Basic Procedures to learn WITHOUT ski instructor !

Trencher,
Again so on the mark !

Yes we should begin a list of "survival" skills needed!

1. How to get INTO warm underwear ( ie no jeans)
2. How to place skis BEFORE getting into them.
3. How to get into ski boots.
4. How to dress for skiing.( steps )
5. How to avoid fog in goggles.
6. How to use Poma lift ( yes that round plastic disc, which you place BETWEEN legs ) ! Yes be ready to take off,,,soon!
7. How to go to bathroom ( effectively)
8. Sequence in placing ski boots on ski slope à la Trencher.
9. How to turn 180 degrees when facing trees at edge of slope.
10. How to get into bindings in +60 cm. of powder
11. How to release bindings ( when fallen) in +70 cm. of snow!
12. How to get off a hovering helicopter
13. How to Pee,,,, ( effectively) in the woods) Two types of techniques !!!!!
14. How to sip water while you ski via back pack bladder!
15. ,,,,,Trencher,,,help me,,,,,,others help me,,,,,

Then Dave can "publish " this on a post called SURVIVAL SKIING SKILLS !!!!

16.
17.

1. getting INTO ski underwear,,,,seems simple,,elementary yet I still see strange sights!

The "modern" low rider, board look does create some issues since back is "exposed" ! May be great on the street or at school but on ski hill we get;
-snow accumulation is strange places
-frost bites in thos locations
-major back ski abrasions etc,,,,

I always buy extra long leg type pants underwear and extra long tops which overlap at belt area!

Lower pants cuffs must never buckle near ankles and I always sew in that special flap men have! great cold air passage !

Skiers should have three types of underwear for three range temperatures;
1. Heavy polar fleece "expedition type" units
2. Mid weight units for 0 to -15 c
3 light weight ( runners types) for -5 to +10 Spring skiing

Hope this helps..

pavelski wrote:
Skiers should have three types of underwear for three range temperatures;
1. Heavy polar fleece "expedition type" units
2. Mid weight units for 0 to -15 c
3 light weight ( runners types) for -5 to +10 Spring skiing

and combine as needed.

Add a down quilted sweater/jacket, and a skiing/climbing outer shell and you have a combination for every every weather condition.

Can we have instruction on how to safely navigate the trecherous stairs to the toilets that restaurant owners always seem to put downstairs?
Not only that but why do they always seem to tile the stairs in the slickest material going, put up no hand rails and make them too narrow for people to pass each other!
grrrr

Hi Pavel,
Re your number 5 - fog on goggles - I recently heard about a new invention - goggles with an in-built fan! :

http://adventuretravel.about.com/od/adventuretravelbasics/gr/SmithTurboFan.htm

I wear glasses with goggles over, and what I do myself is lift my goggles up and leave them on top of my helmet every time the group stops for the instructor to do some instructing. This seems to work very well at preventing the fog forming on my glasses, which I guess is caused by condensation of the steam I produce. When I'm actively ski-ing there's no problem, it's only when I stop.

And, Snapzzz, I hate those toilet steps as well :evil:

Last week I saw a poor little kid try to get into the woods for a pee and disappear up to his neck in powder, and his dad rushed off in hot pursuit to rescue him!

Ally

Snapzzz wrote:Can we have instruction on how to safely navigate the trecherous stairs to the toilets that restaurant owners always seem to put downstairs?
Not only that but why do they always seem to tile the stairs in the slickest material going, put up no hand rails and make them too narrow for people to pass each other!
grrrr

I'm in on that shout.

Ha,,the fog issue !

First always get a DOUBLE layered lense system ! More important that the fancy graphics, fancy lenses that make you look like a "space warrior" is the double lense type!

To avoid fogging inside lenses you must understand why this occurs! Think of your windows at home on a cold cold day! If you do not have a double paned window ( thermo glass) you will note fog/ice forming at bottom of inner window! It has to do with saturation from cold air to warm air! We all know that in air there is more or less water vapor. A radical change from one zone to another will cause this vapor to "condense" ! Dave Mac will provide a more learned explanation.
Suffice to say that you must avoid this radical change from outside googles and inside goggles !

That is you do not want to make your face too hot ( forehead, nose, eyes ) since it will create a hot inner goggle medium !

Here are some tips on how to always avoid having foggy lenses,
1.Do not over dress so that you do not over heat.
2. Never put on goggles inside chalet,,wait till you are out! (that hot inside air in chalet will assist in the fogging process)
3.Now read this hint very carefully and do this regularly ! ( of course practice at home first). While going up chair or at top of ski run,,,take the goggles with both hands on the sides ( where straps insert on froma). Without touching lenses,,,pump whole unit back and forth 3-5 times away from face.
What this does is allow colder air to enter INSIDE units thus lowering temperature,,ie avoiding fog!
I do this every third time on chair!

4. I also burn two tiny holes on the side foam of the units. Just heat up a small Philips screwdriver red,,then slowly insert carefully into foam! All mu powder ski googles have these holes since then to sweat ( heat up ) more while skiing in powder ! You will have to calibrate how many holes you need by first placing just two holes. Ski and see what happens. I have four holes in most of my lenses!

5. NASA many years ago developed a product for their space vessels ( yes they have fogging issues also ) In my area it sells as RAINEX ! It is a spray for car windshields! I have contacted all the goggle companies and all tell me it is safe to use. ( never is any ammonia based sprays on lenses)! It creates a microscopic film INSIDE goggles which repels moisture droplets! It works !

6. Finally stop thinking about the beach,,summer, sun etc,,,,it excites you to much,,and your body begins the "heat up " !

Hope this helps you all !

Here is another example on why you should not buying cheap!!!
Get effective goggles,,then if they match your helmet, jacket, blush on,,,, fine ,,but not the other way around!
Your safety is more important that your looks !!!

Form always follows function !

Buying "fans" for goggles !

I forgot to answer Allys comment about fans!

Here is my "experience" on issue !

I have bought goggles with build in fans. I have used a unit just this last month which is inserted INTO inside of goggles!

Think about it,,you have already "internal built in fan" ! That wind which you create when skiing! The solution is to learn how to channel it. How to use it for your benefit!
First try the "lifting" procedure first ( both hands) !

Then try the burning holes on sides where wind vortex can enter!

In my opinion it is money wasted !
Pavel