J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

One in six Britons on a ‘ski’ holiday never actually set foot on the slopes, reveals a poll by Moneysupermarket.com.

To many Europeans ski holiday means to see snow and take lots of pictures and yes drink!
Skiing is just an excuse!

The European Team will have first chance to present their point of view!

You all have 2 days to prepare.

If you read the posted message from the Queen, you will no doubt understand the controversy it has created.

Let us face it skiers in the Americas (US Canada) are different from European skiers. Not better,,,just different.

We have prepared a series of debates to illustrate how these two groups have varied perceptions.

Each week a new debating topic will be posted and on Monday to Tuesday the panel members will present their viewpoints.On the following days the "audience" can offer their opinions and perhaps comment on the positions of each team.

The panel members have been selected. They have been preparing themselves and are ready for the first international internet debate. Tune in on Monday!

Ski boot buckle sequence.

They will not tell you this in the store. Most skiers do not realize that there is a correct way to "tighten" ski boot buckles.

Let us assume you have correct socks.
You have sprinkled a little baby powder or Dr. Scholl's foot powder in boot and now your foot is in boot toasty warm.

First mistake 90% of skiers do is tighten buckets to maximum in ski chalet.

In chalet set buckles at minimum setting.
Start with first buckle nearest toe.
This buckle is just for show and overlap tongue. Always set this buckle to minimum.

The second buckle which is over arch again set at minimum. This is the buckle which often causes problems since too many skier over torque it. Try it on your boots. You will note a very interesting fact. Focus on the rivets. As you over torque this specific buckle the rivet will push down often de-forming shell. You now have a serious pressure point.

This second buckle's function is to push foot arch down and to create a "wrap" around arch area. Never but never over tighten this buckle. You will not ski better.

The crucial two buckles are the next two buckles. The one going diagnonal towards ankle is key! It retains your foot ie heel in correct position.

The top and last buckle is also very important since it contributes to your lateral rigidity.


I never but never tighten my buckles much in the chalet. Most of the time I do one or two easy runs with no buckles done.Yes no buckles on!
This allows my boots to say hello to my feet. It allows my feet to "mate" with my boots and it allows my brain to let the skis go by themselves.
I call these my "warm-up runs" This allows also my feet muscles to set in their place and blood is pumped into them for the coming, "fun"! It is very much like warming up your car engine before you "go-for-it"

Now I am ready to "fly"! I set my buckles for the day and never touch them again until 5PM.

Try this sequence.

With all the respect due to Skidaddle , may I suggest some corrections.

The "canting" is actually upper cuff adjustment so that as skidaddle note your leg and body is correctly aligned with boots.
Here how you do this. You need another person to underatke this.

Untithten both side ankle level screws.( so called canting screws).

While wearing shorts put on boots. Mark the mid point of you knees with felt marker.

Take a plumb line and place line on mark on knee.Flex forward, while someone is holding the line against mark you made. The end of plumb line has a weigthed marker. Note where this marker rests.
I am sure you will note that on ski boot front there is a thin line right in the center.The plumb line merker should be 3-5 mm MEDIAL to this line. ie inside.Thus you line up knees to center of boot,,,,not ankles.

If this is so, tighten both ankle screws or adjustment screws. DO not overtighten.

You do this once every ski season. Never again touch these screws unless you get a "re-tune" of your knees.


Now for the flex adjustment, which is the rear screw near upper boot cuff. Often you have just two options soft or hard. Several parameters go into selecting the correct option for you. I can not in this short post go through all these parameters ( see ski tune up class on boot adjustments in this site). However based on the boots you have and my "projected" estimate of your skiing level(if you were expert you would not ask these questions)may I suggest the soft flex.

Most if not all modern skis need gentle fore /aft pressure and you do not need "muscle" skis at your level. Once you have chosen this soft option,,,DO NOT SWITCH the setting during the day. This is an error. As you ski your brain will "register" how your muscular action controls your skis. By you changing the interface setting between ski/boot/feet will confuse the brain. You will have to re-learn this ski feel!

Very few boots have "lean adjustment" This is an altogether other option. Often this is also called "angle of attack" Let us not get into this since it involves, geometry, physics and other concepts.

The "supermacro" is marketing jargon for, as Skidaddle so well note fine buckle adjustment. Most ski boot buckles have an inner screw system so that by turning the male buckle part the shaft can be extended.


I hope this helps you.

Now one question for you!

Do you know the correct sequence for tighting ski boots?

Now to really make you think.

Which buckles are most important?

I never realized I talk so much. I did not even realize we were "monitored"! Is that what those number stand for!

All I can say it is the drugs! ( I did have an over-dose of morphine while in hospital and some strange "people" visited me!"

I really am a very quiet, academic in real life! Really.

I will try to keep quiet and let Jan, Bandit, Ellistine et all keep chat alive!

Freeezywater,

You have this "mind-set" in all areas. The person who buys the most powerful laptop yet uses 10% of its potential.

The person who buys the Porsche 911 yet never drives in country roads.

The person who buys that PDA yet never uses all its functions.

So it is in skiing. The mind set is the following. I want to be the best. I want others to "respect" me and think at a glance that I am the best. Stores that advantage of such persons.


Skiers have one criteria and only one when "showing respect" to another skier. It is CAN YOU SKI EFFECTIVELY!

Watching a skier do two turns tells me all I have to know. Regardless of terrain, steepness, weather. You can not cheat in skiing!
Buying "top of the line" ski equipment, thinking you will have a "fast track" to expert level is wrong!

It reveals more your insecurity and desire for status.

I vary my pack-sack contents depending where I ski and conditions.

In Rockies, Tatras, Alps I carry full survival mode.

In smaller resorts I carry just enough so that I do not have to stop. I ski from 8:30 to 5 PM! I bring lots of drinks and nut mix.

I am beginning to do a lot of video work ( not the UTUBE type). Real professional technical, educational material so I carry a great deal of video material.

Gavin,

I never have all the material with me WHILE i ski, however on my car I have a Thule in which I have a "survival" pack just in case.

It has helped me and my family more than once.

In one huge snow storm, I helped a long stretch limo get out of ditch. What was amazing was the "stars" inside had no winter coats, no extra food ( lots lots of booze) and were 15 minutes from hypothermia! The North Face sleeping bag was greatly appreciated, as was the hot soup I made in seconds. ( that is another story you would like)

You are never more powerful than nature. The sooner people realize this the better "prepared" you will be.