Messages posted by : pavelski
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Aj,
My memory is not "as it was" so I did forget the name of the participants and that Inn! However every year I get an "invitation" since that evening they broke all records in beer consumption EVER! Sorry AJ,,but I do have a hint for you about such inns. Try this. At the end of the ski day,,linger about and watch the flow of the ski patrollers and ski instructors! Often THAT INN is just a few paces or kms. from ski center! In my area you can tell from the pick-up trucks owned by all the lift attendants, the Subaru four wheel drive cars owned by the ski instructors! Stop by,,anything can happen! ( often after a ski race competition) Once I was skiing with my sons in a strange small town,,unknown to us a national women's competition had just finished! Never saw my son's for four days! |
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Bandit Should Have Been There!
Warning !!!!!! Warning !!!!!! Warning!!!!! This story is for Bandit! If you are not mature and have not her appreciation of great skiers DO NOT read this story! It might haunt you for some time! Readers in order to appreciate this story must be mature and appreciate the finer beauties of life! I have often wanted to share this story but did not want to “ruin” some skier’s reputations,,so I have changed the names to protect the guilty! I have also waited some years so that these young skiers are all now father’s, Directors, CEOs in various companies and yes even one clergy! I know that they still remember this event,, since it “changed” many and at least three are married due to this event! I know Bandit that you will enjoy this true story,,,,,, as for the rest of you,,,,,well dream on and think what would have happened if you were there! Perhaps your lives would have been changed also! But first before begin,,I must share a secret with you! There is a tradition is ski racing that most coaches do not want to talk about! They do do not want the younger skiers to know about this tradition! Since on this site most are “mature” skiers I am sure you will keep this secret (especially you DaveMac)! You see if younger ski racers ever hear about this “ritual” before they are mature,,,,,they may forget the goals on the slope and think of this “ritual”! It really is only for the top elite ski racers since it takes great training , much skill, and above all control….and then even more control! If you do not have this control,,,,,,,you lose face!! But I am ahead of myself so let me set the stage for you Bandit! In all sports there is the competition “on the field” and then there THE COMPETITION! This last event is the one that makes the team known for years! This last competition is what bonds men/women for life! It is this last event that you remember in your old age as you rock in your chair on the porches! This was such a competition! This was such an event that even after 15 years skiers talk about it like they do Woodstock! Bandit you are the first “non-team” member to know about it! Enjoy it! Few skiers know the sacrifices, stresses and aches that elite world class skiers go through in a season! Suffice to say that if you have not the “sacred” flame of desire soon it becomes a “haul”! At the end of the season,,,at the very last race all the teams meet usually at a small quiet inn that is know only to the coaches! Often this inn is owned by a former coach or ski racers! On this very special year a ski team other than an European team won some of the major events and a very special “chemistry” had developed within the team! It had pride and bravado! If ever you have played Rugby,,you know that the honour of the team is not just winning on the field,,it is also winning all the songs,, all the challenges thrown by the opposition! So it is with skiing! The evening began very sedately with the Austrian team signing a tradition folk song which also required some physical manipulation! Another team (if my memory serves me well it was US team) did a skit on various coaches and FIS staff! As the evening progressed the songs got louder, more active and “creative”! By 12PM my team was quietly appreciating this jousting and planning to make an “event” which would raise the bar so high it would be remembered in the annuals of skier lore! The French team nearly ruined everything since they came up the the “Ligne Magique” after a song which inspired all of us to another ale! It was clear they had practiced this move and line formation for some time since in a wink of an eye,,,the complete team was nake and tightly together body to body like a giant boa!Held together with arms between their legs so that all you saw was muscular thighs, very hard tight rears and hard muscular backs! The snake weaved in and out of the tables! Tried as we could we could not break the bond between skiers! Women tried tickling! Women tried tripping! Some even tried cold water and snow! The bond held! In skiing timing is everything,,,,and so it is in winning this last event! The smart team waits to the end, so that you can “size-up” the competition! Now before I go on…..all of you have go to that great picture Bandit posted! Look at it! Keep it in your mind as you read on! Go ahead….I’ll wait since I still have that picture in my mind even after 20 years! Now here is what happened Bandit! We had rehearsed our move several days before! The trainer closed all the lights ! In an instant! A silence! Then a sensuous song was heard,,as the lights came on and some very very fit young lads came from behind the bar with ,,,,only some “aprons” using by the servers! It was announced that if you drank the beer, which they had on tray under 15 seconds,,,you could pull the string from the aprons! Oh!!!!! I forgot to say,,,,this pulling had to be done with your teeth! Yes Bandit with your teeth! While all other events were flashes,,ours lingered on! I let your imagination free Bandit! Enjoy! It was the most memorable evening this innkeeper had! It was the most memorable evening the team had! It was the evening when several skiers discovered that all that training served a “greater” purpose and now some have wonderful wives from various countries! To keep their married life still “spicy” I send them every so often,,,the very aprons this inn still uses! Memories are made of this! Bandit wish you were there! |
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Thank you all for the comments!
