J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

NARSIDs - Non-Avalanche Related Snow Immersion Death

Something I had no awareness of at all... these occur when a skier (or boarder) falls, head down, into the hidden wells in snow around trees.

According to this article on Ski-Injury these accounted for 25% of ski fatalities in British Columbia (not sure over what time frame).

Read the article... and stay away from those trees in the powder!

Ever more popular, helmets seem a logical choice for kiddies (as their heads are closer to ground/other peoples skis,boards) but there seem to be pros and cons:

+ protect well against minor knocks and bumps
+ some protection in a big crash
+ keep yer head warm!

- reduce spatial/situational awareness

Given that head injuries are a (thankfully) rare occurrence and avoidance is better than cure - is the loss of awareness worth it? (i.e. are you more likely to injure yourself 'cos you didn't see it coming?)

There are, of course, different designs of helmet but anything that impedes vision or hearing at all can't be a good thing.

For excellent coverage of this and other ski-related safety and injury concerns see Ski-Injury.com.

So, anyone here wear one - does it impede you?

Wow... haven't used them myself (these are touring skis aren't they?) but there are other Trab skis that are even lighter (the Race Aero)!

I guess this is due to the Air Canals described at the Ski Trab website?

Going out to Geneva next weekend !amazed - so where's open?

Tignes obviously... Val Thorens opened last weekend and I also heard that Avoriaz may be opening at the weekends prior to their official opening... anyone know any more?

Wear The Fox Hat wrote:That sir, is a "Snowboard"

Try getting one on each foot though... mind you, buoyancy in powder would be great... so long as you could swivel the bindings round...

Wear The Fox Hat wrote:I think the extra is supposed to be the extra width. In my eyes, under 70 would be considered normal, and not mid-fat, under 80 is mid-fat, over 80 is offpiste, and over 100 is just plain crazy

Those sound like good rules-of-thumb... so howabout the 125mm width of the almost bonkers Volant Spatula?

Definitely not an easy carver!

Mmm, someone else recommended the xplosiv... but I found a bunch of v.positive reviews of the Scream on the web, so picked them up today (brought my purchase forward to get the free flight offer sorted) and hope to be christening them in two weeks time (if it doesn't get warm in the Alps)!

Wear The Fox Hat wrote:I haven't heard a bad word about them from anyone

Me neither so far... got chatting with the crew in the local ski shop this morning and one of the ladies (who tests for Volkl so knows a tip from a tail) rated them very highly.

We half took one apart - you don't have to remove much for them to look more like a meccano crane kit than an item of footwear! Maybe the future of a ski boot is a bunch of carbon fibre struts in all the right places, and a waterproof, thermal sock.... B)