J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

Ellistine is right on!

Burning thighs are a direct result of skiing with weight at rear! 90% of skiers ski on tails!

Feel your big toe having "pressure" on boot soles at all times while skiing!

Think forward forward as you ski! Then when you think you are forward,,,,go forward more!

That does not mean bend over shoulders forward. You see this often with beginners who bend at waist with rear end ready to sit on pot!

It is the pelvis which must be forward, while chest is vertical!

Try this. Think, "ski proud"! Bring chin up and look 10 meters ahead! If you keep chin up and then bend at waist,,you will have pain at rear of neck! This is telling you to get straight!

Try it!

Imagine this!

Sitting in a very small village restaurant with perhaps 70 homes, two inns and one gas station. Then hearing "strange" accents! Unique English terms! British skiers across the pond in this unique place?

I was in a "hidden valley" with 5 other ski testers, eating breakfast when I heard this group of young British skiers! I casually walked over and spoke to a an adult who confirmed that this "flock" were testing the waters and enjoying the challenge!
I mentionned the best British internet ski site J2SKI and instantly several hands went up! Chatter focussed on all the characters on this site and some funny comments made!

I asked who the good skiers were and offered to lend them some World Cup 2010 skis for a day! We had a meeting place and time just above an easy intermediate run close to heaven where the Angels meet!

I took several pictures of the group and some video shots.

If you want to receive a DVD with music please contact me and I will gladly sent it to you!

If Dave allows, I will post one picture of the group so that skiers will know about offer!

Just back from teaching a intermediate skier in powder skiing and must add some other comments!

I can not emphasis how inportant attitude, and mental state is while skiing in powder! I saw a strong intermediate skier, fall apart in 30 cm. of powder! Regression is the word! All old bad habits came back!

After a coffee and lecture,,,,,,amazing results!

You must believe in yourself and all that was taught. Do NOT LEAN BACK to turn! DO NOT body rotated!

Yes the snow retards the turn. Yes the skis feel "different" but the essential basic technics you have all been given are still correct! Now you must do more vertical motion,,you must take a fall line approach and you must allow more time for skis to float!

At end of day man was tired,,no exhausted but had skied powder like he had never done! Why?

Because he still used basic skiing correct techniques and adapted some for powder!

The mind! It starts with the mind!

Hope this helps you!

Pavel.

ir12,
You are asking a great deal for such a small space,,so please forgive general points and lack of subtle focus.

Powder skiing first is a question of attitude. You must head downhill. Your head will say, "too fast,,too fast" but your heart will say, "go for it,,go for it"! Listen to your heart,,since you can decelerate very fast!

Second you must do more vertical action! That is that up down mouvement with upper body! On the top cycle pivot and on bottom cycle ride curve!

Do you know the rythme method? Powder skiing is all about rythme! Once you have that up/down motion make sure you keep that cycle going!

Now for the mistake most skiers make in powder! 90% of skiers are told to sit back in powder!!!!
Problem is 99% of skier already sit back while skiing in groomed slopes,,so they go even further back in powder!
If you think "sit back" you are very very close to that "ejection button"!

Think rather, "neutral position" middle of ski,,, pivoting from center of ski!


Lastly,,you have two "secret muscles" which you never use in groomed skiing! You must discover them! They are located on the medial side of your knees! Just take a tennis ball between your knees and press inward! Feel them?

Now do this for 15 minutes! You will now really feel them! You see regardless of this new skiing style with legs apart,,in powder skiing those muscles will save you since you must keep skis close together!

If you ever want to do serious heli powder skiing start this "exercise" in September and work up to 1 hour per day!

PS
Regardless what others tell you, get powder leashes (with release clips) so that you do not lose skis in 50cm. snow!

What a great question!

So central to skiing effectively!

First most skiers think you ski on two skis! Wrong! You ski on one ski,,one edge and constantly shift from one ski to other ski! That is weigth transfer!

Most skiers slide about,,flat on ski bases! You can tell them by their ski tips,,as they wander left and right!

Effective skiers skiers ski on the edges of the skis!

Why?

Safety: When skis are on edge they are like missles and no ice, bumps, crud, etc,,will deviate them!
Effeciency: On edge you have less resistance, need less muscular power to hold skis on "track" Thus you can ski all week with no sore muscles!
Pleasure: Skis on edge are so much more responsive to your slightest knee pressure! They are like a great lover who responds to your slightest move!

What you must do is like tadpoles who wiggle here and there with their tails,,you must shed those tail movements and pressure the tips while on edge!

Now we come to the "faith leap"!
To go on edge you must believe in yourself and place those skis on edge! Yes the steel edge is narrow ,,but staying on ski bases will not help you get out of your tadpole mold!
Once you feel that ski "carve" you will never go back to the tadpole stage!

One small point about downhill ski pressure! This is only the case when you do a long GS type turn across ski hill! You can also transfer weight while skiing fall line when doing SL type turns!

Hope this helps you!

In order to correctly answer you must specify if you wish eastern or western parts of America.

Rigth now Western Canada has poor snow coverage! Kicking Horse is rocks and ice! Sorry but that is truth!

Best place is Colorado with a great deal of snow!

Eastern USA and Canada has had three snow storms in past two weeks!

Today I skiing 20 cm. of powder.
Some Maine ski resorts got 22 inches,,that is +40 cm.!!!!!

May I suggest; Killington,,,Stowe,,,Attitash and a small Maine ski resort called Sunday River!

Aspen has had well over 40 inches of new snow in the past three weeks!!!

Hope this helps you!
Pav

I am in research part time and skiing full time. That is why right now you do not see too many posts from me.

Looking for three women skiers in the intermediate level to test new 2009 skis. Will provide skis for one year in exchange for two page written report!

Have many stories ready with many adventures this season.

Have very best ski quizz also prepared with prize,,,,Atomic Neox bindings.

Oh,,for some a new DVD.

Pavel

Slamb,
May I add some comments and observations.

First you must learn to "listen" to your body! You and only you know your limits. Do not let anyone tell you you can not do skiing!
I have had several minor knee operations and few persons told me "correct" information or up to date information!

I work in finding correct information so I know how to get to "original" sources ,,,many many physicians are great "technical surgeons" but have no idea about "follow up" information about skiers!
I can send you well over 50 studies on post-operative cases relating to knee operations!

The common thread in all studies is the attitude of the skier and how he/she skis after operation! Assuming you have a good competent surgeon you will be better AFTER operation. You will have better overall life style but also you will no doubt be a better skier!

The key is to prepare for operation and never never give up! What no one will not tell you is the pain level after the operation! You must take pain killers and you must "exercise" right after operation,,even if it is causing you to have tears in your eyes! Yes,you must move right after operation!

6 hours after my knee surgery I was flexing knee via a machine! Yes it hurts,,but you must!

After 3 months,,I was skiing on beginner hill with my surgeon since he did not believe me when I told him that I had "sneaked" off without family knowing (they had hidden my skis)! I was prepared and had some other skis at friend's house!
You must not others limit your skiing,,but you must "listen" to your body! Slow steps,,,,

My biggest barrier was my mind! I was afraid to "fully set edge" just in case!!! That is dangerous. In skiing you must get fit and then get on slope with "assurances"! Sitting back or holding back will cause you many falls , many problems!

Do not give up,,,trust me you will be a better skier!

Hope this helps you!

Respectfully,
Pavel