What have you learnt from this year's skiing?

Now we are nearing the absolute end of the season I would like to share this video which I think shows how I've been spending some of my time and the 'ski' progress I have made. Thank you Scap's for making this vid!



and my season goal...

SPAM ;)

Hi Snowbandit,
That video was amazing :thumbup:

I wish I could ski like that. I can see now, what you've been doing in Morzine all winter :lol:

AllyG wrote:Hi Snowbandit,
That video was amazing :thumbup:

I wish I could ski like that. I can see now, what you've been doing in Morzine all winter :lol:

Thats when she's sober :wink:

Just discovered this thread and found it fascinating. Am I totally off-beam to "think" I have learned this season that there are certain similarities between skiing off-piste (of which I've done only a very small amount) and skiing in deep, soft springtime snow ? I'm thinking of heel weighting, keeping both skis closer together, and turning both as simultaneously as poss and slightly unweighted ?

I think there are more similarities than differences Billip, between off-piste and spring snow.

It is the well groomed piste that is different!

You are going through the white stuff rather than over it in both cases and the "dangers" are similar.

Catching and edge - not really the right term but probably understandable - where one ski takes the load and pulls you off line for one.

Absolutely understand what you mean by the edge thing. Two skis experiencing different snow conditions (in the invisible stuff beneath the surface)is no doubt why you are told to keep your skis closer together when skiing in deep snow.

3 things stick out:-

When plenty of people were suffering from closed lifts, high bad weather and avalanche risk in January I was enjoying thigh deep powder. ALWAYS GET A GUIDE, THEY KNOW AREA BETTER THAN YOU (if you going to Chamonix can recommend a few).

Rupturing ACL hurts for about 30sec, followed by wave of disappointment at knowing season is over. Plan your run (ridiculous way to bust your knee)! I was off-piste skiing with 3 x others in a narrowing gully. Stopping on slight uphill on natural 1/2 pipe made very load pop in knee despite no wipe out. Am strangely motivated now for next season :-), operation in 3 weeks and then 8 months to get fit again :-). I think will pay more attention to flexibility in future.

Seeing others progress and having fun is really enjoyable. Going through crevasse rescue technique, packing lunches and organizing kit for those going out for day was not so bad. In 8 weeks GF has gone from complete beginner to ski bunny. I think her skinning speed genuinely scared those who had visited to get ready for Mt Blanc.

7.5/10 season,
+ve's Epic December and January.
+ve's New ski boots fit really good.
+ve's sun bathing weather in March when couldn't ski.
-ve's lost 3 days heli skiing and 2 weeks in Europe in March from ACL injury.
-ve's No ski touring up Mt Blanc. More of a deferral than a real -ve.