Virtually nothing. It is NOT an alpine industry term. It is actually term used to describe deep tilling and track resetting in an XC skiing context.

http://wiki.fisski.com/index.php/Basic_Snow_Grooming

If you see a snowcat with one of these on them at Killington, then I'll believe them:

http://www.yellowstonetrack.com/snowcat ... ators.html

It sounds suspiciously like "resurfacing" to the unsavvy.....a common marketing ploy to use a euphemism which sounds similar to something else.

100% BS.

[Highway Star]

Are they still making snow on superstar and how much is there? The trail report says yes but the conditions report doesn't mention it.

[HelmetCam]

Are they still making snow on superstar and how much is there? The trail report says yes but the conditions report doesn't mention it.

I doesn't look like the guns are on from the Peak View webcam.

[Highway Star]

Are they still making snow on superstar and how much is there? The trail report says yes but the conditions report doesn't mention it.

I doesn't look like the guns are on from the Peak View webcam.

Trail report updated, no snowmaking.

[tt431]

Renovations are a BS term. They were already called out for it on alpinezone.

That's a bit misleading, HS. K was called out, but Chris Danforth responded, and explained how it's different. My interpretation was that they used some different tooling and were actually aerating the snow (or the ice pack). I'd be interested in seeing a video of the machine in action and/or skiing the results. If it's really different, they should put a new symbol on the trail report indicating "renovated" (as opposed to merely groomed).

No. Try googling "renovation" in relation to snow, grooming, etc. Virtually nothing. It is NOT an alpine industry term. It is actually term used to describe deep tilling and track resetting in an XC skiing context.

http://wiki.fisski.com/index.php/Basic_Snow_Grooming

If you see a snowcat with one of these on them at Killington, then I'll believe them:

http://www.yellowstonetrack.com/snowcat ... ators.html

It sounds suspiciously like "resurfacing" to the unsavvy.....a common marketing ploy to use a euphemism which sounds similar to something else.

100% BS.

Yep, dangah in Azone:

Renovating is a term that our Mtn. Ops. guys use. Here is a photo of the "renovator" that is used in "renovating" trails, going down about 8-10". We then go over it with a regular tiller to smooth it out.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/showthread ... 02&page=19

[skiingsnow]

Are they still making snow on superstar and how much is there? The trail report says yes but the conditions report doesn't mention it.

[tt431]

Holly cow! Superstar is phat.

[rogman]

Impressive. Killington should be able to stay open long after the others have melted to mud. I'm willing to buy a few beers at the UBar if that's what it takes to keep SS open a while longer in the spring.

Anyone else notice the interesting dynamic? Question/discussion about "Renovation" pops up here, and Chris Danforth coincidentally comments via AZ on a thread that was going dormant. I certainly get it; Kzone isn't worth losing your job over.

Interesting tool, btw. Wouldn't want to get in the way of that...

[Highway Star]

Touché....................

[jimmywilson69]

Interesting tool, btw. Wouldn't want to get in the way of that...

Interesting tool no doubt. I actually saw these on the backs of the groomers at okemo last sunday and didn't know what they were. I figured they were something to help with this endless cycle of granular grooming that the entire eastern half of the country is in.

I don't think my local hill has something like that for their groomers. I may email them the picture, It doesn't look like it would be very expenseive

I wonder if that tool is specifically responsible for the death cookies?

[Ski_the_Moguls]

Impressive. Killington should be able to stay open long after the others have melted to mud. I'm willing to buy a few beers at the UBar if that's what it takes to keep SS open a while longer in the spring.

Anyone else notice the interesting dynamic? Question/discussion about "Renovation" pops up here, and Chris Danforth coincidentally comments via AZ on a thread that was going dormant. I certainly get it; Kzone isn't worth losing your job over.

Interesting tool, btw. Wouldn't want to get in the way of that...

I have noticed the AZ/Killington dynamic, but I do not understand it. The posts on AZ seem far more anti-K than the posts here. And K even advertises on AZ!? I have not been around here long enough to know the whole history, so please tell me, what did you guys do to make K so mad?

[Ski_the_Moguls]

. . . I wonder if that tool is specifically responsible for the death cookies?

I doubt it. Death cookies have been around since the 80's - at least that is when I first noticed them. But maybe those things are responsible for all the extra rocks we are seeing this year?

[flatnhard]

Impressive. Killington should be able to stay open long after the others have melted to mud. I'm willing to buy a few beers at the UBar if that's what it takes to keep SS open a while longer in the spring.

Anyone else notice the interesting dynamic? Question/discussion about "Renovation" pops up here, and Chris Danforth coincidentally comments via AZ on a thread that was going dormant. I certainly get it; Kzone isn't worth losing your job over.

Interesting tool, btw. Wouldn't want to get in the way of that...

They do work very well when used at the right snow conditions. It's not bs, they are tools the K has had for many years. How and they are being used is the key. They were tools put together by a few employees back in the late 90's to improve the snow conditions during certain weather events and snow conditions to improve the snow surface. The process it to aerate the snow. The Renovator was made for track setting for cross country tracks. The implement on the back is a farm cultivator that has been around a long time in the ski industry. Many ski areas stop using them when the power tillers came to be. A man from West Mtn ski area came up with the idea back in the 60's. It was originally called the West Mtn. Tiller. Tractors would go out and run over the surface with the tillers then run powder makers over it after. The power tillers do leave the nice corduroy surface, but if it's the only thing used the surface can be over packed. When over packed and it r*ins and then freezes everyone knows what happens. Power Tillers only process the top 3 or 4 inches of the surface then it compacts the sub-surface creating a hard packed surface underneath. Skiing and riding could be better even in these snow less years with just snowmaking snow to groom. It's a technique of snow grooming were many areas in the East or any where could improve their snow surface overall.

[MrsG]

Once again, flatnhard bringing the scoop . . . thanks fnh ....

[steamboat1]

They shut the guns on Supe Mon. night, not Wed. as someone mentioned. I noticed they left the hoses & guns set up on both Supe & OL so I expect they'll be seeing more love when cold weather returns. It was 41 degrees yesterday afternoon in the Bear parking lot according to my car thermometer.