Messages posted by : pavelski
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Several persons have asked for clarification on this lesson.
Let me try another analogy. A triangle is the bases many structures because of its inherent strength. The Pyramids, bridge supports, high rise buildings comes to mind! In ski tuning think of this geometry figure with skis in the apex and boots and bindings at its base. All work together ( or are supposed to). The binding and boot adjustment or tuning are done once when you buy them. If all is well you should not have to do any "tuning" of these two again. Remember what ski tuning is. A modification of ski equipment to get the most in ski effectiveness based on your needs. We all have "unique feet" those we must modify some aspect of the boots to adapt them to our feet. That is tuning. In my case my boots have in the liner surgical cuts to take foam out here and there. One buckle is moved over and I have installed a second power strap on the top lip of the linner since I tend to lose the power straps all the time! Once this is done,,,I can sleep with my boots or go dancing with them. They are like slippers! I received most feedback on the issue of binding placement. I will call all the ski companies and see if I can get a clear statement from them on this issue. I repeat what I stated previously. There seems to be no "agreement" on this issue due to all the major changes in ski design, ski performance, ski interface issues. Each company seems to have chosen different options. In the case of Atomic they have a series of pre-set screw placement marks on a plastic top. Then allow some limited adjustment once bindings are screwed on. To see if I could "deviate" from their suggested placements I took the plastic top piece off. Horror ,,,,space just air if you go 5 mm towards tip. That means the screw would not hold! Be warned! Elan has a more "flexible" system which allows more play, thus you can move bindings more. There is a side level which 'clamps' down two seratted horizontal shanks! Rossi has for the very best skiers aluminum plate thus you can drill your own holes if you want! As to the question where to place bindings. I would for 90% of skiers let technician do it,,,,but I would have a discussion first. If in doubt about competence of technician,,,move on. This is why I recommend for new skiers to rent until you know what you want! Rental bindings have a greater range of adjustments so you can play with where the units go! Since a lot of the skis I test have such units I do play with them and note what is acceptable for me! I do not want to impose my choice, but I will via PM for the class students give them advice! That is why they "selected" this course! That individualized attention! Regardless where you place bindings what you all must understand is that all three components work together to give you pleasure. If you do not take the time to do this tuning , they may not work together and even be dangerous! It takes a competent technician who thinks and understands this to correct problems! Fixing one unit ( boots) and not looking how it interfaces with skis or bindings is just sheer incompetences! I hope this is a better class and has cleared the air as far as unit interface and the Lego analogy! One last comment. Never but never trust the markings or reference marks on boots , skis or bindings. Measure yourself ! Check! I have seen center markings on a pair of skis in different positions. I have seen DIN scale markings "moved" so please lean toward safety. Check and measure yourself or get someone who knows to so! That is why some skiers wanted to learn! |
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Lesson Goal : To understand the interaction of various components in order to produce effective skiing.
I know you have all the tools ready and are anxious to get hands dirty. I know you want to start to cut, file and wax, but you must first understand how boots, skis, bindings and skis all interact to produce effective skiing! You can not have one without the other! That is why this class is called the Lego Approach. Think of all your ski equipment like blocks of Legos, each fitting into each other thus making a tower or house! Each contributing for that final form! As an effective tuner you must not think that you can build with one block! That is tuning side edges and ski base! You must think of tuning: boots, bindings, skis! Later in class we will look into each one in more detail but this introduction is to present the concept of integration, of interface and correct adjustment of each component! Boots I will assume you have the correct boots for you! Now you must learn to tune boots ( in later classes this will be done) for you! That is set flex adjustment and lateral side cuff! ( that round screw near ankle) Of course you all have orthotic soles! If not go right now to store and get some. You will thank me! Bindings I am sure you are wondering what is the issue with bindings, just set DIN and go off skiing. Well sorry to tell you this but there is in the ski business now a whole controversy about ski binding placement! Where do bindings go in reference to skis. In the old days two methods were used; chord line mid point or running surface mid point! Now it seems there are no standards. A recent article in Realskier site noted that for one ski company ( Atomic) different models had different binding positions! Over the past three years whenever I test skis, I first measure and see where the company reps placed the bindings! There seems to be no rule! I do not have the answer but I will share with you how I place my bindings. I suggest you "play" with placement until you feel right! Ski tuning Base - two or three classes on this is coming Edges - three classes on this Waxing - 4 classes on this My point in this class is to make you realize that you must think Lego! Each unit fitting into each other make a sound structure! For homework take you skis and measure the distance form tip to tail. Divide number by 2 and note this point on ski! Then place you boot into binding. Imagine where your big toe would be and where the "ball" of the big toe would be in the boot. Mark the boot on the side part of the shell! This point on boot should align with that first mark you made on ski! Do not panic if it does not. Just PM me and we will discuss solution! |
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In my enthusiasm to start class I forgot to present the objective of the class. Each time we have a class ( every Monday) I will try to tell you what the goal or goals of the class are.
