Colorado is known for the gapers that come here. Since I carry my camera with me everyday, I am in the perfect position to capture these gapers in the wild. Trust me…no gapers were harmed during the 2007-2008 gaper hunt.
Last year was a successful Gaper Hunt and the point system was successful. This year was a huge increase of Gapers caught on camera…so I had to get rid of the point system. Due to the increase in the number of Gaper photos I have made a slideshow complimenting them for their fine work on the mountain.
You might be wondering what a gaper is…so here’s a brief explanation and example of a gaper.
Urban dictionary of a gaper:
A gaper is a skier or snowboarder who is completely clueless. Usually distinguished by their bright colored clothes and a gaper gap, the gap between the goggles and a helmet/hat. Gaper’s also do the “Gaper Tuck” which is an attempt at being a ski racer by tucking, however it is done incorrectly with the poles sticking straight up like thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening.
Typically a gaper is someone sporting a one-piece not made in the last 10 years. Some of the styles are truely from the 70′s and 80′s, they sport neon that is faded, they sport the gaper gap (gap between the goggles and hat). They are basically the clueless tourist on the mountain, easy to spot and fun to make fun of.
Rules of the Gaper Hunt:
- Kids do not count (they do not dress themselves so I try not to take photos of them).
- Elderly do count!!!! I’m sorry they are old…but they should know better. Someone tried to argue this with me but they know what they are doing when they dress themselves.
Gaper Updates:
- The popular color for Gapers in 2007-2008 was blue. Very very popular choice ranging from bright blue to navy blue.
- The most consistent Gaper Sightings were here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and definitely where a lot of photos were taken.
- Very worthy destinations were Whistler/Blackcomb and Snowmass, Colorado. Those mountains brought out some of the most successful days of the hunt.
Elderly couple at Snowmass, Colorado
I Present the 2007-2008 Gaper Hunt Slideshow
Please take your time to enjoy each picture
If you scroll to the bottom of the slideshow you’ll see each photo individually you can click on.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Hey Awesome post! The Gapers in Colorado are brutal… especially the Texas Gapers. Or even better the ones who take the Imperial lift at Breck… and then have to ride it back down!
I have a blog too and I wrote a little something about spraying gapers… Thought you might like it.
http://hybridsessions.blogspot.com/2008/03/breckenridge-sesh-gaper-sprays.html
I’m stoked on your blog, keep it up!
June 12th, 2008 at 12:18 am
I saw a dad with his 2 sons on the park city slopes this year. They were wearing this camo print that was for duck hunting. It probably functions well in wet snow conditions, but it takes gaper to a whole new level!
November 6th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
You mean everyone doesn’t live in ski resorts? People populate the rest of the country? And then when it snows they actually come to your towns and support them economically? Way to bite the hand that feeds you!
November 6th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
classic. i’ll dig up some of my photos.
November 6th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I guess you missed the part where I said “Trust me…no gapers were harmed during the 2007-2008 gaper hunt.”
I appreciate them a lot. It makes my day to see a bright colored one-piece coming down the hill. They can laugh at me all they want as well.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Shanon, Love your gaper collection! Good Stuff
April 14th, 2009 at 5:19 am
Those 1 piece suits are smoking!
So bad they are good…I thought they only made appearances by the old school crew in France/Italy!!
I want one!