Messages posted by : pavelski
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Mark,
Welcome to the world of geopolitics! Here is a short story that might interest you. Several years ago an American female level 3 ( top level in America) ski instructor who also was a ski racer in the Europa Cup series moved to France. She applied and was accepted in the French certification program. In most countries ski instructors and ski schools accept "equivalent" certification and thus can teach full time. Yes the terms and pedagogical approaches might be different but "instructors" for other countries are accepted. She was good, very good since she was on the American Demo team! She wrote a 4 page article in the Ski Instructors Journal about all the "barriers" she had to overcome. The very worst was having a French ski examiner , who could barely speak English, examine her level of fluency in English! No comment. You must understand that to many ski instructors in France it is their income and they do not appreciate skiers from other countries coming to "take their jobs". Also every country feels that their teaching technique is best! That is the situation! You just have to be better skier, better teacher and pay your dues! Patience! Oh,,,,I am sure you are thinking, "did she get her diploma?" Yes by being better than most male skiers. By being more patient and learning their terms! If you want to teach there, pay your dues. Show that ski instruction is not a passing interest, but a vocation ! Nothing is impossible! Perhaps you will come across an "outside examiner" who will accept your competency level! |
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I assume you all have your tools and "practice" skis. Some of you more motivated students have already tried to get rust off edges and have sent me all your problems.
Let me confess something to you. I never try to get rust off skis. Notice I did not use the MY SKIS , that is because I have a rag in my ski bag and at the end of every ski day I wipe my skis. You should do the same. You must learn to take rust off! My goal in asking you to take rust off was twofold. 1.To teach you to take care of your skis. They will provide you with much pleasure show your appreciation by cleaning them 2. To teach you that it is very difficult to take rust off edges without damaging the plastic base. (I will show you how to clean up your mistakes in several sessions)! The solution to the rust edges problem is simple, but before I tell you the solution let me prepare you for the many request you will get. "friends" will hear that you know how to tune skis and they will bring their rusty skis in for tune up. DO NOT DO their skis! I ask them to go to a ski shop where I have established a set rate for FLAT FILING. That is two or three passes on the stone or belt to get rust off and establish a perfect alignment of the ski edges and the ski base. Typically this costs 7 euros ( $10 US). This is done just once! Now you can do your work with a "clean, true base". That is why you must learn to use the True Bar. It is the essential tool that all serious tuners have. The true bar is the equivalent to the builder's laser or level ( that tool with a bubble in center). If you have read my previous classes you know how to use this bar. Any work you do with skis starts with the true bar. Never assume that a ski is "true", even is it is a new ski! When you go to ski shop, make sure you have your true bar with you and make sure you tell the technician why you want just a flat base. Tell him/her that you will check work at end with true bar! He/she will not be insulted, the opposite you will get respect because know what you want. I can not stress how important this first step is. This step is like building the foundation of a house. If the foundation is not correct, the rest will suffer. Skiers think that tuning is long, complicated and requires specialized tools. The first step can be long, but once ski is "true" the rest can be done in 15 minutes. Typically I prepare 5 pairs of skis in 20-30 minutes because my skis are always "true". Do not go to ski shop and use the mechanical ski tuners since I want you to learn how to use coarse sandpaper, how to clean out grooves created by this coarse paper and then I will teach you how to "structure" the base depending on the snow conditions. Remember I listed on previous classes a sanding block and I mentioned the the car body work sanding block was the very best. Now you will find out why! This block has two grooves or flaps ( on each end) to tuck paper and hold it to the block. You can now take your block,,,, here is the secret to taking rust off without scratching the base! Place block in your palm, curl fingers under block ( where sandpaper is) and allow just enough area for the ski edges. The rest of block is past the ski edges. The fingers act as a guide to the block! Read the above sentence again because this technique will be used for filing and ding work later. Use your fingers as guides!This position of the fingers, is criticall for most tuning procedures. You must learn to allow fingers to guide tool! You will notice no doubt that the sandpaper gets full of rust after one pass. You must move block around so that you have new sandpaper surface