J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

Iceman,
Once a year,,,,,why do you deprive yourself so much. I guess some people like to suffer before they get pleasure!

I would not buy a pair of skis just for one trip!

You must ask yourself why just once a year since you learn or progress very little in skiing at that rate. I suspect once you get "better" and want to reach the heights of pleasure you will change priorities. It will happen!

Just make sure you get a ski that helps you progress!

Gary,
You are in the small .5% of the population in England that has this type of foot!
Ski stores are NOT going to have boots for the very very small Chinese women who has size 1 or the other extreme.

They run a business and boots that size must be made "specially". I checked my manuals to see what ski boot company makes or has molds for sizes +11.
No one! You must ask for special order!!!

Most skiers with your size have boots made FOR them!

Sorry but that is the situation in most ski resorts and shop world wide!

You will all note that one of the most "popular" visited messages has to do with SKIDDING!

I suspect many skiers have the same problem. Skis seem to have a mind of their own!

There is not one reason to this problem and I could not in this brief message go through all the possible causes, but I can state that 90% of skiers have this problem. It is a serious problem that must be eliminated if you want to be an intermediated skier. Yes I used the "intermediate" word since this problem is a beginner"s problem!!!!

Take lessons right away!

Jake has asked a very important question.

To really answer correctly we need some background information and a little history. Please forgive me if I seem to wander.

Before 1980"s the "desired" skiing style was having legs very tight together so that the two skis were in "parallel" at all times. The "lower" level skiers would open up into a pie shaped arrangements during the turn. This was called "stem christie". The experts would keep legs together showing the lesser ones that they are the "alpha" males ( and some females). Very much like dogs that keep their tails high to show social strata!

The skier who is known world wide as the model of this "parallel" technique is called Stein Erickson. Watch him just 10 seconds skiing and you will understand what parallel skiing is all about. Elegant, flowing with legs at all times "glued" together. Many tears ago for skiers wishing to be level 3 ski instructors they had to ski down terrain with varied inclinations with a red handkerchief stuck between their knees. Open just once, you failed the examination since the red handkerchief would fall to snow!. That is parallel skiing at its best. Few skiers, except some "old instructors" ski this way now!

Why?

Equipment has evolved resulting in a more dynamic skiing style. Boots have a softer flex, skis are more "shaped" for effective ski performance.
Due to the major changes in equipment skiing has really become easier. Really! But changes , any changes for some is difficult ,,,,,,initially!

Carving means that you use the ski effectively. The skier carves the ski run very much like you using a knife, from one edge (of one ski) to the other edge ( of the other ski). In short, in a carving ski technique you transfer all pressure from one edge, right away to the other edge. There is no flat stage where you stay flat on the ski bases. It is a "on the edge" skiing style which is very effective , very flowing, very sharp with no lateral tail movement!

You will also note that skis are apart and NOT parallel while skiing. yes the elegance is gone!!!!!

Allow me an analogy. Next time you watch, "Scent of a women" look carefully at the Tango scene.There is a ritualized movement which is sensuous, with elegant movements.The posturing is most important not more effective movement! That is parallel skiing. The look is most important !

Take another dancing scene but very modern. The "look" becomes secondary to the "difficulty" of the movement.

In short "parallel skiing" is gone!
Carving skiing is IN!!!

This is not just a "vogue" or passing fad! New skis require you to ski this way. It is easier. It is more fun, once you accept the change and take the time to learn it.

Look at it this way, some years ago the skiing world was "rejecting" steel edges as "cheaters"! Poles were rejected since one pole was enough. Plastic boots were "cheap' and of course wool was much better than polar flleece!

Time to change. The term and concept parallel skiing should be allowed to rest. I must confess however that when I do ski with Stein Erickson at Deer Valley I digress to my old sinful ways and ski like him! Elegance still has its value, not efficient this glued legs technique called "parallele" but elegant!

I hope this has help you Jake!

First allow me to wish class and all other "observers" a very happy new year.

Some administrative issues first
1. Since we are so far away and spread throughout several countries it is important to me to get feedback from you so that I can gauge my pace and level of technical precision.

2. I am very serious about giving away at end of course a set of ski vices and as of now only Forny did his homework in regards to the video analysis. He is now the first place candidate for the vices.

3. I would like to know if the following are still "enrolled" in class since I have had 50 requests to join class formally. Are the following still "in class":
Jobster, Powderhound,Darko,Forny,Graviteski,Dino,Cleppard.

Please confirm via PM.

Video Analysis of Tune UP from YOU TUBE.

The goal of this analysis is for the class to understand the safety issues when tuning a ski. Also to identify procedures that are counter-productive, dangerous or not recommended.

I will identify the "errors" and comment on some of the more "dangerous" parts. For the persons who are late for class, may I suggest you view video before reading this message.

MAJOR ERRORS IN VIDEO

1. Ski on floor at back
Poor practice. Kept work area clean. Keep "other" ski away! Not leaning against wall.

2. 2 propane tanks indoors
***** extremely dangerous NEVER BUT NEVER STORE propane indoors

3. Using match close to indoor propane tanks

4. No work apron

5. Unstable work bench

6. Vice grips used as ski brake holders. Use large elastics.

7. Constant use of fingers and hands to wipe ski, ski edges, ski base.
Dangerous due to metal shavings
Hands have natural oils which "contaminate" base and edges
We will later do an exercise in which you will place thumb on base and then lay wax on spot. You will note than wax will NOT "hold" due to body oils!!!

