Messages posted by : pavelski
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As long as certified charity, it is acceptable.
Pavel |
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Just cleaning out my shop and I found some bindings which I am willing to give to any skier that donates $25 or 15 euros to a charitable organization!
Just get proof that such donation has been made and I will send units to you! I will make complete list of units available in three weeks once complete clean up is made. Meanwhile find a charity which will appreciate your donations. These are all certified, adult working units ! First come first served!!!!! Pavel |
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KP below ( whose father was hit while skiing) provides for all of us a chance to make a difference.
We, the world community of skiers can start a grass roots movement to make skiing more safe! I promise to present your list of suggestions to all national and international ski organizations. I will also pass along this subject to all the ski sites that have the same concern. I will also submit this list to major ski magazines so that in 2008 you will be able to read your suggestions! The goal is not to focus on negatives, but rather to suggest practical safety options which will render skiing safer! This involves all skiing participants and should be a comprehensive program regardless of country! Here are my suggestions. 1. Stores must have some form of literature ( published by ski companies and ski centers) to inform new skiers of their responsibility. Yes I know there is a skier"s code, but it is never "actively" presented and discussed to new skiers. 2. Stores should provide to all new skiers a "skiers card" which identifies the level of skier competency. 3. Stores should have videos of "potential skier" issues such as; -doing tricks in parks with no helmet or wrist guards. - skiing fast in beginner zones - skiing in woods etc.. 4. Ski instructors should be told that they do not only teach skiing, but that they are "representatives " of the ski center. They have duty to politely discuss with skiers "safety issues" 5. All new skiers should have a "free" safety ski course at all ski centers. 6. Ski industry ( all partners) must tone down "problem ski behavior"! - going under ropes ( a major problem in print media) -glamorizing cliff jumping, "extreme skiing" and near death experiences -going higher, faster, wilder etc.... -in appropriate skiing in "learning sections" -promoting self-centered behavior which cause others to hurt. -promoting "heroes" that are "anti-social", self centered and dangeropus to others. Side bar comment Ski industry has not looked at the figures and will soon regret its "extreme" orientation in its promotional material! In 2010 the vast majority of skiers will be in the 40-50 age range. They will have the money and they will decide where and how to ski! There is a ski company that has changed it complete ski image and ski products to "answer" one type of skier. Its market share has gone down. Its profits will soon diminish. It will be too late. Wake up!!!! 7. New skiers should NOT be allowed on certain slopes, unless they show basic ski mastery. When you buy car, can you just hop in and drive in streets? When you compete in many sports do you go to elite level right away? Imagine in some countries even marriage has pre-established conditions. 8. Ski centers MUST have a more proactive safety program. At all levels! I still see ski instructors allow their 15 students to sit ACROSS a ski run while they teach! I would not allow them to pass my level 1 certification course! I still see lift attendants watch the chair lift not telling persons to move on at top, thus causing skier bootlenecks ! I still see ski patrollers helping physically injured skiers, yet make no comment of skiers that clearly are afraid near cliff, mentally deranged etc.... 9. Look at your ski magazine. Analyze the pictures you see! I understand to sell a product,,, pictures must be "dramatic" but what is the limit!!!!!! I am not talking about good taste here, but of safety!!!! 10. The last point is perhaps the most damming for the ski industry! Ski deaths are seen as "events" which must be hidden or not discussed since they are bad for the ski industry. Rather than look at causes and document conditions of accidents, then make changes, the ski industry deals with issue as "unfortunate" incident! At year end conference all I hear is how to make more money! How to attract more skiers! What new gadgets we can introduce to get "new " clients! New water parks. New video rooms! New vibrating ski lifts with music! etc.... We as skiers must demand a safe ski area and not blame the skier or boarder ( yes they are the immediat cause) , the issue is larger than one or two idiots. I challenge the ski industry to show me the proactive programs they have! ( not the PR they give out at every ski incident about wearing more helmets). The issue is more comprehensive than just ski equipment! Let me finish with an analogy with motor bike safety. The typical immature rider ( regardless of age) will spent; $800 on leather suit, 60$ on leather gloves, $300 on leather steel toe boots, $700 on high tech helmet, $10,000 on 1,000 cc ( if not more ) racing bike. But spend $200 on preventive bike accident course!!! NO!!! It does not matter how much protective equipment you have, if your mind is not set of "safety mode"! Help me get more suggestions. I am sure you are more experienced and more knowledgeable on this topic. And the list grows... |
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Just finished reading all the messages about KP father's accident.
