Messages posted by : pavelski
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I know that many skiers who read these "chats" think I must be "strange" thinking that skis have a personalities!
It is only when you have 10-20 pairs of skis and you change every few runs that you realize how varied each skis is! Each has its unique qualities! Each gives off some quality that makes your ski run differently. If you let the ski "speak to you" rather than you impose your style, it will tell you many things about your technique! Ellistine, you impressed me when you said you could tell this difference, it meant you are well on your way to becoming a great skier. Ever ski racers talk about a "fast ski"! Same company, same side-cut yet for some unknown reason THAT ski seems to go faster, better!!! I call it the skis "personality" Some race horses seem the same,,,but one has "heart" Sea Biscuit was such a horse! Norther Dancer was such a horse! The VR17's were such skis! |
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Jan,
I forgot to also share with you and all skiers that this concept of "compromise" is so relevant in ski selection! That "all-round" ski is great for some,,,but if you want performance you need a quiver! That is why many skiers over the years "collect" some specific skis for specific conditions! One great powder ski One great Sl ski for those steep icy runs Oh yes one great cruiser when the slopes are closed except for the pros! Thank you for the comment about compromise! Yes all skiers must first decide what their skiing priorities are then get ski which best fits those priorities! To accept to buy a ski only because Pavel, Jan or Keith says ski X is great seem to me not very wise! |
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Jan,
As always you are right! I did forget to mention that rare is the human or ski that is a 10 in all parameters! That is why each of us makes up a set of priorities for our skis and mates! The problem with many skiers ( and future husbands and wives) is that they do not even know what they want before they get into a relationship! Often the external "cosmetics" are the sole criteria. Now as far as "perfect" wife....Jan pss between you and me I think I have found one! So you see it is possible! And she is as fanatic as me in skiing! Jan send me your email via PM since I want to send you some picts of my hike up a ski resort today! I am tired of doing physio indoors, heard there was snow so I sneaked to ski resort without telling kids and physician! |
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Seems so simple!
But it is the simple things in life that often hid complexities we soon discover once we look deeper! In ski evaluation ( like in most evaluation situations be they; IQ, job performance, university selection, or house selection) there are two essential concepts you must understand! They are basic to all evaluations! Two approaches and only two are used! A criterion approach or a normative approach! The first ( criterion) involves having a set criterion or standard as a reference! Let me give you an example. Let us assume that ski X because of its design or core material allows slalom racers to perform much better. Thus all racers using this ski, get a -1 second timing on a given race course! Notice I say ALL racers! Very soon word will spread and racers will want this ski! Other ski companies will try to "copy" this new design or use the same core materials! It has become the "reference" ski! It is the standard! All other skis are compared to it! We evaluate all other SL skis "in terms of this X ski"! This does happen! Some skis because of a new design or core material far exceeds other skis! That is what ski engineers try to do with magic high molecular ski bases, or carbon fiber layers, etc... The second ski evaluation approach is called, "norm-referenced" approach! In this approach you take 100 skis (or more) and in one evaluation setting you compare them! That is you see which is best for turning, for hold edge on ice,for stability on speed! Does that sound familiar? Think of your schooling! The famous first second and third student! In my case we got stickers with "star" for first, "heart" for second and Happy face for third! If you were like me, you never did get a sticker because you dreaming of skiing! We compare most students in class like we do skis! Seems simple! Two approaches with two distinct ways! However "other" variables "come into play" in this process! For example the ski graphics! Nothing to do with ski performance, but I know that some skiers buy skis, "because they say RACING"! Others buy skis because this or that racer won the gold medal with these skis! In the classroom often the student who is most polite or better dressed seems to get "better' marks! Better still some skiers buy skis because the marketing literature speak about, "great for aggressive, manly expert skier who jumps off cliffs" So if you have an ego issue this is a perfect way to prove that you are.....! These are all called "extraneous" variables that have nothing to do with ski performance, but they are powerful influencing elements. In fact ski marketing is based on this! For the serious skier that wants to get a ski that fits his/her needs,,,you must put aside those "other" factors! I believe in the first evaluation approach and I do all my evaluations using this approach! Let me tell you why! Pretend that I have 200 skis! All old fashion( old school) narrow skis in the 201-207 cm range! Sure I can rate them from "best" to .... for that group but does it answer or meet my skiing needs? I think you get the point! Another example will really make the point! I was just reading in an ski industry report that the "fats" (wide softer ski) are being sold to the general public more and more!I can take 200 fats and compare them and rate them from "best" to.... but if I ski on hard icy conditions most of the time what relevance is the best "fat" ski for me? You must prepare your own "criteria" by which you will evaluation skis! Now if you cannot do so due to inexperience, wait before buying! First find out what you want! Then evaluate various skis based on your criteria! Then buy the skis! Hope this helps some of you find skiing happiness! |
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Skiing season will begin soon and some of us are looking for new skis!
