Magic Numbers all skiers should know!

ellistine wrote:I think this thread should be renamed to 'Mystical Numbers all skiers won't Know!' :?

I think you're right !!! Mystical and Magical but cetrainly ellusive!

so here 's another try ...

-25C .... being the temperature that is ALMOST to cold for skiing enjoyment

-26 ... the temperature at which ski freezes under the "right" wind and humidy conditions, if we aren't prepared properly.

25knts. ... the wind speed combined with the "right" humidity to provide conditions (wind chill) at which skin may freeze when the temperature is cold enough - ie the right conditions...

20 sec. ... the time required for skin to freeze at the "right" conditions

0 ... the number of times I've had frozen skin due to being careful in the conditions which would have been "right" to cause pain and suffering from frozen noses or fingers. Once "bitten" as it were the better chance to get "bitten" again! So keeping these numbers in mind could save money (from expensive medical bills) and will certainly keep skiing safer. We have to be cognizant of the conditioins and environment in which we "play". And play safe!!!

Mike :(

Well here it is a lovely Sunday afternoon in Nova Scotia - temperatures hig 20's and not a cloud in the sky. I have some yard work to deal with but then we have the 2007 Pavel Springtime Quizz. Difficult call on which to think about first.

The quizz won out !!!

So having looked through the original clues / hints I have been thinking that all factors seem to point to the individual on broadest of terms.

Numbers one should know for a safe ski experience deals with their health, the overall state of their being (in the purchase of a house you try to consider it's "health" and what costs may unexpectedly arise before you know it. So let's load the gun with some fresh amo and fire it once more.

BANG !!

120/80 the skiers at rest blood pressure... (as you can see I don't know what mine might be or if the number looks remotely like this. If Pavel issued a test before allowing me up the hill based on this - I may as well return to my home...)

88 the skier's heart rate when a bit busier than at rest (the above claim of lack of medical knowledge applies heer too)

35 a number representing the skier's level of diabetic state or not. (there must be a numerical relation to this state (and again my knowledge is lacking and non existant here)).

234-5678 a telephone number for which emergency medical information could be attained for the skier in sudden need of help.

195 the skier's typical weight so that his DIN can be set properly.

So these numbers are all pertaining to the individual and if sewn into his jacket he could receive help of the medical type if needed. But I am afraid I would fail terribly any test of this knowledge at the lift ticket counter. These are things that would be discouvered at the emergency room - if I lived long enough to get there. The saving the money part of the quizz comes from the skier learning the numbers and if need be he could do what might be needed to get himself in top physical shape. This in itself will make for a fun and healthy ski season - while saving money which an emergency may bring upon him.

Mike

Mike :roll:

Hint 1: With both your answers you are very very close to getting the skis. Problem should I send one to Mike and the other to Ellistine?

Hint 2: It is all about skis!

Hint 3 : The last value will serve you all your life once you know how to use it. In fact I predict that all skiers reading this thread will use this knowledge all their life and even thank you two for making me "reveal" this number. They will remember thre source of this value evry time they get new ski!
I promise both of you that once you will have correct values you will sleep very well at night!

Hint 3: Ellistine you are good! Now think what every skier must consider when buying a new ski!

I mean EVERY skier! Get that and the Mutix are yours!!!

I had a dream last night.........

Hint 2: It is all about skis!

Pavel, I expect the dream you had was more about how the quizz is nearing conclusion since you say we are both very close.

My amo supply is becoming very low so once again I will take aim. And since it is all about the skis I'll leave emergency phone numbers, alpine code, etc out of this.

1. Ski specifications as to size: 106/65/97
Tip width, say 106mm
Waist width, say 65
Tail width , say 97 mm

2. Ski length 170cm distance from tip to tail of the ski

3. Turn Radius say 15 meters, this being the radius of the circle the ski will travel when set on edge.

4. 6.5 my DIN seting ;The DIN setting which helps keep us safe and free from costly injuries resulting fropm falls where the ski comes with us. This produces twisted or broken joints. Based on The skier's weight, age, ability level, and boot size this number will help the binding release the ski when undue forces are exerted.

