J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

It often is the simple questions that cause much discussion!

There are three basic reasons for such "lifts"!
1. Economic
Many of the European centers are local/village type centers! it costs much less to have such lifts!

2.Many such lifts are in the high plateau/peak areas of skiing again cost is factor but also ecological impact!

3. In high "avalanch" areas it is better to have such lifts, since rebuilding pulley type system is much easier and cheaper!
If you ever ski Fernie Ski Resort, there is a T-bar lift that every year gets ripped away by avalanche. In fact the top anchor posts and pulley system are designed to release from base!
In Fall a new system is place!

Bandit,
The lights in the home or in the head!

Trencher,
You do love to live dangerously!
With your comments I am sure I will or Dave ( site admin) will get calls to find out your address!

However I do accept that men and women think differently! Note I do not put a value or judgement on which is better!

In my other life where I have to hire many persons all with specialized university degrees I always get equal men and women! Often the women will pick up aspects of a project that all men have not seen!

I have noted that each group has "different" perceptual aptitudes! Is it cultural or genetic? I tend to lean on the genetic since I have many people from many cultures!

In skiing I have also noted some differences! I can not list them here since I am sure someone will conclude that I am "favoring" one or the other group! If ever we meet Trencher I promise to share with you these differences!

Let me just give you a hint; speed, carving, grrrr factor!

Oh oh....do I hear the mail.......

I hope I did not convey that any type was better than the other!
What I did try to sate is that skiing is FUN above all!

Also that there are "easy" paths to improving skiing and if someone wants to enjoy skiing these "paths" may help!

Being type A has its problems!

May I share some of them with you!

"Problems" with type A skier;
1. Never satisfied with own skiing. Always trying to "improve"

2.Wants to be first up on lift at all times! It is near obsession drive!

3.Focussed on skiing only! How many times have I met women on chair who seemed so interesting, so inviting, so charming yet at top of lift...... the snow was too powerful!

3,Constantly tweeking ski equipment to get that extra pleasure,,that extra performance, that extra comfort! I am constantly "discovering" ways to modify something about my ski material to make skiing "better"

4.Having "difficulty" finding skiing partner! If you are so,,,let's admit it,,obsessed about skiing then it is difficult to find another "ski neurotic" like you! Rare is a person that can ski with me,,,,not because of my skiing ability level but my sole focus which is to get to slopes!

What other skier convinces grooming operator to go up at 6 AM to video tape sun rise at top of ski resort! ( when in fact true reason is to ski down runs at 7 AM) Sick sick!!!! but loving to be sick!

5.Thinking skiing in Summer!!! Imagine being on beach and seeing sand like snow! Wondering what it must be like skiing down sand dunes! Sick again!

6.Planning to attend conferences not because of professional content but how close to ski resorts!

7.Collecting so many old ski material that have to buy new house with "extra" garage which becomes ski museum! SICK!!!!

8.Memorizing ski runs like World Cup racers so that in "boring meetings" you can ski down ski run in your head knowing every dip every curve, every steep section! Sick...

So you see mrcrazy,,,,being type A skier has its "problems"! But I will take all those problems any day compared to some of the issues I see others have!

Just enjoy skiing at your level at your speed!

I will only admit this once!

Today I kissed a ski! I usually am not considered a "easy man"! I tend to hide my affections but today was too much!
I was testing a new 2009 ski! A company that I had not skied on for many years and this ski seemed to be just a tad nervous for me!

Like in a "blind date" I was very tentative initially, not wishing to be too demanding!

Then as the day progressed. the more I pushed our relationship the more pleasure I got!
This ski teased me to go faster and harder in more steep slopes! On every turn it just held! On every condition from steep ,,no very steep racing type runs it demanded more speed!

Finally after 3 hours of trying this and that to find its weak points ,,,I decided, "enough of this playing around" it was 12 and everyone was eating! No one on ski run! Really no one! I just let skis go! Every turn was a roller coaster ride! Tight tight lines then release edges and zing to other edge! They just loved speed and control!

When I got to car! I spontaneously kissed them. I am sorry, I know it is not professional! I realize that I must stay objective when testing,,,,but it was too much pleasure! Please forgive me!

I hope you all do not think I have "special" tendencies! It was a moment of weakness!

Dave,
Anytime just call. Will be there for you!

Now great story for you Dave.

I was skiing in Utah several years ago with a group. In this group was a 72 year old skier!
I gets to ticket counter and lady asks him how old he is!
He replies, "why,,72!"
"Do you have your passport" she asks.

Out comes the passport, she studies it for a second,,then with a great big smile she says, "here is Snowbird we give FREE season passes to anyone over 70! Come on over for you picture!"
Dave you should have seen this man's face! A little boy in a candy store!

What is better than getting this pass is skiing all winter with it dangling from neck! Everyone at local ski resort would ask him about it!

Casually hw would reply, "I fly down to Utah for the weekend. That is why I have this ski season pass! For that year he was the "prestige" man in the whole resort!

So Dave you are NOT too old!

2-3 times a year!! Not enough to get you young again! May I suggest you visit your physician and have him look up studies about fitness, happiness and living till 150! All results indicate that skiing is the cure and magic!

Why do you think I have a carved wooden sign in front of my ski house! It reads, "Shangrila"

Trencher,
Many many books have been written about visualization and you are so correct that seeing is vital in learning!

However every person has different learning styles ( see Gardiner re Multiple Intelligences) so a good teacher adapts teaching to learners styles and not the other way around!

One of the major problems in many countries is that a "orthodox ski teaching method " is drilled to ski instructors ..then they in turn "expect",,,,,, no demand that learner adapt to there style of teaching!

I have found however that skiers who have a chance to see their own skiing tape,,first cringe,,,some cry then improve!

Children "naturally" visualize in learning since they "model" their behavior by mimic parents or role models! What do adolescents do? try on various "roles" to see which fits best!

Keep on making those grooves!!!

Dave W,
I wish I was so much closer to you,,because in one day,,yes one day I will make you love skiing again!
Dave, you have no idea how your comment, "I'm more like pupil Z touches me" since just a few months ago I was not even walking and everyone, except a great lady in Alaska was telling me that I would NOT ski EVER!
TO read those words, "I can't even ski properly" makes me forward a challenge to you!
Give me a chance to bring you back to the light,,to the flame! At 40 you should be "independent" enough to to free yourself from job! Take one week off! Come over the pond and if in one week I have NOT ignited the flame, I will pay your lift tickets for one week!
I predict you will find your smile! I predict you will never turn back because if you are a type A then there is a little voice saying, "yes you can do it"!!!

The glove is thrown! Find that light Dave!