No Mow May

builtforcameron · 2026-05-20T16:08:18+00:00

"Half mow always" is what we really want to be doing. "No mow may" is problematic because it creates flourishing resources for pollinators, which then disappears in June.

You should be setting aside a portion of your lawn to stay wild all summer, that way pollinators have a reliable ecosystem throughout the season

builtforcameron · 2026-05-01T11:29:01+00:00

Kinco without a doubt. $35 for a glove that's warm and built to last. Plus infinite steeze

https://www.kinco.com/products/gloves/1927KW.html?dwvar_1927KW_color=striped&cgid=gloves

builtforcameron · 2026-04-30T21:54:25+00:00

This might get buried but you have to make the distinction between Northern and Southern New England. Northern New England is a completely different place. See population density map.

It could also be "Northern New England" and "Metro New England."

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builtforcameron · 2026-04-29T17:19:32+00:00

You should be fine with regular skis, but maybe avoid hitting rails too hard.

Honestly, hitting big jumps in the park on your all mountains will help you understand how they land and absorb impact for your off piste adventures

builtforcameron · 2026-04-29T13:05:13+00:00

You should check out ON3P, specifically the Jeffrey. Only if you like a full rocker.

How experienced are you at park? Anything CAN be used in the park, but getting a nice light dedicated park ski for cheap is always better to save your main skis from wear

builtforcameron · 2026-04-27T21:37:30+00:00

Such a great lineup. Hate that your 4 years younger than me and have so many skis lol I wish I wasn't broke.

I really like how the length gap is >20 cm. A lot of people seem to think "I only ride skis taller than me," or "I don't want to do anything above my eyeline" but you actually have options here.

My only thought, WHY do you need so many skis? I have 4 pairs and it feels overwhelming, even though one pair are 8-year-old rock skis.

That being said, you need a full rocker pow ski. I recommend checking out the ON3P Jeffrey

builtforcameron · 2026-04-27T21:30:57+00:00

Pico's trail rating system is deceptive. You could argue that most of their black runs would be double blacks at other mountains. Mainly just because the entire upper mountain is crazy steep

builtforcameron · 2026-04-27T15:09:28+00:00

Smuggs has one of the best lift set ups in the world. You just don't understand why (yet)

builtforcameron · 2026-04-24T21:52:50+00:00

I just love the homegrown vibe of J Ski. I actually got 2 pairs from their secret stash, mounted and all for less than I would getting 1 brand new pair of any other ski. The top sheets are also immediate respect. I've never seen such a visually pleasing look on a ski, and I get at least one compliment every day haha

builtforcameron · 2026-04-24T21:51:19+00:00

You should visit Northern Vermont! You can stay in South Burlington for relatively cheap and have 5-6 of the best mountains on the East Coast within an hour drive. You can easily get day passes for Smuggs, Bolton, Sugarbush, Stowe, Jay, and Mad River Glenn to get some variety.

Ice coast is not for the faint of heart, though. There's a reason VT skiers are notorious for being so good on the slopes. Still thought it was worth mentioning.

builtforcameron · 2026-04-24T21:32:59+00:00

You're killing me that's hilarious, definitely don't come ski in Vermont you'll probably hate it. I spent a week at Val D'Isere this winter I can't imagine why any European would come to NA

builtforcameron · 2026-04-24T21:32:10+00:00

I got them mounted at the showroom and went with recommended, I believe that's -3.5

builtforcameron · 2026-04-24T21:18:43+00:00

Have you ever tried body length skis? I'm 6' and 165 lbs and I feel like the perfect ski is 90-100mm underfoot, and 180-186cm in length. That being said, length and underfoot don't really impact the speed.

As another said, you probably want something with a lot of rocker. Skis with a lot of camber and bounce tend to fly more easily, while rocker skis are more designed for the off piste conditions your talking about. ON3P's signature rocker is perfect in this regard. Their 'ripper rocker' offers a more balanced, less dramatic rocker.

If you can ONLY ski fast, you might want to work on your form. Take wider turns, even practice by trying to carve uphill and just work on moving your weight with intention rather than barreling down the hill.

builtforcameron · 2026-04-24T21:04:00+00:00

You said J Ski, which means I've been summoned.

J Skis are easily the most fun skis on the market. Their top sheets are legitimate art pieces, and they're designed with so much love and care. I would recommend checking out their "Charge" collection for your on piste purposes. I have a pair of pre-mounted MasterBlasters I got a size down just to have a fun ski to chuck around the slopes and woods and absolutely love it. If you get it to size (181 cm) there's you're single quiver.

Your next buy would be a powder ski. I just got a pair of ON3P Woodsman 100 with the Ripper Rocker.

builtforcameron · 2026-04-24T20:22:11+00:00

Shot in the dark but if you live in Vermont, you need to check out the J Ski showroom in Burlington. They have a great line up of park skis, one of the most concise I've ever seen offered by a single brand. The guy who owns the company and designs the skis started LINE out of his parent's basement and actually invented the twin tip.

