Messages posted by : pavelski
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Los,
I am just about the same level and same body type. I recommend in the 170 - 175 cm range but the more important aspect is the bindings. You will note right away as you get your hands on these beauties that they are very light. You do not need a plate on these skis since they are for powder and off piste skiing. Find yourself a set of "old" bindings very much like Salomon Drivers! Also make sure the shop installs units using the center of running surface method! Great skis. You are going to really enjoy them. On of my favorite skis. Very soft flex and well distributed over all ski. |
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Source: Warren Miller - Mountain Speak
Warren Miller discovered that many skiers do not know basic skiing terms. He proposed the following. Enjoy! Merger When two ski resorts with three years of bad snow climb onto the same toboggan to ride downhill on what's left of their financial statement. Piste Bully Groomer A quarter-million dollar device that flattens all of the bumps in the ski run because anyone over the age of 40 would have to quit skiing if it had not been invented. Snow Gun A very expensive gizmo that sprays small drops of water onto rocks and stumps so when when the temperature is below freezing the water slowly coagulates into frozen icy mass the size of subcompact cars that skiers call moguls. Snow report An optimistic hypothesis of potential snow conditions by an assistant to the assistant marketing Director- who is looking for a higher -paying job. Artificial Fiber Something that cost Dupont about 14 billion dollars in research in order to duplicate the inner feathers of Chinese ducks-which cost about 5 cents per feather. Lift Lines Something you pay as much as $75 per day to stand and freeze waiting in lift lines, unless of course you pay $120 per hour for aprivate instructor so that you now do not freeze on lift lines but freeze on lift! Heliskiing A very expensive, noisy and scary way to become the most listened to person at a cocktail party Cross-Training A semi-religious rite performed for the up coming season's sport. Note: People who cross-train never have to indulge in seasonal sports because they're always cross-training for the upcoming season! Diagonal Kevlar Laminate Something that is added to a ski in order to substantially raise the price of that ski. Special Discount The mystical and hypothetical amount that is subtracted from the retail price of any ski product after the normal markup has been doubled. High Speed Quad A $4 million device that lets you float through the air at an incredibly high speed and deposit more skiers per hour at the top of the mountain in order to block all the ski runs. Man Made Snow A commodity that requires vast amounts of coal to generate electricity to expensively convert water to white stuff on the hill where it will cover brown stuff called rocks. Some of the brown stuff usually sticks up through the white stuff! Travel Agent The company you found on line that books you into the wrong end of the town, in the wrong room, at the wrong week of the season,at the wrong price when the snow is thin and there is no storm in sight. I am sure you are all as imaginative as Mr. Miller and can "contribute" to this unique ski terminology Here is mine. Ski Bunny A not so rare ski species that has fur all over her body ( yes it is 99% female) except important portions of the body such as torso, hips and legs. These areas are covered in very tight thin material. This species demonstrates unique survival qualities. It enjoys moving near its predators by displaying courtship behavior, then scampers off to seek other bunnies as protection! |
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If you still want to tune your skis and board ( I will use the term ski to denote alpine ski and snowboard), you will have to decide now if you want to jump in the water all the way or just dip your toe into this cold water!
