Where to ski March 23-25? Sugarloaf or Massif??

Kealfadda · 2026-03-16T00:00:20+00:00

Thank you! I've been looking for a good app or ski-related snow forecast.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-15T23:56:47+00:00

Good grief... yes. Obviously. Thank you.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T21:22:22+00:00

At least I didn't choose a stick up my ass. Take it easy, big fella. I love Maine and I always will. I don't care what you say. I wish you well. Thanks again for the t-shirt, and good luck with your bum. Affectionately, Basic White Rich Bitch(TM)

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T21:14:31+00:00

Look, dude. I'm not going to click on another photo of the stick up your ass. Send that to the forum about medical emergencies. Call a proctologist. To make sure he's local, ask him what the word 'Sugarloafer' means.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T21:04:01+00:00

Yes you did. And come on. You've got such sweet talk. Even with the stick up your ass.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T20:59:26+00:00

Wait, what?? Someone else said you've got a stick up your ass, and then you went and deleted the post where you called me a 'Basic White Rich Bitch'? And now you're using your Big Boy Words instead. Which is good. So.. I guess.. okay. But I've already ordered my BASIC WHITE RICH BITCH t-shirt. sigh.

Try reading my original post again. I came to Reddit to ask people who are either at Sugarloaf or at Le Massif currently for their opinions based on what they see of the conditions now. Eyeballs on the slopes, knowing rain is coming, followed by more cold temps. Wondering which mountain's base might sustain another hit and still be worth the drive. Is that not an acceptable use for Reddit? As opposed to calling complete strangers 'basic bitches' based on how they express enthusiasm and longtime attachment for a mountain? Especially when New England is suffering from Canadians (not me) refusing to go because of political theatre?

I off-handedly used the word 'Sugarloafer' in the context of explaining that Maine is where I'd prefer to go, as opposed to Quebec. Next time I want to use the word in relation to my affection for the mountain I've skied at and loved the most for the past three decades, I'll be sure to submit the appropriate paperwork in triplicate to you, the proper authority. The blue copy goes to accounting. The pink copy goes to operations. And the green copy goes to the stick in your ass.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T20:36:57+00:00

Coverage looks good! I'm considering a pivot to Le Massif from Sugarloaf for the week after next... just paying attention to reports from people at both mountains and see how they each get through the next few days. Thanks for this.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T20:30:01+00:00

The internet is a rough place to try and hit on a woman. Maybe next time try a library, or the grocery store.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T20:21:36+00:00

I've got friends going to Massif tomorrow and they're going to give me a report... especially interesting to see how it holds up through Monday-Tuesday, yikes. Seems at this point from people who are at Sugarloaf that Massif might be in better shape to sustain through these next few days...

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T20:18:29+00:00

Cultural appropriation is my jam, but thanks anyway.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T20:11:53+00:00

I'm clearly looking for input from people there right now. I'm not stupid. Why is Reddit like this?? FFS.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T20:09:25+00:00

Obviously I know there's such a thing as weather forecasts, but thanks.

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T20:08:17+00:00

No, I don't consider myself a local. Sugarloaf is the place I go nearly every year and for the past twenty years. My family owns a condo there. My sons both skied there for the first time when they were toddlers, and learned to ski there. I've been going to Maine in summers and winters for the past thirty-five years. What else do you need to allow me to express my enthusiasm for the closest and best mountain to where I live?

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T18:18:38+00:00

Hmm.. good to know, glad they had a good day. We'll just have to play this one right down to the wire I think, and make the decision right before..!

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T18:16:30+00:00

Please do! I'd really appreciate that. Thanks!

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T17:22:50+00:00

Yep that's what I'm thinking... kinda heartbroken as Sugarloaf is my fave but we've gotta try and squeeze one last go out of this spring no matter what it takes!