Bandit, I always did like your taste in cars, bikes and of course skiing,,but now you have "revealed" that you also have a fine "taste" in men! The "commando' comments make me think of another Pavel story which I will share with you all soon! You all seem to bring the very best in me! My attitude is; if you do go..go all the way but with style and elegance! So I promise you all next year a video with the Black Watch music from the Last of the Mohicans! If ever you want to be "inspired" to reach higher levels in skiing, place this sing on your Ipod and ski down a steep section! You will soar with the music! Just the notes will "lift" you! Now I must add another "activity" for my summer list! I will have to practice, setting an edge and turning with gradual elegance so that certain "coverings" do not rise too high! OR Just ski so fast that all is a blurrrrrrr! Pavel |
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In July we will have another Pavel Contest!
This one has been inspired by DaveMac! So take out all your pictures, slides, etc...the winner will be the one with the most "unusual" ski outfit! This has to be a skiing day outfit,,,not a backyard costume outfit! Winner will get a North face wind pants size medium! Contest will begin on July! Yes DaveMac your 1950's ski outfit does count! |
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Dave Mac,
Since you mentioned bodies and wanting bodies, and of course those young ladies I have to ask you a very personal question! Please feel free if you do not wish to answer it! I should say that it also is a way to ask a Scot some "advice"! Have you ever worn that famous Scottish "kilt" while skiing! Why I ask is that my wife is part Scot and some years ago she bought me the full attire! I do not know why,,but I have this desire to wear it one day while Spring skiing! I mean the full full dress up!!! My skiing life will then be complete! PS You have inspired me to have another Pavel Contest in which the most "unusual ski outfit will win a pair of North face pants! (coming in July) |
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Speaking about DaveMac's "advanced" age may I note the following;
Age can be seen in many ways. I think of it like we do about wines! The older the better ( if kept in a cool calm context)! Now back to my title. Have you all noticed that there are some correction factors in the DIN setting chart for; large feet and age! I will not comment about the large feet since I am sure to start another long long chat about large feet skiers and the physics or dangerous to having large feet! My focus is on the age factor! If you carefully read chart you will all note that you are "supposed" to reduce DIN scale after 60+ years! Here is an excellent example in NOT using statistics or charts blindly! Let me explain. Charts are based on "normative" data that has been collected to represent the "normal" population! Then this is used as a basis to generate a chart! An excellent example of this is the famous "normal" weight/age charts we see in physicians offices or the famous children's weight charts we also see in physicians offices. For those two last charts,,,look at the very bottom in small print and you will read, " 1953 study of....) We all know that populations change and children are on the average bigger at birth and grow taller! No wonder every child seems to be in the 98 Percentile! So it is with the DIN chart! The assumption is that as you get to 60+ you get weaker, softer bones, more fat etc..... My experience has been that there are some skiers like DaveMac that are as fit as when they were 40. So if you can still run Boston marathon, do +30 push ups, or do +100 laps swimming,,,the DIN setting rule which makes you reduce your level should be questioned! Yes of course consult DIN chart,,however understand that this chart was generated in the early 70's using lab data from corpses and traditional skis ( +200cm.) As always I ask people to think, before doing anything blindly! If you do not fit the "average" mold.....by all means begin with chart then wisely set you DIN level! Hope this helps fellow skiers like DaveMac! PS Just a another comment,,,,, all IQ tests charts stop at 100! I conclude that at this age you have arrived at Nirvana, the wisdom state that no IQ test can sample such wisdom! |
