J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

Dave Mac,

I hope my posts don't stop further "discussions"! I learn so much from all of you!

I hope I do not stop discussions!

This, "I am good skier" issue cuts to core of many teaching skiing issues! What Jan mentionned about the ski school class scene is a "classic" among all ski school lore!

I will try to find a famous article by Warren Miller who at 80 years old speaks of this topic! The final phrase says it all! "I measure the quality of my skiing, in terms of the size of my smile"!

A short comment about that physical factor! I am amazed how much money skiers will spend to travel to; Alaska, Chile, Japan, yes even Europe to ski! Yet once there after two days they get the classic Wednesday "sores" and do not ski again but sit around video games, pools, spas etc.... That saying about getting fit to ski is relevant!

You are again so right about people comparing each other! We intuitively compare each other since birth. Just watch children going up a playground slide or boys doing the stunts on skateboards!

Problem is,,,,there always is someone better than you with this approach!

I prefer the inner self evaluation of my goals as far as technique, conditioning and satisfaction! I have long ago accepted that my sons can ski faster,longer,higher than me!(but I still have a bigger smile than them while sharing my Corona at the end of the day) That tap on the shoulder is worth a lot!

Just finished buying a stack of blank DVDs. Inside each stack there is a series of round plastic "doughnuts" that hold the DVDs!

Do not throw them away! Keep them! On those days when you get a sore point on your feet due to ski boot pressure take them out and place them over sore spot!

Voila,,,,,,

As all the others have said, "another of Jan's excellent posts".

In evaluation be it skiing, intelligence, attitudes, work there are two ways to look at process:

1. To compare to others. In Jan's case with World Class racers or wife, or sons.

2, To a "standard" established by the ski gods,,,ie technical committees from ski instructor organizations.

Each approach has its pros and cons.

In skiing 90% of skiers do the " comparing to "expert" skiers since many do not even know the "standards" established by instructors!

Most use "rough" estimates how better they are based on;
-I got to bottom before him
-I skied black diamonds brfore him
-I fell less than him
-I cried less than him
-I have less bruises than him etc.....

Poor way to evaluate and poor way to progress!


The second method is a better to evaluate self and others.
That is the compare skiing to a set of "levels", "criterions" or observable behaviors! This approach is called criterion-reference evaluation!

Every skiing nation has well established levels! Problem is that only well "educated" instructors know them!

So much for the theory!

How do I evaluate myself?

I have three levels of personal goals

The first is technical. You know those silly things that we all MUST do to be better, faster, more efficient! I am never satisfied with myself since I constantly find "problems" in my skiing! I rate myself in the 50 percentile for my level!
This means I must always learn. Must focus on getting better!


The second catagory is called physical.
I constantly evaluate how I ski physically. I want to ski fast all day,,,all week thus I look at my physical state while skiing and at end! I want to "recover" quickly after a hard days skiing,,so I do light exercise after skiing! I hate having aching muscles so if this happens,,I give myself failling grades and work harder at "getting ready for skiing"


The third catagory which I evaluate, and for me now is my emotional state! How do I feel at end of day?

That is the most important factor for me now,,yet it is the most complex! It is a mix of the two above,,but also nature and others play into the calculation!

Yes I have had perfect 100% ski days,,,but I must admit they were in the minority! The skiing partner was too,,,,,! The snow was too,,,,,! The wind was too,,,,,

In conclusion I recommend NOt evaluating self to others! Slowly this approach is phasing out in schools since in such approach there always will be a loser!

I recommend evaluating self to YOUR establihed skiing goals! That means you must educate yourself on what is required in an effective effecient skiing style!

Allow me to finish with an example.
Bode Miller while in private ski school was a real "problem" and was always evaluated in the lowest quartile of his class since he did not "fit" the America ski racing pattern!
Yet in all junior championships he was tops!

The ultimate "criteria" in ski racing is time,,,period!


Before Jean-Claude Killy's time "sitting back on ski tails" was a NO NO,,,once he became gold medalist,,,,it was the rage!

You have to decide what you want in skiing! You set your criterion and strive for it! You will so much more happy and others will not determine your level of happiness!

Jan,
The gift I am sending you, at the end in your heart, you will know my level of skiing,,,,just look at that smile!

There are times when you are amazed at a persons,, "imagination"!
Gordieski made such "unique" answers that she was declared the winner as the "creative skier"!

A special prize will be sent soon! It is a special pin from an olympic event! very rare! ( Not the Gold Metal)!!!

But it will make all men come over and ask, "ho,,,, were you in the XXX Olympics?"

Yes!!!
Intelligence,,,,savyy and above all experience to pick up the "details"

As long as everyone had fun,,and learnt!

That is the goal!


PS
My next quizz will have as prize a ski jacket from Carbon but it might just have to be in North America since cost of sending is too much!

I am sure Mike will drive to a "local" hill just to get another jacket!

May I suggest that you all ask Jan when you see him what that logo means on the left side of his gloves!

Also ask him how it feels to have ski gloves that are supple, soft,and that gives him lots of pleasure!

If ever you read a ski magazine called, "Snow country" edition October 1991 has on its cover the very gloves Jan will wear soon!

I can not wait any more!

Too many skiers "begging" me to give out the answers!

So if you all do not mind ,,,,,,,,,,

The winner is Jan!


As a smart wolf he waited till the very end,,sniffed out the competition,,checked out all the "angles" and spend hours analysing the "properties" of the two first items! I suspect he also used his wife and sons to get some of the answers,,,,but all that means is that he will have to share his gloves!


Now for the surprise!

Rossfra8, Gordieski, Tony-H, Rose R, Mike and Trencher took the plunge and posted some possible answers! They took the time to research possible answers! They checked out sources and I hope in the process learnt about skiing!

I will be sending via PM to all above in the next 30 minutes all the correct answers!

Those that just surf around and do not wet your feet,,,,well you are going to have to ask these skiers to share their knowledge!

Till next quizz,