J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by bandit

Ian Wickham wrote:

I don't think it is totally down to the carving ski, in my experience there are still people who do not take enough
lessons try and keep up with more experienced friends or have just had too many beers at lunch time.

I feel slightly differently. I think that the modern shaped ski has had a large part to play in the changes in on slope behaviour.

It's now commonplace to hear folks say that they have had a weeks lessons and now they're an intermediate and can do reds and the occasional black.

Did I nod off and during the time I was asleep, all beginners turned into athletes, with superior balance and muscle control??

Way back when the "carving ski" was first carried by rental shops in the USA, I saw a poster in resort, extolling the virtues of the new shape with the USP.....

"By Pass the Bunny Slopes"

To me, it looks like learners can mostly do that these days. There is no real learner status anymore, and no time to get a skills base, before they are out there in the thick of it.

Add into the mix, the over grooming of blue and red pistes (in Europe). To me it looks like an accident waiting to happen, except it is happening. Accidents with collisions are now common and average speeds are up. I don't need to read a report, just stand still and watch.
2/3 or more of the folks I ski with, have been hit (and knocked over) by another skier at some time in the past 2/3 winters.

Trencher, I dunno about Ian, but I have seen hundreds of skiers laying rails on skinnies over the years. Some of them, I have had the honour of chasing as a student :D

ise wrote:

It's just after years working in IT I'm easily amused by the misuse of the term professional :lol:

:wink: :D

ise wrote:

Brucie wrote:My point is, as a fully qualified mountain professional, sometimes we have to cut economic corners and sacrifice on branded gear.

out of interest, what professional qualifications do you hold?

edit, sorry, being mischievous, but professional is a bit of a misused term :lol:

Brucie wrote: from the 2010 prices thread....


I'm a level 2 International and have done the Level 3 but not taken the exams yet.
You are right, Its the best for ski improvement money can buy, and a qualification too.
I was actually thinking of doing a CSCF 1 just for fun.
One of my trainers was Casey Bouis who is technical Director at Sunshine, so will be hooking up with him and seeing whats on at the time I'm there.
I presume you have CSIA quals Ross?

Does this help answer your query? :D

The kids are likely to need the thermals. The forecasts (which could be accurate/not) predict the extra cold weather to hang around in the Alps until at least the middle of the month.

Try your local TK Maxx, Millets or Blacks. You might even try Marks & Spencer.
Many of the online retailers do a quick delivery service where parcels are delivered by carrier not Royal Mail.

I have fond memories of Bardonnechia as a good place to ski :D

Excess speed by inexperienced skiers could be curbed by resorts ceasing their overgrooming of pistes, and not remodelling (aka bulldozing) them so that all of the terrain is dumbed down.
Last month I was in Zermatt, and I was chatting to a Swiss from Bern about the pistes. I'd thought I was skiing hard packed powder, quite firm but grippy. He was complaining that the slopes were not packed down hard enough for his carvers :shock:

Still, the accessible off piste areas were nice and quiet :D

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

According to this it's waterproof and breathable.

It's hyvent which is the North Face fabric, really most claims for waterproof and breathable are overblown, at the very least it never lasts more than a few days, so some manufacturers have lines using non-Goretex fabrics which often work as well and work out cheaper.

I have some North Face Hyvent trousers. They seem fine so far. I also have a Columbia Jacket which seems waterproof, but I think the breathability is less than I would have expected. It's not much of a problem, mostly it's cold weather, and I run cold.

Do take care when choosing a jacket with welded pit zips. My Columbia jacket outer(list price @£300) is fraying at these points :roll:

Trencher wrote:
The OP talked about an all round ski and carving. Carving is part of all round and it would be silly to try to learn to carve on skis that require an experts skills to carve.

I see that the OP suggested wanting a freeride ski. This would be some way from your definition of a carver. To me, their query suggests wanting a ski suitable for all kinds of skiing on all terrain.

The ability to carve a turn is part of skiing, along with sideslip and traversing. Unless the OP wants to stay on groomed slopes, a ski specifically for carving might be a bit limiting.

I would be bored too, but that's my problem )