5 hints that a skier is a pro!!!

Trencher in a previous string of messages mentionned that the ski lift line is a great "equaliser"!

However there are "hints" which differentiate the regular tourist skier and the; professional ( racer, ski patrol, instructor,guide,ski designer, etc...)
If you look very carefully and know what to look for there are 5 clues that identify your ski lift buddy as one who is in the ski business and a very, very good skier!

What are those clues!

What should you look for?
(Forget the ski jackets, the labels, chest stickers)

Let's see if you can list at least 3!

Next week I will provide all the clues!
Then you will know if you are going up with an national team racer, a "undercover" skier instructor or the owner of the ski hill!

Have fun listing your clues!!!!

That?s easy. Your average ski pro will always

- have a sun tan and just the right amount of stubble on his chin

- Nod in recognition to the lift attendant ? even if he/she has no idea who they are ? sad thing is, the lift attendant will always nod back

- possess the ability to ascend the 0.1% gradient up to the lift entrance without needing to place his/her skis in a V shape at 45degrees

- Not be shouting ?Henrietta, Charlotte, Tarquin, follow PaPaaaaa!? at 97Db to his offspring

- be a bit smelly

Did i get it right? Marks out of 5 please!

Whever I give an exam to my class I always say, "read the instructions carefully"!

Not sure if my instructions were clear since some of your answers were, "more behaviors" rather than items, ie tangible material items!
I guess they are "clues" so I will accept them!

In order to make questionnaire interesting I will not provide "answer' key yet, however all I can say is you impress me with your answers and you would be in the 95 per centile ranking if a norm-referenced test!

When I posted item I was thinking more about material,tangible items skier have on them!

Let us broaden questions to any clues!

Seems no one wants to try the quizz so let us "motivate" them!

I will give, yes give a free pair of ski bindings
( Atomic NEOX to the first person that gets at least 4 of the five tangible, observable clues of a pro skier.
Clues to me are,,,,,, any manifestations ( as presented above, behaviors but more importantly "objects" this skier has on him or her!

i would have to say...
a hip flask full of some cheap vodka
an ipod
loads of sunblock on their cheaks
bright ski boots (preferably orange)
and of course, no helmet!

Well I waited two weeks for a skier that wanted some Atomic Ski bindings but no one got 5 items. Some came close but...

Here are the five idications that the skier beside you is a pro! Pro defined as someone who works in the ski business!

A comment first!
One indication does not make a ski pro but as you start to see more of the clues then chances are they really are the "pro" !

1. The boots! Not the type or the color but look at the inside of each boot( the side away from buckles). If you see sharp cutting lines near boot sole, very much like razor lines!
You are looking at the first hint that this skier has;
a) very sharp ski edges
b) skis very tight turns
c)knows what weight transfer means

2. Gloves
Gloves take about a year to form to hands! Ski pros swear by their gloves and will not change gloves unless they fall apart. Look for that duct silver tape around the thumb area! Look for duct tape around first finger!

3. Yes the famous smell! ( in men) Most male pros do their "wash" once every 30 days! Skiers do not realized that you sweat a lot in powder or when skiing hard so it mellows like wine until they realize no one goes on the lift with them. Perhaps the school director will have to tell them to wash!

4. Face
The raccoon look will appear so clearly once you know what to look for! Of course that quiet smile of a liberated man or women!


5. The bulge
All ski pros ( even when undercover) have an electronic device, ie some form of communication system in case of accidents, classes, course work!
If you are very attentive you will note on the right hand breast pocket a small slit for the antenna ( hidden of course) or a clip insert on the collar for mike!

As far as Ipods-not allowed on duty
As far as drinks-not allowed on any ski resort


So next time you are on lift watch, learn and enjoy yourself!

I've only done 2 weeks skiing in my life, once 10 years ago and once this year (though i am off to Italy Dec 16th, hope there is snow!), but now I'm hooked!

My experience of the 'pro' skier came this year, i went out in a group with two guys that lived pretty much on the mountain, one was the owner of the ski lifts/runs and the other an owner of some resort hotels. While i was doing my best to get down the hill in one piece keeping up with the group, they were merrily gliding down with poles in one hand, and regularly chatting on their cellphones with the other hand (!!), in the sort of manner i walk down the street.

p.s what's this carving business about? can it be done on rental skis? or do they need to have special edges? this year i did an hours snowboarding lesson and can get down a hill (beginners, green), turning etc, can i utilize the turning, balancing and edging technique in skiing?

