Ha,,,, ski season is just around the corner for you North hemisphere fanatics.
Soon you will be visiting ski shows, planning holidays and looking at those "old" ski pictures.
By late October, if you are like me you will make an inventory of all the equipment you have. If you are like Ellistine ( you must get to know Ellistine) you will want to buy anything related to skiing!
You will begin to read all sorts of literature on "essential" equipment! Several years ago I began to collect on some "essential" products. Mind you the term "essential" is defined very broadly by ski marketing staff!
I will list some of these wonders and hope that others as obsessive as I also have "discovered" such items!
WARNING: This is not fiction.
1. Goggles with built-in fans
2. Ski poles with internal springs or shocks in handles
3. Top sheet "protection" tape
4. Plastic rub plate to take snow off boots
5. Anti-cross plates. Look like small 3" towers near tips so skis do not cross.
6. Binding cold covers. ( so units will not freeze up)
7. Ski bras ( really that is what they are called) For perfect snowplow!
8. Ski lights ( really) Just screw the, on tips!
9. Boot covers. Not sure if they are for cold or to give that "perfect" all together fashion look.
10. Hollow poles for wine or vodka ( again really)
11. Poles with batteries so you can have blinking poles
12. Gold Plated bindings ( again really)
13. Goggles with magnetic lenses
14. Alarms for skis. Unit screws on top near front unit
15. Ski pants with heating wires near rear.
16. Skis with asymetric sidewalls ( Kastle)
17. Skis with 4 steel edges
18. Skis that hinge into 4 pieces ( again, again really)
19. Two skis that can join at sidewall to create a board
20. Rear holder. This you will not believe. Let me describe . A series of levers and pulleys which "hold up" skier who has weak back muscles!
21. Top ski graphics tape. A series of 10 rolls of duct like tape which you can apply to top of ski depending on your mood!
22.Bindings that never let skis "fly off"! The units have internal metal wire anchored to internal spring ! Releases but instantly come back on boots. Great fun! Sold for $125 in 1973!
23. Rear brakes at tails. For the "adventure-some skier who does not want to slide backwards while hiking up Everest!
23. Front brakes. Two saber-like shafts under boot at toe area. Can also be used to "slash" skiers/boarders who come to close. Can also be used to "pick up" small animals for supper while skiing!
24. Long tongs. Before you all get excited these really are called "long tongs" Another era another story. Still see some for sale! Not sure why, but surely not for skiing!
25. Electrical heated gloves. Not so good while skiing but my son "borrows" them often! Why? He does not tell me!
Well there are some of my "collections". Please do not tell my wife since she thinks I donated them to my local ski museum! I realize some of you will no doubt think I made this up, but I hope some skiers will be honest and admit that they bought or tried some of these.
I did not mention some other "strange" systems like the Nava boot/binding system which the producer swore would make me a "better' skier!
Now it is up to you to continue the list!
Stranger the better!
( Notice I did not get into the hats, jackets, etc....)
Equipment to avoid
Login
I'm not sure I'm quite getting the joke here. Some of this stuff isn't stupid.
much favored by heli-skiers.
Are you sure you're not thinking of the dampers or weights used, mostly in the past, to stop the front of the ski chattering? The Atomic ARC for example?
Split boards, actually boards that split into skis so you can attach skins for climbing. Made by Burton and Voile and others and much used in Backcountry touring. Dramatically lighter than snow shoes and they allow the mixed party of skiers and boarders to use the same tracks on ascents.
crampons, or Harscheisen as we call them here, essential touring gear for making ascents on steep icy surfaces where skins will no longer grip. No ski tourer would ever embark on a trip without them.
I do have that list :
http://snowslider.net/reviews/
and
http://snowslider.net/reviews/hardware/
erm.. thanks, I thought I might be correct :)
Splitboards perform just fine in the environments they're designed for though. And what you described are crampons.
19. Two skis that can join at sidewall to create a board
20. Rear holder. This you will not believe. Let me describe . A series of levers and pulleys which "hold up" skier who has weak back muscles!
