Messages posted by : pavelski
|
Haaa the sun is here!
The warm temperatures are making skiing even more interesting. That is the challenge of skiing! You never really master it completely! Mother nature always has "surprises" for you. You worked all winter on your technique and now as the sun melts the snow all that learning seems not to bear fruit. Spring skiing requires different techniques (well just more focus on some parts of your technique) and different skiing strategies. Here are some suggestions ( not dogmas) on how to make your Spring skiing more effective and fun. 1. You have to learn how to do a "slow strip" Temperatures and snow conditions change a great deal in Spring skiing and you must "adapt" to these changes. Dress so you can take some cloths off as the sun gets more pronounced. I put a some thin windproof pants on which have side zippers. Under the pants I have racing pants with shorts ( as noted on other messages Spring snow is like 60 grit sand paper, so protect your ski)! The wilder the colors and patterns the better. Remember this is Spring, get rid of those blacks, greys, and join the sun and get those wild reds, flowers and "hippy" patterns. By 12 PM you should be free of all the heavy vests, pants and jackets.Liberate yourself! 2. Water and more water You really sweat when skiing! In spring skiing your are a sliding faucet!!!! I hide in snow banks at top and bottom two water bottles which I sip ever time I go by water. I also have some sucrose cubes ( all pharmacies have theses) since you will lose a lot of "internal fluids"! 3. Get rid of those heavy winter gloves! I buy some bike gloves or light ski gloves from the cross country ski section. 4. Those googles hide your beautiful eyes! Get some 99% UV protection glasses. Freedom is the word here! 5. Do not forget the lips! At all cost have some form of lip protection! You will need the lips in the evening!!!!! 6. Get rid of those "heavy" polar fleece underwear. I really am down to "nothing" when I ski in the Spring! That is why I wear some wild surfing shorts, since I have had "ladies" comment about my tight and thin racing pants. Seems it interferes with their skiing!!!!! Now for the Skiing technique part. The skiing conditions in one day changes so much that you must adapt your skiing style and technique! An effective skier can skis all conditions by adapting skiing technique rather than trying to impose his/her style on the ski terrain. You will lose all the time! Smart skiers have learnt that the very best Spring skiing is in early morning skiing. The sun is out. The runs are well groomed and the snow has "hardended" overnight. This is heaven. You can cruise with just a wind shirt, light pants and lots of air!!!!! Get out there early! By 10 am the snow is now getting "sticky" and not very forgiving. You must slow down because you have "transition" sections. That is you have fast snow then all of the sudden you have very sticky snow. It call eject you from the skis! Observe the "flock pattern". Skiers are very much like sheep, when "difficult" conditions occur they follow other sheep! That is they ski where everyone goes down the same section, thus creating a narrow path on a wide ski slope. Avoid this path! I ski in the shadows where the sun has not yet melted the slope surface. It is still hard snow and the surface layer ( quasi-liquid layer) is very fast! Spring conditions reward those skiers that "practiced" their carving since the cement snow loves to catch the "flat, windshield wiper skiers". If all winter you allowed the skis to skid sideways, to move flat at the end of each turn then you will hate this snow. But the skiers who go on edge,,,,,they will now discover heaven!!! Now your actions are more effective since the ski edges bits into the soft snow easily! You even "rocket" out of turns flying over moguls, ruts and even low flying bugs or birds!!!! This is when you DO NOT do body turns! You know those torso turns that cause the ski to follow your body! The snow will "suck" the skis and cause the skis to go one way and your body the other way! Sore back will follow!!!! This is when you allow skis to go down slope! No radical turns or muscle turns! You will lose! Those small mounts every where are soft! Just blast through them ! One last advice. In Spring skiing all skier actions are magnified 10 times to the ski! Learn to be more gentle yet firm in your edge sets. This is the time to do all skiing actions with "clear intent", no hesitation or gradual edge sets! Have fun! Enjoy the freedom, the air and above all that glorious sun! PS Why not start a tradition with your fellow skiers. In my family, we bury 10 bottles of Corona with two limes at the bottom of the hill. At the end of the day out they come! The lips will enjoy a cool drink!!! Hola Spring is here!!! |
|
|
Just could not leave skiing for two weeks without sending answer in!
So read the message below for my view on topic and then go to Google and search left and right brain research findings. Pavel |
|
|
Haaaa the discussion was informative.