I will present three levels of commitment as far as ski tuning tools. You decide which is best for you, however you MUST at least have level 1 tools to continue this course for January 2007. I have found that you do not need to buy tools from ski shops or specialized sources on net. Many of the tools are found in general stores, grocery stores and hardware stores. I will only recommend the tools I use or have used and are effective for our stated needs. Level 1 The Entry Level Tools Log booklet Vices This is a MUST since you can not do proper tuning without having the skis attached to a level surface. I have seen many sites recommending chairs, stairs, tables, beds etc...! Do not use anything but ski vices since you will ruin your skis and hurt yourself! I have used regular machine vices! Crushed my sidewalls! I have used a kitchen table with C clamps. Cut my fingers! I have used a friend to hold skis. Cut his finger! If you are serious about tuning, then get a ski vice! Which one is best? Do not get plastic vices! A good vice will last you at least 10 years if not more years. It will save you money so look at this purchase as an investment! For many years I used a Toko vice but found that the model I had did not open larger enough for the new wide skis. Here are the elements of an "acceptable vice" 1.inner vertical rubber inserts ( not to damage edges) 2.jaws opening range should fit SL skis at widest part 3.Large vertical adjustment screw which holds vices to table 4.Rubber washers on top of vertical attachment screw in order not to damage table 5. Notches at top of vice in order to hold ski horizontal. This notch must not be too deep, thus go passed ski surface. This is very important since the vice jaws will stop wax iron from flowing on base. Snoli and FK make great units. I prefer the three unit vice set up because you can adjust height of vice platform to fit any ski bindings. The negative aspects of the old TOKO two unit vices was that for some bindings such as Rossignol you did not have clearance. Before buying any vices, always check that the skis will fit!, that is that vertical space will allow bindings to hang above work bench! The round plates that are at end of vertical screw ( which tightens vice to table) often come off. Check that they are well placed on this screw! True bar (hardware store or machinist) 6 " mill bastard file ( at least two) 10 plastic scrub pads ( various textures from coarse to fine)found in grocery story Paper towels 1 file guide at 2 degrees bevel. Tape 4" from paint shop for trim painting. Old iron extension chord Ceramic stone 220 grade 4 Brushes ( coarse to fine) Nylon found grocery store or hardware store Brass brush Rubber pad Sandpaper ( metal) 120-220 grit) Metal scraper ( plaster spreader or see machinist ) Plastic scraper Plastic-rubber bands ( see postal workers or office supplies) Typically the cost should not be more than $100 US. 2 Wax bars ( -5 to +10 range. -8 to -15 range) Trim for ceramic tiles 4' ( not error! Used for practice filing and bevel work) Apron One ceramic tile ( sample) from ceramic store . Used to rest hot iron! Hot iron will melt plastic counter tops. Hot irons will burn carpet or wood! For the persons attending course you can "build" vice system with 2X4 wood and lug bolts! PM me! Level 2 Tools All of the above plus SKS roller cutters ( for beveled vertical edges) Diamond finishing bar Vario base bevel guide Very fine file Ceramic bars 300, 400, grade Gummy bar Fine brass brush Level 3 Tuner (the pro) All of the above plus; P-tex candle white and black Spagetti P-tex repair white black Diamond file Base level heavy file World Cup chrome files 9 fine -coarse) SKS Vario tuner ( side and base bevel) Roto-brush ( brushes horse hair, nylon and brass) Roto shaft The ultimate level ( for the fanatic ) All of the above and; Wintersteiger Discman Ceramic tuner- Once you use this once you will understand why you MUST have one! Just get basic tools and over the years get friends, wives, husbands, father and ,,,,get you some of the tools. The tuner must take the time to "learn" how each tool works. You have to learn the "touch" in using each file. You must learn what file is best for the work you want to do! In the first level I asked you to get some ceramic tile borders. These are made of aluminum and are used to place at ends of ceramic tile counters and floors. They are cheap and great to practice filling and setting beveled edges since alu is soft and you will have to learn to be "soft" with files! You still have time to pass along your wishes to Santa! Typically irons come with short electric chords. You need at least 10 feet if not more! I cut the plug off original iron and buy an electric extension chord. Just re-wire and tape up with electric tape! In order to be clean, I visit my favorite carpet store and they give me "ends" which are sample carpets or old carpets. I place one 8 "strip on bench and another 12" strip on floor. Every two months I change carpets. Clean floor. Clean bench! I assume you have a well lite work area! I am sure I have forgotten a tools thus this session is an "open session" with more tools indentified as we go along! I will assume that you will get all tools by January 2007 and we will begin serious tune up work. If you have any questions about tools please reach me via PM. Happy shopping! |
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So that you will understand why you wax and why you tune skis, it is best to know some "background" information.
