I am posting this thread from a ski lift in Arizona AMA

I'm bored on the ride up. Ask me some questions and find out what it's like to ski in one of the most unskiable places in the world. Please.
 
13884559:5yearsold said:
How long is the season in Arizona?

November to April, but this is the first week the top has been open all season. The first and last month and a half are just one trail that's straight man made snow. We have a 20" season total so far.
 
13884641:dh1028 said:
What elevation do you ski at. Is it usually pretty warm and sunny?. Do you get pow days?

Base 9,500 peak 11,500. Low 20s at the coldest, and it's not uncommon for it to hit 45. Yeah we don't get much snow, but when we do its usually like 1 or 2 foot storms. Definitely not blower, but it isn't wet and shitty either.
 
13884797:Z-Juice said:
You're at Snowbowl I assume? I've want to ski there, more so after watching that TC episode.

Yep! Its actually a fairly fun mountain to fuck around at. The park build is pretty meh right now, but by February they should have a pretty sweet build.
 
Against medical advice (AMA), sometimes known as discharge against medical advice (DAMA), is a term used in health care institutions when a patient leaves a hospital against the advice of their doctor.
 
13884891:BaconSteezburger said:
Yep! Its actually a fairly fun mountain to fuck around at. The park build is pretty meh right now, but by February they should have a pretty sweet build.

Pics?
 
13885485:BaconSteezburger said:
Didn't take any... Ill be up there again sometime next week I'll get some then.

I’d be super curious to see what the park looks like.
 
I've skied both Sunrise and Snowbowl.

I would hardly call it unskiable... but I'd also say it's about a 1/5 chance of a worthwhile season...

It's basically like the skiing outside of LA, but they get colder storms... (yes. the word 'colder' was just used in relation to Arizona)

When snowbowl is on, it's sick. But it's also super likely to destroy your bases. But who cares about those.

It's also like 2.5 hours out of phoenix? and right in and around flagstaff. which is a sweet town I must say. Just don't go to the cracker barrel. You'll get food poisoning.

xlarge.jpg
 
13885515:nxtyrsfulltilts said:
Can you ski sand over the summer there?

In the summer it's pretty hard to tell you aren't in Colorado or Utah or something. Flagstaff has an awesome mountain bike trail system, and when you are done you can drive 2 hours south to Phoenix to sit in the pool and survive the 108 degree day. Flagstaff is usually 20-25 degrees colder, it's got to be one of the fastest climate/scenery changes you can experience on a two hour drive.
 
13885533:DingoSean said:
I've skied both Sunrise and Snowbowl.

I would hardly call it unskiable... but I'd also say it's about a 1/5 chance of a worthwhile season...

It's basically like the skiing outside of LA, but they get colder storms... (yes. the word 'colder' was just used in relation to Arizona)

When snowbowl is on, it's sick. But it's also super likely to destroy your bases. But who cares about those.

It's also like 2.5 hours out of phoenix? and right in and around flagstaff. which is a sweet town I must say. Just don't go to the cracker barrel. You'll get food poisoning.

xlarge.jpg

This season its been practically unskiable. But yeah when the storms come its definitely. You just end up with 2 feet of pow on absolutely no base, so the woods are a minefield, but still worth it for the soft turns.
 
How are the parks? Is it overall fun or nah? I’ve been to Phoenix a few times and might make a trip out during winter in a few years and will stop at flagstaff for a few days.
 
13885637:voy10 said:
Like can you give a 1-10 rating on the parks on each month of the season?

Parks are overall pretty alright. As far as a month by month rating its literally a crapshoot. Some months there will be a couple storms and they will have enough snow to build, others it'll be 45* for 3 weeks straight.
 
13885719:GREEN_BASTARD said:
How long of a drive is it to like UT or CO? Worth it to go to Cali?

I could make the Rockies, Tahoe, Taos, or Mammoth in a day. Haven't made the drive yet because I was broke last year and the snow isn't worth it this year.
 
Update: 15" in the last two days, which is a big storm for AZ. Yesterday I got faceshots, and was able to ski trees for the first time this season. Cat lips, logrides, etc. started being rideable too. February is giving us hope.
 
Are you still on the lift? How have you survived so long? Do you see armadillos like people in Canada see moose?
 
While on the subject of Arizona skiing -

I have to go (back) out to a mine in SW New Mexico for work, the nearest mountain is called Sunrise Park Resort in AZ (about three hours away). Do you know anything about the place? I'd probably drive and stay out there for the weekend.
 
13892428:Kretzschmar said:
Are you still on the lift? How have you survived so long? Do you see armadillos like people in Canada see moose?

yes, I have been on the lift for the last 19 days. Maybe someday I will finally be able to get off the lift and actually start skiing. No armadillos, but I have been snaked in the park by an actual rattlesnake which is pretty gnarly.....

okay the last part was a lie.
 
13892436:TrickyDick470 said:
While on the subject of Arizona skiing -

I have to go (back) out to a mine in SW New Mexico for work, the nearest mountain is called Sunrise Park Resort in AZ (about three hours away). Do you know anything about the place? I'd probably drive and stay out there for the weekend.

Don't know anything about Sunrise other than they're apparently having a worse season than Flag is, and that's saying something. Taos is fucked too. The only real answers for the southwest are Mammoth, some parts of CO and SLC area, but none of those places are doing great either. Rough season for everyone in NA except Jackson apparently.
 
Back
Top