The question was, "is there a right and left ski"? As mentioned some ( very rare) skis come out of factory LEFT and RIGHT such as the Head World Cup 2008 SL ski. It has some plastic tips which curl inside in order to give the racers that 5 mm. advantage!!!!! However most skis are same when they come from factory! My goal in asking this question is to get skiers to understand that they can make the skis even more "personalized" thus more effective! I realize that not all skiers are as "fanatic" as me. I want to "tune" my skis to MY ultimate performance level. There is that rare pearl of a skier that wants to get more feel from his/her skis, that is the skier I am addressing this question. All racers modify their skis even if they are the very best that a ski company offers. The students in the tuning course that will get the Rossignol race tune up DVD presented by the Rossi race technician will by amazed on all the " little" modifications made. The answer to the question, YES all racers modify their skis and yes there is a left and right ski ONCE the modifications are made. As far as other skiers, modifications can be made to make ski faster, more effective and more safe! There are at least 10 modifications you can make to your ski! Once you make these modifications you have a LEFT and RIGHT ski. As mentioned previously for the sake of economy you can tune just the inside edge of both skis since you do not get a free skis ever season. 99% of skiers can not use the outside edge while free skiing. Thus this edge does not need the very sharp, very modified tune of the inside edge. A second modification which renders a ski left and right is the "detuning" of the tips and tails. Traditionally this was done at all times after a tune. There is now a debate on this and an interesting German field test study indicates the "results" of detuning. Without getting technical most skiers will understand that when you have 200 cm and a 165 cm skis and if you detune both with same distance ( 10 cm) the net effect will be greater on the short skis! It is a question of geometry and physics. Short skis are MORE responsive to any modification ( boot placement, binding placement, canting, boot flex, boot angle platforms, VAS systems, etc..) than longer skis! That is why I suggest to all skiers not to be too radical in beveled edges and modifications. Let us look at safety and ski modifications. Most skiers do not realize that the most dangerous part of the slope when skiing with modern "shaped" ski is in the flats! Yes the flats!!! Think about it! In the steeper slopes an effective skier carves his/her turns thus goes from edge to edge. Thus the ski is on the "rail" like a missile guided via laser! When you are flat, that is on just Ptex base ( with no edging) like when you ski towards ski lift at bottom of ski run the modern ski "wants to get on edge". The sligthest move of the knee or a small hard snow ball ( from grooming) will get ski on edge ( on either edge). Now imagine catching an outside ski edge on the flats!!!!! That is why even expert skiers that tune their skis will "detune" the outside tip and tails. Voila,,,, you now have a right and left ski! We all have different body types and as you get "older" your body becomes modified due to accidents, operations, old age etc... You were born symmetric ( well most of us) and as time passes the left and right sides become "unique"! In my case I have had 5 operations on right knee, some work on hips and well lets us just say my body is not symmetric! I must adapt my skis to my shortcomings! That is my message to all skiers that have "modified" bodies! My left side is weaker thus I must allow myself more of a "safety" margin when I set my left ski edge. I modify my left inside ski edge so that I have a "gradual" increasing beveled edge from tip to center. I will start my edge at tip with 1 degree and gradually go to a 3 degree bevel as I go to ski center! Thus my ski edge "forgives" me for not having enough force and control on my left leg and knee! If you ever see me ski, you will notice if you look carefully that my right turns are more aggressive, sharper, better! In short I cheat ( a little)! The tuning modification helps me in my shortcomings! That is why skiers ( that rare pearl ) should learn to tune skis! The shop will do a great job of the average skier! If you are not average and you have some "body modifications" you have a valid reason to also adapt your skis! How many ski shops ask you if you have; weaker knees, broken ankle, artificial hips, ACL operation, etc... before tuning ski? In conclusion, yes I have a right ski and left ski! Now ask yourself should I have a right and left ski? It is your call! PS I am now collecting from all serious ski shops all the possible ski modifications so that in 2008 we can share some of these! See you in 2008! |
|
|
Doug,
Great place! very clean well situated for shopping and social activities, however for skiing it is not ski in ski out. You will have to use bus! Bring lots of money since you are in shopping center land with many many factory outlets. I assume you know what these outlets do? Two great ski resorts in area; Attitash and Wildcat which you must visit. bring your camera since view at Wildcat is "majestic". Great ski prices! You might forget to bring skis and buy some at North Conway! Great skiing region!! |
|
|
Trencher,
Just read your message about Spring skiing. Fall, what is this fall technique? A new skiing technique? How do you do it? Is this like "carving" with the new modern skis? Seriously, you are correct...skiers should be aware that spring snow is like 60 grit sandpaper so beware!!! |
|
|
Spring will soon be with us and as skiers we must "adapt".