Have you ever asked yourself, "why is ice so slippery"? Think about it! Often the simplest questions have profound answers! No it is NOt because there is great pressure on ice which melts it causing water! That is a myth. The real and correct answer was found very recently by Colbeck in 1997 in a vital study that clearly indicated that it is FRICTIONAL HEAT. Yes the very heat you get when you rub your open palms together! It gets even more interesting as physicians discovered in the late 90's a mysterious layer in snow and ice called " Quasi-fluid" layer. As you all know from high school chemistry and physics( and you thought those classes were boring) water has several states ( liquid, gas, solid and now this mysterious quasi-layer). It is this layer that is the basis of our pleasure. Since we are in a tuning class we will not get into the "chemical mysteries" of this layer, but let us just say that indeed it is mysterious in the ways it is influenced by; temperature, humidity, pressure,light and physical aspects of terrain. As future tuners you must always keep in mind that water can in a same location ( ski run) exist as; liquid, solid and gas! In practical terms that means in a given mountain a skier might ski over a QFL ( quasi-fluid layer) of many many types thus affecting ski performance. What is even more fascinating is that this QFL has very special properties which make skiers very happy! Imagine a tiny oxygen atom at the SURFACE of this layer vibrates faster than the same oxygen molecule in the inside of this layer! This was discovered by Gabor Snomorjai from University of California! This information is not that important and will not by on final test but maybe one day while you are going up lift and some ski instructor tries to impress you about his /her knowledge of skiing you could ask, who is Gabor Snomorja! What is important is that these "excited" oxygen atoms at the surface ( some people call them adolescent atoms) is that they "create" vibrations that make snow and ice BEHAVE LIKE A LIQUID! ( even when it is very cold)! This layer is very thin and very much influenced by outside influence very much like adolescents, thus is unstable! ( no comment here)! That is what makes us happy as skiers! As you tune remember that in essence you are trying to get ski bases to "float" over this QFL and this layer is very variable. This variability we will discuss later when we talk about wax selection! What is even more interesting ,,,is this discover has changed dramatically the focus of research on "how to make skis go faster"! If you do not mind I will give you a glimpse of the future in skiing by telling you that companies are now designing skis with "electronic" bases that try to excite even more those unrulely oxygen atoms even more! Soon the Ipod will also be used to vibrate ski bases at a certain frequency so that more oxygen atoms will vibrate! But that is for my class in 2020! Back to 2006! Once you understand the basis of the "slippery" surface and how thin it is, you will understand why certain parameters are taken into account in determining wax type and base structure! We are recreational skiers so we will not in this class focus into minute factors ( in order to get .001 seconds off) but we will consider major factors which are; temperature ( air) and snow type. On next session we will discuss snow types and how it affects skiing! How was this session? Not too much theory? Can you see those young adolescent oxygen atoms vibrating! |
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Trencher is right on the mark and the advice he gave is excellent.
Yes stay on easy runs until you are at "ease" with speed. There is a apparent contradiction while skiing fast. The faster you ski , the more subtle or delicate must your reactions by. Many but many skiers "over-react" due to mental stredd rather than poor technique. Yes absolutely you must place weight on DOWNHILL ski edge. It is the conrnerstone of effective skiing. Try this! As you turn lift heel of up hill boot.Notice I say heel not ski! That is because 90% of skiers will pick up TIP of up hill ski because they lean back as they turn. This exercise does two things; 1. it makes you shift to downhill ski ( weight transference) and 2. it makes you stay up front. Try to lift heel while leaning back. You can not do it! You must be forward to lift heel. The last suggestion by Trencher is another excellent point. It is a vital strategy in speed control. It is your "safety" valve in case...... Let the slope do all of the work by slowly you down. I know what I will say next will seem incorrect, but when it happens to you will remember this. At one point in the speed descent, you actually "feel" like you are slowing down. If you are spectator you see skier blazing down a run, yet to the skier speed "seems" slower. Why? The key word is anticipation. It goes back to what Trencher stated. Practice speed on easy run. The brain learns to deal with speed and anticipates, ie looks ahead so that the focus is no longer 2 meters ahead but 10 meters ahead. Next time you drive analyze your thinking. In city driving at 30 km. you are looking 5 meters ahead but once you get on highway going at 140 km. you focus 30-50 meters ahead. If ever you go on car race track and do 250 km. and then drive at 140 km. on route, it seems "slow"! This analogy can be transfered to skiing. You see how the mind must be conditioned for the speed! Another contradiction is coming up! The steeper the run, the easier to turn. Really!!!! What causes problems is not the geometry ( ie slope) but the mind. Humans have an interesting survival unconscious mechanism. Watch children learning to walk. You can learn a great deal about skiing! To a child walking is dangerous. There are all sorts of objects to hit head. The ground has varied texture from, slippery, to soft etc...The surface is also not always level! Plus you have these adults causing you stress. pushing you to do what you are afraid to do!!! Sound familiar!!! What does a child do? Stands up, then takes few steps, but if at any time the surface cause problems, there is a table near by, or if stress is to much ( mother, father, grandparents, etc.. watching) the child will return to crawl! That is what skiers do! They ski on easy runs but do not take time to learn basics! Then social pressures ( ha come on you can do it) forces them to raise the stress bar up and they "go to the top"! The first sign of;steepness,ice, speed they revert to crawl...... Follow Trencher's advice. Take the time to learn basics on easy run. Learn to go faster and when you will be in Kitzbuhle on the World Cup downhill run and humming as you go 120 km. you will remember all the work you did to prepare you for this experience. If you do not mind a little secret. Expert skiers admire any skier that reaches the "effective skier" level because you can not buy this. You must work at it. You must do your time like the skater that practices for hours and hours one move! That is when you will discover the real joys of skiing and the respect of your peers. Hope this has helped you. See you in Kitzbuhl! |
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We are on our way.