5. The flex index for the ski, say 70 N/cm for longer skis would be fairly stiff. A ski like this would work well on ice (holding well and turn easily) but would be demanding in the mogals. A softer flex ski (say 180 in length with a 60N/cm flex index) would work well in tight mogals but a ski with a length of 205 and the same flex index would work like a "truck" in the same bumps. This ski flex index info was found in the October 1979 issue of SKI on page 115.


Therefore the comparison to buying a home and ski purchase, I believe is to consider the application of the ski we chose. If we want to go for mogals we want a ski suitable to that function. Choosing the right ski will keep us happier and safer for sure.

... and that's it for now ... :!:

Mike :roll: (Had to edit as I left out an actual # for the DIN !!!

re-edit:... I was just re-thinking Hint # 2. It's all about the skis....

DIN is all about the skier and not about the skis. Whether I ski on Atomic 180's or Head 160's my DIN is the same because my height, weight ability are about the same on any given day. DIN is all about the skier !!

Therefore my # 4 is now changed to 7 pounds or 3.2 kg and this represents the ski's weight for the pair. Longer the ski the heavier. I remember testing a demo ski and thought how heavy this ski was! It was an Atomic Metron which was highly regarded . But to my learning body these things were heavy and required a lot of ablilty and strength to ski well.

...now... I'm done (for now...) :-)

Mike

I'll tell you one thing, It'll be a lot cheaper to send a pair of skis to Mike than to me!

Hint 3: Ellistine you are good! Now think what every skier must consider when buying a new ski!

I can think of lots of things to consider when buying new skis but I can't make these into a number;

Where will I be skiing - on piste, off piste, ski park, restaurant cruising etc?
How much am I willing to spend?
Is the ski a current model or a previous season?
What discount is available?
Am I able to test the ski?
Am I a Bode Millar fan or a Benni Raich fan (to choose the make of ski - I must be an Anja Paerson fan with my Salomons)?
How often am I going to use them - should I hire instead?
Am I a he or a she?
What do the reviews say
And most importantly - are they better than my mates?

Ellistine;

{I can think of lots of things to consider when buying new skis but I can't make these into a number;}

Sure you can turn these things into numbers ... I hope you're not valuing quality sleep time as more value than the great Pavel sleepless night inducing quizz.!! Just think how much longer the ski season has continued... look at how we have put so much thought into this and the things we have learned.

OK .. take a nap ... and then come up with some matching numbers!!! These skis are well worth some lost sleep right now... you can sleep all summer and be rested up for some quality ski time in the Alps !!! The quizz continues ....

Mike

:P

Could it be. . . When to buy the ski? It could explain the "gaussian probablility." The number could be the optimum dates. For example: month numbers 4-9. And of course the high point on the curve would be at the beginning of the season.

My guess is: we will all be stunned at the simplicity of this! After all how hard can it be if 95% of all good skiers know it? ;) He just likes to give us beginners a a hard time. ;)

So, here is my list, (I feel bad jumping in this late:)

1. Ski lenght (168). Does this one really need an explantion? There are too many variables.

2. Radius (14.6m). This gives a general idea of how "sharply" the ski will turn.

3. Sidecut (114-68-99). Determines how the ski "rides" on the surface(ie. floats in powder, or carves in groomed)

4. Edge bevel (2 degrees). Controls how well the cuts.

5. Dates to purchase! Expained above.

Yep, it is really grasping, but hey what else can you do? :)

I have a couple of ideas but I'm pretty much on empty;

When you buy a house you look at the initial price, taxes, legal fees, etc..

With the house it would be 'Can I afford it?'

Ellistine you are good! Now think what every skier must consider when buying a new ski!

With the ski it might be 'Am I good enough for it?' so perhaps it's my ability level.

Buying skis that are designed to match your own skiing ability will help with your skiing and also stop you spending more money on features that you will not benefit from.

The other thought I had could be to do with exchange rate. I recently bought some new bindings from the US and even with the postage costs they worked out cheaper than buying from the UK due to the strong pound.