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I see another "discussion" beginning! In all North American binding clinics given by companies, they do not recommend that skiers touch bindings, for the very reasons ise mentioned! Ellistine gives gave a good reason why most skiers should not touch units! The trick Ellistine is to place a tape on bindings with note or just every year check bindings in October! Sorry Ise but I must disagree with you as far as your statement, "there is no tension when bindings is released"! If you take a binding apart you have a cam system which is calibrated by having a "piston" resting on a cam type mechamism. This piston which exerts pressure on cam IS under tension at all times. When you screw DIN setting what you are doing is screwing IN the spring tighther into the piston thus placing more tension on cam! Even if bindings are "off" or released the DIN setting spring is under tension! The spring you are referring to Ise for the release portion of the binding is in all cases under the DIN spring for the rear units. It rides on the base track of the rear units! As far as the front units there is no fore/aft movement! Here is the issue in a nutshell! If a skier has a binding with a "lower" performance range ie DIN range of 4-8 ( since he/she got them on Ebay ) and the DIN is set at 7.5! Guess what is happening to spring even when static, open and released? It is under tension. That is why skiers should never buy lower end bindings or "special deal" bindings with lower performance range! In conclusion. it is up to each skier to decide. I prefer to release and check every Fall all my bindings! PS The older bindings never had general purpose springs! Even the Look Nevada's had springs specifically made for Look! They had three types each color coded for the technician! Now to really start a "discussion",,are you aware of the new Atomic ski which changes its width,,yes width ( ie side cut) as you ski it! Seems there are internal springs which hold ski together! |
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Bandit,
In regards to your question about DIN setting release at end of season! Here is my answer. It is a question of attitudes about equipment and economics. Let me address the attitude part first. In the past skiers tended to keep equipment for long time (+5 years) and would have the long term approach about keeping material in top form! Thus the release of the tension spring for the DIN setting. Of course that meant you did not have to buy bindings every three years! Now for the economic aspect. Modern life is centered on "disposable" practices. Long term attitudes about product life is now 3-5 years great for companies and economy,,but what about our world? Mike once showed some ski trashed in crusher! Ski companies wanht you to change skis every two years,,,,and in the process buy new bindings! Not for security reasons!!!! Better profit for them! If you take care of your bindings they can last +10 years easily! Think! Any spring under tension over time will lose its "internal tension"! Does it not seem logical when not in use to "release" that tension! I have some Salomon Drivers which I use on my Sugar Daddys powder skis and they are well over 10 years old! Still going! Still functional and I check them every year on an electronic binding calibration tool! I challenge any ski binding company to publish data over time on their bindings! I have such data and can tell you that any good binding well maintained will last easily +10 years! It is your call. Join the "disposable" society or save some money and our earth and try to "dispose" less. Of course you must every year check your DIN and the functionality of the units! Tell me, do you; 1.Turn your car engine off when not in use 2.Turn off lights when not in use 3.Let computer on for 24 hours 4.Let video camera on at all times 5.Let water tap drip water 6.Leave perfume bottle open 7 Let cognac bottle open 8.Let fan in car on all the time 9.Leave flashlight on all the time 10.Let toilet flush water all the time It is your call! Ask those who tell you NOT to release setting to tell you why they recommend this! Then ask them to show you proof! You all must be more critical consumers.Think for yourselves! Let me finish with a small example! Many years ago all ski companies had bases with a center groove down the middle of the base! All ski companies! Skiers started to ask why this groove? The answer was, "stability"!!!! No studies to proof this. No real "factual" data. Just tradition! Now name me ONE ski that has a groove in the base! In this Google world you must think critically and ask for "proof" ! Enjoy your summer and so nice to hear from you. Hope your cottage issue will be settled soon! |
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