Welcome to the club James.
You are into a life-long quest of "perfection"!

Excellent questions you ask!
I hope I can answer them.
The edge issue
One of the myths in skiing is that you glide on bases very much like sled! It is called, "flat skiing" by ski instructors.
Effective skiers go from edge to edge! That means they do three things while turning;
1. angle the ski ( that is the ski that is going to turn, often called downhill ski), gradually apply pressure to edge and ( here is the secret) subtly "suggest" to ski to turn! Note the term suggest! If you have read the problem some skiers have about, "skidding" on a turn, it is due to forcing the skis to turn. They "muscle" the skis , in other words they "fight" the ski to do what they think the turn should be like!
The modern ski is a wonderful instrument and will give you much pleasure if you take the time to get to know the ski's potential!

An "expert" skier rides the edges like a knive slicing butter! This results in the ski taking on a trajectory like a missle. No amount of snow, ice or crud will move a ski on edge away from its trajectory also called radius! Once you and the ski are one, you can also adjust your scarf, zip up your coat etc...while skiing!

Of course you can ski well with rental skis, however as you get better and more proficient you will want more, "performance " from your ski!

Take the time to get to know your ski!
Take the time allow the ski to show you its limits.
Take lessons with same instructor!

James, hope this short reply will help you!

james_gray wrote:

p.s what's this carving business about? can it be done on rental skis? or do they need to have special edges? this year i did an hours snowboarding lesson and can get down a hill (beginners, green), turning etc, can i utilize the turning, balancing and edging technique in skiing? 

Carving is making a turn without skidding. A well carved turn on skis will leave two pencil lines in the snow, and on a snowboard, one deeper pencil line. When a ski skids, energy is dissapated and wasted, ie. speed is lost. Carving eliminates the waste. The carved turn is made possible by the sidecut of the ski or board, that is the inward curved shape of the edge. This can be measured by the radius of that curve. A sharp turning ski might have a 11metre radius, a medium turning ski, a 15metre radius. Under the outward forces of the turn the inclined ski "decambers" or bends. The true radius of the turn is much less than the sidecut.

The forces generated by these turns are significant. As the ski or board recambers when the turn ends and the forces are released, it is like bouncing off a trampoline. These forces may be directed into the next turn or allowed to lift the skier/boarder into the air. On alpine snowboards it is common for a rider to change edges mid air between turns.

Carving can turn the most boring blue run into an adreneline rush as you push the limits of edge hold and harness the forces of physics.

Extreme carving on a snowboard can be seen here http://www.extremecarving.com/movies/movies.html
Download opus 3 or 4 , they are great to watch

Trencher

Also, there are several sites devoted to carving on snowboards, but only two for skiing..

SNOWBOARDS
http://www.bomberonline.com/
http://www.alpinecarving.com/
http://www.extremecarving.com/
http://www.freecarve.com/default.asp

SKIS
http://www.carving-ski.de/index1.html?http://www.carving-ski.de/carving-galerie.html~inhalt

http://www.carvingcup.com/INGLESE/fis_ita.html (racing)

My local hill staged a carving cup last year, which was great fun. They even purchased the bouy type gates. They opened it up to skis and boards and I entered on both. Ended up changing boots about twelve times in four hours. Got twice as many runs as anyone else, but with all the boot changes, it was quite tiring. Knew I might be pushing things when I found myself running for the lift with snowboard hard boots on and skis under my arm.

Trencher

Almost forgot

You can't talk about carving without mentioning the Skwal. It does nothing else but carve. I have an older LaCroix model which is great fun and wants to leap into the air on transitions.

http://www.skwalzone.org/

Trencher

Trencher wrote:

Almost forgot

You can't talk about carving without mentioning the Skwal. It does nothing else but carve. I have an older LaCroix model which is great fun and wants to leap into the air on transitions.

http://www.skwalzone.org/

Trencher 

It's like a ski-snowboard!!! Coool. I want one!!!! I want one!!!! Can you get instruction for this particular instrument?

Thankyou for the above advice Trencher and pavelski it's very helpful. Suffice to say i've read through pretty much all your posts and found them to be insightful, warm, accessible and usually very very funny!

When i go skiing on the 16th i'm definitely going to try carving, even if it is on dodgy rental skis, i'm going to practice until i get it... and even as a last resort...take lessons!!! yes, i know, i know, lessons are best.