Have you ever seen some skiers that still think it is winter conditions in +10 Spring weather. Heavy ski jackets open and flopping about. Googles full of sweat. Mittens hanging from ski jacket! Heavy ski pants dripping from sweat! Heavy tuque causing steam from head! Thick sweater creating inner steam bath! Skis sticking to snow! Face red as herring! Lips chapped and raw!!! What are the changes we should make in Spring! List the 10 essentials products or changes we should all make for Spring skiing! I have mine and they are out for my ski trip!! 1. Snik tube 2.two wild surfing shorts 3 five 60's t-dye T-shirts 4.three cycling gloves 5.5 bottles of water or juices 6. Boolé Vigilants ( 5 lenses) 7.Silver paste wax 8. Bathing suit ( for those that know my swimming adventures) 9. Wind shirt 10.Camera 11. Video cam 12. Bottle opener 13. skis 14. poles 15. boots 16. Fresh air 17 Sun and more sun Add on................... |
|
|
The debate begins!!
Ever wonder if there is a right and left ski! GIVE YOU REASONS! YES OR NO Justify them with some tangible reason. Have fun. PS Gone skiing for two weeks so you will get answer in 10 days. Will be thinking of all of you! Salut!! |
|
|
Did you notice all the stars!!!
There is a reason for them. This is the class that will make you go to ski in heaven! This is the class that will really make you skis sing on ice. Skiers will wonder how come you are "cutting" the hill while they are struggling going sideways. First I want to thank all of you for the PMs and comments to make this class more effective for others. I am setting up a interactive medium so that we can talk and see the work you have done. All free! I now have SKYPE which allows me to speak to you for free and to view all work. Just get this software and contact me via pavliam ( my identity on this site). It is clear that I must see some of your results to comment on the work. I will also provide my phone number for free calls via PM. Let us just review what we have done in the past classes. 1. We checked all skis for damage 2. We repaired all dings and scratches on base 3. We structured base (Ptex) with sandpaper, brush or rotobrush 4 We beveled base edges 1 degree Great 90% of tuning is done! One small comment about that last step,,,ie base bevel. Remember that you do this just once or twice at the most in a season! This next step you should do every time you ski! I repeat every time you ski!!! Once you experience the extraordinary stability and power you get from a well tuned ski you will never but never ski on a "dull ski"!! Allow me to illustrate. Yesterday I was skiing with a friend and I was teaching him a very important technique in skiing. After several runs, there seemed to be a problem. This person usually got and applied all that I taught him, yet on this technique I was not seeing any progress. I checked his skis and discovered the problem. He had not tuned his skis since he was "too busy" with his "other work"! We switched skis and amazing he was now really cutting the hill ! This step is perhaps the very most important step since it will reflect on the ski run right away!!!! This is where you will have to make some personal and wise decisions about where you ski, how you ski and how much performance you want from the ski. What you will be doing is what car mechanics do on race cars when they "tune the car's suspension". I can not be with you so you will have to make choices on how radical the side bevel will be. Be honest in evaluating you abilities! A little theory first ( and some practical comments). If you visit this site and read all the topics you will note that many skiers ask about "carving" and what this animal is. In short,,,,,, skiing on a modern ski means you are on "edge" rather than on the ski base! This edge becomes much more important than "older" skis since it is the interface now between you ( your brain) and the ski surface. If the edge is dull, broken, scrapped etc....your brain will get dull, confused messages about what is happening down there. You have no time to check so the only information you are getting is that your technique is poor, lousy or just in ineffective! So you are confused and try "other" techniques. Is it possible that your technique is good but the ski is not to effective? That is why you tune EVERY TIME YOU SKI!!!! What is the saying about a dull knife? I know what will be your problem! Since this is a new project you feel not "competent" in doing this. You are not sure what to do! So some of you take the easy way out,,,,bring ski to shop. That is acceptable if you want the run of the mill tune that all get. But if you are that rare skier that wants absolute control in all conditions so that when you wiggle your ears the skis will respond like stallions, then read on..... You will learn in this class to set