J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

My problem with 08 was that;
I was not walking for three months,
I never tabulate my skiing expenses , so 2008 data is lost!

However I am sure Mike has all information!
He calculates; money spent skiing per day. per mile, per season, per run! I mean it!
He can tell you the average money spend on food while skiing.

Some skiers who ski with him tell me that he also calculates the wind resistance of various ski outfits he has, just so that he can get more runs in one day!

Sorry for 2008!

Ask DaveMac,,he might have his spending!

I never did concern myself about this!

I never concerned myself about such "details" but Mike with his cost per run analysis made me think!

Then DaveMac with his "Scottish" commons made me think more!

So here it is Mike and DaveMac,,I challenge you to submitt your TOTAL ski expences for 2009 ( beginning September 1, 2008)! I will for the first time in my life do so also!

At end of season we will compare real money spent (as long as you all never tell my wife and kids)!

Note!!
I mean all moneys spend related to skiing. Those flowers you give to wife to "soften her up" for that ski trip must be included.

That money spent on ski mags, back pills, sun block, etc.....

Total count!!!!


Then I will tell you all how much the "typical" skier spends and what products sell the most!


Just a small teaser for you DaveMac!

Do you know what product sell the most and has the highest profit margin in ski shops worldwide? That is in any ski shop, in any country.

Wandered,

You have motivated me to share this "magic moment" (although I do not recommend anyone to do this)! These moments are only as a result my youth, my false perceptions of "invincibility", and my attitude to get my moneys worth of skiing!

As you get older you realize the possible problems I could have had. As you get older you see a bigger picture and know that money is not a "valid" reason to ski in some conditions. Yet such "immature" skiing decisions often result in magic moments! The following incident is now considered "a magic moment" ,,then it was a very cold moment!


Let me set the stage. University student, not much money yet thinking of skiing every second! A fellow studen had a ski cottage and invited me to come along. All I had to pay was the lifts! All week I dreamt of my three day ski trip. All week, I checked and re-checked all my material. I thought I was ready!

Before I continue, I must "prepare some of you" since I am sure you have never in all your life experienced such "outdoor conditions"!

Most skiers think the most dangerous conditions to ski is during a snow storm! Not so! In most times snow storms have mild temperatures and if wind is low,it is great to ski this.
No,,,the worst and most dangerous conditions to ski in is on those cloudless winter days when temperature is in the -40c! That is not a typo,, really -40c! The smoke from houses is going straight up like long thin clouds! As you step out,, the cold air from your first breath "freezes" your lungs! It burns from the sudden cold! In seconds you feel a tingle near your ears and nose as the skin cells are telling you what a fool you are!

What a new world this cold temperature creates !

The ski center had 20-30 people on it. You experience new sounds. The tree braches cracking,,,ready to break off! The lifts seem to groan like your joints! The snow seems to have millions of "magnets" that stick to bases. The cold is like invisible London "fog" that seeps into you,,,slowly draining that precious inner heat! This is just standing at base before lift!

I thought I was "tough". I had camped in winter. What I forgot was a small detail. I minor point ( it seemed at the time). This thing called windchill factor! All you skiers know that when you come down a ski run,,,,you create some "wind" and this is added to other winds. very soon that -40c was a few degrees lower! But I thought I was tough!

It was another world at top! Forbidden, as nature reminded us how vuneralble we were with millions of microscopic icycles attacking my lungs, my ears,my nostrils!

Quickly I skied down to "warmer" levels! Wrong! Did you note the word,,"quickly"! In this setting quickly resulted in lower temperatures. After three turns my slow, slow processing brain was registering strange sensations;
1.boots did not flex.
2.skis did not slide
3.body did respond to brain in same way
4.eyes seem to be stuck.

Let me explain.

At some temperature level the tears in your eyes freeze. I mean really freeze so that I had tear icycles in both corners of my eyes(of course I was wearing goggles). I could not blink!

As I skied, the wind was like an octopus with millions of "arms" seeking tiny holes, seams into which they could enter! I felt like a pin cushion. Slowly the cold found my muscles and my body was telling me what a "fool" I was. Perhaps tough,,nevertheless as fool!