Seems so complex with all the skis around and all promising better, faster skiing. Rather than suggest one model or one type, let me suggest a way to select skis that will help you for the rest of your skiing life! Think of ski selection very much like trying to "select" a girl/boy/man/women who should share your life! I do not mean here an "adventure" but a solid lifetime relationship! You see I believe all skis have a personality, very much like humans! The trick is to find a ski that is compatible to your skiing needs! In this brief presentation let me help you in your ski mating search! The first step involves you being honest about your skiing competence and needs! Yes it is difficult to look at oneself in the mirror and really "see" how we are as skiers! Ask yourself three questions; 1. What level of competence am I? 2. Where do I want to ski most of the time? 3. How committed am I to this skiing relationship? Then you must educate yourself about skis. That is read about skis! A small personal comment here, if you do not mind! The worst place to read about skis is in ski company marketing booklets, ads etc...Not very objective! Ski tests reviews also have their problems since many have symbiotic relationships with ski companies! (They are supported via ads by ski companies) The one site which I respect is Realskier.com! They tell it as it is! Rare is the ski evaluation that says that this or that ski is NOT good for......! They do! Peter Keelty is in my books the most honest, up front ski evaluator around! I am preparing a small chat about how most ski evaluations are flawed with specific examples!Coming soon!!! In the above site they clearly tell you what parameters they use to evaluate skis! May I suggest that you also use these to find what you are looking for!(source is Realskier.com) Here they are. 1.Carve ( clean smooth) 2.Smooth drift 3.Accurate 4.Stable 5.Easy to turn 6.Straight run 7.Quickness 8.Rebound 9.Lightness 10Light weight 11.Forgiving 12.Relaxing 13.Terrain specific I am sure you are having questions about what some of these mean! That is your quest now! Learn about the personality of skis! Like humans they have their own "personalities"! The more you know about your personality and the ski's personality,,the better will the mating be! I doubt anyone will enter into a relationship ( a serious one) based on a "friend's recommendation or an internet recommendation ! Why do it for skis! Your skiing needs are different than mine! The skis I love and cherish are because of my personality! I am sure Mike, Jan, Bandit or Ellistine might not enjoy my skis! They have different skiing needs and perhaps ski in differnt terrain! You must know what you want in a ski first! If you do not know what you want then rent for a while until you can at least know what those parameters mean! Like in human relationships,,,skiing relationship are based on being honest on your needs, abilities and priorities! Those "marriages" that last a long time are the ones in which both partners enter into a relationship knowing what is "offered" And believe me when you find that skiing mate that "complements" you,,,it is heaven! You and the ski are in sync! You fly! So take the time to learn about ski personalities! Take the time to learn what you can do and want to do! When you are finally ready to "walk down the ..." you know what you have is for a long long time! Hope this helps some of you find your perfect skiing mate! |
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Mike, I am happy that the snail mail still works! Enjoy the jacket and I am sure you will have many stories to tell your fellow skiers about how you won this jacket!
I understand Ellistine is buying all sorts of books on skiing and will soon have his bar wall full of "old"2005-2006 ski equipment! Pavel |
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Tom ,
You are a dangerous man! You now have awakened my desire to test this new mode of skiing! My friends and wife thought I was "strange" when I mounted two ski bindings on one ski! Yes it was strange in the 1970's, now if I had just widened the ski,,,voila I would have had "boards"! Will contact you for more specific details! Pavel |
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Just like in any activity or sport you have to first do stretching and rotational activity!
I like to start with head and neck first by rotating my head! Then I do arms and shoulders! Hips and back are next! Finally the tights and knees! The idea is to allow muscles and joints to "be prepared"! The very best way also is to always ski easy down an very easy run first, regardless how good you are! Ski loose allowing skis to glide with no major effort! As you go up chair lift skis in vertical position! If in gondola, I will do isometric activity! Hope this helps you! |
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