It is the positive tone of all the messages that I find wonderful. All mention that it is not an issue of boards vs. skis but of out of control persons. That is the issue. We should all "pressure" the ski industry to adopt some form of proactive program to "sanction" out of control persons. Allow me to illustrate. I was a ski patrol coordinator in a large ski center and after several serious accidents we ( all patrollers) met the management and proposed a "sanction system" in which an out of control person ( regardless of speed) would be warned and a felt marker X would be placed on ticket. If "caught" a second time , the ticket would be taken away! Seems fair and acceptable. It was done for two weeks! Some skiers complained and ski center told all ski patrollers to stop practice. NO COMMENT!!!! That year one person died on very slope where the first sanction was given!!! The ski industry will have to establish some rules of conduct WITH PENALTIES or else our politicians will do so! Another solution. Ski tickets can have varied colors to indicate "permission" to ski more difficult terrain. This would motivate all persons to master basic competences and also learn limits! Let us be honest, it is dangerous to go to double diamond ( very very steep slopes) if you have not mastered basic techniques! Skiing down such a slope does not make you an "expert" skier! "Extreme" seems to be the most over used term in skiing ads, skiing movies etc.... There is going to be a major reaction from skiers soon if all skiing partners do not provide some form of proactive safety programs. We all know there is a global problem, yet the ski industries ( stores, ski companies, instructors, patrollers, ski centers) does very little. I realize I am creating a "controversy" but this issue needs to be placed on the public place so that in coming years we do not hear, "we did not know" ! The acrobatic national teams only allow skiers to perform certain stunts once the skier has shown mastery of basic stunts. In my country a motorcycle driver must start with a lower cc, motorbike at 600 cc. before getting a 1,000 cc race bike. There are many examples of such gradual increasing "privileges" on sports. If you examine skiing statistics you will note more deaths, more serious injuries every year The ski industry at this point does not want to face its responsibility very much like the airline industry. I predict very soon that the various governments will impose conduct rules! It is an issue of unruly irresponsible persons who have no idea what damage can be done. Ignorance is not an excuse! The famous and well known ski rule that the person in the upper section of the hill is responsible to avoid others below is no longer valid. My daughter in law , who is a fanatic skier is also a lawyer and works as ski consultant to the government. I know they are looking into this! Wake up ski resorts! Wake up ski companies! Wake up ski patrols ! As skiers get older they will demand more safety and protection. Why not start the ball rolling by listing some of the safety options that could be adopted. Every year ski centers meet and we could present to them our suggestions! On next message I will provide my 10 "safety rules" Please help me continue this list and I promise to present it to national ski organizations and international ski organizations at their annual meetings. That is the positive power of the net! |
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Jacki,
Love to help you but need more information on; price range willing to spent, define what you want for "aprés-ski", type of skiing you like, distance you want to travel, anbiance of ski resort! Have lots and lots of great places! Just need to understand your needs. Why not in a "priority" list give me your most important points you consider, then I will give you 10 centers I have visited. PS*** My secret hide away great centers I will send via PM since they are my "secret" places!!!! Pavel |
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Keith,
Seems so much more "macho" to say ski racing pants, rather than tights!!! I will try not to shock you all! |
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The very best videos and comments are at Realskier site. See H. Harb at Google!
Also see Ski Racing site. Has many many videos. |
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Excellent question which has no set answer.
Here is mine. Be comfortable and effective. Let me explain. One of the key techniques all expert skiers have mastered is independent ski action and weight transfer from one ski to another. To do this you must feel comfortable with both skis apart. I vary my "apart distance" depending on terrain, ski conditions and speed I go! There is no set rule. The key is to be an effective skier; that is use minimum body strength to get maximum ski performance. Now back to "carving issue"! It is simple to determine if a skier truly carves the turns. Just look at trace on snow! If you see two sharp clear lines at all phases of the turns,,,,,you have a carving skier. Now if you really look carefully at those two lines you will notice that the inside line is not as deep and not as wide as the outside line. That is because most of the skier weight should be on the outside ski! Two simple moves must be done to do this. 1. move knee inward to set turning ( downhill ski) ski on edge 2. flex boot of same leg forward to place pressure on tip section of ski ( and hold this pressure throughout the turn) Now here is what 90% of skiers do wrong! They do not hold this pressure during complete turn. Yes they start the turn then they either lean back ( thus are behind the skis) or they release the pressure on the downhill ski. There is a "trick" that racers do that most recreational skiers do not know. I do not recommend this to any beginner and intermediate skier! But if you are in the "expert" level you can hold that ski until it is at the very end of the turn ( near tail) and release it quickly! The ski will shoot you out of the turn like an arrow in a bow! This is called a "jet turn" and is used by all World Cup racers! Again this is not for beginner skiers to do! Carving can be GS type turns or SL type turns! Clearly the SL type turns demand greater balance and weight transfer. I teach carving by using medium speed with a GS turn. Gradually ( without the learner realizing it) I make the turns more SL! Again an effective and correct "carving" turn means that the ski is on edge AT ALL TIMES and there is constant pressure on the ski edge. Hope this helps you! |
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