Messages posted by : pavelski
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Dave Mac,
Yes yes,,that handsome man in black shirt ! The one all the audience is watching !!! A true Renaissance Man ! Draws, sings, travels the world, speaks several languages, write songs, renovates for sons and skis,,,,,,like Icarus ! Great life you have,,Full ! Happy !!! Now if you can get all those others skiing with you while you sing!!!! Pavel ( I failed my music class in grade 3,,,,,,never got over this failure! ) |
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Dave Mac,
As always you are right. I did forget this "technique" in making ice ! I must confess that I also had a board,,,but it was a "hard board" with hard boots so I did SL type carving turns! Due to knees tune ups I had to sell it! You are correct ,,,90% of soft boards are more interested in; take off zones, spins, stunts. That is called "sliding",,,,,Then there are some like Tony that soar ! He is a rare bird! Boards are great plows to get snow off slopes! Thanks for correction. Pavel |
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Dave Mac,
Do you have any records? Tapes ? Video? Can we hear you on this site? One of the traditions which has been lost,,is the signing after skiing ( also the free "hot wine" and cheese)! Too bad Perhaps you can re-kindle this tradition! Pavel |
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I forgot to "share" the most important hint on how to deal with ice !
That is how to spot it ! Pretend you are on the Titanic. The first thing you must do is SPOT the iceberg,,,,,then do evasive action !!! Ice does not "just happen" ! It appears in specific spots due to; heavy skier traffic sharp turns (such as in narrow trails) poor grooming recent rain/freeze focussed "stop" zones ,,usually at bottom of runs ( such as near lift lines). Learn to observe the terrain. If you see lots of blood,,,,,,assume this is a danger zone. If you hear lots of crying, wailing,,,assume this is a danger zone If you see skiers following each other like sheep,,,assume ice is coming If you see lots of broken branches or fences broken,,,,assume many skiers have been touched! Seriously, learn to find the signs which indicate ice is coming! The narrowing trail The skier's tracks getting more compressed The sloe getting steeper,,,,,then steepest 90% of time if there is a crest, a lip, a dip with steeper terrain there will be ice in the coming 5 meters. Skiers panic when it gets steeper,,jam on edges, slide out of control creating a skid zone = ice ! If you see several skiers stopped and all looking around like turkeys to the left,,then to the right,,again to the left ! ICE is coming just over the lip! Most skiers fly down the easy parts of the slope near base ( since everyone is watching),,,then at last second jam on edges to get to lift line = ice! On a sharp turn or cut off,,,skiers panic and skid at the CENTER of the slope thus ice forms just after hard turn. Stay to edges where most skiers are afraid to go. Soft snow there. Many beginner skiers have heard about this famous 'hockey" stop technique. They practice it for hours creating ,,,yes ice ! So on easy terrain be careful near posts, towers, poles, signs! That is where this "hockey" stop is practiced! In short,,learn to read the terrain. Learn to note the signs of coming icebergs and if you can do not forget the spy glasses the instrument that help you see far far away icebergs! Too bad the look out on the Titanic did not have his! |
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Tropicana,
All skiers past 60 are; fit, very ,,,very nice hands, sun tanned rough, never bossy since they have learned to let skis do work, all are humble since they know nature is more powerful ! Plus they have no need to prove themselves! Ski slowly Tropicana! Pavel |
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That "rich skier' for Tropicana!