21. Top ski graphics tape. A series of 10 rolls of duct like tape which you can apply to top of ski depending on your mood!
23. Front brakes. Two saber-like shafts under boot at toe area. Can also be used to "slash" skiers/boarders who come to close. Can also be used to "pick up" small animals for supper while skiing!
Oh my god I almost fell off my seat when I saw those. 1. Board? Come on 2. A rear holder? That makes as much sense as the ski bra ( probably comes in kinky lace) If you have a weak back you shouldn't be going down a hill. 3. Graphic tape ?! EXCELLENT Pavelski you just rock!
But I actually have a real question . I obtained a set of straight ATC (slightly older model) Atomics that I was told was for aerials which are about a foot taller then I. Now I'm new to the game and am currently riding Blizzards ( got the ones in the cheap side in case I wrecked, in which I did serveral times) I wanted to know if bindings can be adjusted. They are a dudes 12 and I need them down to a chick's 8. Since I'm used to riding on parabolic skis (trying to sound cool here cuz I don't know anybetter) I wanted to know what would I expect if I took these buggers out for a run? I also have a weakened left knee and want to know what I can do to make it one bad dude for skiing. Next, okay my boots are a bit chewed up there are digs along the places where they fit into the bindings and I just wanted to know how much damage is still good to ski on. Can the liners be taken out of the boots ( I'm NEW at this so forgive me :mrgreen: ) Mine stink like something unholy in part becuase when I wrecked in Tux my boots never had the water dumped out :(
Okay I think that's it for now! I must say I've been reading more and more stuff on here and you guys totally rock!
To Create or Answer a Topic
Started by Pavelski in Ski Hardware 11-Sep-2007 - 21 Replies
Pavelski posted Sep-2007
Ise
reply to 'Equipment to avoid' posted Sep-2007
pavelski wrote:
WARNING: This is not fiction.
I'm not sure I'm quite getting the joke here. Some of this stuff isn't stupid.
1. Goggles with built-in fans
much favored by heli-skiers.
5. Anti-cross plates. Look like small 3" towers near tips so skis do not cross.
Are you sure you're not thinking of the dampers or weights used, mostly in the past, to stop the front of the ski chattering? The Atomic ARC for example?
19. Two skis that can join at sidewall to create a board
Split boards, actually boards that split into skis so you can attach skins for climbing. Made by Burton and Voile and others and much used in Backcountry touring. Dramatically lighter than snow shoes and they allow the mixed party of skiers and boarders to use the same tracks on ascents.
23. Front brakes. Two saber-like shafts under boot at toe area. Can also be used to "slash" skiers/boarders who come to close. Can also be used to "pick up" small animals for supper while skiing!
crampons, or Harscheisen as we call them here, essential touring gear for making ascents on steep icy surfaces where skins will no longer grip. No ski tourer would ever embark on a trip without them.
By late October, if you are like me you will make an inventory of all the equipment you have. If you are like Ellistine ( you must get to know Ellistine) you will want to buy anything related to skiing!
I do have that list :
http://snowslider.net/reviews/
and
http://snowslider.net/reviews/hardware/
Pavelski
reply to 'Equipment to avoid' posted Sep-2007
Here are why some of those are not needed or are not essential.
1, The fans cause more problems than solve them.
batteries after two hours are gone
Often freeze
There are other simpler ways to solve fogging issue.
2.No these are sold as "anti-cross" deflectors. Plastic! They break.
3. Not valid for 90% of skiers in resorts and poor perfrmance in ski resorts.
4. No. Not crampons but brakes with spring activated mechanism. Only go "on" once boot is off!
You are correct for some products for "specialized" skiing or"climbing" such as split skis. These units however are poor performers in groomed hard slopes!
1, The fans cause more problems than solve them.
batteries after two hours are gone
Often freeze
There are other simpler ways to solve fogging issue.
2.No these are sold as "anti-cross" deflectors. Plastic! They break.
3. Not valid for 90% of skiers in resorts and poor perfrmance in ski resorts.
4. No. Not crampons but brakes with spring activated mechanism. Only go "on" once boot is off!
You are correct for some products for "specialized" skiing or"climbing" such as split skis. These units however are poor performers in groomed hard slopes!
