How to Ski "Double Fall Line" Ski Trails?

Jon44 · Joined: 21 Jan 2009 Posts: 71

Just wondering if there's any trick to this--I end up feeling like I waste a lot of vertical by traversing too much.

(And what I mean by "double fall line" is there's a definite "side" slope to the trail, so that straight down is always pointing at the trees.)

Thanks,

Jon

B · Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 2181 Location: P-town, CA

Do you by chance frequent Pomerelle?

snojones · Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 197

Sounds like you either need to ski the trees or find a better ski area.

Rick Cronk · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 310 Location: Gunks

Personally, I don't find double fall lines a problem at ski areas, but on the narrow foot trails, I've found these off camber trails to always ski awkwardly. Lots of diagonal side slipping. Then with this past snowfall I discovered that with new rockered skis (Vectors), just surf the bugger. It felt so much like bottom turns and smacking the lip. What a blast.
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Paul Lutes · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 3395

Assuming you have minimally adequate width for comfortable turning, and it's not a constant diet, sounds like lemonade a la Senior Cronk.

scotth · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 227

I like a big L o n g parallel turn in the belly followed by a tele "check " on the wall; no lead change required, feels good and surfy, YRMV.

Jon44 · Joined: 21 Jan 2009 Posts: 71

!ski · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 6116 Location: Boulder CO

Pretend it is a very big half-pipe - ski down the fall line then back
up in waves.

Winter Park has a bunch of "beginner terrain" with wide groomers
where the trail center line is not aligned with the fall-line.
Kinda interesting to watch.

But "good skiers" cheat a little - they will dog leg the runs
that allow it. Ski the fall-line across and then pick up the
fall-line down once the trail turns.

-r

Matt J · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 2627

!ski kinda alludes to it, but what your describing is not in fact a double fall line, which is in truth a misnomer

the fall line is where water would run if the slope was made of concrete

the misnamed "double fall line" usually refers to a slope that's shaped like a half pipe or ditch in which no matter where you go you feel like you're skiing sideways or back into the ditch

what iski refers to is the direction of the trail vs. the direction of the slope - that's what your question concerns, right?

in which case you have lots of options - ski the fall line until you get to the trees then traverse out, traverse until you get to a trail and fall line that you prefer, learn to ski the trees, make lopsided turns (already mentioned), etc.

'tis the nature of nature - there are few "perfect" slopes in a man's eye but each one is a canvas you can choose to paint however you like

robrox · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:35 pm Post subject:

Yep. Quarter pipe it. If you are lucky there will be an opposite double fall line somewhere on the hill so you can even out. But, if you aren't that lucky there is only one thing to do with a long DFL trail...

....wait for it...

Ski it Switch.

Seriously! I just passed my 61st birthday and plan to learn switch next season..it's nice to have a goal.
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