Time to get equipment ready !

Strange to write this ,,just after I mowed my lawn !

September is the month to "say hello" to your skiing partners. You know the ; boots, skis, poles, jackets and ,,,,,,,

Here are some basic steps to a better ski season with them.

1. First get all jackets and pants out of storage.
2. Examine then for tears, cuts, damage.
3. Verify all pockets for hidden money. ( I typically hide emergency money )
4. Clean and wash them
5. I spray mine with a 3M waterproofing spray ( very light sprays)
6. I find that many jackets and pants have short narrow velcro ! I sew in widder longer 1" sections on jackets and pants. Velcro does wear off!
7. Look closely at zippers. I take a very light oil or soap bar and apply to zipper. A drop is enough.
8 If you have a 'high tech" jacket with vents make sure the flaps can close well1
9. If you have older jackets and you use an Ipod,,,I "burn" a small hole in the top of the inside pocket. How do you do this ?
Just heat up a small screwdriver with a propane torch until point is red.
Have a friend spread out jacket so you will not damage jacket and insert red point into pocket at highest level!
Do it one carefully.
Now you have a hole large enough for wire and plug and nylon is melted around hole!
With this set up you can have Ipod INSIDE jacket, zipper close and wire running INSIDE jacket to your ears. Batteries will not get cold. Wires will be catch on poles gloves, glasses etc,,,

10. If you are good at sewing,,I sew inside my ski jacket collar a polar fleece collar liner which overlaps in the front ! It is soft. It stops wind from getting in front of my neck!

Skis
Hope you waxed them before you put them away.
Check all edges very very carefully.
Check base very very carefully
Check bindings at articulation points ( clearly if you know nothing about such matters ,,go to ski shop )

Poles
Check handles for tears or cracks
Check straps
Look at plastic rings for tears or cuts

Now for the most important ski equipment,,,,,,YOU !

1. Haver you had a medical examination lately
2 Are you "tuning up" ?
3 Are reading about,,,,,,
4 Are you surfing the web for those deals those hidden places
5. Are you calling your friends for "small hikes"

Finally,,,,

Are you dreaming of that perfect,,, effective,,,,soft,,,,,soaring run you will do soon !

You see,,it all starts in your mind.

If you dream about it,,,,,,it will happen !


Soon,,,,,,,,

Pavel

:lol: Funny you should bring this up Pavelski, it is just about now that my thoughts turn to the little things like ... I must walk up the stairs and not get the lift... I must walk an extra bus stop or two before actually catching the bus... I must start doing "wall squats" while watching the news in the evening... etc. etc.

It is amazing how a few minutes a day started now can make all the difference to your skiing in January or February.

Far Queue,

You have found the secret. Those little things during the day !

Some people sit all day and do "passive" activities, then go to "health club",,spa,,,gym for 2 hours !

I do those little things.

I do 10 push ups on stairs. Every time I go up my house or other clean stairs in office ( yes once I got caught doing push up in stairs with a great suit on !!!! )! I once calculated at end of day I had done +800 push ups !

In kitchen I do those squats while waiting for my coffee.

In basement while waiting for computer to "warm up" I built myself a ski platform with plywood which has a round metal ball at base. Great for knees, agility, ankles ! If you look very carefully most of World Cup ski racers use such a platform. Some even go one better using a "ballon" !

I walk every morning 5 km. with weights around ankles.

Yes,,I am a bit "extreme", but I love to be ready for skiing!

Oh I forgot the very best. A bag of rocks in my backpack while I climb ski trails in the weekend! You feel so light when you do begin to ski!

Whenever I go with a group,,by Tuesday many are having problems going up stairs, getting into bed never mind getting out of bed! Those few minutes do help !

See you on the hill this January1

Pavel

Ha Pavel, you introduced a thread about equipment. It was changed to body preparation! That is OK, because our bodies are part of our equipment.
September is my "start time" for winter strength. I will quickly build up to 1000 single leg squats per day, plus a range of other prescribed exercises.

Dave Mac,

If we could all accept that our bodied have to be tuned like "other ski material" !

Cool morning air seems to do something to me!

1,000 single leg squats,,,,hummmmm would love to touch that gastronemious !!!

Pavel

pavelski wrote:1,000 single leg squats,,,,hummmmm would love to touch that gastronemious !!!

I'm not so sure about that Pavel... I think Dave may be in danger of turning into a Pogo Stick! I mean, what about the other leg??? You'll be going round in circles... :lol:

But seriously, yes, it's the time of year for tuning and checking all equipment; especially for those of us chained to a desk most of the year!

First stage of winter fitness schedule commenced yesterday ...... Diet :evil:

I've been working hard to lose weight this summer. I've shed 1 stone 3 lbs in 4 weeks by dieting, and when I lose the next 4 lbs to hit 12 stone I am going to start working on toning it up, but wanted to lose the weight first.
Weight wasn't the main factor, it was size for me. I now think I may need to review my skiing wardrobe as I've gone up 2 belt notches and lost 4 inches off my chest.
is this going to make me slower on skis though????? :shock: