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October, 2024

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How to clear a psychological block for tree skiing

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mountaindewgirl
Posts: 2285 - Karma: 20,798
Last weekend I hit a sidecountry lap down a beautiful tree chute in Idaho and missed the ski out. Was steep and deep and sick asf for a minute... Until I got caught alone in a flat river bed with impossibly steep ravine walls for several hours and popped out onto the interstate a few miles away and hitchhiked back.

Ugh, the hike out was kinda brutal. I went in the river and some tree wells a few times, and I'm really grateful I was on a snowskate because I could use it like a grappling hook to climb out.

Cried tears of joy for about 2 minutes when I got picked up off the highway and then was pretty chill about it, trying to shake it off.

Didn't think about it at all during the work week and then went skiing today.

First lap was a tree run, but I started to panic about 2 turns in and skied out onto the piste. Then it happened a couple more times.

Just really felt like I needed to get off the slope, and now I'm sitting here in the lodge thinking:
HOW DO I CLEAR THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOCK OF TREE SKIING SO I CAN SKI TREES THE REST OF THE WEEKEND?

Thanks.
Mar 11 2023 12:08AM
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Bigham927
Posts: 18 - Karma: 201
Go with a homie to hype u up
Mar 11 2023 2:03AM
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mikem
Posts: 898 - Karma: 8,311
Was this in the backcountry? Or resort?
Mar 11 2023 10:22AM
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cool270out
Posts: 600 - Karma: 5,005
You used a snow skate out of bounds?
Mar 11 2023 12:45PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10815 - Karma: 57,158
Ski more trees. Seriously, that's what cleared my block. Once I felt more comfortable and got used to them it became natural. Also, read the terrain more. Try and avoid areas that have developed wells, read what the snow is telling you.

**This post was edited on Mar 11th 2023 at 1:39:31pm
Mar 11 2023 1:38PM
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mountaindewgirl
Posts: 2285 - Karma: 20,798
Bigham927Go with a homie to hype u up


Yeah hype me up @OregonDead
Mar 11 2023 7:41PM
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mountaindewgirl
Posts: 2285 - Karma: 20,798
mikemWas this in the backcountry? Or resort?


Dropped out of the sidecountry gate at Lookout Pass and missed the catch line
Mar 11 2023 7:41PM
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mountaindewgirl
Posts: 2285 - Karma: 20,798
cool270outYou used a snow skate out of bounds?


Yeah it's like a traversible pow surf
Mar 11 2023 7:42PM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13083 - Karma: 18,720
Travel with people who know the terrain. Rely on their navigation skills. Also, buy touring gear to haul yourself out of trouble with ease.
Mar 11 2023 7:49PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6890 - Karma: 24,544
I’ll ski into a ditch with you OP. We don’t have ON3Ps so it will be all good
Mar 12 2023 12:07AM
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,185
figure it out retard
Mar 12 2023 12:27AM
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mikem
Posts: 898 - Karma: 8,311
signtimeDropped out of the sidecountry gate at Lookout Pass and missed the catch line


Ya go with someone who knows the zone
Mar 12 2023 1:20PM
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cool270out
Posts: 600 - Karma: 5,005
signtimeYeah it's like a traversible pow surf

Idk if that’s a prudent decision for the future
Mar 12 2023 2:59PM
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icy_park_jump
Posts: 249 - Karma: 1,893
Sorry idk if this sounds condescending but isn’t it a really bad idea to go alone in the trees like that? I know I definitely wouldn’t do that alone
Mar 12 2023 8:51PM
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SteezyYeeter
Posts: 3617 - Karma: -12,152
dang thats scary
Mar 12 2023 9:19PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7821 - Karma: 21,843
Just ski trees that you know for sure have a good exit for a while.
Mar 13 2023 11:22AM
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