Messages posted by : pavelski
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I enjoy discovering "different skiers" !
I enjoy finding skiers that are unique, special and some ,,well "bizarre ! I have been following a skier who travels the strange corners of the world. To places that you and I would never even consider due to revolutions, riots, lack of lodging, etc,,,rocks, cliffs etc,,,,, When some of my friends sent me pictures of their "extreme" skiing to impress me,,,I send them a picture of this skier! Silence follows,,,,, since no sane skier would do what he does! I must warn you, I do not encourage what he does. Let me be honest,,he is a bit of a showman ( and loves it ) ! This is purely for your enjoyment ! If you are less than 18 years old,,please ask your parents if you can watch all the pictures since Eric does many ski turns that no one should do ! Enjoy watching this "extreme" skier who did all this before the term "extreme" became the thing to do! I give you Eric Lons in http://www.flickr.com/photos/54724780@N00/ The "strange skier" Pavel |
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Tony,
If you can, get a friend or guide who has experience in this type of conditions to "lead you" ! Thus all you have to worry about is keeping that lane just 3-5 meters behind him/her ! Do not even think of the speed. If the fellow in front can do it,,so can you ! Trust your abilities and when you feel that heart beat IN your throat then you are getting there! Soaring ! Soon you will discover that all skiers have a preferred side. That is,,,, they turn better on left or right! Go to their weak side in powder skiing as you follow them! Why ? As they turn on their weak side they make less "spray", less powder clouds which blinds you if you follow too closely ! That is why you will see a natural "pecking order " created in powder skiing. The better powder skier will want that "virgin" snow and will pick the best fast lines! In powder skiing there is no waiting for friends at top, no gathering at lip to select lines. Good skiers get that first line ! Great excitement is waiting for you! Pavel |
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I was talking to a ski instructor who specializes in teaching skiers to ski in those "special powder days " You know the +60 cm , soft soft feather type powder on wide opens slopes! That powder which comes up to your chest !
We both concluded that what is often stopping great skiers to reach that "heavenly powder " plateau in skiing is a change in strategy. A change in mental attitude while powder skiing. You can have all the technique, those technical skills to ski effectively but if your attitude, your mind set is still in the groomed slopes, then you will not enjoy skiing powder. Here is a great hint he gave me, which he uses on his students. These are all intermediate /expert level skiers who are new to "champagne white " ! First he picks a moderate long easy slope . Thus slope is steep enough to allow constant speed yet not too steep to cause mental panic. Most skiers in powder tend to avoid going too fast, thus begin to turn (often on their edges), or sit back (thus the famous burning thighs) ! The idea is to ski with ease going straight ( fall line) and making soft easy long gliding turns,,very much like a glider! The goal is to create an attitude of assurance. To create a feeling of never jamming edges, making tight fast hard turns! The soaring glider or seagull image is constantly mentioned! The strategy is to pick a 3 m wide lane and always ski down in the fall line within this lane. Skier must make soft long easy turns down this lane! Never go outside this 3 m. lane! To reinforce this "lane skiing", my ski instructor places his class in parallel lanes with one or 2 meters delay. Thus each skier is skiing behind another but 4 meters to side. If a skier goes within the other skier's lane,,,,well he/she must pay a beer to group! You can see what is happening! Skiers now focus on NOT turning hard and across the slope ( as most groomer skiers would do) ! Rather they focus on going down the their lane ! They are thinking of that lane ( very much like a bowling lane) and not the speed. That is determined by the instructor who is the first down! The model. Try this "strategy" with your group ! It is fun. It will create much discussion at the bar and it will illustrate what skiers will do for a free beer or two! If you practice hard and long,,, the perhaps you can enter in a few years the famous "figure 8's" contest held every year in Alaska! Down the 3 meter lane two skiers in perfect sync making "perfect 8s " all the way down ! Perfection ! That is how to ski powder! Hope this helps some of you ! |
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SwingBeep,
Often skiers ask me, "what is the best ski,,,," ? The word they forget to place in those comma spaces is " for me" ! Then the next question is,,,,"what kind of skiing do you MOSTLY do? " All skis are great these days ! The trick is to find a ski that fits your "skiing desires" ! The worst place to discover this is in the "marketing blurs" on net, in magazines and TV ! Be honest to yourself ! Do you want model XZY because it is the newest thing on slopes, the status ski or wildest graphics or because it makes you soar like Icarus with it ! It is up to each skier to discover that special ski ! But first,,,,,,, you must learn to ski effectively! That is the "catch 22" ! ( read novel to get meaning) ! Pavel |
