J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

All bindings are adjustable!

An interesting question was asked about putting ski on edge.

The ease or force which you must use to really place on ski edge to get full or perfect radius in not related to ski radius but rather to ski flex. That is how the ski goes up or down !

Generally SL skis have softer flex in front and stiffer tail.

Women's skis have the very softest flex.

Very sorry Max, but you DO NOT use radius of ski as speed indicator.

Also read in some message that Slalom skis are stiff. Wrong. Modern slalom ski are "soft" compared to GS or SuperG skis.

Again speed is generated by the skier and slope NOT ski!

Three key concepts which all skiers should understand.

Take first : Speed

Speed is only generated by the skier and slope. The skier develops speed by various techniques. The angle and length of ski run also generate speed.
The radius has nothing to do about speed generation.

PS. Yes, skiers that do downhill racing ( very very very fast) have larger radius type skis since they do not do tight turns on race course. Most downhill skis have radius of 27-30 meters

SuperG skis have radius of 21 meters

Slalom skis have radius of 13 meters

These are all World Cup skis. It should give you a reference.

I ski on Head World Cup SL with radius of 13 meters and can easily pass skiers with a ski having radius of 17 meters. I determine the ski speed not the ski via radius.

Here is a very simple way to show radius.
Take any ski. Place it on edge on a hard surface and pressure it until the complete edge touches this surface. Project this arc in your mind and you will have a giant circle. The radius of this giant circle is the SKI'S RADIUS.


Flex is the way the ski "bends" up or down under pressure.

There are two types of skiers- those who dream of spring snow and those who dread it!

Here is why.

Spring is the time of final summative examinations. The year's learning all based on one, two or three hour examinations. Time of stress. You can not avoid these reviews of your learning. It begins in elementary school, high school and university.

So it is with skiing.

The skiers that practice their technique, that work on their "weaknesses", that improve, then face the spring snow examination with less stress than "others"

Let us see what spring snow teaches us all.



There are two major characteristics of spring snow; variable and unforgiving!

Let me explain.

Variable
The consistency and form of the snow in a slope or run varies greatly. Also during the day this snow changes it "identity" from hard crusty to soupy texture.

Unforgiving
Spring snow knows that you have skied all winter. No excuses now, thus it does not allow "cheating" by; body rotations, leaning back, muscled turns, shorter skis, straight downhill turns, etc... All cheaters will be caught!


Spring snow is the final examination of all skiers. So let us look at the content of this examination! In short this is a "sneak peek" of your spring skiing examination!

You decide at the end of this presentation if you should look forward to spring skiing or dread it.

Variable factor
The snow changes gradually its consistency to determine if you can also change your skiing style and technique. All "good" skiers adapt to the conditions. In the morning the snow is level, uniform and resistant to ski edges. It holds the ski edges. At this point of the day the snow just wants to know if you can carve an even series of turns. No excuses here since all conditions are on your side.

By 10 AM the competency bar has been raised. The snow is now softer. The run is more varied. The sun is warmer. The cheaters are getting sore legs. The side sliders are not dominating the snow. Once in a while the snow will catch the skis going side ways. The skiers sitting back now are letting the tips ride "above" the snow grooves. Imperceptibly the snow is taking over!
It is deciding where your skis are going. The battle is on!

By 1PM the snow is like corn or porridge ! This is when the men and boys ( and girls and women) are defined into two groups! This is when your skis seem to have their own mind. This is when you see skiers cry!
This is when snow takes over and makes you humble.

Wait there is more.

The smart skier accepts nature's lesson and stops skiing. The smart skier learns nature's lesson and promises that next year he/she will take lessons.
There are those however who still do not get message. Still feel they are better, more powerful than nature, Still feel their "cheating" skills will over come spring snow.

They have no idea what spring snow has stored for them.

By 3 PM the curtain is ready. Like in a boxing match, or a bullfight, spring snow has slowly "weakened" the unprepared. The muscles are aching, the snow has "dried" the victim, the brain is in "reaction " mode.

Now the spring snow changes again into thousands of microscopic ball-bearings. While before it was a cement like mixture, now it is silky fast. Mind you, not everywhere! Just where the early shadows are. The spring snow is playing with you. Just like a Matador ! A little twirl here! Then a little speed there! Some sticky spots here,,,then ups a quick roller coaster ride on ball-bearings there. Your mind can not follow. You are that bully chasing an ever moving target.

Either to accept defeat or you end up in the hospital!

Such is the final examination. No cheating allowed!

That is what spring snow teaches all skiers. It rewards those skiers that have paid their dues. That have worked at the basics. That have taken the time and effort to learn and master the correct and effective skiing technique. Because effective skiing is adapting your technique to mother nature, not the other way around.

The reward if you do?

A resort all to yourself. Ski runs that you will never forget. Skiing in T-shirt and shorts. Freedom and fresh air that last a Summer. Just like today. 20 skiers on the slopes. 500 in the bar!

Cheers fellow skiers. See you at graduation!!!!!

If you ski powder, I mean real powder then this ski is for you.

180 cm. Neox bindings 6/14 DIN range. Already trained for Utah powder!

$400.
Waxed and powder leashes set!

First let me ask you a question. CT stands for Vermont? If so where do you ski?

If you ski the front four section, you have to ski very forward!
Or
Perhaps the Castlerock section?

With new ski design you no longer have to "force" skis to turn. Thus stiff boots are really not needed. You have to place skis on edge and then play with fore pressure level.
Hard pressure will cause skis to turn aggressively and quickly.
Soft pressure will allow skis to turn more slowly.

What is very important in modern boot is a stiff medial lateral section (inside boot section) since the focus and stress is to stay on edge, thus placing maximum pressure on sides of boots!

This play of pressure is done via boots. Softer boots allow a greater range of play and feedback from skis.

All modern boots now are "softer" some even have a leather section like in old old days.

Trencher covered very well most of the possible causes of this "vibration"!

Here are some other possibilities or causes;

1. If it only happens in steeps think what is different in this zone.
- speed ....The faster you go the more relaxed you must be. Seems paradoxical yet just watch downhill racing and you will see how the racer with "soft" edges or touch goes better. Leg legs absorb the slope ruts rather than the skis. Most skiers "tense up" in steep terrain thus have hard legs like pillars on bridge. They should be like pistons on shocks!

- slope surface.... Typically on steep runs it is hard or icy conditions again you must allow legs to "take in" all vibrations.


2. Skis
- try renting a racing or top level ski for experts and ski down same slope.

- I noticed that you used different skis but also different lengths. I know the SX9 models and I can tell you they are "soft" skis and will vibrate at top speed.


3. Skier

- We unconsciously lean back when speed gets more than we can handle. Is that a possible cause. Get friend to videotape you.

- Try skiing very fast on intermediate run to see what happens.

4. Boots
What type boots do you have? A soft flex in the 60-70 range is best for most skiers!


May I suggest you try the following skis to determine if it is you or the skis that cause problem ( since I know they will not vibrate at sound barrier speeds), Head SL World Cup, Fischer SL World Cup, Atomic SL12. Just DO NOT LEAN BACK or else!!!!


Hope this helps you!