Basic Procedures to learn WITHOUT ski instructor !

Iceman,
The quality of boots and fit is so good now that,,I always ski at least two easy runs with no buckles on !
It is not dangerous !

It teaches you to not "force" your turns.
It teaches you to "feel your ski turn"
It teaches you to gently ease into turn!

I mentioned to my wife that I had posted this and she mentioned an excellent "hint" that she uses!

She listens to her clips as they close. She knows which is "correct" for her by the sound! She has learned that sound! There is a distinct clear, CLIP sound of a good closed buckle. Learn how your boots close correctly for you !

It is like tuning a piano! You are tuning the boots for you !

Try it!

Iceman, In the level 3 ski instructors evaluation final test, all instructors must unbuckle their boots and ski in uniform speed down a varied type terrain. Why is this done ?
To determine the instructor that does not use muscle to turn,,,but allows the ski to respond to the slightest "hint" from his knees!

Try it on a nice long easy slope. It will make you a better skier! You will feel the undulations of the snow, you will feel the ski biting! If you are off center,,you will also feel that in an instant!

Hope this helps some of you!

Pavel

Iceman wrote:I remember when I first learnt how to ski back in the 80's they used to teach to ski with boots undone to teach you to keep weight forward!! Seems a bad an dangerous idea now!!

Nope, it's taught currently by top level BASI Instructors. I was made to ski with my boots completely undone here...

http://sunshack.blogspot.com/2009/10/all-day-in-fridge.html

This included using the lift. One of the coaches on that event is a member of this forum.

Bandit and Iceman,

I should however mention that iof you are a rank beginner, first time on skis,,,then yes it may be dangerous to try to ski with boot unbuckled.

As it is dangerous to ski down a steep couloir with ski boots undone.

Please, all skiers and readers of this post accept "hints" within the context it was given !

Respectfully,
Pavel

Yeah, I was referring to second it third day skiing.

Interesting what you say.about the sound of the clips, I totally know where she is coming from with that.

Iceman,
It is like an old pro who "adjusts" those SU carburators in a XKE jag by "listening" to the intake sound !

So it is with my wife. She just bends over, swipes the open clips with her gloved hand and listens to sound!

Yes,,they are right on! Off she goes never looking at clips

Pavel

Just "witnessed" another procedure all beginners MUST master before going on slope!

Picture this;

Intermediate slope. Beginner falls in middle and ski releases. This person is now trying to put skis back on WITH TIPS FACING DOWNHILL !

Seems so simple to others,,but that simple procedure took 45 minutes on slope, when a 5 minute "lesson" would have saved him stress, grief, possible knee tear !

Some people just love to suffer !

Please learn basics at home or at bottom of hill !

In the same vein, something that seems to be missed in lessons is which ski to put on first (or which way to face after losing one ski in a fall). It is so hard to get the second ski on, if it is downhill from the first ski.

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
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