The skis and boots were now a solid piece, very much like an anvil! Solid. Unmoving. Definitely not my friends. They were complaining about the conditions I was forcing them to "perform"! Strange sounds were coming from from! Cracks, groans, you know that sound when you take take your nails on a blackboard and press down hard or you are in a WW 11 sunmarines and at depths far past the securiy level!

I see that you get the picture. One lone skier coming dowm a deserted run, trying to ski!

So what is the magic moment?

Well here it is. Once I had freed myself from the skis. Once I had taken the three layers of sweaters off, the two gloves off, slowly melted the frozen tears, and checked if my fingers were still there, I had the most glorious, most wonderful hot chocolate in my life!

A simple drink in most places, yet in this context,this drink warmed my inner cells! After 50 years, I still remember the taste,,no the overall sensation it gave me as I returned to this world! Now I know how a frozen chicken feels like when it is "thawed"!

What is surprising about this drink,,is that it affected my brain! Too much chocolate! Too much heat too fast! I do not know,,however I must confess that I when out again! Had to experience that skiing sensation!

So for some of you lucky J2skiers, when you watch some ski scenes on your favorite DVD, look carefully and you will see a lone skier in a blue scene and a deserted ski run. That is a young Pavel in -40 weather doing two runs. Just two,,, yet the memories are like yesterday and hot chocolate drinks are now special to me!

Tino,
Then risk and risk some more.

If it was easy we would give up skiing! That is why we do so,,,that feeling that,,,,,well, just around the corner will be that "dip",,that surprise nature has for us!

Keep on going to edge! ( just know your own limits)

Dunc,
One of the very best Youth Hostels in the world is at Banff! Very clean, very well run and just 2 minutes from huge natural hot pools! Rooms are very clean and not bunk or cramped like many other centers! Many skiers from South America, New Zealand!!!!

Many many skiers are from all over the world! You will not be alone very long! The Sunshine Ski resort always needs people!

Problem is more skiing terrain! Sunshine is great but after two weeks you will want more! Lake Louise Ski center is much bigger, has more skiing options! However it is away from all social activities!

You will have great fun. In town there are also many private houses that rent rooms at very low rate!

Go to Canada section and type in Alberta! There is a resident skier /expert who will help you more than me!

Dshenberger,
You know the definition of an "expert"!!!!

It is someone who has made all the possible mistakes and now is teaching others how to avoid them!

That word "good" causes me problems since it is such an "emotional" word! I rather use word, efficient skier!

An efficient skier is one who can ski all day, every day in varied ski conditions (and still smile)! Another criterion which comes to mind of an efficient skier is the ability to "adapt skiing style" to skiing context! There is not one way to ski,,it depends on ski conditions, skier's goals and type of ski!
In chest high powder with fat skis I never ski wide stance!
In steep icy tight course ( with SL skis) I always ski with wide stance.

A skier must adapt!

RoseR
My intuition was correct! You made your "happiness"! If only you knew how close our lives seem!

I was a young child immigrant when I arrived in a new country! Labelled "retarded" since English was my fourth language and with much emotional trauma. It took a 'wise' teacher to see the small light that was glimmering deep inside!
I suspect you can "guess" what I do now!

Good for you Rose! You did it! You worked at your "happiness"!

And so one day,,,,,you might look at that man sitting beside you on the lift! Look into his eyes and see that flame that is now a "lighthouse" for others!
"Pavel"? You ask.
"Let's dance",,he replies!

RoseR,

You understood and I am sure apply some of the "values" in the suggested videos.
Happy skiing begins with a "happy skier"!

I have many people who want to ski with me and I have found over the years the ones who are "happy" and who can take a negative event and NOT let it "interfer" with their life and their skiing are my best skiing partners!


My greatest "success" was getting my 80 years old mother-in-law who was dying of cancer to take up skiing! Great women and learnt a lot from her!

It is amazing how many "common" threads we all have. Slowly without "taking the internet mask" off,,,I am discovering your personalties, your preoccupations , your expertise! That is what skiing does. Unites people with vast experiences to share a common activity! I am sure all of you will be happy ski gypsies in 2009!

I hope Dave Mac,, when you come to visit your son this year that you might consider "stopping" off at that secret ski location and try some WC racing skis ( on a run closed just for you),,so that you can let out all "inhibitions" and let the skis fly!