J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

Trencher,

Who is that young lad on the picture to the left?

You and Jan with your pictures are giving "bad" image of "older" skiers!

I am actually so happy to "meet you" on this site. I can feel that there are others like me.It reminds me of the saying, "growing old is mandatory,,,staying young of heart is optional"

So when my kids "ask" me to slow down, or not do flips with ski poles or not "fly" down the ski trails on my bike I will refer them to you! I can blame you and Jan for the bad influence!

Stay young!

Well the contest is over.

The winner is Mike by far! His wife will be happy that this contest is over since she has not "seen" him for two weeks.

His comments and observations were amazing.

I will be sending Mike the polar fleece Spyder jacket to him this week! I am sure he will have many stories to tell his fellow skiers about how he "obtained this jacket"!

An honorable mention must be made to Bandit who came to his aid. As all good skiers the help, when he was down was greatly appreciated. I am sure when Bandit comes to Canada, Mike act as a "special" tour guide"

Another very special "honorable" mention is needed for some amazing keen eyed observations by Jan.His precision and analysis of some of the ski items "raised" the bar for all to respect! I am sure he could have given Mike some serious competition , but his priorities at the moment were closer to home!

Ellistine ( who I thought would give serious competition to Mike) now is starting a collection of product booklets, flyers, etc... so that when we repeat this quizz in 2010 he will be well prepared!

Seriously ,,,if you want to be a well informed, well educated skier,,you must begin to read all the literature on ski equipment.You must learn to understand why some products last several generations while others seem to disappear!

That Look Nevada bindings that I wanted all to see,,,was a binding that revolutionized binding design in the 1960's and if you look at the modern Rossi racing binding it is the same design!

Bravo Mike! Your jacket is coming via Purolator! Wear it proudly.

Trencher,
What is beautiful to watch is the quick shift from one edge to another.
No hesitation,,no dead spots!

No side "windshield whipper turns"

The modern ski design has made skiing so "dynamic"!!!

Thanks for post!

Wow!!!!

Those pictures really helped!

Burt bindings were alpine bindings which had a "elastic-spring loaded) plate. In 1975 they were the most expensive plate bindings at 125$.

Finally Mike you got the ski tip and ski base material! Omesoft skis were all fiberglass and foam! Yes they lost their camber after one year if you were an aggressive skier!

There always was a "competition" among French and Austrian skis! The Austrians stayed with traditional wood core skis.Hard to break and while French in the 70's experimented with fiberglass and foam cores! Lots of delaminations!!!!

Great work!!!

Seems clearer that you will be the winner Mike! I will be preparing package soon, but I think you "owe" Bandit a thank you!

Ellistine was just too busy with his "Octoberfest" party and Jan is in the middle of a residence change so we will forgive them for not spending the hours you have !!!!

I will wait until Tuesday to name you 'winner'!!!!

Pavel

I have downloaded several pictures on http://www.flickr.com/photos/skitune07

Hope this help you Mike!!!!

Sunday

[Fixed the URL - cheers, Admin]

As I look around in this class,I see that we have one young lady who is officially registered in this class. She is very quiet taking all sorts of notes! Since she is younger than many of the other classmates she sits in the very back of the class.
But rare is a young lady who is interested in ski tuning at her age and I predict that soon you will hear a great deal about her!

I also notice that once in a while there are others ladies who "peek" into the class to see why everyone is having so much fun!

This class is specifically for women and how to tune ski boots!

I am about to shock some of you,, so brace yourselves. Ladies the most important parameter you must consider when buying ski boots is functionality! The famous matra, "form follows function" is so true here.

Please do not buy a boot because it goes well with your suit!

Please do not buy ski boots because it has soft fur liner!

Please do not buy boots because they have same graphics as your skis!

Of course never just buy boots because they are designed by Salvatore Feragamo or Manolo Blahnik!

Assuming you have done all the correct testing and fitting, often you will find a boot that fits you very well but that last top buckle can not be set!

Let me explain why this is so and how to modify this buckle.

