J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

I read a saying in another site about this topic and am passing along to you all.

" I thought I was an expert skier, but the moguls prove I am not"

This saying is so on the mark, because in moguls you can not cheat. If you have any flaws in;weight transfer, edge sets, pressure control,body rotation, fear, etc... it will show.

If you have no idea what those terms mean, start learning the correct efficient skiing technique.

You must practice all basic techniques, and master them BEFORE attempting any mogul runs.

Reading some of the comments above, indicates some confusion.

Typically moguls are formed with; hard ice type surface in the downward slope section, the valley ( between two moguls) is typically ice also and the upper sections are soft due to skiers "skidding" down moguls. The tops are all soft!

The following are skills you must master BEFORE you try to ski even small moguls;

1. Soft quick edges sets.
Typically intermediate skiers have a "hard" edge set in which they lay all their weight and pressure on one ski! This is called among ski instructors as the "do or die" technique. Poor, ineffective and potentially dangerous.
You should ski "as if skiing on eggs" ready to change weight or pressure from one ski to another ski in a milli-second.

2. Weigth/Pressure control.
In mogul field you are very much like in the ocean with waves. The angle of attack varies based on the form of mogul. You must adjust your weight/pressure on skis IN RELATION to mogul. You must have a dynamic posture. Learn to feel skis turn on easy runs. Experiment weight change on
easy run , by putting pressure on skis before a turn, after a turn and during a turn. You will learn to "feel" ski biting, slipping and skidding.

3. Skidding
There is a debate ( which has lasted for 30 years) on this topic. A frenchman by the name Joubert wrote a classic book on "modern ski technique" in which he discusses a technique for skidding. This was written in the 1960"s. With modern skis, you should not skid ( dérapage)!!!
All effective skiers have learnd that when you skid, you have lost control of ski. Like in a car that is on ice, you do not jam brakes since you will "drift" with no control. Rather you learn to be "soft" with pedal and allow car to follow trajectory and driver "with gentle brake pedal" and soft steering gets car back on road!
I can not stress how important it is NOT to skid ever,,,,even more in moguls. I know some ski instructors and even some ski instruction sites promote this skidding. I do not!

I realize the many responses I will get and let me tell all of you that I do "skid" but it is when; I am studying a race course, when I am filming skier, when I am in very steep chute that also is narrow. Never but never do I "skid" in moguls or open ski runs.

4. Few skiers care about their edges. If there is one type of skiing that requires sharp edges it is in moguls. 90% of male skiers that want to learn to ski moguls have to go to ski shop and get edges sharpened at 3 degrees side and 1 degree base. I will never teach any skier who has poor tuned ski!

Notice that I have yet not talked about how to ski the moguls yet. All I have addressed are the prerequisites for this type of skiing.

Typically, ( assuming a skier is fit and skis are tuned) I will spend two days on "easy" run practicing;
-weigth transfer
-Pressure control
-rapid SL turns on at 2m interval

I will never teach some skier to go to moguls unless these three techniques are mastered at all speeds!

Nothing is free in skiing and there are no short cuts. If you wish to learn to ski moguls, it can be done in one week but you must master basis first!

Once you do ski a moguls run, you can ski anything.
I mean ski,,,,,not slide, not roll, not walk, not traverse a mogul run.

It is called the moment of truth. You can not hide your poor techniques!
You have mastered or not the basic skiing techniques!

Hope this will motivate you to take 1 hour per ski day to practice just one skiing technique. One hour per day!

My,,,,,,, do we have imaginative skiers on this site.

Great additions

Any others?????

There have been more messages about boot fitting issues in the past three weeks on this site.

Skiers must understand that most people need some form of, "adjustment" to any boots they buy.

All my boots are modified radically. I have one foot that is widder than the other. I have had several knee operations so my right leg geometry is off center. My right foot was burnt when young so another adaptation needed!

The time you take BEFORE skiing to adjust boots will result in pleasure skiing! Read some of the messages below, to appreciate that you must spend at least 1 hour in store just selecting boot models.
Another 30 minutes for orthotics!!! A MUST!!!
Another 30 minutes for fine tuning; buckles, canting, power straps.


Once you have "your"boots, you will be in heaven!

Alt20,
I forgot to ask, do your ankles also move about.

Is the play only in the upper cuff section?


PS You do not have thin legs!!! You have "tight" legs!!!

You are perfect candidate for "adapted boots"

You will never be happy with rented boots since they then to be widder than most.

If you are really "coming back", then look around for correct boots now!!!!

If I understand your boots problems , you have some play in the upper cuff area!

That is a very easy problem to fix!

Just look for boots that fit you well in the toe and arch area, then I will tell you how to fix your problem. If you have narrow smallish feet try Lange boots!

Trust me, it is false economy to wait since you will pick up very poor skiing habits while you try to ski with poor boots.

Good luck in your search.

All of the above suggestions are great.

May I suggest staying at Sandy , since it is very close to canyons, has some of the very best ski shops and motels are cheaper. I stayed at Best Quality for three weeks at $55 per day with pool , sauna, spa and continental breakfast

Just around corner was a 24 hour grocery store that makes great fresh subs!

The question should not be, "what is best resort" but rather which resorts offers;
powder - Alta, Snowbird
Hidden trails - Alta
Groomed runs - Deer Valey
A comment about Deer Vally. If ever you go to Utah you must ski Deer Valley at least once. Yes more expensive lift tickets but you experience something you will never but never experience again. Immaculate runs, great skiers, excellent , no perfect service. Where else can yo get a selection of Alaskan king crab, Maine lobster, Canadian salmon all for $8! I never but never stop to eat lunch but this time......!

Try Solitude. Quiet smallish center with great back bowls not known by most.

I spent 5 days straight in the upper bowls at Snowbird. The secret to skiing this center is to get there very early. Go up tram and never come back to base until 5 PM. Amazing upper world of deep bowls, quiet "secret" passages. Try to find "local" to guide you!


Of course Sundance is not known by most skiers. A very private center it is in a "box canyon" and few tourist go there, yet very unique in style, in attitude and skiing possibilities. Another gem that is not known yet!


Check conditions since my friend called to say it was raining"!!!!

HOW TO PREPARE FOR 2007 SEASON

This 10-step program showed up mysteriously in email one day. We thought it only appropriate to share with y'all so you'll be properly prepared

1. Visit your local butcher and pay $30 to sit in the walk-in freezer for half an hour. Afterwards, burn two $50 bills to warm up.

2. Go to the nearest hockey rink and walk across the ice twenty times in your ski boots carrying a pair of skis, snowboard, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you're looking for your car.

3. To prepare your feet for ski boots, put a pebble in your street shoes and tighten a c-clamp around your toes.

4. Buy a nice pair of new gloves and immediately throw one away.

5. Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket and ride a motorcycle fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.

6. Drive slowly for five hours...anywhere...as long as it's in a snowstorm following an eighteen-wheeler without chains.

7. Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your face. You'll almost feel like your skiing in front of a snowmaking machine.

8. Go to McDonald's and insist on paying $10 for a hamburger. Be sure to stand in the longest line.

9. Dress up in as many clothes as possible and then proceed to take them off because you have to go to the bathroom.

10. Repeat all the above every Saturday and Sunday

Diane,
Its tuque from the French word meaning woolen hat!