J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

Caron-a,

Wearing same socks all year?????

or wearing ski socks in Summer!

I was not aware that you had to "wear in" ski socks! Mine come all ready "fitted"!

Caron, however your comment about socks allow me to pass along another tip.

This Summer I have discover a "secret" that many women know! Are you aware of these very thin socks that just go over ankles! Many women wear them for tennis or when the change from 3" shoes to running shoes when walking to work!

What does this have to do with skiing!

In my case after I ski hard for 4-5 days I get just below my ankle in the inside part a "raw" spot! It becomes sore and after one week of continuos skiing I can feel every set edge I do! I have learned to place a small square plaster/bandage in this area before hard long skiing!

These very thin short socks do wonders! I recommend them to racers and skiers who ski a great deal! Also in the Spring your boots get, "compressed". That is the inside foam becomes "thinner",, thus you feel that your feet are less "tight"! These socks also help get a better late skiing feel!
Try it.

Do you have cold weather in your area! I will wear my ski socks to see Sir Paul tonight!

Tony,

You deserve a better explanation on why phase 4 coming up in 2009 will be a “threshold” year for you! I hope in this short post you will understand my previous comments.

But first you must answer that question above. You decide what “bird” you want to be!

Know the saying, “it is difficult to soar like an eagle if you are with a flock of turkeys”

It has important implications in where you will go in skiing.

Let’s be honest,,skiing is a great way to “show” your friends your courage, your strength, your physical powers, your great technique! Many people ski just to get the weekend ego boost from their friends!

To show their friends how better they are. That is phase 3. Skiing for the group, for the social reasons. Nothing wrong in that,,,but now you will discover more “personal satisfaction” in reaching higher goals, better long term ego boosting “fixes” which do not require others to confirm that you are a “good’ skier!

That is phase 4.

Now back to that question. Let me first ask you to read that above saying in a positive light. Not pedantic or condescending but as a “true statement” of you skiing competencies and your desire to get better in skiing!

Turkeys are afraid to get away from flock. They ski very close together, often bumping into each other. Turkeys make lots of noise while skiing. Some say to let other turkeys look at them! They constantly move as a flock never more than 3 meters away!

Turkeys do short, wild flights,,then plunk down exhausted. They flap about with their wings here and there pretending to fly. Their path is erratic and often governed by the flock not the terrain. They look down on the ground at all times,,just in case if they trip over their claws.

The turkey also has a noted characteristic. Its outside wear is loose and flapping about. Just look under the beak! Huge flap of skin! Just look above beak,,,another fold of skin often hanging over the beak! So it is with skiers who are turkeys. Huge flaps of material moving about like sails on an ancient three mast with no wind about! Above the beak,,,a huge flap of wool often with wild colored wool, often with decorative tails or tentacles haging about.

Under beak,,,a huge polar fleece neckwarmer even in +10 Spring skiing! Of course you can hear the gooble, gooble even from the chair lift! “hey,,look look a 360”, hey hey look look no hands, “watch this jump”, “look look I am going backwards into the tree”!

You get the picture Tony.

In phase 4,,if you want to get to phase 4 Tony. You will become an eagle. Yes you might have to forget the flock.

Yes you might not get emmediate ego gratification for all the skiing you will do but you will gain so much much more.

An eagle soars quietly. He/she looks for the thermals letting nature do the work! Letting the terrain determine the flight,,always looking for that knoll which will give more speed, looking for that dip for the “G” force effect.
The essence of the eagle is maximum effeciency for longer effortless soaring! Yet when a “prey” is found,,,instant speed with breath-taking dives! You never hear the eagle coming,,,,but you can not but stop to see that flight!

Look at the eagle perched on the branch. It feathers clearly indicate speed. Look at its wings, clearly indicating razor sharp turning. Look at those eyes! Looking,,looking at the slope for better flight.

That is where you are going Tony if you choose to take phase 4 and go to its next level! You can always go back to the flock,,,,but soon you will discover that it will not satisfy you as an eagle! That personal challenge and knowing you have achieved YOUR goals, will be worth 50 clucks from the pack!

It is up to you. You have this Summer to decide.

Dave, Bandit and Trencher,

Normality.....now we can have a great debate over that!

Seems psychiatrists do not consider thinking about skiing in June and July normal! Seems some people would consider people who are in front of a screen "chatting" about skiing in Summer,,well a bit bizzar!