an angle on the vertical axis so that you will have a ; sharp edge ( 90 or 0 degree ), a very sharp edge ( 89 or 1 degree) or super very very very sharp edge, that will cut ice apart. That will make one clear clean line on the slope! ( 88 or 2 degree). I can not impose what degree is best for you but I can suggest some criteria to consider. If you ski mainly ( 70% or more) on icy conditions go 2 degree If you are an expert skier then go 2 degrees If you are intermediate skier ,,then start at 1 degree and work up next year. If you ski powder or soft snow,, then stay at 0 degree bevel. Notice I did not discuss a 3 degree bevel. This is the serious angle. This will give you power that you have never felt on a ski but with this power comes problems. You see the ski edges is so sharp ( like a razor) its edge is "delicate" and any stones, steel, etc,,,can damage it. Racers are willing to accept this "small" problem since they get skis free or the needs in a race requires them to have such a "extreme angle"! It is your call. They are your skis! May I suggest you start slowly with mild tunes at 1 degree and work up! Many skiers ask me, "Pavel is there a right and left ski". 99% of skiers will say, "of course not dodo"! Well the answer is yes and no!!!!! When you buy a ski both are the same, but when you tune your ski, you modify it for your needs and goals,,,so yes you will have soon a left and right ski. I know ,,I know I have started a debate now, so I will post soon the question and see why skiers think you should have a right and left ski! In this class will will stay on target and speak of vertical tune. Here are the steps; Assuming you have done all other prep work ( see previous classes) Place ski in vices ( you really need some form of "holding tool" ), so that ski is on side. What you want to do is file the ski edge so that it is angled inward from base to top of ski. Just visualize the ski edge and draw a line from tip of ski edge to ski core. That line should be going down as it nears the ski core. ( for the official class members I can send you illustration). To help you in this procedure you can get many tools which in essence are "guides" for the cutting tool. I have about 50 different tools and have found one that I love. You find the one that is best for you! Mine is the SKS racing double bladed tool. Great gift to ask the wife or dad! The way you place ski in vice is CRITICAL here. The base Ptex should face away from you. In other words you have the binding close to your stomach on the vice. I prefer to start my cut at tip and I never pressure hard the file or tool. It is better to do 5 passes than one hard one. Your tool hand must place pressure 45 degrees into the ski. So you are putting pressure downward on ski edges but ALSO inward towards ski core ( SO FILE WILL NOT SLIP OFF SKI EDGE). Note larger type!!!! This is the most common error beginner tuners make. They try too hard to cut ski edges once!!! Be patient and do smooth easy passes that overlap! This is when you must listen to the file and its music. It will tell you if your prep work is well done. If as you pass the file, the tone changes ( it is distinctiver sound) then you have a ding!!!! STOP!!!! Take out stone or diamond stick and pass over this area! Return to file and continue work. DO NOT TOUCH EDGE AT THIS POINT!!! Always use paper towel after every passl!! I know,,,I know you want to touch the edges to see if you have done great job! DO NOT!!! You see the ski edge now has microscopic metal bits that will cut into you and may cause infection. Listen that is your best input! Once you have done an edge correctly, the sound that comes from the file is just like sweet music,,,,,one clear unique tone!!! Take your stone ( 220 grit) and gently past it one over ski edge to get one uniform ski edge! I have several stones from 80 to 600 grit and I past from 220 to 600 grit. The last grit ( 600) is a very fine grit which make a ski edge so sharp I can take my ski and cut the roast!!!!! ( and my fingers, jeans, car seat, ski suit etc....) I do not detune my skis. If you are not racer or top level expert skier then de-tune tip ( 10 cm) and tail ( 10 cm) with stone . This is done by placing stone at 45 degrees to ski edges and passing twice! Repeat this procedure WITH THE INSIDE SKI EDGE of bot skis. Again note large letters. Here is your homework. Why just inside edge! What is inside edge? How do you determine INSIDE EDGE? Please be careful with skis once you have done this work since you now have a weapon! DO NOT LEAN AGAINST WALL!!! Yes I have had a dog cut off his ear on my skis!!!!! Hope this helps you all! If you need more information send via PM. I am going off skiing for two weeks so please be patient if I do not "hear"from me. I promise to respond the minute I get back. Bonjour!!!! |
|