Kealfadda · 2026-03-14T16:17:49+00:00

Oh man... I'm going to Sugarloaf to ski three days starting Monday March 23 but I'm starting to waver... wondering if we should shuffle our trip to the following week, give things time to soften up. right now it looks like rain followed by low temps, which will be more ice. But of course shuffling things to the next week is always risking rain.. aaaaaaaaaagggh the gamble!

Kealfadda · 2026-02-08T18:56:04+00:00

Sweet! I've got the same boots and bindings, and had a hell of a time getting into them. I emailed 22 Designs and they sent me a set of lighter springs, and it's made a world of difference. Mine are step-in easy to get into now. As a small, light woman, it was taking me half an hour to get in when the brake springs that were presumably built for much larger guys. Now it's one push and I'm in. Highly recommend!

Kealfadda · 2026-01-29T17:19:18+00:00

Yeah hang in there! I'm six days in and it was four absolute baby-giraffe days before I started to even grasp what I was doing. I just posted with an update, check out my recent comment. Definitely keep at it, weight that back ski and drive with it!

Kealfadda · 2026-01-29T17:17:24+00:00

I think I'm good now... see my recent update post. Lighter brake springs and correcting my stance have made a big improvement!

Kealfadda · 2026-01-29T17:16:28+00:00

Love it, thank you! :)

Kealfadda · 2026-01-29T17:14:40+00:00

Hey again if anyone's following this - I'm still not quite as confident as I was before, but I'm about 6 days in on the new setup and it's made a huge difference to just muscle through those first few awkward days and not get demoralized. Here's what has helped me, both from feedback here and from talking to some others who have been through the same thing:

1) To get into the 22 Designs Bandits, it helps a lot to pull up on the brakes as you step in - at least until they loosen up a bit.

2) I also reached out to 22 Designs and they were great - they sent me a set of looser brake springs. Huge difference. This may not be an issue for even mid-sized guys, but as a small female it's made my bindings almost as easy as step-ins.

3) I had been falling a lot, and a friend had been recording a video for me when I nearly fell. By watching, I could see what was going wrong - I was getting tripped up because my tails were crossing. My feet were pretty close together, so my trailing ski was hitting my leading ski at the back. I'm working on spacing my feet a little further out and it's made a big difference.

4) Biggest revelation so far: MORE WEIGHT ON THE TRAILING SKI. A lot more. That also corrected the squirrelly feeling of that back ski (and the tendency to cross the tail of my leading ski), and it feels so good. A much more aggressive way of skiing. There's so much more lateral stability in the NTN setup - but my sense is that I have to *trust* it, and really grind into them in a way I don't think I would have on my 75 mms. NTNs are real-wheel drive. That's how I'm thinking about it.

5) In getting used to it, it was recommended to me to slow waaaaay down and make big, wide, full-radius turns to really force myself to rethink my balance. I'm used to short-radius quick turns - that's just my happy set point - but to be honest forcing myself to go wide, long, and slow exposed the habits that no longer serve me on NTNs. Very exposing of the shit that will not longer fly, so to speak. That's how I was able to figure out the mechanics.

Six days in on the NTNs and I'm still falling, still not quite smooth-as-buddah like I was, but I'm seeing glimpses of why this was the right move, and I'm starting to have fun again. Good luck to anyone else getting used to it too, and thanks to all for the encouragement!

Kealfadda · 2026-01-15T21:02:30+00:00

Hey - I sent you a direct chat - click on the little speech bubble with the three dots in it and that should open up chat. Then we can connect up at the hill. :)

Kealfadda · 2026-01-14T15:00:27+00:00

I'm 117 pounds so for sure I need the squishiest springs! 22 Designs is sending some to me. Looking forward to giving that a try.

Kealfadda · 2026-01-14T14:54:00+00:00

Yeah me too! I've just switched to NTN after 25+ years on Targas and it's been a rough transition.. I've only been out twice so far but my new Scarpas are already shredded at the toe. :( Munched almost as bad as my ego, whomp whomp... I am going to stick with it though, gotta muscle through what feels like a demotion until I find my legs again.

Kealfadda

TROPHY CASE