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Whats better for faster progression, rope tow small park (hill), or slow lift big park (mountain)?

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JoshyJ
Posts: 29 - Karma: 221
I rode Little Switzerland for 2 years in Slinger, WI and progressed really fast and learned a lot of new tricks. Last year i moved to Keystone and rode the park they have that has much more features and larger jumps. The amount of laps I was getting in was greatly decreased and despite having an amazing park at my disposal i wasn't progressing like I would like.

Wondering what the general opinion was
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Sep 4 2015 8:19PM
34 4
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snowfinder
Posts: 2885 - Karma: 34,217
A good work ethic ,the skills to be able to do the tricks and the balls to try them.
Sep 4 2015 8:48PM
3 1
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boodizzle
Posts: 120 - Karma: 148
Take advice from others and a good work ethic, but matters what kind of skier you want to become.
Sep 4 2015 8:55PM
0 0
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qyleberry
Posts: 788 - Karma: 2,211
Small park will help rail game and big park will help jumps. Just my opinion though; not necessarily true.
Sep 4 2015 9:45PM
7 0
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TheButterHashira
Posts: 9691 - Karma: 1,702
You go to park city or breck and there are 10 year olds doing doubles. Big parks with lots of features facilitate faster learning.

But if someone really wants to progress and learn stuff they're going to do it anywhere. Out west the features are all bigger, but it's like they're usually set up nicer and smoother than hills without as many terrain park resources. You'll adjust to the size of the features and probably be learning new tricks before long.
Sep 4 2015 10:36PM
1 0
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TheButterHashira
Posts: 9691 - Karma: 1,702
You should hike rails. Hiking and hitting one rail helps to keep you focused when you really want to learn a new trick.
Sep 4 2015 10:38PM
0 0
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Ian_Fitz
Posts: 826 - Karma: 6,509
God I love rope toes! They let me ski park without waiting in the long gaper lines.
Sep 4 2015 10:46PM
9 0
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fries
Posts: 2978 - Karma: 7,520
Its the skier that matters. i dont even have a local resort but i still manage to learn tricks on my summer setup
Sep 4 2015 10:51PM
1 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 51745 - Karma: 163,560
You can learn stuff anywhere. The smaller parks generally do not have the jump size or variety. As far as rails it's a toss up. In a big park you're getting massive rail variety and hitting several in a line. For example, you might hit 5 down rails in one run. You might not get in as many laps, but if you learn a trick and then try it on every rail, in about 3 runs you're doing it in your sleep. You're also able to stop and hike features.

A rope tow park has the ability to get up to an obstacle fast like hiking without tiring yourself out. Lots of laps, but less flow and variety. Easy to find people because the park is tiny.

Honestly crowd size is what I would care more about. I've ridden some of the biggest and smallest parks out there. I enjoy both.

Progression really depends on you, and what motivates you.
Sep 5 2015 2:32AM
6 0
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,165
Small rope parks get very rutted and much icier than bigger parks with chair access. It makes falling on small rail tricks more painful which really destroys your confidence. On the better end, you get a full day's worth of mountain park skiing in 90 minutes.
Sep 5 2015 11:29PM
1 0
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,023
theabortionatorYou can learn stuff anywhere. The smaller parks generally do not have the jump size or variety. As far as rails it's a toss up. In a big park you're getting massive rail variety and hitting several in a line. For example, you might hit 5 down rails in one run. You might not get in as many laps, but if you learn a trick and then try it on every rail, in about 3 runs you're doing it in your sleep. You're also able to stop and hike features.

A rope tow park has the ability to get up to an obstacle fast like hiking without tiring yourself out. Lots of laps, but less flow and variety. Easy to find people because the park is tiny.

Honestly crowd size is what I would care more about. I've ridden some of the biggest and smallest parks out there. I enjoy both.

Progression really depends on you, and what motivates you.


Honestly there is actually a decent amount of flow to most parks, especially in MN/WI. I have been out west multiple times and enjoy the Midwest parks more. You know everyone there and the vibes are awesome. Seasoning a rail is so sick and so much hype. I couldn't agree more about jumps, there is no variety and they are usually built like crap
Sep 6 2015 12:34AM
1 0
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,165
Swandog7Seasoning a rail


Italian seasoning is good on a rail, although I kind of dig cajun seasoning a little more. Either way it's a rail and it will probably taste good even without seasoning, just be sure you have a little salt on it.
Sep 6 2015 12:55AM
4 0
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,023
john18061806Italian seasoning is good on a rail, although I kind of dig cajun seasoning a little more. Either way it's a rail and it will probably taste good even without seasoning, just be sure you have a little salt on it.[/QUOTE

I like when its salted more. Makes it very smooth and a gives it a nice kick to it, not to sweet, not to sour.
Sep 6 2015 12:57AM
0 3
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_69
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 4,979
braidiganI rode Little Switzerland for 2 years in Slinger, WI and progressed really fast and learned a lot of new tricks. Last year i moved to Keystone and rode the park they have that has much more features and larger jumps. The amount of laps I was getting in was greatly decreased and despite having an amazing park at my disposal i wasn't progressing like I would like.

Wondering what the general opinion was


Rope tow, no competition. There's just no way anything compares. You can get in 200 laps a day, or you can just lap various rails for 10 minutes and nail new tricks on each of them.
Sep 7 2015 11:51AM
0 0
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Jon_Taffer
Posts: 1374 - Karma: 5,383
ButtahMastahYou should hike rails. Hiking and hitting one rail helps to keep you focused when you really want to learn a new trick.


For Me its the opposite. I much prefer hot lapping for learning tricks. I far overthink things when hiking. When you can ski as fast as possible, no music, just hitting natural features and completely clearing your mind, then the park tricks will come easier. You may not be 100% consistent at retarded rail tricks/swaps using this method, but in the long run who cares how many switch ups you can do. Just ski fast, have fun, try tricks you're comfortable with and in no time you'll be the best skier on the mountain
Sep 7 2015 1:54PM
0 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 51745 - Karma: 163,560
For it it depends on the day and the park layout. Sometimes I'll just go fast and think of random tricks to try on the way down. If I fall I'll just speed to the next rail. Sometimes you get really close and just rip out of your bindings and run back up for another go.
Sep 7 2015 2:07PM
0 0
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