for each new pass. Do not get frustrated. You will only do this once, in order to learn to "feel" coarse paper cutting into the edges. Also you can refuse to do any other skis with rust by saying that you already did this by hand ONCE and it took XYZ minutes!! Never again! As always wipe edges after every pass with paper towels. Used paper is thrown away. Never use any other type of material! Normally I walk around class and observed students doing work and pace my class according to class progress. Since you are all alone in your corner of the world I must wait for you to tell me how this is going on. Take your time. Take pictures and send them for me to see. The principle is the same in all steps of the tuning procedure. First use coarse cuts ( softly) then go to less coarse. Finish ski edges at base with a 200 grit paper. I hope I was clear and you understand how to do this. If not contact me via PM! For the "advanced" students who did this already, please be patient since next week we will do the base sanding and base "structuring". Comments to class. Several students have contacted me and even sent some pictures of their work. Others have not. I will assume you are away or no longer interested in the class thus I will determine my class pace based on the feedback for the first group! Several students asked me to explain how to use tools in a more precise manner. I will try to do so. If I fail please tell me. Also remember that at end of course for the successful students that enrolled in class and have done all homework, I will send a DVD of all these techniques! Also, I test new skis and the new 2007 skis will be out soon to test, therefore I might be "out" for some time. If I do not answer your emails please be patient! I have not abandoned you! No feedback about "Power Straps"! |
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Skier IQ
I am sure you are aware of the famous Intelligence Quotient , better know as the IQ. Developed in the 1905 by Binet and Simone , this instrument has become a hotly debated topic on the evaluation of mental capacity. In 2007 many ski resorts will establish a very similar ?testing index? known as Skier IQ, which will be administered before selling any ski lift tickets since there has been a noted increase in ski deaths, ?deviant ski behavior? and general uneducated behaviors on ski slopes. In order to help all skiers determine their own SKIING IQ the following 20 questions are provided with instructions. If you score below 10 you must in the next two years prepare for this new ski admission test by becoming acquainted with ski related subject matter. NOTE Trying to answer all question may cause sleepless nights. Continue at you own risk. This site is not responsible for any ?secondary effects? such as; marital discord, nightmares, heart murmurs, when trying to complete this ?test?! Instructions 1. You must answer all questions alone. 2. There is but one correct answer. ( even if you feel there are two possible answers) 3. The test results are NOT normalized or referenced to ?deviant skier profiles? 4. The questions are based on Bloom?s Cognitive Taxonomy 5. Typically this test takes 10 minutes. Quit after 3 hours! 6. It is assumed that test taker can read English, know what skiing is and wants to get better. 7. Note all your answers on a paper pad ( just beside your mouse) since correct answers will be given in two weeks. QUESTIONS 1. 12m is to Atomic SL12 as 21m is to????.. A. Rossignol SL 12 B. Volkl Attiva S4 C. Salomon 2V D. Nordica Speedmachine 14.2 2. Name the British tourist that ?popularized? skiing in the Alps. 3. Which of the following are ?grouped? correctly? A. Fischer, Dale, Innsky, Marker B. Stowe, Torino, Wengen, Tatra C. Burt, Miller, Hexcel, Hanson D. Super G, Slalom, Supercross, Telemark 4. What does DIN mean? A. Deep Internal Numbers B. Deuchland International Note C. Deuchland Internationa Norm D. Diagonal Insert Norvice 5. What is the total cost ( US Dollars) of all raw ski material on a 2007 racing ski? A. 70$ B. 100$ C. 125$ D. 150$ 6. Using the following figures 130-100-120 determine the vocation of this ski! A. Telemark ski B. All race course ski C. Powder ski D. Artificial snow ski 7. Who is JackRabbit? A. An animal that changes fur color in winter. B. A famous ski fairy tale character C. A famous ski pionner D. A nickname of an Olympic skier 8. Place the following in correct historical order. A. Long boards, steel edges, long thong, release bindings, VAS B. Steel edges, VAS, Long thong, Long boards, release bindings C. Long thong, Steel edges, long boards, release bindings D. Long boards, long thong, steel edges, release binding, VAS 9. Which term does not belong with this grouping: camber, torsion, rockwell, release, flex? A. Camber B. Torsion C. Rockwell D. Release E. Flex 10. What do Alta and Mad River Glenn have in common? A. They do not allow women to ski alone. B. They do not allow smoking in lifts. C. They do not allow boarders. D. They allow boarders over 21 only! 11. The first cap ski was introduced by?? A. George Salomon B. Wayne Wong C. Emile Allais D. Bob Lange 12. Hexcel Blue Ice skis were known for their?. A. Hard ski base B. Edges C. Split tails D. Unique visual graphics 13. Orage, Helly Hanson, Spyder, Hors la Loi have