Strange you should mention that rich skier for you,,,,, since I just happen to have a "rich skier story for you" ! Now if you meet,,,,that is up to you ! I ski everyday in a ski resort and there is a small group of early skiers called the "early birds" who meet and chat before the lifts open! We are so regular and so "dependable" that the chalet manager has given us the key to the chalet so we can start the coffee ,,,heat the water for tea etc,,, I have been skiing with this group for the past two years,,yet we never speak of personal matters ! We rarely speak of; politics, the stock market ( and money matters) and women. Well sometimes women but only,briefly ! Slowly the others discovered that I did some guiding to various "hidden resorts". You know the kind that you do not see in ski magazines, on internet "flash spots",,etc,, They asked me to set up a group to a great great ski center far from large city, far from major roads,,,yet huge with well over 20 lifts, hundreds of trails and great ski life! So I did set up this ski trip for 20 skiers to go to this place. In the group was a very quiet man. Not a great skier but getting there. Very ordinary ski outfit which he bought from another skier in group. Very ordinary skis which need some work done on them! He fit very well in group with his stories on travel, family and skiing aches ! A few days before the ski trip, he asks me to have coffee with him after the ski day! This was unusual since he never stayed long after ski day! He would leave in his very ordinary car after cleaning his skis and putting away in his locker! He never stayed for a drink at the bar ! We stayed after all had left and here is what he proposed to me ( with the promise to never reveal this "project" to the group). He had seen my pictures of this ski resort and he was a very astute man since he read the financial papers ( among others) everyday! He discovered skiing at a "mature age" too busy at work and now regretted it so much that he wanted to ski more and more! He related to me that he had money to buy a ski house,,,not any ski house,,but one of those in my pictures on the slopes with; 3 car garage, sauna, spa, mud room, tuning room, 3 fireplaces, ,,,,,must I go on? Could I set up a meeting with the owners while on this trip since I knew the ski people there and his English was not up to par! . I must keep it quiet and never mention this to the group! I accepted the challenge with one condition! That he buy new skis ! I set up a meeting at this resort and left the group alone while he visited the house, then the agents etc,,,,. In 2 hours he had bought this most beautiful ski house with a certified bank note! He had come prepared! Imagine this now. The group is going up the ski lift,,just past the ski dream homes. We are all joking about,,"if we win the million dollar lottery" which one would we buy ? I casually look over at my quiet friend who now owns one of them and what do I see? A small smile,,,a twinkle in his eyes and a proud little boy look which to the knowing tells all! At 70 he had a goal. To be a better skier. To enjoy life. To enjoy all the wealth he has while alive and to have friends that accepted him for his funny stories, his strange skiing style ! No one knew how wealthy he was and he wanted it that way! He promised me that in two years he would invite all the boys to this house once he could ski steepest run in the area called White Heat! So tropicana,,,you never know who will be that man! Just keep on skiing! If one day you happen to see some VIST PRO skis on an young smiling "older man" Pay attention to him and listen to his skiing story on how he discovered skiing with a strange Slavic "fanatic" ! He might be the man you are looking for since he is alone, loves fit women who ski and is very very patient and vey very rich in heart and in pocket! So now tropicana another reason to ski more,,to ski slower ( to see those VISTS ) and meet new people on the hill! Oh,,,,I do not have a "dating agency " and I will deny everything I have writing if ever you do meet him ! Respectfully, Pavel |
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Thank youTroicana.
Yes I knew you were a women from the picture and the posture. I also had your skiing competence level down. You are a fitness instructor so you know that from ONE movement of your client you can tell many things! Look again at your picture,,,very very carefully. What does it reveal to a trained fitness instructor? Just enjoy skiing. As far as "backward skiers ( some do) and boarders,,,,seems in my area there is a "fun Park" where tricks can be done. Free skiers are not supposed to go there! Like you I have met several such animals since we are in the world of "tricks" rather than skiing! More accidents are coming with the radical "Rockers" ( those skis with raised tips and tails) ! Speed is not just the cause. it is also attitude, inexperience, and yes stupidity and bad manners! Often I blame the parents who witness this but,,,,,, |
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Many years ago, a young pilot died in combat and when they cleaned out his locker they found this poem! It has become the "classic" of all pilots !
High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941 Now take this poem Tino and change a just a few words and you have what I feel when I ski! High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered skis; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silent snow. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager ski through footless halls of snow. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept snowy heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. Yes Tino that is what soaring on skis is,,so you see I understand you! No need to apologize for seeking; speed, air and freedom! You just have to know when and where to do it! See you in those "untresspassed sanctitu of space" Respectfully, Pavel |
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