Cody and I cover Gunstock Mountain Resort’s fight to operate; Cody’s report on the onX meetup with hunters, skiers, & offroaders; access issues & potential solutions; WC DH MTBers forming a union; mountain-town advice; the Most Canadian News Story; what we’re reading & watching (answer: TOP GUN) and more.
TOPICS & TIMES:
- Hunters, Skiers, & Offroaders: Cody on the onX meetup (4:58)
- Gunstock ski area’s fight to operate (13:38)
- Update: New info on Gunstock after we recorded
- Access Issues & Solutions: Red Rock Canyon (28:26)
- WC DH MTB racers forming a union (38:53)
- Most / Least Canadian News Story (46:50)
- Mountain Town Advice (50:17)
- What We’re Reading & Watching (1:04:44)
RELATED LINKS:
Cody listens to Quirks & Quarks? Heck yeah! The DH WC union makes a ton of sense when you consider the Snowshoe race where the riders showed up and there was a slopestyle whale tail as part of the course. Thankfully it was re built into a table for the race but it never should have happened in the first place. If they had consulted a single racer before hand they would have realized it would be a death trap at race pace. Speaking of Canadian news and July being a slow skiing month, Sunshine was open on Canada Day weekend! Kind of crazy to be able to ski at a resort in July
Wow, thanks, Steven. Sunshine being open on Canada Day definitely wins the “Most” Canadian news, as opposed to the “Least” Canadian news story that we discussed.
Some thoughts on the difference between outdoor sports and other sports that are played outside:
First, I think there is something to be said for the main challenge of the sport being natural or man-made. In skiing, biking, and climbing, the challenge is to ascend or descend a mountain, slope, cliff, or other natural feature. While these features are often adapted to make this easier/possible, the core idea is to get up, down, or across something that was created by nature. In golf and football, the entire contest is man-made, as is the playing facility. Yes, ski trails are made at ski areas, and natural obstacles are left in place at golf courses, but ski areas are not as far from their natural state as golf courses are. This brings ski resorts and climbing gyms into question. While these are in fact partially or fully man-made, they descend from sports that take place on pure wilderness, and the sports still are played by many in a fully natural environment.
Also, a distinction can be made between outdoor sports and sports that simply take place outdoors. Take football. usually played outside, but what happens to the sport when taken inside? It’s about the same. Golf is also usually outside, but take it inside and it’s mostly the same. Many indoor driving ranges exist. If a building could be big enough, there could be a good golf experience indoors. These sports are outdoors because that is where there is space for them. Snow quality, mountains, cliffs, and trees could not be replicated indoors as easily.
This ongoing conversation in the podcasts has been very interesting. These are just a couple quick thoughts. The point stands that we should find more in common with our fellow outdoor users of all kinds.
This is why I distinguish between “outside” and “outdoors”. After a long week, I need time “outdoors”, away from the city, in nature. “Outside” in the city doesnt cut it.
Very good thoughts here, Peter.
But weirdly, out of all your good points, the biggest thing I’m now thinking about is:
Backcountry Golf…
I would also say that if a building was big enough that a good skiing experience could be had there no?
I grew up skiing on man made slopes (both dendex and indoor snow domes) and they both still felt like i was doing “outdoor sports”. I think by these definitions golf is in fact an outdoor sport.
As Jonathan says below, backcountry golf is very possible so i think that means it can be defined as an outdoor sport..
I was immediatly thinking of this, when listening to the podcast, and thought it was funny that neither Cody nor Jonathan came to this conclusion.
But I agree with them that Golf really isn’t far off what we consider outdoor sports.
For example, I like to ride my road bike. 100% asphalt only. So for my thinking – outside, but not outdoor. Still, I consider this (maybe because I tell myself I do it as MTB training) more outdoorsy than golf.
Then again, I literally lived between two very famous golf courses in Switzerland, and I was repeatedly impressed, that golfers of all shapes and sizes were out there in EVERY weather. When it was raining so much, that I’d not go out cycling, these guys were golfing. Also, at least in switzerland, golf courses are really built into the existing terrain, and don’t look super artificail within nature. I’d say, not more than a ski resort.
This tells me, Golf is kind of an outdoor sport. But then, the people.
I was living between these two fancy, expensive golf courses, and the people golfing there, were not the same people I meet on the mountain. And I think, they might not want to be “one of us”. The dresscode is different, the behavior/talking etc. is different, the entry fee into the sport is quite high (at least in Switzerland), and I am also still under the impression, that golf is an old men’s sport.
I’ll further think about it, and maybe redo my image of golfers.
To add to Peter’s thoughts, another significant difference is that sports like football, baseball, and golf have well-established and clearly defined rules. The official rulebook for the NFL is over 90 pages! That’s almost as big as the 2021-2022 Blister Buyer’s Guide!
Those sports also have clearly defined boundaries that confine the sport to the field of play.
Update on Gunstock
https://www.wmur.com/article/new-gunstock-area-commission-commissioner-elected-8122/40776657
The 80s movie that needs a sequel the most now is “The Goonies”.
We might not need it but it’s coming: Road House’ remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal to be set in Florida.
I rarely recommend an audio book of a book, but there are exceptions. Kitchen Confidential is one of them. It is Bourdain reading his excellent prose. If you haven’t read this book at all, or haven’t read it in a while, turn off the TV, close the computer lid, put on some headphones and listen to this book.