J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

In some ski areas that I ski, at very top 100 meters before lift off platform are three huge plastic drums for skiers to throw down various objects.


What do you see 300 meters before these drums?


Red Bull drink cans. Beer cans, Cigarette buts etc,,,,

Thoughtless persons are ,,,well thoughtless.

Trencher,
I am now negociating for a house rental near Cottonwood Canyon for the month of January or February. Room for 6 persons!

Since agency is paying for house,,free bed! You might have to cook a special, meal"

Brucie,
Have the 101 Wateas and like you found them to be very dynamic, fun to ski on and stable.

It is good to have an open mind.

A backyard ski area story.

Many years ago I wanted to introduce my children to skiing.

I began to build a "small" hill in the back yard with snow.

Very soon that hill was too small for them. They wanted longer, steeper, faster (sound familiar).

So it did get higher, longer and faster until the start line was on the roof of my garage 20 meters away. The slope became a "ski cross" course with curves , bumps and dips.

In two weeks I not only had my kids going down the "slope" but local skiers, who heard about this free ski slope.

Everyday after school children would walk over with their skis, line up at the "stairs" going up to the roof and then ski down. For hours they would play/ski on this private ski resort learning how to; fall, turn on ice, set an edge and then stop at very end.

We were all happy,,until,,,,, ( hear the sigh) a local mother called police to report a dangerous situation. Seems sliding down on a homemade ski slope on skis is dangerous. It is better to be in front of television or computer screen than outside.

Once the police came,,,I had to stop all other children from skiing on my slopes. They watched from sidewalk as my children enjoyed themselves. You can imaging what "happened" on Halloween at her house .

Now all those children have grown up and as they pass my house with their children I see them pointing at the garage, at the roof and I see the children's eyes widen as their parents relate how they skied down that huge/steep/long ski trail.

Memories of the backyard ski resort.

Ranchero,
You are so right about "first turn" .

Yes that first turn sets up all the rest. I tell skiers it is like "first date". You are never sure what will happen,,,,,but you must jump into it all the way. No hesitation. No half measures and yes softly .

So well put.

That hesitation on first turn does "limit" many skiers.

Thanks for great observation.

Dave Mac,

Just after I woke up,,I thought of you since on television who do I see going the weather.

He mentioned that near your area, "snow" . Is that possible?

Yes that closed mouth hint is given to all neophytes on first +40 cm. powder days.

Yes that powder brings out the child in all of us.

Dream on Monsieur Mac.

I will make a small confession.

There are some of those "perfect powder days" that do last a lifetime.

You seem to relive them over and over again.

I still smell the snow, taste the snow and hear the snow as I go down a slope that has me covered up to chin.

Magic.

Felthrope,

Wise skier and learning to , "feel the skis" working instead of forcing the ski to turn.

Skiers who over torque their boots are getting a false sense of safety and "suffering" at same time.

With modern skis and boots you do not need to over tighten boots,,like in a medieval torture mechanism. Skis are easy to turn once you learn (and have confidence) to allow them to turn.

I have noticed one aspect of new ski boots. The outer plastic is very much influenced by heat/cold changes. I have a new pair of Head ski boots that took me 3 weeks of tweeking ( change of buckle position, heat expansion, molded sole etc,,,) and found if I heat them up before skiing I slip in just like slippers. When they are cold,,,,,plastic seems to be much more rigid.

Others in my group have noted the same issue, so now we have a boot Salomon shop heater in the ski chalet just for us. There is a line up of candidates for the heating process.

Have you noticed also that in October when you put on boots for first time, they seem tight ? That is because the inner liner has expanded somewhat. That is why all skiers should wear their boots indoors before ski season.

You ask,,,why indoors? Well I wear mine in Fall while raking leaves and have now been "identified" as the "strange man on the corner who,,,,,"
I am now organizing on Facebook a world wide "spontaneous" ski boot leaf raking event on,,,,,,,.
Keep in touch or watch You Tube "