The following have indicated they will "attend" this course and I will direct my clarifications, comments and PM to the following; Powderhound, Darko, Forny,Graviteski,Dino and Cleppard. Jobster indicated she wanted to "attend" however I did not get PM from her, nor did I get her email so we shall consider her a course "observer". Only the above are candidates for the TOKO vices I will give at end of course! This session will be to clear up some issues you might have about tuning, and some general comments. Please read WARNING at bottom of this site about information and your responsibilities. Context All the sessions will focus on recreational ski tune up.Thus we will not go into serious base structuring, radical angles and modification of bindings ( canting) I am not selling products, techniques and etc.... This is provided for you to enjoy yourselves more while skiing. I will recommend some products that over the years I have found "practical". I will also give you my opinions on some products and their cost. They are my opinions and not the staff at this site. I am a straight shooter that calls a spade a spade so if you want politically correct, "by the book" ( or tradition) tuning do not attend! I will tell you what products are junk or over-priced!!!! I will as the course evolves send manuals from various companies or illustrations and the sources will be identified. I will also direct you to books and sites to visit. That is going to be your homework. I will also have a summative criterion referenced evaluation at end of course. This is for you self evaluation and also for me to determine who should be in the draw for the vices! There is one book that is a classic which you all should ask for at Christmas. It is the bible among all technicians I know from the World Cup level to club level. You can not separate tuning from ski design and ski technique. That is why I recommend you all get, "The Athletic Skier by Warren Witherell and David Evrard. There are some specific chapters I will refer to since they have direct application to your tune up. You will become a better skier because of this book. You will understand why you tune a certain way because of this book. Buy it now! Reasons for tuning skis 1. 90% of skiers think you tune to race. To go faster!!! Yes all ski racers get their skis tuned but that is not the reason YOU want to tune your skis. 2. Protect skis. You will learn that ski bases go through some serious abrasive action and the wax you apply protects the base. I have some skis that are 5 years old yet are like new because I wax EVERY TIME I ski! Even when I travel! That is not the main reason to tune. 3.To get maximum performance from skis. Skis coming from factory, even the racing WC skis need to be tweaked or adapted for your skiing style and conditions.That is not the main reason to tune. 4.To ski better. That is why you tune your skis. This point needs some clarification so that you will be committed to "serious" tuning. As you ski your brain, via the sensory neurons all over your body is analyzing all the "cues"and adapting your body as a result. If the input messages are weak, or incorrect your brain will make decisions that are incorrect. You will NOT adapt correctly in order to ski effectively! Let me illustrate. If your edges are dull as you pass icy sections. The messages to your brain is that the ski is NOt responding, you are sliding rather than carving ( even if you are using correct technique) and so you begin to use "survival" strategies. Sitting back, turning body,using more muscle power, leaning into hill, swearing, closing eyes, blaming husband, blaming resort etc..... Result-you are afraid of ice, you doubt your skiing abilities,you compensate not because of your skiing abilities but because the ski can not hold its line. Think what you do when you have a dull knife. You push harder. You lose that fine sense and use large muscles groups to compensate for poor edge control. You tune your skis to get better, to enjoy skiing and to trust your skis! No one can tell you how your skis should go. You will learn in this course not only to tune your skis, but to feel your skis when they are "on". You will become a skier that will let the skis do the work. You will become a finesse skier! So when you see a "patch of ice ahead" you will have confidence in your work and skis and just cruise over that ice. I predict that in one year you will LOOK for ice just to show your friends how great your skis are! That is why you tune your skis. I am sure you are very hesitant in doing harm to your skis, that is why you need an old pair of used skis. Get some this week. Some Rules 1. Safety. You can get hurt so please note my warnings! If you ever see my hands I have many scars from all the mistakes, you will not make. You must at all times think safety! No loose material while tuning. No flames near products. Just think, "what if......" 2. Little is more. Most beginners have a tendency to go too far in sanding base, in setting edges, in putting iron "hot". Do everything in increments. Small increments! 3. Do work slowly. 