I want you to be critical of me if I do not meet these goals, thus with your feedback I will know if I should modify presentation in terms of;content vocabulary and concepts. For the "younger" participants of this class please feel free to tell me if I go too fast or are too "abstract"! The goals of this class were; 1. For you to know your skis intimately so that any new scratches, cuts, tears, grooves will be noticed right away. 2. To develop your "other" senses while you work. Please accept my shortcomings as far as syntax and spelling. I promise in future to re-read text at least twice. |
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I promised you all that you will great tuners and you will!
Why? Because in this course you will not just learn the tricks in tuning but you will learn to use your senses! You are not robots. You are not machines so from day one you must let your brain take in all the sensory input that occurs while tuning! Let me give you 2-3 examples. Most average tuners see results of tuning. I want you to learn to smell, feel, and hear while you tune! When you take out a burr with a file ( which is a no no). or if you have not done the proper preparatory work before, you will hear a distinct sound! A file has a wonderful uniform sound as it caresses the steel edges. If you hot a bad section of a ski, that sound will change very much like a violin changes its pitch. You must learn to listen! Before doing any tuning most average tuners look at the ski edges for dings! I will ask you to close your eyes and with index finger gently pass this finger over the ski edge. I mean with minimum pressure! Feel every imperfection! Feel the change in "sharpness". Try to visualize that burr! I have tool called SKS racing tuner which has a blade 3 times more hard than most skis. As I pass this tool on the ski edge it gives off an odor which is unique! I will try to bottle it for you so you can smell it!!!! It tells me a great deal! Of course I will ask you to burn a ski base so that first you will learn the warning signs of a "too hot" iron but also to allow you to "experience" that smell which comes from hot plastic base! Waxes also have distinctive smells! I am surely not asking you to place your noses into wax fumes, but I am asking you to learn to be aware of all these sensory inputs! They tell you a great deal , once you know what they mean! So as our first exercise I want you to get to know your skis as if it was a new friend! Do not just look at it! Feel it! Try to find all the tiny scratches with your fingers. See with your eyes closed if you can identify your right and left ski! Tell me how you did this! Because unlike what skiers will tell you there is a right and left ski! Now smell the ski! I can identify at least 4 evident odors! That is before you even tune them! Now look at the ski! I mean LOOK at it clinically! There are so many signs which are there if you take the time to look. It is like being in a forest and looking for that path! That tiny space at tip could be the begin of de-lamination! That space between the binding and the top of the ski may be a screw loosening! That scratch in binding may be worn boot sole. That darkened ski base near edge may be an edge that is rusting due to water getting into the core! A hint. Many of the modern skis have an internal plate which acts as an anti-vibration element, however at the very end of this plate near tip just ahead of the front binding there is a weak area. Many skis break or de-laminate there. Check at the top for tiny cracks! I will send you if you want a top level racing ski with such a break! Once you have seen this once you will know what to look for! Often if you hit a rock the ski edge bends inwards! You will feel this bend before you will see it! What I am asking you to do is get to know your ski so that in the dark you can identify it! I ask students to select their skis in the dark before they even begin to tune the ski! You must know all aspects of the ski so that when a new fissure, a new color appears you see it! So take the time to "know" your ski! Really know it! Whenever I have a new ski, I do some basic measurements so for the past 15 years I have used the same weights and same procedures to get the new ski's flex, torsion, camber, etc... I do not expect you now