J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

Yes doing exercises can help but,,,,even a body builder who trains everyday will have "burning thighs" after skiing 30-40 IN AN INCORRECT STANCE !

90% of skiers ski with weight on their heels and as speed increases they tense up and lean back even more !

Just watch beginners and,,,,,,,look at their ski tips often off the snow,,flapping !!!! A sure sign of heel pushing!

Try this,,to solve the thigh issue! ( assuming you are fit ) !

Begin with mind. Think "pressure at all times at ski tip"
Think relax and let skis do work.
Think soft with edges
Think,,,"too fast" then go across and up slope ! Let slope slow you down!

Then;
Put pressure on big toe at all times

Do NOt go so fast down hill

Enjoy your skiing,,why go so fast,,,,

Here is the critical hint ( which will seem wrong to you ) !

The faster you go,,,,the softer you must be with edges
The faster you go,,,,the less body motion is required.
The faster you go,,,the less muscle you need to tun skis
The faster you go,,,the more forward you must be! ( to be ahead of the skis in the turns)
The faster you go,,,tiny "adjustments" are multiplied 10 times !

Just move your nose a few millimeters to the right as you soar,,,,,see what happens!

Hope this helps you,,this season!

Pavel

Olla,

Via PM send me your address.

Better still,,come and try them for several weeks, since I am getting the 2012 editions soon so my 2011 models will be free.

My wife also has a pair of World Cup SLs. Loves them,,so if you hear anyone tell you that you need "thighs of thunder" and a racing pedigree do not believe them!

They are however very sensitive to edge sets, silky smooth and demand from the skier to never sit back on the turns!

Happy ski season.

As far as that technical material,,,it is not that complicated . I can send you some literature given to company reps when they are trained to do their "marketing" in stores!

Respectfully,
Pavel

More skiers should read and follow "OldAndy's advice.

Last night I considered Bandit's relevant comments and the whole issue of ski selection ! To me it is as mysterious as selecting that person you want to share your life with.

There are some essential steps.

1. Read and learn about skis and skiing
2. Ask some of the "older" skiers their opinions
3.Try out various models before buying
4.I would suggest "used" models for first time ( with friend's help )
5.Try demos on the hill
6 Be honest with self evaluation (how many times will ski, physical attributes,personality etc,)
7. Learn to ski effectively ie take lessons
8. take holidays with a better skier
9. Read some more and ask questions so you know about; camber,ski cut, radius, flex pattern, core construction, plate performance, look up REALSKIER site which has the very best independent evaluation in world. Clear, precise evaluation with sections to learn about skis. Well worth the few dollars.

Thank you Oldandy

I have accepted that there is no one way to select skis or mate,,,but the process is so much fun !


If you do not mind OldAndy, I will share with you my selecting process for that mate.

I was 19 and finishing university and had met a young lady who met all my criteria so far,,but I wanted to know how the "insides" were !

So I planned a one week hiking/mountaineering trip in Fall. She had never hiked, did not have boots. Had never slept in a small small tent with wind blowing pegs off, It was a 4 hour hike up to summit trials. At first the sun was out ,,then dark clouds came , following with rain. NO real heavy rain. A down pour !
"This was the moment" ,, I though. She will break down,, cry or just get mad at me !

It did not happen. All I saw was resolve and determination in her face! 4 hours later we found our shelter. Changed into clean dry cloths and had the very best coffee in the world and more !

Had 4 days of great hiking at top of some great mountains. Sun clouds, eagles, wind !

On the way down I knew she could take any "stress, problems,conflicts" life would throw at us ( and it did) She was gold inside,,hidden well by that soft tender look outside !

At very bottom,,at end of trip I asked her to marry me !

PS,, It was Fall and I had not "tested" her on skis. Stupid me ! She was a rank beginner and this was out first "stress" as a married couple. She had one factor which helped,,"desire,,burning desire" to be as good as me, no better than me !
I am married,,,,,, not as long as Dave Mac,,but I am sure I have had as much fun as him,,,,,on skis and on,,,,,,,,,,,!

In short take the time to select both your skis and your future wife/husband both are very important in your personal happiness! Please do not ask me which is more important ?

Bandit,
You are so right !

If you do not know what is a WC SL cut ski,,,,then it is not for you !

We have a saying here. It ain't the gun,,but the gunner" that makes the difference !

I once skied with a middle age man who kept complaining about how his skis could not do this or that ! After two days of listening to this "complaining" without a comment, I asked him to exchange skis!

We went down the same run,,in the same speed with the same turns! One run did it !

We exchanged, in silence skis again at bottom of the run ! Nothing was said!

The rest of the week went very well !

Now as far as "any ski can do anything ",,,,I have a pair of 185 cm. ,,,,130 mm. waist powder skis that can do nothing on hard groomed slopes, but in powder,,,,they come alive !

Try taking a 220 cm. downhill ski in narrow chutes ! There a limit on what you can ask a ski to do!

In conclusion Bandit, as always you are right in target. If a skier has to ask what these skis do,,,"then these are not the right skis" for him ! Can he at least dream of skiing on the very best ????

Have a great season Bandit !

Re Head WC SL skis.

I have these skis for the past three years. The only limitations I noted is in +10 cm. of soft powder snow!

I can use them for tight SL turns with a great spring feeling at end of turn!

I use them also for wide fast GS turns ( 81-23 meters) on steep runs.

In Spring skiing conditions with great deal of moguls they zip over tops!

The video I sent Dave Mac with me cruising with fast GS easy turns is on those SL skis!

Yes of course you can go straight down with them,,but what is the point!

I do have a pair of GS 181 cm. Head Supershapes for real fast GS type skiing and the difference between the two ,,,is that the GS is so much more stable at high high speeds ( most skiers will never go so fast) ! If you do go at speeds which allows those Supershapes to "hum",,the your ticket will be taken away!

Sorry Bandit,,but my Heads do more than tight turns. They cruise with turns in the =21 meters with ease.
Then that is just my experience with them.

Lota,

Yes you are correct about lifts !

As far as weather,,,,,that is part of skiing. Never know what the gods will bring !

I was there for 10 days and had 10 days of powder every night ! Mind you,,I do pray to the snow gods a lot !

Pavel

OLLA,

Why some shops or some ski resorts do not have a specific ski often has to do with "marketing politics" !

In one ski resort I visit regularly, Salomon is given to all ski school directors and supervisors ! In return instructors MUST have only Salomon to teach and only this brand is sold !

Guess what happened last year ?

I was testing about 10 pair of Fischers and one of the supervisor asked me to try the SC pro model. At end of day he offered me a beer and at bar ( in a low voice) asked to buy that model! I did get him a pro deal! On his free days , he takes off his instructor jacket, puts on those Fischers and skis while his fellow instructors "jeer" him !!!!

Hope you find the Heads you want !

Pavel

AJ,
There are "special occasions" when that never list does not hold!

I must also confess that I once skied with my tuxedo ( with shorts). That is another story !

I am sure you did it with style !

The question begs to be asked,,,,,"were you on the ski slope when you got married" ? If so yes,,then you are "classic" !

Welcome back !

Pavel