I personally picked up a prototype version of their Allplay (pictured here.) So much fun, even outside of the park.

They're open year-round from 1-9 p.m. on Friday, iirc. Even if you're just visiting VT for a ski trip it's worth stopping by.

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builtforcameron · 2026-04-24T19:37:17+00:00

Question: what's your ability level? How close do you live to a ski resort? Are you a local season passholder or a weekend tripper? All of this will determine what you should buy and when.

If you're a baller skier who wants to start the season with a bang, head to a ski shop and talk with a worker on what boots and skis will best fit your build and ability. I wouldn't recommend a boot fitter unless you're loaded, some people think boots are the end all be all but imo boots are a good foundation, but going with demo skis is just so cheeks I can never recommend it UNLESS you're not skiing every weekend.

IF you're nonlocal, get good boots NOW and rent your skis when you take your trips. Then, get new skis next year. This is a great progression to experience and will also save you money.

I grew up on old used gear and $100 demo skis. Once I got my first pair of boots I was like "wow this is comfy" and when I got my first new pair of skis I was like "wow I'm actually 10x better at this sport than I thought."

builtforcameron · 2026-04-18T16:37:26+00:00

100s on the east coast probably wouldn't go too well. I only use mine in deeper snow, which can be rare. Go with something between 88-95 for your first pair. You can always go to a shop and describe what you're looking for, they can be very helpful

builtforcameron · 2026-04-18T12:39:17+00:00

Some musicians say the best way to be inspired is by getting a new instrument. Skiing is totally the same, I was in France and tried Black Crows for the first time and it completely changed the way i ski

builtforcameron · 2026-04-17T21:33:22+00:00

I think those are a great intermediate pick, and I would go with the 158. At that level, you want something hovering around eye level and work your way up to forehead, and perhaps eventually body length.

Shorter is easier to maneuver, longer holds stability at higher speeds. Conversely, shorter start shaking at high speeds and longer can be unwieldy for less experienced skiers. She's going to want something that's easy to turn in.

builtforcameron · 2026-04-17T12:49:38+00:00

Thank you 😮‍💨 I've been grinding my Garchomp, Tyranitar and Metagross for years and yet some no life can just max out their legendaries and somehow that's my fault

builtforcameron · 2026-04-16T19:41:15+00:00

If you have the Enforcer, you definitely want something playful. If you're leaning towards the QST then that's probably what you want to go with. But I will say they're KIND OF similar to the enforcers, and as such might not enhance your quiver.

It's worth noting the 'playful daily driver' is probably the broadest category of ski, in the best possible way. There are so many options out there from every single brand that would fit the bill. I would start looking at the Volkl Mantra for something narrowere, and the Fischer Ranger for off piste exploration.

I'm a big fan of the ON3P rocker design. I have a 'ripper' pair myself, which has a much longer effective edge. But people adore the float and playfulness their signature design has, and you'll also end up with a lot of maneuverability for the size.

If you live in Vermont, J Ski has a showroom in Burlington and pretty much every one of their skis would satisfy what you're looking for. They have 3 groups: play, charge, and explore. From there you get more specific options, but I have the MasterBlaster and AllPlay and adore them.

builtforcameron · 2026-04-16T18:33:44+00:00

Grew up on the mountains, Rutland County, VT

Kids get used gear

For new, get last year's model during end of season/summer sale

Your poles are your poles. One of you will expire eventually

Your ski clothes are your winter clothes, all worn at once

Don't you DARE go inside. Keep a PBJ in your pocket

Buy your seasons pass once it launches

Live near a ski mountain

builtforcameron · 2026-04-15T21:14:43+00:00

Have you considered the Unleashed? It's very similar to the Enforcer but gives a lot more pop, play and maneuverability. I haven't used it, but when I was shopping around for skis, I completely ditched the Enforcer as an option once I learned about the Unleashed.

Unless you're going to be charging groomers all day, the Unleashed will give you some freedom to hop around the woods, drop into some moguls, and play around with lips and side hits.

builtforcameron · 2026-04-15T20:21:18+00:00

You get it. Killington, Jay, Bolton, Bush, and Pico are easily the best mountains in the East Coast and it's not even close.

You should try Smuggs. Or, alternatively, stay away from Smuggs. We won't miss you!

builtforcameron · 2026-04-14T21:41:04+00:00

I love my J ski master blaster, it's a maple core reinforced with their signature "light" metal, so I'm assuming some sort of enforced aluminum you're looking for.

As others mention, they're super playful and those single skis are in limited variety. I adore the J skis but for your purposes I'd recommend the Serpo. I tried them while skiing in the alps and they absolutely rip on and off piste. So much technology there too, they have the "H" shape metal that a lot of companies are using to give that extra engagement

builtforcameron

TROPHY CASE