to do so, but as you get better and better you will see that is important to determine how a ski "performs" on standard bench test over time! I want you to learn to look at your ski in a new more clinical fashion! I want then for every tuning session to always examine the ski for any changes BEFORE you do any tuning! Soon it will be second nature! Here is what a typical poor tuner will do! Take ski put in vice and start A, B, C' etc... Then perhaps discover a small separation at tails or a small sidewall deflection. Always clean ski and look and feel ski! A small comment. I know you are hesitating, wondering if you can do all these complex procedures. Believe in yourself and trust me they are not that complex! I will be with you every step of the way! You can reach me via PM any time! Also there is not one way to do anything. I am not an "expert". I am just giving you my way and if you find a better way go ahead and use it! Never do anything blindly! Question me! Ask me to be more clear! I warn you, sometimes I will ask you all to do something that well is ridiculous!!! Stop me! I may just checking to see if you are not asleep! If I ask you to apply wax to the TOP of the ski, I hope you will stop and say, "that Pavel is silly,,,,,and.....) I do not want robot tuners. I want smart, intelligent tuners who some day will find new way better ways to do things! Finally great tuning is a mix of science and art! How much of each you will discover as we go along! Now enjoy getting to know your new friend the ski! A small comment to my two friends who are related, you know brother and sister. Do this "getting to know your skis alone" and if your parents ask you why you are in the dark with your skis, tell them it is a introductory ritual Pavel requires! Enjoy! |
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Trencher,
You brought up an interesting point that many skiers at the Karma level tell me, that is how time and speed become relative! I forgot to mention these two points in the presentation. Thank you for mentioning them. If you know a little about modern physics time was thought to be a constant reference ie time is fixed! Seems it is not! We will not get into that aspect of time since it is far above my head but time as when you ski does become "elastic"! Hard to describe to someone who has not experienced it but it has been "noted"! What is even more interesting, and this has been documented is that "speed" or more precisely perceived speed is also "elastic". In the karma state the skier is so focussed on his/her task that all other "secondary sensory" input is channeled by the brain to other brain sites. It is a feeling of intense yet slower speed in which you seem to experience all input! I describe this like taking a flashlight in which you have two modes; a narrow beam or a wide beam. In the wide beam all sorts of extraneous sensory input floods the brain ( in some cases confuses it). In the narrow beam the brain focuses on only the essential elements and thus it seems like you are going slower! Strange wonderful feeling. That is why I call it the Karma phase! Sport psychologist now have training sessions to prepare skiers for such states! Another feeling or experience which I forgot to mention is that at this state your skis part of you. It may sound strange but I do not perceive skis as inanimate objects. To me they are "alive" and talk to me! Now before you send for the jacket please let me explain. It is as if the skis are an extension of my body and whatever I ask them to do, they do it like my fingers, like my eyes and mouth! Wonderful feeling! That is why I stress great tuning. To me it is a sign of respect! It is like having a great ride on a race horse or a great car race on a race circuit. They have performed to your expectations and more. Now you must "groome" the horse, you must clean the car and yes you must tune the skis! It hurts me when I see skiers after a great day on slopes throw their skis in car truck and rush to bar! I take the time to wipe them, roll them in a blanket and tuck them away! Again thanks for the comments! |
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All of you , I am sure are aware of the Psycho-Sexual Stages presented by Freud! Also if, you are a parent the famous Psycho-Social Stages presented Erickson.