We all accept that women are "different" than men. Now I see all the smiles and knowing glances from my males students in class so I will not go into detail on this topic. There is however one major difference which has direct implications boot fitting !

It is the gastronemius muscle! Better know as the calf muscle! You know that muscle just above your heel going up to your knee.
Well women typically have a lower insertion point near heel and tend to be wider near heel!

If you find a boot that fits you very well and price is great, yet that buckle does not close,,buy boot!

The solution is simple. Actually there are two solutions.

Solution 1

The wire loop that attaches to serrated part of buckle can be taken out with pliers. Most are just pressure fitted. Then take a good quality hanger! Yes just a hanger and make another loop hat is longer!

Insert into buckle. Voila!!!
All my wife's boots had to be modified this way!

Solution 2.

You can also drill out buckle from side position and just place buckle closer to center of boot! Use a spot rivet and set into boot shell!


Many women also complain of "motion" near heel as they ski! This is due to their narrow heels! No problem. For $1 you can get kidney shaped pads which can be glued to boot liners just below ankle area!

The last "problem" deals with warmth! Many women complain about cold feet! They assume it has to do with the "poor" boots!

There are several causes for cold feet!
The most common is using too much pressure on buckles.You do not need very very tight buckles to ski better!

Another is having too thick socks or wearing "mother's" knitted socks!

Another is having the "Vogue" look! What you have no idea what this is? It is having very very tight ski pants that may look great on the runway or in magazines but on the slope all it does is drain the heat away from legs and foot!

I was not going to mention the greatest silly reason why some skiers have cold feet,,,but I still see this happening!
Placing boots in car over night! So in the morning the boots are like a fridge!!!!


I know I am going to start a whole debate on this next point,,but it must be said!

Women you must put on your own boots. You must learn to put buckles on be yourself so that you can feel the correct tension!

I know,,, I know 99% of the modern skiers put on their own boots but I still see some men buckling their wife's ski boots! You are not helping them! I still see sales persons in ski stores buckling ski boots on the skier! You are the only one who feels what the buckles are doing,,,,you buckle your own boots!

May I suggest also that if you do suffer from cold feet, to buy a small hair dryer and "heat up" the boots for 2 minutes in the morning just like you would do for a thermos!

I hope this helps you all have warm feet and do some great skiing!

We are getting close to the end of the course. Please send your comments, suggestion for better classes via PM.

Also if I have not covered a topic you are interested in, please again remind me to do so!

Soon it will snow ( in Norther Hemisphere) and you will all be off skiing. Enjoy yourselves and thanks for taking this course!

If ever you are in North America,,in the eastern part and you see an "old man' with a great smile ask yourself, "is that Pavel"? Just look at his skis and if they are "cutting" the hill,,,,then it just might be him!

Well the contest is nearly over and there is one skier that "stayed up at night" trying to get all the items. Mike is the man!

He nearly got the minimum number of items...but so far....

I am asking all you skiers to help him get his free jacket. I will make some close up pictures of the "problem" items,,,if you can help him identify them.Perhaps if ever you are in Canada he might help you as a ski guide!

So view these pictures9 to be posted on Sunday) and identify at least 15 ski items and he has his jacket or else I will donate it to some young poor racer!

Nessie,

Sunshine is a very unique ski enter in many ways.
The base operations is not where you park your car. You must take a gondola to get to base lodge.

It is "hidden" from all civilization.

Many varied runs so you have runs for all types of skiers. What is very intereesting is the they are "spread out" so that you do not have a concentration of skiers in one area!

May I suggest you bring along a pack sac with drinks and food since cafeteria is small!

Also At end of day rather than take gondola down ,,ski down. Long lomg easy run!

Wait 30 -40 minutes AFTER lifts are closed!
Take some tea or coffee at cafeteria while other skiers go down!

The when everything is quiet,,put on skis and ski down! You will have run to yourself! Bring camera because setting sun view is spectacular on this run!

You will hyave great fun!

Of course you know about the natural hot springs in Banff! At end of day for small sum you can go into huge hot spring pools!!! Great for body!

You will have great holiday!

Oh yes bring lots of sun screen!!!!