Just warning Tony that soon he will have to explain to. mother, wife, father some things about his addiction! I know my parents thought I was a bit "nuts" going off in a blizzard at 5 AM! My wife initially thought it was "different" to sleep on top of a mountain (in winter) just to get first tracks. I know my boss found it strange that I did not accept a promotion ( with greater prestige, more money, car and more problems)!
So what id "normal"!!!!

Yes Bandit my reservations are made for Utah already!

Tony,
Are you aware of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" produced by the APA?
It is a reference manual for all psychiatrists and psycholofist in trying to find the causes of mental problems!


In the Substance and Dependence section there are many "addictive" substances which I am sure you all know! Now there is a NEW section dealing with SKIING and the skiing addict!
Seems some bright psychologist has been reading various ski sites and determined that it is an addiction! ( as if we did not know that)!
Well serious work has been done in "folowing" the progress of this unique addiction! Seems it is more powerful than LSD, caffeine, Nicotine and yes Cannabis! It becomes a life long addiction
Tony if you have a chance read in "Abnormal Psychology" by David S. Holmes on page 463 there is a chart which relates personality types and addiction such as skiing.

Phase 4 is the phase which you are entering!
Do you;
plan your ski holidays in July
visit every ski shop as you travel
try to buy that 6th pair of skis
have long long dreams about skiing and wake up in a sweat
consider changing jobs so that you have more time skiing
wear you ski gloves while raking leaves,,just to "break in" gloves once you have spread non-toxic, animal friendly cream
begin wearning your ski boots in August
begin to make a list of friends that ski and that do not ski
think of buying a car with folding back seat for extra skis

If you have at least 9/10 symptoms,,,

Dshenberger,
Ha so nice to see "lost" skiers coming out!!!!

Yes size might help, so I did measure this item 1!
For you Americans that have not yet joined the world with metric measurements,,it is 3" x 2"

For the rest of the world; 6cm. x 5 cm.


Perhaps the form of the item might help some of you!

Jan,
Closing date for you to finally sleep? Or closing date for posting of answers?

The Final closing date for accepting answers will be;
July 31 12 PM London time!

I will post all answers Friday, August 1 2008 also I will name winner! If it is a women who wins,,then I will make special arrangements ( I might steal one of my wives ski gloves)!

Then the real debate will start!

Now careful Jan, Mike is in the wings and may post answers before you! Perhaps your son ( who has just finished his instructor course) might help you!

Tony,
I only wish! I often make mistakes, like the time I "assumed" a young lady on this site was a man, but I try to learn from my mistakes! Thus not repeat them!

There is a whole new way of considering learning,,,,real learning in which central concept is the learner! You retain "terms, concepts" when it pertains to you! Your image, your success, your performance! When you do it for others,,,,,for that school mark, that Phd. etc,,,you forget much after three weeks!

Since Gordie is "addicted" he will soon want to become a better skier! He will soon read all about skiing! Then he will buy videos!
Then of course the ski classes will begin!

Then like Elistine, summer skiing on plastic.

Then like Jan and Bandit move to a place where you can ski.

Of course he will look for a spouse who MUST also ski

The final stage of this addiction is flying down to "south" to ski all Summer in New Zealand or Chile!

Be warned Gordie!

Tony you are just in phase 4 based on my readings of your posts! It is the most dangerous phase! Be careful since 2009 will show you why!

AJ and friends,

Pavel is my given name and I use it everyday!
A famous old British writer stated, " there is not art in finding mind's construction in the face" and I want you to deal with that mind! I visit this site because the skiers are so respectful, intelligence and wanting to learn.
I also use a Mac Dual G5 which somehow can not send pictures on site so.......here is my profile in a few words.

Pavel’s Ski profile


Laugh
Listen Hard
Ski to the edge
Do what you love
Practice wellness
Appreciate ski friends
Choose with no regrets
Always continue to learn
Ski with abandonment
Ski as if this is all there is
Ski as though heaven is earth
Ski with intention and pleasure
Ski as though no one is watching
Allow the child in you to guide you
Sing as though no one can hear you
Help someone with no return intend
Love as though you have never been hurt

And AJ one day your skiing partner next to you on the lift will say to you, "let's dance" as we get off at the top! That will be me!