How do you cope with winter?
- Thread starter kail
- Start date
Really? Why? Dude sounded like he needed more options, so I gave him what came to mind...
Kail - some people would kill to have what you have on your doorstep! I spent 3 winters in West Yellowstone, learned to telemark near the divide there (Lion's Head), and now live in Ohio. Talk about depressing! But you know what? I'm not depressed. Because I've learned to value other things in life above biking and skiing. If downhill is the 1st priority in your life - which it was for me, then you'll only ever be happy when you're downhilling, which isn't a great way to live life. It almost becomes an unhealthy addiction. Unhealthy for the soul that is. Yeah, it's short term happiness, but not long-term joy. And physically speaking, I think you can get addicted to adrenaline / dopamine. It's not easy to beat that addiction, although living in Ohio is certainly a start, lol.
I think you're right about a lot of things. I have a lot to be happy for, and I certainly appreciate where I live. I was born here and have traveled all over the world, so I know what's out there. I don't fly-fish and I don't listen to bluegrass (extreme metal is where it's at \m/
That said, I'll never live anywhere else. But the thing that irks me is when people move here and then are surprised that not everybody likes to do the "typical" Montana activities. Some people even criticize me for not being a ski junkie. I guess I've just done it my whole life and am burnt out on it -- especially considering the huge costs and huge crowds that have become the norm.I certainly love my job, love my family, and love the opportunities I have here. I just run into the same thing every winter -- I start to get out of shape and have trouble finding anything remotely as fun as mountain biking. Oh, and as far as mountain biking goes -- I'm not just into DH. In fact, I hardly do any lift-accessed riding unless I go on a road trip to Whistler. I do all my trail riding and "XC" on a light DH bike. If I HAD to have lift-access DH at all times to be happy, I really WOULD be going crazy.
I don't envy your time in West Yellowstone. As cold/snowy as Bozeman is -- West is A LOT worse. You are probably no stranger to -50* F, lol.
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Well I'm glad to hear that not everyone shoots at imaginary black helicopters and spends all their time building survival shelters
Metal fan + looking for something to do in the winter + don't like cold = Learn to play guitar.....(extreme metal is where it's at \m/
Pick one Opeth song and try to learn it. That'll keep ya busy until Spring.
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More of my story,
I used to be all about skiing in the winter. I was on the race-team, we were up training every weekend in Tahoe, we lived breathed and ate "skiing" all the time. We had the dumbass carbon fiber shaped poles. The stupid spider suits, etc... In the spring when the season was over, we'd use our season passes and ski our brains out in the slush.
I got past that. I didn't ski for years and when I started doing it again, I didn't worry about "how many times" I got in the season, or whether I hit the "first snow" so I could screw up my skis. I do this stuff now on my own terms and I don't give a **** about most of the BS. I picked up a new snowboard for hella cheap (who needs a brand new snowboard anyway? and who cares about one or two scratches?) and I don't give a **** if I ride it over a rock, hell, I already have. Who cares, it's meant to be ridden. If I totally screw it up, I'm not going to go buy some stupid $600 new snowboard, it's just going to get trashed fast and I'm not going to be up on the hill every single day. I probably went 10-12 times last season, ramped up quite a bit from the years past due to living closer to a resort and having a little hill in town, I went less in the years before, but still got out for some CA and CO trips. I'm not going there worrying about riding from 9 till close at 430, trying to "maximize" my value. I'll go and do 3-4 hours and get my "fill" and not worry about anything. That's what it's about and I'm so far past the BS of the "scene" that I used to be into. I'm ultra-competitive when I race or compete in anything, but just watch the South Park episode on ski racing (Aspen), it's really like that. I'll rent ski-gear from time to time and I'll probably pick up some on the cheap from craigslist and enjoy a few ski days (in addition to hiking out in back of my apartment in the mountains). Maybe this makes me retro or hipster or whatever. I'll still rent the fat powder skis, or buy some "all-mountain" ones possibly as described above, but I just only care to do it on my own terms when I want these days. If conditions are good and I feel like it, I'll go.
So now I'll just think about what I want to do and go out and do it. Sometimes it's bike, sometimes it's ski, sometimes it's run, sometimes it's snowshoe, sometimes it's climb, etc. Try to rotate around, but I make having fun on my own terms the number one thing.
I used to be all about skiing in the winter. I was on the race-team, we were up training every weekend in Tahoe, we lived breathed and ate "skiing" all the time. We had the dumbass carbon fiber shaped poles. The stupid spider suits, etc... In the spring when the season was over, we'd use our season passes and ski our brains out in the slush.