Ise
reply to 'Equipment to avoid' posted Sep-2007
pavelski wrote:Here are why some of those are not needed or are not essential.
1, The fans cause more problems than solve them.
batteries after two hours are gone
Often freeze
There are other simpler ways to solve fogging issue.
2.No these are sold as "anti-cross" deflectors. Plastic! They break.
3. Not valid for 90% of skiers in resorts and poor perfrmance in ski resorts.
4. No. Not crampons but brakes with spring activated mechanism. Only go "on" once boot is off!
You are correct for some products for "specialized" skiing or"climbing" such as split skis. These units however are poor performers in groomed hard slopes!
erm.. thanks, I thought I might be correct :)
Splitboards perform just fine in the environments they're designed for though. And what you described are crampons.
IceGhost
reply to 'Equipment to avoid' posted Sep-2007
Good times !pavelski wrote:Ha,,,, ski season is just around the corner for you North hemisphere fanatics.
Soon you will be visiting ski shows, planning holidays and looking at those "old" ski pictures.
By late October, if you are like me you will make an inventory of all the equipment you have. If you are like Ellistine ( you must get to know Ellistine) you will want to buy anything related to skiing!
You will begin to read all sorts of literature on "essential" equipment! Several years ago I began to collect on some "essential" products. Mind you the term "essential" is defined very broadly by ski marketing staff!
I will list some of these wonders and hope that others as obsessive as I also have "discovered" such items!
WARNING: This is not fiction.
1. Goggles with built-in fans
2. Ski poles with internal springs or shocks in handles
3. Top sheet "protection" tape
4. Plastic rub plate to take snow off boots
5. Anti-cross plates. Look like small 3" towers near tips so skis do not cross.
6. Binding cold covers. ( so units will not freeze up)
7. Ski bras ( really that is what they are called) For perfect snowplow!
8. Ski lights ( really) Just screw the, on tips!
9. Boot covers. Not sure if they are for cold or to give that "perfect" all together fashion look.
10. Hollow poles for wine or vodka ( again really)
11. Poles with batteries so you can have blinking poles
12. Gold Plated bindings ( again really)
13. Goggles with magnetic lenses
14. Alarms for skis. Unit screws on top near front unit
15. Ski pants with heating wires near rear.
16. Skis with asymetric sidewalls ( Kastle)
17. Skis with 4 steel edges
18. Skis that hinge into 4 pieces ( again, again really)
19. Two skis that can join at sidewall to create a board
20. Rear holder. This you will not believe. Let me describe . A series of levers and pulleys which "hold up" skier who has weak back muscles!
21. Top ski graphics tape. A series of 10 rolls of duct like tape which you can apply to top of ski depending on your mood!
22.Bindings that never let skis "fly off"! The units have internal metal wire anchored to internal spring ! Releases but instantly come back on boots. Great fun! Sold for $125 in 1973!
23. Rear brakes at tails. For the "adventure-some skier who does not want to slide backwards while hiking up Everest!
23. Front brakes. Two saber-like shafts under boot at toe area. Can also be used to "slash" skiers/boarders who come to close. Can also be used to "pick up" small animals for supper while skiing!
24. Long tongs. Before you all get excited these really are called "long tongs" Another era another story. Still see some for sale! Not sure why, but surely not for skiing!
25. Electrical heated gloves. Not so good while skiing but my son "borrows" them often! Why? He does not tell me!
Well there are some of my "collections". Please do not tell my wife since she thinks I donated them to my local ski museum! I realize some of you will no doubt think I made this up, but I hope some skiers will be honest and admit that they bought or tried some of these.
I did not mention some other "strange" systems like the Nava boot/binding system which the producer swore would make me a "better' skier!
Now it is up to you to continue the list!
Stranger the better!
( Notice I did not get into the hats, jackets, etc....)
19. Two skis that can join at sidewall to create a board
20. Rear holder. This you will not believe. Let me describe . A series of levers and pulleys which "hold up" skier who has weak back muscles!
