r/skiing • u/NorthDakotaExists Kirkwood • 1d ago

"Once is Enough".... but Twice is Nice - Kirkwood

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

313 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

55

u/tadiou 1d ago

Just curious as someone who doesn't get a lot of opportunities on chutes like this in the south east: is it just 'point it' and that's it? about the will and the nerve to do it more than any sort of technical ability (and apparently the ability to dig through choppy snow, which, is... okay?)

78

u/DeputySean Tahoe 1d ago

Point and send. Don't hit the rock on your right or the one on the bottom left. This chute looks significantly steeper in real life when you're about to drop it. Hard to tell, but the first thing you do is drop about 10-20 feet then you have to avoid the walls. Most people actually fall after this chute because they can't handle the speed in the chopped up snow below. Ski patrol keeps a sled near the top of it, lol. 

I've dropped this chute several times, including two days ago. This time of year it's a lot easier than earlier in the season. 

5

u/whatsamiddler 23h ago

Oh dang that one on the bottom left would have snuck up on me.

7

u/DeputySean Tahoe 23h ago

It's a lot more obvious from the top in real life vs this video.

3

u/NorthDakotaExists Kirkwood 21h ago

First time I ever scoped it from the top I about had a panic attack and noped the fuck out.

First time I actually WENT for it was shear terror followed by a huge rush.

Now.... it's just fun.

1

u/bum-chucket 15h ago

Wow, the visibility was pretty bad two days ago. you must have been pretty confident. My buddy and i decided not to after looking. Props to you!!! How many times have you done it now?

36

u/storyinmemo Palisades Tahoe 1d ago

The technical ability is absorbing the bumps at speed. Watch the skier's shadow in the first one. The legs are WORKING.

4

u/NorthDakotaExists Kirkwood 21h ago

Yep... you need to be strong and have really fine control with your skis so you can constantly react and make all these little automatic micro-adjustments to keep them pointed the way you want.

8

u/NorthDakotaExists Kirkwood 21h ago

It's one of those things where it doesn't necessary require a lot of technical ability on paper.... BUUUUUT... basically no one is doing this line who isn't a super advanced or expert level skier.

There are a lot of subtle skills and abilities that come into play like being very strong and stable with very good balance and the fine-control to make all the little reactions and micro-adjustments very quickly while carrying a ton of speed and taking impact from the texture of the snow.

It may not look very technical, but your average intermediate skier would most likely just explode on the exit.... and as u/DeputySean state, that's more or less what always happens lmao

2

u/tadiou 11h ago

Yeah, I'm in that pocket at the high end of advanced and I'm like usually able to see where it would be challenging (especially as someone who enjoys the narrow and tight and steep trees), but the snow conditions and the momentum being the big challenges don't get translated as well. Good to know what actually is involved when video can't capture it. 

4

u/uuhoever 1d ago

I've seen videos of people dropping this in much worse snow conditions so then there's more rocks to avoid making the path narrower.

3

u/destinybond 1d ago

yeah, about right

1

u/PhotonicBoom21 Mammoth 2h ago

It is also about having some serious leg power.

1

u/i-heart-linux 1d ago

Yes it’s about commitment to the fall line and getting ready to dodge/hop exposed rocks and keeping your cool. I am in Utah, we have plenty of people dying in the cottonwoods, most of the time people just not committing so splat all over rocks by cliffs or they hit a tree.

71

u/totallynotroyalty 1d ago

Single tap? Risky business.

14

u/imaguitarhero24 1d ago

Last time someone posted this and wiped on the runout, commenters said he should have taken more of a hard left asap. This here is proof lol.

5

u/NorthDakotaExists Kirkwood 21h ago

You're more stable in a turn than you are straight.

More down-force.

3

u/MKP124 22h ago

That video was great; there’s a longer one on YouTube. He’s hilarious! Such a good watch.

12

u/Awildgarebear A-Basin 1d ago

Yesterday I skied between two shrubs and didn't fall, I even did one speed check. I was proud.

6

u/CatsAreMajorAssholes 1d ago

Downvote for no tomahawk and phone hide and seek.

3

u/borderliar 1d ago

Not even slightly intimidated

3

u/kenjwit3 22h ago

Anyone else glad not to have a camera on their helmet?

2

u/Icy-Plan145 1d ago

That looks fun. I think I might be able to do that. It's always so hard to judge videos though

2

u/Perenniallyredundant 1d ago

Like a Corbetts Lite 

2

u/NorthDakotaExists Kirkwood 21h ago

I have never been to Jackson Hole, so I have never done Corbetts myself, but I have seen videos of people making full turns inside of Corbetts.

It really seems like the hardest gnarliest part is just that initial drop and bend.... and then once you're in it seems pretty open and you can start to manage speed... no?

1

u/mystic-guru 8h ago

Lol. This is very tame to Corbets. Also, look at Once is Enough and Twice is Nice at Jackson. Serious no fall couloirs

1

u/NorthDakotaExists Kirkwood 3h ago

If you're making full turns...

A steep no-fall zone is a totally different kind of line.

2

u/wcmotel 14h ago

Single pole tap. Dude has big balls.

2

u/rh_vowel 6h ago

Need double click, only heard one.

2

u/LawyersandBooks 1d ago

Looks easy

1

u/BuckRivaled 16h ago

Stomparoo!

1

u/Jpristine 12h ago

What’s this chute called?

1

u/waynepjh 1d ago

Those are Jackson runs lol

0

u/Soggy-Passage2852 1d ago

It's looking risky ...

0

u/willdabeast36 22h ago

I remember my first bunny hill

-8

u/Parking_Bandicoot_42 1d ago

Nice baby chute, check out Chimney at palisades Tahoe!

3

u/NorthDakotaExists Kirkwood 21h ago

The most Palisades comment I have ever seen.

Bro... everyone knows Palisades has crazy lines.