I got past that. I didn't ski for years and when I started doing it again, I didn't worry about "how many times" I got in the season, or whether I hit the "first snow" so I could screw up my skis. I do this stuff now on my own terms and I don't give a **** about most of the BS. I picked up a new snowboard for hella cheap (who needs a brand new snowboard anyway? and who cares about one or two scratches?) and I don't give a **** if I ride it over a rock, hell, I already have. Who cares, it's meant to be ridden. If I totally screw it up, I'm not going to go buy some stupid $600 new snowboard, it's just going to get trashed fast and I'm not going to be up on the hill every single day. I probably went 10-12 times last season, ramped up quite a bit from the years past due to living closer to a resort and having a little hill in town, I went less in the years before, but still got out for some CA and CO trips. I'm not going there worrying about riding from 9 till close at 430, trying to "maximize" my value. I'll go and do 3-4 hours and get my "fill" and not worry about anything. That's what it's about and I'm so far past the BS of the "scene" that I used to be into. I'm ultra-competitive when I race or compete in anything, but just watch the South Park episode on ski racing (Aspen), it's really like that. I'll rent ski-gear from time to time and I'll probably pick up some on the cheap from craigslist and enjoy a few ski days (in addition to hiking out in back of my apartment in the mountains). Maybe this makes me retro or hipster or whatever. I'll still rent the fat powder skis, or buy some "all-mountain" ones possibly as described above, but I just only care to do it on my own terms when I want these days. If conditions are good and I feel like it, I'll go.
So now I'll just think about what I want to do and go out and do it. Sometimes it's bike, sometimes it's ski, sometimes it's run, sometimes it's snowshoe, sometimes it's climb, etc. Try to rotate around, but I make having fun on my own terms the number one thing.
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Lol, I already do. That's largely what keeps me sane in the winter -- but it still doesn't replace physical activity. As much as I'm a fan of Opeth, I don't find myself trying to play their stuff as much. I play more "riffy" stuff, if you will. I play a lot of songs in the vein of At the Gates, In Flames, and a lot of Norwegian style black metal. Mostly I write my own material.
@JM -- Amen brotha. It was kind of the same atmosphere when I used to race XC (mountain biking). Totally not into that mentality. Around here it's just stupid how "into" skiing/boarding people get. It's like the only thing that exists to them, and damn you if you don't follow the same line of thinking.
i'm in the process of building up a cx bike for this winter.
other things i do:
read
video games
movies
house projects. going to build a small bouldering wall in the basement of the new house this winter
i cook a lot too.
other things i do:
read
video games
movies
house projects. going to build a small bouldering wall in the basement of the new house this winter
i cook a lot too.
How about purchasing a fat bike?
every one whom i have met who has or has had 'serious depression issues', the meds just made them worse.. myself included.so your advice would be to ignore a potentially serious medical condition?
i am one of those people who believes in actually doing something to better your depression, ADHD, etc. not just taking the easy way out and adding another pill to your breakfast routine.
sorry to hear mr spuzz has to take a pill so he doesnt leave his family, but that doesnt sound wrong/raise any red flags to you at all?
I agree meds aren't for everyone, but in some cases they're the only thing that will work. Just because it didn't work for you doesn't mean you get to go around the internet giving ****ty medical advice
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i built this thing for like 250$..How about purchasing a fat bike?
works pretty good in the sand if u have the leg strength..would think it would work equally as well in the snow..the near 90deg HA makes it pretty much unrideable on anything downhill though..
as for me I enjoy the 70deg weather during the winter..
yes doctor.
Hence my suggestion to talk with a professional. I respect your opinion on this one and I agree that meds aren't for everyone. For me they seem to work pretty well. Just thought I'd throw it out there as a suggestion since I didn't see anyone else mentioning it.
Yup. I don't get it. A top of the line skiing/boarding gear is a low end dj bike, not to mention dh bike. And that's when you go crazy. Right now I own a top model of a butique board, top model shoes and 2nd top model bindings and the total cost of that is maybe 1200$. 1500$ if I didn't hunt for deals.
PS. If you are bored of resort riding try freeride. It changed everything for me after working a few years as a snowboard instructor
Though when I'm bored with snowboarding I just visit ridemonkey and annoy people across the globe.
Sounds like he just doesn't like winter.....not much you can really do when you live in the mountains. I am surprised that you seem to be a good/great skier but are bored with it. I may be biased but a 2ft powder day beats any day on the bike....because it is truly a special day.
Isn't that how everyone here copes with not being on the bike at that instant? Or is it just me?
This thread is depressing me. I hope I never get as washed up as some of the people here. I'm glad I won't have to sit around this winter trying to rationalize poor decisions I made that lead to a life where I spend 4+ months of the year thinking about blowing my brains out. Instead, I'll be riding moto and DH all winter (and an occasional ski weekend if I get bored of that).
BRB, gonna go for a road ride up a mountain with an ocean view in 65 degree sunny weather.
BRB, gonna go for a road ride up a mountain with an ocean view in 65 degree sunny weather.