A lesser known body of work will interest you since you are all skiers. A sports psychologist has been studying skiers and the psychological evolution that skiers go through as they "mature" Here are his findings. It is up to you to determine what stages of evolution you are at and if this "theory" applies. Stage 1: Fear / Flight Stage This is the most basic and instinctual stage and is related to our primitive urges to "survive"! In this stage the sheer desire to survive the day takes over! We are torn between just throwing the skis off, finding the nearest garbage and getting rid of the skis. It is fear which dominates this stage. Fear of the lifts! Fear of the slope! Fear to get hurt and fear to get laughed at ( if you begin skiing as adult). Children get by this stage very quickly since they are learn new activities all the time, so initial failure is not an ego deflating issue. Adults and teen agers however may "plateau" at this stage if they are not carefully weaned into the activity! As in the initial Erickson's stage of TRUST/ MIS TRUST where the child learns to trust his parents so in the FEAR/FLIGHT stage a new skier develops bi polar attractions to skiing. The further away they are to the ski center, the less the fear and flight tendencies are! However as they get to parking lot the "pathological" symptoms come out for the skiers that have not progressed to another stage! The symptoms are; Taking that extra coffee Never having their equipment ready A very long visit to bathroom Waiting for the weather to get better. It is too cold or too hot. You will be able to see such "fixated" skiers on sun-decks at 11 AM or having that long French 3 hour lunch! These skiers will spend hours speaking of their trip but you will never see them on the slope. They will pick resorts that have water parks, wonderful shopping plazas and of course "great night spots"! The physical strain of going down the hill is too much of a burden psychologically and the "other" activities are so much more ego boosting! A famous case in the annals of the MMPI is a young lady who managed to go on a two week ski holiday yet never set a ski down on the slope. She would get to ski resort at 10 AM, spend at least 1 hour getting boots on and preparing her face for the "cold"! She would go out with skis and notice long lift line and wait for it to get shorter. Of course at 12 it was time to eat. She would take some snow throw it on her face and perhaps some on her parka and meet her friends! By 2 lunch was over and the wine had taken its effect so courage level was greater. However the skis were lost. Another hour to find them and in the searching process she would meet potential dates! At 3 PM she was really ready to take her first run! She would wait until the lift lines allowed her to be with the "appropriate" skiers. She felt that since she was going to be with "strangers" for at least 12 minutes she wanted to make the most socially! ( many times the fellow skiers were not acceptable)! If she got to the top, she would notice that her bindings were not on the correct DIN so down she would go in the gondola ( of course with the patroler or ski lift attendant). By 4:30 it was time to quit! More snow in face and into the bar! This behavior continued for several years and was never recognized or diagnosed until her therapist saw her ski lifts which were never punched! The case presented was a female, before I get hate male and "strange" PM from my fellow skiers allow me to say that male case histories will also be presented! Stage 2 The Conquer / Defeat Stage Most skiers graduate to this second stage after two or three ski visit. The second stage of a skier's evolution is note as the psychological inner battle between two opposing forces. Freud called it the ID/EGO battle! We call it the conquer/ defeat battle where the skier has overcome the initial fear of speed, of ice, of height and ego deflating behavior! Now the skier is determined to conquer the beginner run and its steep long long run. There is still an uneasiness lurking below , a feeling that defeat might occur! This is where the sports psychologist begins to analyse the personality of the skier. Some personlity types take in all new situations as a challenge and conquer them. They have done it in the past and are sure they will do it again. This is called positive transference! Yes they will be awkward and fall, but they know ultimately they will conquer the hill, well at least this beginner's run! Others who have never had to "fight" or struggle" to achieve or obtain what they want are more fragile! Seems having the most expensive skis, having the top racing boots, the latest North Face electric IPOD jacket does not provide easy access to the other runs! No amount of saying to lift partner who you know, what luxury car you drive or what great salary you have helps! This is you and the mountain! It is basic human survival context! The mountain is a great leveler. Only those who are willing to have "pain will gain"! Many a neophyte skier lost his/her prestige at this stage! The skier who accepts the initial physical and psychological