8. Notice there is no or very little "clean up" after each stage of the tune up.

9. Base repair is poorly done due to poor training.

10. Using vice gripes to hold candle ( hold with hand)

11. Never let P-tex candle drip , it should flow one continous line so that Ptex material is uniform and bonded.

12. Note Ptex drips on unprotected bench which is dirty. Fire can catch!
I have ceramic tiles under ski to catch Ptex surplus

13. Grooves are never cleaned first

14. Grooves are not "prepared" for Ptex

15. Note tool used to get Ptex off. Never use metal scrapper . Use knife

16. Note how scrapper is used "sideways" or 90 degrees from ski edges.
Never do this since it creates grooves you will have to eliminate

17. Allow Ptex to cool over night BEFORE taking "over-flow" off

18. Note how match is thrown on floor, just next to wood chips.

19. Base never prepared for wax

20. Iron not hot enough since wax "drips" on base. It should flow in one set line.

21. Poor wax spread on base

22. Note how iron goes 90 degrees from ski edges. NEVER!!!
Iron must at all times flow from tip to tail.

23. Base not pre-heated for maximum wax penetration and notice how wax "solidifies" before he has chance to spread. You will be able to "identify" an experienced tuner by how fast he/she can lay wax BEFORE it solidifies. This is the key to proper waxing. You must lay wax from tip to tail in one quick even motion and quickly return to tip and spread still liquid wax over all of base!

24. No final structuring with brushes or pads

25. Poor tail finish ( table moves)

26, No side clean up ( extra wax on edges)

27. No clean up at tip.

29. No clean up at binding area ( beginners should have taped sides)

30. No protection of bases after tune up.
A serious tuner will place paper, rags or towel BETWEEN two skis to protect edges and base.

31. Iron with holes

32. Iron with short electrical chord

33. No clean up after working.

34. No protection on floor.
Solid wax on floor is very dangerous


Learn the correct and safe way to tune skis and do not use the poor procedures on the video seen.


You should have iron, old skis, tune area ready for next week.

There seems to be a debate about the "utility" of ski poles these days. Here are my reasons for not discarding poles in alpine skiing!

1. Great to hold up hood of my car when I want to charge battery.

2. Great to release my bindings

3. Excellent sausage holders when making fire in winter camping.

4. Excellent extension to take ice off chair cables ( dripping on ski suits).

5. Perfect slings or supports to "hold" fractured ski leg ( in my old ski patrol days)

6. Perfect "traffic baton" in ski lines

7. Perfect back scratching tool while on lift.

8. Great "aid" for old skiers who have to get up , after visit to base snow!

9. Useful tool to get ice off tops of skis.

10. Excellent tool to determine the angle of inclination of slope using trig and PDA.

11. Perfect seat platform in Spring tanning.

12. Excellent tool to locate "lost" ski in 50" of snow.

13. Excellent tool to make "breathing tunnel" in snow cave.

14. Perfect tool to balance ski boots over shoulder.

15. Very best door jams.

16. The very best support for 2 year old skier.

17. Best "feelers" in very steep crevices

18. Excellent musical instruments when stuck in chair lift for 3 hours,

19. Perfect support for wet clothing in tent.

20. Excellent extension in order to tap the back of that "blonde" just 4 skiers ahead of you in ski line!


I am sure there are "others" that have more imagination than me.
Help me convince Trencher that poles are useful members of our skiing family. Show us why they must not be discarded like old rags. They need our love and attention.

You list some of the valuable services ski poles have performed for you!

Trencher,
The challenge in skiing is that you constantly learn. You never master skiing.
I chuckle ( as little) when I read neophytes that ask if after 1 day they can learn to ski!

Nature always wins, but we adapt!

That is why on every first run I always go to "easy" runs and "feel" the snow in oder to know how to ski! I think one day I will list all the "snow" conditions we ski on and how to adapt to each conditions. In Utah it took me 3 hours to finally be comfortable in powder. I kept looking for the "hard eastern snow"!

May I wish you Trencher a happy new year and much pleasure on the boards! It has been enjoyable reading your excellent comments and encouragements. Hope you get very soon more snow and sun!

I realized after reading my reply that I presented the "ultimate" in skiing powder. Something you will do no doubt in some years, but now you are just getting your toe into the water!

You asked how to "turn"

What I tried to convey to you in the first reply ( not very well) is that you must have a very different "mind" set!

Forget turning in the "groomed" context. That is quick sharp slalom turns with edges sets on each turn!

It really is a mind set in which you must face downhill, and stay at all times facing downhill!

You will learn over several years.

First ski in powder snow that is boot level.
Learn to be "soft" with edges and try to make long soft turns.
Avoid quick hard edges sets.
NEVER but never stop at top of powder run.Carry the speed into the powder! If you hesitate then you are afraid and you have lost before starting.

I just read in another ski site a saying that is so relevant.
You think you are an expert skier but the powder proves you are not!

No comment!!!

Once you can ski fast , fall-line runs with snow up to boots and be at ease, graduate to knee level powder skiing!

Gradually you will be at ease with; speed, balance, long soft turns then you will be ready for the serious stuff I have described above!

Someday then you will ski for 15 minutes from top to bottom with snow just above your chin and remember to never let that voice slow you down!

Enjoy!