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Here is how I cope with winter:
See you at the top!!
Nobody forced you to read it, so quit complaining. Out of all the poor decisions I've made in my life, staying in my HOME state was not one of them. I also never said anything about blowing any brains out either. I simply don't get a hard-on when the ski-resorts open, as so many seem to do where I live. Is it wrong to have different preferences in life? Again, I'll take this opportunity to thank those of you in this thread that gave me some constructive ideas on activities to pursue.
Anyway, enjoy your 65 degree sunny weather, along with the other millions of people you have to share it with.
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I may have been spoiled, but I've skied 2 ft. powder days for practically my whole life. It's not that uncommon here. And yes, to set things straight, I DO enjoy that kind of experience. I'd have to be crazy to say I "don't like" skiing 2+ feet of power. Still, I prefer to rip a nice trail on my bike to any day of skiing.
Maybe what I didn't convey in all my posts is that it isn't really the activity of skiing that fails me -- it's the fact that I can pretty much only do it on the weekends. I really don't operate that way. With biking -- I can do it every day, even if it's only for an hour. That provides a nice physical release and a break from stress (my job, which I love, is also very mentally demanding). In the winter, it's very difficult to get that until the weekend. Does that make any sense?
Plenty of people around here just ski all winter. Every damn day. I don't know how they do it. Because I've got bills to pay...
Blame jesus for tilting the earth in winter so that days are shorter.
I know I do.
I know I do.
I blame America, the place where he was born.
Is a climbing hall in your area?
If you are searching the mental release, climbing could be the stuff you want to do, although indoor.
Just do something and look for something interesting on the web instead of asking what RM likes. Since you don't want to move stalking Emma Watson is not an option and I'm pretty sure you already know of bacon.
Try a new music instrument. Buy reason, ableton and some new eletrinic instruments (mixers are so 90's), start writing/drawing comics, go to a crossfit gym, start doing comedy, watch movies, get into photography, get into pornography, art, start a blog, start a business. I don't get how people can have no idea what to do and be bored. For the most part I try to do to many things at once and end up being ****ty at all of them than being bored with nothing to do. Seriously dude it's the XXI century. Just look around, if I can find so much interesting stuff in the mexico of europe I'm pretty sure you can too.
Try a new music instrument. Buy reason, ableton and some new eletrinic instruments (mixers are so 90's), start writing/drawing comics, go to a crossfit gym, start doing comedy, watch movies, get into photography, get into pornography, art, start a blog, start a business. I don't get how people can have no idea what to do and be bored. For the most part I try to do to many things at once and end up being ****ty at all of them than being bored with nothing to do. Seriously dude it's the XXI century. Just look around, if I can find so much interesting stuff in the mexico of europe I'm pretty sure you can too.
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^^Best post in a while^^
you're not a world cup pro, so you're already washed up.
what about my (and others) suggestion of grabbing some high powered lights and some skins? It's pretty much the same as mountainbiking except the climbing is slower and the downs faster.... And you can do it for as long or as little as you like.
Enderpo!
You had to have been something to be washed up. So I'll take that as a compliment!
Oh, best winter time activity, read books.
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yea, dirty. go take a bath ya hippy
whiskey
bike mags
bike vids
skiing
i might switch up frame color
take everything apart and put it back together
fork servicing
and there might be some mild winter days around here to hit up a couple trails
THATS HOW IM GUNU COPE WITH WINTER
bike mags
bike vids
skiing
i might switch up frame color
take everything apart and put it back together
fork servicing
and there might be some mild winter days around here to hit up a couple trails
THATS HOW IM GUNU COPE WITH WINTER
I climb a lot. If you have an indoor facility close by get a membership and climb. A LOT. Ive been climbing for 7 years and been riding for 2.5. Climb 3-5 times a week, get a friend or spouse to join ya. Trust me its as addicting as riding. Just cheaper
i found out there's one a little under 10 minutes from my new house. joining soon. membership is pretty reasonable $50 / month, my wife might join with me which is only $25/mo more.I climb a lot. If you have an indoor facility close by get a membership and climb. A LOT. Ive been climbing for 7 years and been riding for 2.5. Climb 3-5 times a week, get a friend or spouse to join ya. Trust me its as addicting as riding. Just cheaper
^ thats pretty cheap. Esp the second member half priced. When you get better and stronger buying climbing shoes is kinda like trying different tires. Haha. Having 5 pairs isnt uncommon
yea it's a pretty good deal.^ thats pretty cheap. Esp the second member half priced. When you get better and stronger buying climbing shoes is kinda like trying different tires. Haha. Having 5 pairs isnt uncommon
my wife hasn't climbed before, but they have a killer intro package - for $45 you get an intro class (includes gear rental) which covers safety basics, rope tying, top roping basics and bouldering basics, plus a two week pass to come back
nrjp!