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Helen,,et al,,,,,
One comment if you do not mind. I do not place my boots on boot heater at 4 am starting time becaus I have cold feet but for toasty warm feel. Most modern boots have a wonderful property that most skiers are not aware of! The "padding' in the boot liner is made of such great material that it "molds" when heated! That is it "cuddles", caresses the feet once they are in ( if warmed up ) ! I have had several operations which makes my feet: different sizes, very very sensitive and tend to swell ! Person who have had cancer or those who had heart by-pass know what I am talking about! Those soft warm liners make my ski day heaven! One hint. In my country persons who work outdoors in -40c weather buy these boot warmers. They are not expensive and are digitally control in terms of temperature and time duration! I read you are in a ski shop. I am sure no ski shop in England has these heaters and they are much much better than any ski related boot heaters. Send me your email address via PM and I will give you the name of the company and the marketing Directors name! PS I do not work for the company! I did forget one "hint" to cold feet skiers in the past post. Here it is. Do NOT buckle up tight your boots in chalet 30 minutes before you ski! I often see persons getting ready at base lodge. Bundle up. Buckle up very tight boots then wait in line for 20 minutes standing still ! Two things happen! They sweat inside chalet or in tram etc,,, Their feet slowly get numb with little blood going to toes! I never put on ski jacket until last second! I never but never buckle up ski boots until I have done at least two easy runs down easy easy sections! The toes have had a chance to say, "hello' to boot liner. They have found their little "niche" and my skiing easy allows my heart to pump "extra warm blood" to these toes! Voilà,, Warm Ready for some serious skiing! Never take my boots off all day! Hope this helps you cold feet ! |
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All of the above are great "comments" !
Of course no skier should have thick wool socks! Cold feet often is due to other matters such as; -poor blood circulation ( Often many skiers go overboard with boots and buckles) -poor preparation ( never leave boots in car) -mine are on a boot heater unit that self starts at 4 AM thus slowly heats up boots for 2 hours! -poor fitting - poor heat retention at core area As noted if you do have poor blood circulation the heat pads do wonders! May I suggest two more heat pad in pockets near thighs since major blood vessels bringing hot blood to toes pass along in that region! May I suggest also a ultra warm "vest type " polar just over underwear ! You have lots of freedom but get very warm chest! ( please no comments about this ) Now for the last "suggestion" !!! Get some Dr. Schols foot powder ! Sprinkle inner boot liners before placing feet in ! You will note a difference! Hope this helps! Cold Feet ! |
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Tropicana,
It is beyond my competencies to give you advice on how to post video on this site! Dave , the site guru may help you! Pavel May I suggest another site which is easier. It is called Vimeo. When I guide various groups, I video tape them, then post it on this Vimeo site with a code permission, thus only they can watch! Hope this helps! |
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Ha,,,,,Trencher
The super carver is back ! I hope you have had a great summer and getting into ski mode! Excellent point concerning the "carving" ability of those rockers. Yes on paper that is what should happen! Can you grant me this point? Look at skiers in the 19-30 age group ( of course excluding you) and watch them ski ! What percentage carve a turn,,or ski from edge to edge and what percentage "swivel, rotate on bases to do "tricks" ! What I have observed in my area is that "carvers",,skiers who are technically proficient in the modern ski technique stick to shaped skis in the high performance level! The rockers are used mostly by "freeriders",,,those younger more "off-the piste" individuals who are looking for the "virgin" snow! Season 2012 will tell show how such skis will do in real life on the slopes! I tested last year some of the coming rockers at the industry ski show! Yes great turns and holding power at soft well groomed runs. BUT; -do not hold tails during the turn till the very end of turn like on a SL World Cup ski,,,,! It will NOT zing you out to next turn. Rather you will flow out of the turn with a soft tail! - on flats ( at base, on traverse sections) be very careful As I noted,,2012 will show us ! Have a great winter season! Pavel |
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