Basic Procedures to learn WITHOUT ski instructor !

Hmm good point also, i might get a travel charger for the car!

I get so many "suggestions" from watching children in beginner slopes!
Here is another "lesson" you can practice at home before going skiing!

The poles!

To many skiers they are "cumbersome" !
To many skiers ( like Trencher ) they are not necessary!
To many skiers they are "dangerous"

You must practice using them. Taking them off ! Holding them. Moving them about without stabbing others, yourself and losing them !

There is a "art" to manipulating them with thick gloves, in cold windy days!

I am sure you all know the correct way to use those straps ! All kids were taught the "rabbit into the hole " procedure !

Learn to carry them with skis!
Learn to place them in chair !
Learn to lift them just before top ,,,so they will not be bent!
Learn never to place then BETWEEN your skis as you get off chair!
Learn NOT to push hard while in ski lines,,,,slip and spear the skier behind !
Learn to take up lost of space,,with poles so persons will not push ahead while in lift line.
Learn to "casually" place ski tip IN FRONT of skier (between his/her boots) trying to pass ahead in lift line.
Learn to place both ski poles handles horizontally in front of a small child that is getting on chair ( many children fall off at this phase of the lift ).
Learn NOT to have poles sticking out 1 meter to the side as you ski!
Learn how to use poles to get up on slope!

And now the final one,,,,,never but never point the poles forward,,,that is have pole tip in front of you as you ski down!

Why ?

If you fall,,,and you will that pole tip will go into snow,,,the pole handle will punch you in the face/teeth/nose etc,,,, ! Keep pole tips pointing back towards heels and only quickly bring forward when turning ( as Trencher would say,,,,,that is optional )

Practice pole actions at home first !

Pavel

Found another procedure to practice at home.

How to "put on ski poles" .

Stange how simple it is yet many many beginner skiers have not yet "observated" that ski poles have leather loops near handles.

There is a way to place hands INTO loop so that the leather around wrist "stabilizes" hand on ski pole.

To complicated to describe this procedure here so why not ask or observe how it is done.

Then practice doing it at home.

Another "evident" simple procedure you ca practice at home.

Seems simple to buckle boots,,but there is a "ritual" to this.

Always make sure tongue is well centered and WITHIN ski boot shell. Often the tongue is haft in and haft out of shell, creating pressure points.

Note the CENTERED term. Often tongue is off to side.

Then start with first lower buckle. This buckle must never be tight. Just snug

The second and third buckles should also never be very very tight initially ( wait for one or two runs) Let foot mate with boots.

The last top buckle should be snug,,since this is the buckle which cuts blood circulation to toes. DO NOT over torque this buckle.

Practice at home and if toes get numb after 15 minutes,,buckles are too tight.

Pavel, I was taught to do my boots up in stages. Start off by putting on the boot, then stand and flex yourself backwards and forwards, ideally leaning well forward against a wall while keeping the boots flat on the floor. Center the tongue, then do the buckles up very lightly and repeat the above process. This should ensure that your feet are fully to the back of the boot, so now when you tighten the clips to your liking, the foot has nowhere to go and should be ideally locked into the boot.

This works well for me, and usually once my boots are on in the morning, they stay on and locked down for the entire day without any issues to me. I do not need to undo my boots like most people do at lunch. Straight out, a couple of warm up stretches, clip and go :twisted: Then you have to wait at the bottom for your ski buddies while they fanny around doing their boots back up :cry:

Keep this coming pav, always interesting reading! Keep me sane over the summer!

Far Queue,
What works for you,,keep doing it .

Like you I never take boots off during day. That is a good sign.

Ski on,,,

My Bootfitter (CEM on here) taught me to do up my boots effectively. Buckle 3, then 4 (top) then power strap. Flex forward to push heel into heel pocket. Buckle 2 then 1. He's quite keen on folks doing up their boots properly, especially at the top of the cuff. I think he's been bootfitting skiers for at least 25 years, so it's a tried and trusted method.

As for not undoing boots in restaurants etc, I suppose it depends on how much support you feel you need when sitting down and allowing your feet to swell a bit in the warmth :D