pain is rewarded into the next stage which causes even more pain! Stage 3 : The challenge / Regression Stage The skier has "conquered" the beginner hill. Practically no falls, well just when the hill throws a curve like a "huge" mound or a "huge" ice patch in the beginner run! The skier discovers that it is great ( less falls) in the morning, but when those damm kids start to make grooves, and huge moguls it is time to take a long break! At one point, like all animals we must leave the nest or burrow so we explore greater challenges like those "other" runs! The skiers discovers a whole new language based on icons and finds they relate to fear levels! That green ( in North America) means out to pasture. Like that is the spot you can avoid lurking predator ice or moguls! Blue icon relates to the ski which is higher. However very soon the skier at this stage discovers that the sky can change very quickly. In the mountains the "be prepared" motto becomes a survival skill! But this icon seems to give some prestige in the bar ( at least more that green) so off he/she goes! Now the struggle begins as the neophyte skier has to constantly chose to challenge or submit to the mountain as he/she is skiing! It is very much like a young soldier who "faces the enemy". No strategies ( note I did not say technique) to survival! No experience to "read" the run! To see where the mines are! At least there are no persons on ski chalet porch watching! This stage of development often is more traumatic than all the other stages since the skier thinks he/she is good but when things do not get better regression sets in! You know that famous "snowplow" even with ultra - carving skis! Or the famous body rotation, mentally willing please God turn! Often many skiers will "plateau" at this stage a never explore the other runs because of that knee, that mortgage to be paided, that weak back! They are called rationalizations for survival! The one I hear the most is, " I am too old for that"! 40% of skiers at this stage accept that the mountain now has a lot to teach them , thus they take lessons! That in itself has negative secondary effects which are manufested in the next stage od evolution! Stage 4: The Impose / Seduce stage There really are just two types of skiers at this stage and they are very clearly diagnosed! Sports psychologist called them the "posers" or the seducers. Let me start with the "poser" since they are the easiest to see and understand. This skier challenges the hill and wants to impose his will! Note that I did not use the /she here because typically this type of skier is male! He works out at the gym, as great physique and no technique! Never mind! With sheer brute strength those skis will do what he wants. Never mind if at end of day thighs are burning, arms feel like 100kg.. back will not allow him to even take that drink! Very few skiers stay at this stage since the mountain makes sure there is always a greater "challenge" a steeper run, a bigger ice patch! Those crosses you see on the side of the hill are all "imposers" who thought they could forces the skis to do what they wanted! Due to a recent accident in America this classification od skier is now known in the MMPI classification as the "Arnold Syndrome"! The other side of the coin is the skier who seduces the skis to do what she wants! Rarely do men do so on the hill! Women take the time to learn the correct technique so that the ski wants to turn to please the skier! This skier stays very shortly at this stage! 5. Stage 5 Ego Centered Stage To me this is the most interesting stage to watch for many reasons which will become apparent! This is the stage when the skier "thinks" he/she is good and there is very little to learn in skiing! This skier tends to ski under chair lifts, in front of ski chalets or wherever there are "others" A book could be written about this skier but I am sure you all have seen this on the slope! Again the mountain holds many surprise for such a skier. Often at the bar such skier will say, " I skied XXXX ( the most steep most challenging run) today" The appropriate retort is yes, but HOW did you ski it? Rarely do you see this skier in a sports therapist's office rather check out the patrol's shed! The mountain has a way of making all of us humble! 6.The Exploration Stage This stage of the evolution is a skier is the most mysterious stage for sports psyclogist since like many animals he/she disappears for long periods of time! That is why it is called the exploration phase. Recently some bright reseachers have inserted GPS instruments and even CAM-recorders to determine where these skier go and what do they do! As a result of these studies I would re-name this stage the "Extreme Stage". Seems skiers must pass a ritual to prove they are more powerful than nature, thus they seek areas, chutes, cliffs, boulders, trees etcc....to confirm that they are invincible! At this stage,,, skiing is not important rather it is the constant proving that, "I was near death therefor I am" Until........ Since many psychologist do not accept this stage as a pure skiing evolutionary stage I will not dwell on this stage! Recent studies have proven that there is great correlation between this skiing stage an other "activities" such as; riding rails in the center of cities, Jumping off towers, racing cars on public streets and riding bikes off cliffs. I suspect the APA will soon create a new classification for such persons at their next conference! An interesting metamorphys occurs at this point for some skiers. The survivors of this stage develope. It is called maturity! They now begin to understand the true essence of skiing and flow into the next stage. 7. Butterfly Stage This term is very appropriate in this context since like a butterfly the skier changes attitude, changes style, and even dress! No longer the follower of images and U Tube moments the skiing becomes "an organic moment"! Let us be honest they are good skiers, but they just lost what skiing really is! This is the stage where the beauty of skiing comes out! Not for the camera, or Warren Miller skiing is done for the self. To learn about the nature! To respect the mountain for allowing him/her to feel a unique state of bliss. Again not to tell all in the bar, nor to see on U Tube but just to know that you and the mountain were in synch! It is that perfect run that no one will know you did but that will last you a life time! 8. The Karma Stage Most skiers have now gone to wayside and will never reach this stage due to; family, business, physical shortcomings yet it is the most rewarding! This stage is noted for its "magic 60"s feeling" You all have seen it! That quiet smile! That raccoon look! That quiet comment while riding the chair! No need to show since all that counts is knowing what the mountain and you did! It is a short description since very little is known about this stage. Few really want to talk about it, yet when you feel it or are at this stage you know it! If you have seen the Endless Summer film you will understand! 9. The Soaring Stage We are getting close the the end of the evolutionary ski cycle and this stage is the first signs of this! The skier accepts that nature is more powerful! Accepts that some runs are dangerous so the skier picks the runs! Like an old wolf the skier has developed skills to "interprete" skiing conditions, skiing weather and skiing pitfalls! The skier knows when to soar and where to soar so that it is the wind doing all the work! The key element to watch is efficiency in a skier at this stage. Everything seems to flow like water in a stream! The skier at this stage realizes that time is finite thus skiing experience must by "savored" like a good wine! While others rush down to see how many runs can be made in one day, this skier takes every run count so that later he/she can re-live every turn, every sensation! Gone are getting the latest skis, or the latest boots! Gone is the desire to visit this or that resort so that once home you can tell all! You will never see this skier in "wet T shirt contests" or the racing in "adult classes". He/she has found the slope gives that soaring feeling of freedom! 10. Acceptance Stage This last stage is the final stage of the evolution. It is the stage in which the skier accepts his limitations and still wants that skiing feeling. The skier chooses when to ski and where to ski since he/she now has freedom! You will see these skier early in the morning chatting and putting on braces, extra heat bars, drinking their coffee from the thermos bottle! ( perhaps with some Snapps)! They will be the very first ones on the slope since they "sniff" out the very best runs! Some even have their mates help them put on boots since they can not bend over too much, but watch them ski! Some have their insurance representatives telling them at the chalet that at 100 they should stop due to their coverage! Some still can't believe that their body although "used" can not take them one more run. One more glorious sunny day with the mountain! One more feel of that wind on your hair as the slope introduces another memory which will last a life time. Now you decide where you are at and what awaits you! Hope you enjoyed reading! For you who will write me about the studies and the name of the psychologist for further information, sorry it is all in my head! I am sure however you will confirm that these stages do exist! |
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How many am I allowed to enter!
How long can it be! ( the text) Here are a few I collect white gold Ski like a butterfly turn like a bee First up.....last down No friends in powder The endless winter Keep a snowflake in your mind Snow a four letter word meaning love At 60 it is great skiing since it is all downhill Skiing has two ii, you and I Tune to burn Many ways to die, but only one way to live SKI Skiing is like chocolate,,,the more you take the more you want! The best skiing is when you have the worst weather The best is yet to come More to come next week!! Pavel |
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Several times I have mentioned that skiers who tune their own skis become better skiers faster and reach higher levels of competency than others!