21. Top ski graphics tape. A series of 10 rolls of duct like tape which you can apply to top of ski depending on your mood!
23. Front brakes. Two saber-like shafts under boot at toe area. Can also be used to "slash" skiers/boarders who come to close. Can also be used to "pick up" small animals for supper while skiing!
But I actually have a real question . I obtained a set of straight ATC (slightly older model) Atomics that I was told was for aerials which are about a foot taller then I. Now I'm new to the game and am currently riding Blizzards ( got the ones in the cheap side in case I wrecked, in which I did serveral times) I wanted to know if bindings can be adjusted. They are a dudes 12 and I need them down to a chick's 8. Since I'm used to riding on parabolic skis (trying to sound cool here cuz I don't know anybetter) I wanted to know what would I expect if I took these buggers out for a run? I also have a weakened left knee and want to know what I can do to make it one bad dude for skiing. Next, okay my boots are a bit chewed up there are digs along the places where they fit into the bindings and I just wanted to know how much damage is still good to ski on. Can the liners be taken out of the boots ( I'm NEW at this so forgive me :mrgreen: ) Mine stink like something unholy in part becuase when I wrecked in Tux my boots never had the water dumped out :(
Okay I think that's it for now! I must say I've been reading more and more stuff on here and you guys totally rock!
Uh oh, I think I broke'd the lift
Trencher
reply to 'Equipment to avoid' posted Sep-2007
IceGhost, the general rule with knee problems, is that the best remedy is to build up your quad strength. So exercises like squats and sports like inline skating will help greatly. The quads pull the knee together and stabilise the joint.
It would be wise to have the knee checked by a professional first for the best physio for your type of injury. There can be alignment problems that are made worse by increasing quad strength.
If you have doubts about the safety of your boots and bindings, I would have them checked by a ski tech. Your legs have got to last you a lifetime, it isn't worth skimping.
Trencher
It would be wise to have the knee checked by a professional first for the best physio for your type of injury. There can be alignment problems that are made worse by increasing quad strength.
If you have doubts about the safety of your boots and bindings, I would have them checked by a ski tech. Your legs have got to last you a lifetime, it isn't worth skimping.
Trencher
because I'm so inclined .....
Edited 1 time. Last update at 18-Sep-2007
Ise
reply to 'Equipment to avoid' posted Sep-2007
IceGhost wrote:[ Oh my god I almost fell off my seat when I saw those. 1. Board? Come on 2. A rear holder? That makes as much sense as the ski bra ( probably comes in kinky lace) If you have a weak back you shouldn't be going down a hill. 3. Graphic tape ?! EXCELLENT Pavelski you just rock!
we just did that.
split boards are snowboards, there's no such thing as "two skis you can join together" it's a snowboard that can be split to allow climbing skins to be used.
crampons (despite the later reinterpretation) are standard hardware for ski tourers on steep ground.
nothing remotely stupid about either.
reading it again then "rear holders" sound rather like risers on touring bindings, obviously you couldn't tour without being able to raise the heels :
16. Skis with asymetric sidewalls ( Kastle)
I missed that one as well. Movement Freeheel or the G3 Ticket both have asymmetric designs and are pretty popular. The reduced radius on the skis' outside edges allows the uphill ski to edge more actively making turns. There's a patent on this held by Rossignol actually. I suggest the reason you don't see many is that it's slightly harder to manufacture. I actually don't recall that Kastle ever made an asymmetric ski personally, I do recall their air-channels and of course they've been away for a few years now returning next season with a new range.
Bandit
reply to 'Equipment to avoid' posted Sep-2007
ise wrote:
split boards are snowboards, there's no such thing as "two skis you can join together" it's a snowboard that can be split to allow climbing skins to be used.
Hmmm, then again, there are these on sale right now....... :D
http://www.boardski.biz/bulldog.htm
BTW I'm not advocating that anyone should buy a pair, but I hear they have been tested on snow at Milton Keynes :D
Topic last updated on 13-October-2007 at 13:31