Hitting The Bumps on The Most Iconic Mogul Runs
Disclaimer: This post was inspired by a recent rewatching of the epic and immortal “Fistful of Moguls.”
Glen Plake once said, “Moguls, now there’s something you do not buy, you earn; they’re something you do not talk about in the bar- about how badass your mogul run was ’cause everyone was there, everybody saw it. It was right there under the chair there’s nothing to hide, there’s nothing to buy that can help you.”
Why is it that bump runs always seem to evoke such a strong reaction from snow sliding enthusiasts of every discipline?
Before the dominating presence of slopestyle and half pipe in today’s competition scene, the bumps were the place to be. When Fistful of Moguls came out in 1998 it followed around Glen Plake, and featured a fresh faced Jonny Moseley in the years prior to his gold medal performance at the Olympics in Nagano. Skinny skis and moguls were the thing, and bump skiers were rockstars. Who wouldn’t want to meet up with Wayne Wong and rage a bump line with a corresponding blob of funk? But, those were simpler times in the world of skiing; people didn’t wear hats, or goggles for that matter, and a Seal album was all you needed for an epic montage of knuckle kneed hot laps.
I, for one, would like to think that the days of old aren’t old, but maybe just somewhat forgotten by the current generation. There’s not quite any other sure fire way to break some necks on the lift than rocking lift line bumps. For those looking to hit the bumps, check out three of the more iconic mogul runs in America for some inspiration.
Outer Limits, Killington Mountain Resort
Famed for being the stomping ground of mogul legend Donna Weinbrecht, Outer Limits is a double black diamond mogul run in one of Vermont’s more legendary resorts. Weinbrecht grew up slaying Outer Limits, and went on to win the first gold medal awarded for mogul skiing in the Olympics.
Mary Jane, Winter Park
As moguls are a product of skiing and snow, it only seems natural to head out West for some serious combination of those two things. Colorado’s Winter Park opened Mary Jane in 1975, and increased the resort’s area by 80% at the time. Over the years, Mary Jane has garnered somewhat of a cult following for her steep terrain, and endless bump fields.
KT-22 Lift, Squaw Valley
A list of epic mogul runs wouldn’t be complete without mention of Tahoe legend Squaw Valley, and anything off the KT-22 lift is fair game. Accessing a plethora of expert terrain, KT-22 grants skiers and snowboarders a chance to test their skills on some classic bump runs on the West Face.