4.Keep a log of work and products you used. 5. Clean work area. You must at all times keep skis clean. bench clean and hands clean. I will show you how to set up work area. 6. Use all senses. Beginners have a tendency to look for errors, dings, cuts. I never look at my edges,,,I feel them with eyes closed. BEFORE I START TO FILE!!!! While I file edges I listen to sound coming from each stroke. Quickly you will note how the file is very much like a musical instrument. When a ding is passed a "different" tone is made! When you have a perfect edge, the same sound is heard from tip to tail as you pass file. Listen. I smell the edges. Seriously, if ever you use a tool call SKS edge racer the blade is 10 times harder than the ski edges and a distinctive smell is evident. 7. Never but never stroke the edge once it has been file or worked. I will repeat this since IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. Never touch with bare hands an edge that has been worked. At all times use paper towel! If you do touch, you will have tiny steel shanks that will hurt you for weeks and perhaps cause infection. NEVER TOUCH EDGES WITH FINGERS Three times I mentioned this ,yet I know someone will pass finger on edges just to see how sharp the edges are!!!!!!!! NO NO!!! Look, listen , smell but DO NOT TOUCH!!!! 8. Buy best. I have found that cheap tools cause accidents, break down.I will tell you the tools you need and the ones that are "gimmicks" or over-prices. I will show you how you can get better tuning tools at low price just by going to your friendly hardware store or machinist. 9. Never use a tool for another function. Do not use kitchen knife. Do not Phillips screwdriver ( star shaped). Ski screwdrivers are POSIDRIVE units made for skiing. Yes Phillips will fit but not mate correctly! 10. Enjoy yourself. You chose to "enroll" in this class. You want to get to be a better skier. You will. You want to save money. You will. I will never ask you to do something that is too dangerous or impossible. Difficult ,,yes but when you do succeed, what pride you will have. You are from all parts of this world. I need your input on my level of language, on my pace, and technical precision. If you do not understand me, it is my fault not yours . Just ask me to repeat in other words. You come from different contexts so I do not know if you have a place just for tuning. When I started many years ago I did all my tuning in the kitchen on my mother's stove since in those days your "melted" wax in a pot! Try to find a place for you! I will send you some picts of a "good" work bench. For this week, try to get book, old iron, old skis and make a sign, " DO NOT TOUCH EDGES" Hope you will have fun! 3. Sources |
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The staff at J2ski have "created" this section for the ski tuning course which will be underway next week.
Thank you for allowing to use this medium. They have also created a section on which I will be able to download; pictures of tools needed, pictures of corrected structured bases, documents on various topics which will make tune more interesting. This section will also answer any tuning questions various skiers might have on the topic. The skiers that have "enrolled" will be my target group and I will communicated via PM and video-conference when possible! Again thank you J2ski for all the support. This is a first. A WWW course attended by skiers from all over the skiing world, share common interest. The internet at its best. Bravo! |
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Slamb,
Welcome back! You are so right that skis have changed over the years. Based on your information , you have many choices. The Atomic line has great options, however before you do buy may I suggest you answer, to yourself the following questions; 1.How fit am I? 2.How many days will I ski? 3.Do I want to progress to "higher levels" or am happy where I am? 4.How much money do I want to invest? Here are the reasons for the questions. 1.Higher performance skis require a "fit" skier that will maintain pressure on the ski edges. Lower level skis are more "forgiving" allowing you to relax! 2.If you really are coming back, not because of the children but because you want to ski then think away for ski that might too "performance" oriented NOW but in two years will be perfect! 3. If you plan to really learn the "new" skiing technique , thus take lessons get a ski at intermediate level. 4.Price level If you buy now you will pay high price since before Christmas and demand is high. In February prices start to go down. In March you can great deals. Notice I did not suggest a brand or model since you must try all ski models. One will stand out! However since you are returned after several years off, you might not know what to look for ( flex, camber, torsion, etc..) so perhaps for this year you should take lessons. Try all sorts of skis! They really are all good! Once you have focussed on one model, tell me your cost, I am sure to get better deal! ( I do not own store nor do I sell ski products). I do however test skis and get "special deals"! Again welcome back! |
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