one parameter in comment. Identify this parameter. A. All produce telemark skis B. All produce ski clothing C. All promote ?international ski day? D. All provide 5% of profit to World Cup skiing 14. What ski resort does not ?fit? the following grouping; Zell am See, Seefeld, Courchevel, Cervinia, Attitash A. Zell am See B. Seefeld C. Courchevel D. Cervinia E. Attitash 15. What is the function of a ?true bar?? A. A place to determine if you are really single. B. A tool to determine your honesty. C. A tool to determine alignment of ski base. D. A metal bar to determine skier strength 16. What is function of a ?power strap? A. A tool to punish undisciplined ski racers B. A tool to measure leg strength C. A strap to hold up racing shin guards D. A strap to hold boot tongue 17. Why are ?fats? desired? A. To increase weight of skier B. To help skiers ski better in special snow C. To satisfy skiers? need to avoid avalanches D. To ski faster in World Cup races 18. What famous ski pioneer died in 2006? A. Hans Gmoser B. Hans Snieder C. Otto Lang D. Bob Jacobs 19. 3V is to Supershape as Mountain is to??. A. Kitten B. Ativa C. Sugar Daddy D. Molo 90 20. What skier made the first all fiberglass ski popular? A. Nancy Greene B. Buddy Werner C. Howard Head D. Jean Claude Killy Note your answers for each question. On Monday January 29, 2007 we will post correct answers on this site. |
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Trencher,
No he had the Rossi Z9 170 cm for most of the day. ( and progressed to expert runs after some tips and three hours of free skiing). The he went to the Atomic SL 12 165 cm. Had to tell him to slow down since he was just on an intermediate run! I did not dare let him have the Rosssignol WC SuperG skis at 181 cm. since he was skiing very fast with the SL12's. Good man! He did "split" his ski pants while getting too excited!!!!! |
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You asked a question that is very relevant to all skiers, but even more important to beginner skiers!
Is it worthwhile to buy modern ( shaped, parabolic, etc..) ski! Here is why new skiers MUST buy modern skis. The basic techniques for modern skis is very much different and easier. The ski techniques are easier to learn. The safety factor is better The cost is now (2006-2007) lower. If you think you will save money by buying "old" skis, you are wrong since you will NOT enjoy yourself. You will learn old bad ski habits that will follow you for years. You can get good modern skis for much less that $200. Just look around. I just bought a pair of Rossignol 9X Oversize for $75 for a friend who is a beginner! If you know what to look for, you can find it! Would you consider buying lace ski boots from the 1960's?????? If you are still not convinced, I have five pair of new old skis that I will give you,,,,but it will not help your skiing! You will regret accepting them since they are 205 cm SL skis. NO ONE skis on such skis! If you live in Montreal ( based on your profile) go to "La poubelle de ski" they have deals that are out of this world! I do not work for them! |
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Powderhound as given excellent advice. Do not go into the moguls until you have mastered the basics.
Now for your first issue. Competent skiers can ski all sorts of conditions and ADAPT their skiing to those conditions. Thus in powder skiing, there is no edging, there is no hard set turns. In powder you take the fall line and float over snow! Yes skis are together and NO you DO NOT sit back as most skiers think. You stay neutral on the ski! Now in groomed slopes or runs, that is where you can practice "carving" I will not get micro-technical here but in essence, you are skiing from one ski edge to the other ski edge, with no windshield wiper turns. You know those two rubber pieces in your car. Just look back at your ski tracks, on a easy run. If you see two sharp lines you are on your way to effective skiing. If you see two lines which disappear into a fan like mess, you are NOT skiing effectively. You have lost your edge control, You are skiing too fast and turning too quickly. The skis can not "carry" the speed or you are not keeping pressure on edges. It is easier skiing on modern skis. Just take time to learn on easy runs. All modern skis are good for "effective " skiing my favorites are; Atomic Metron, Rossi Z9, Atomic SL12. Enjoy your holidays. |
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Very sorry about problems with pictures.
I will be a better teacher next lesson. I will try to download another set. Thanks for instructions! |
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John,
Prepare yourself for a skiing experience you will never forget! Heli skiing however is different and you must prepare for it. 1. Make sure you are in group with "equal" skiing level since it is "poor" form to let others wait for you in powder! 2. Make sure you are fit for "non-stop" skiing since few powder skiers stop! You see once you have rythm, it is difficult to stop. Just like dancing! 3. Rent or get fat powder ski! It really makes a difference! 4. Get a water backpack since you will work and get thirsty! 5. Get powder leashes! Enjoy!!!! |
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