Let me now elaborate on this. Most skiers think that ski tuning is a pure manual process to go faster! So wrong! You can go on a number of internet sites and they present the "robotic" processus of ski tuning, but there is more to ski tuning. That is what you will develope here in this course. Three key aspects of a competent tuning process are required. 1. Proper tools and how to use them effectivel 2.Correct ski technique to "feel" that difference once ski is tuned ( Ellistine, that ski feel concept again) 3. Having the knowledge to know what you want in a ski. Let me briefly develope each aspect. Think of a person who is going to do a ice statue. A beautiful Polar bear. He need tools to carve the block of ice and he needs to know how to use these tools. He needs to know the ultimate goal,,,that Polar Bear statue. Its posture. Its size etc... He needs to know his/her competence level. If he/she goes beyond those levels the statue will fall down or leg will break off. I want all students to have in mind this "carver" and the polar bear during this class. It will help you in many ways. Like the Polar Bear carver you must first have a well defined goal in tuning your skis. Seems simple you say! Well in a couple of months you will discover that it is not! Then like the carver you must "master" the tools you will use. Finally, and in my opinion the most important is knowing how to feel the skis effectively helping you enjoy skiing. Like the carver you must learn to know that ice block (skiing), feel for weaknesses in the ice. Feel the flow of the sculpture , feel the transition from one part of the statue to another part. That is why I say becoming a competent tuner takes times, a great sense of observation and not just physical labor! The three elements; tools, goal, feel are all intermeshed to create that wonderful statue. In your case the very best pleasure- skiing effectively! In this course I will deal with all three! At the end of this course you will be aware of all three elements! The mastery of the tools really is a simple process and I have no doubt you will all master your tools. The knowledge of what you want in a ski will come gradually. I do not know your skiing level however it is more than just physically skiing! It means knowing what the prevailing conditions are in your area ( powder, ice, crud, etc..) the slopes you ski on, the temperature ranges, and finally your ability level! We will deal with all theses aspects in the course. Allow me to just give you one example. I tune my skis for me, for my area, and with my style of skiing! Once I was teaching someone how to ski ice. I mean sheer, steep, wall to wall ice on a double diamond run! The client by chance had the same skis and after 30 minutes still could not master a transition technique! We switched skis and on the very first turn, he fell over the skis at the apex of the turn! He had never skied on a very sharp, well tuned ski and expected (like on his skis) to drift or slide over the ice! My skis just bit into the ice, created a groove and cut the slope! His technique was not adapted to my skis! He did not have confidence on his skis so he never really set his edge! He never progressed beyond "entry level expert"! He though it was his ski technique. He discovered that it was his ski tuning that was the weak link! I hope you all understand now that tuning a ski is not just a "mechanical process"! It is the synergy ( the relationship) between you, the ski and the hill. That is what you will learn in this course and that is why you will be the very best skiers in your area. Let me finish with a specific note ( which applies to all of you) to Ellistine. Soon you will test some new Atomic boots. Let me show you how to get ski feel! Every time I go skiing I go to the beginner or easy intermediate run first and with my boots NOT buckled I ski down doing long gradual turns and slowly do shorter turns. Why do I do this? First to get my body "warmed up" but more importantly I want to let the skis tell me how they feel! How the skis and snow are "mating", how the tune up I did last night is translated on the slope. In other words I am letting the ski "out to pasture" like a race horse! I am letting the skis freedom! So Ellistine when you are in the alps and while others buckle the boots hard to last notch and they go to the expert runs, you do not put buckles on. Go to easy runs and introduce the boots to the skis. FEEL the boots and skis working together! Soon you will notice that some models do not like your skis! Do not like you and your style! No amount of tightening the buckles will help! Think of it like a dance Ellistine. The first time you have a new girl in your arms ( I am thinking here of the "old fashion dances where male and female actually touch) you will be "tentative"! See how good she his! Then as you put on your "Travolta" moves you note if she will follow you! If so.....you are going to do Saturday Night dancing with her!! Heaven! Hope you enjoyed this brief intro into my tunning course! |
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