Send snowbandit down first ...if she goes WHOOOOOOAAA!!! then be VERY careful !!
If she just goes whoooooaaa! then just be careful
How do you handle skiing on ICE?
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Trencher,
GPWM
A nice pair of tuned Kessler's would assist :mrgreen:
Plenty of "whooooaaaaa's' being called in La Plagne the other week. They try to hide the ice with a dusting of man made snow but it really catches you out. I would prefer to be able to see it rather than stumble across it unexpectedly.
That man made stuff on ice is like sand on a sheet of glass, you can dust it off.
I find that most ice patches tend to be mid piste and are fine if you just traverse over them and turn at the edges where the snow tends to amass. But by a few days of it i just pointed my skis down hill and just ignored it, when you feel it begin to slide mid turn i just pushed my edges in harder.
Like previous posters have already said......Sharp Edges, thats the key......Mine were nice and razor like, even hacking up my brand new TNF sallos :-(
This is exactly what I do...I must say that my new skis have been brilliant on the ice, up until yesterday. Today ice skates would have been more appropriate!
This is the best post, except that I don't agree that it is all in the head. No, for most people, it is a real and justified fear. When you have skiied as long as Andy and I have, you just deal with it. I would also add that in the majority of cases, we are not dealing with ice, but more like hard packed snow. It still has to be treated with respect. In a previous similar thread, one J2 clown of a poster suggested being "aggressive" on ice, and was swiftly, and rightly, taken to task by Admin.
You being the person that advised being agressive on ice.
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Started by Ackeiyword in Ski Technique 22-Jan-2011 - 80 Replies
Scapula
reply to 'How do you handle skiing on ICE?' posted Jan-2011
its all going rapidly downhill!
Edited 1 time. Last update at 23-Jan-2011
Trencher
reply to 'How do you handle skiing on ICE?' posted Jan-2011
Skiing on ice is a bit like cutting a sheet of glass. The first few times you cut glass, you are very light with the cutter, and hesitant with snapping along the score line. Result is shattered glass. After a while, you start to treat it with contempt, and the result is perfect cuts.
Ice will sense your fear, and snatch your skis out from under you.
Ice will sense your fear, and snatch your skis out from under you.
because I'm so inclined .....
Edited 1 time. Last update at 23-Jan-2011
AlistairS
reply to 'How do you handle skiing on ICE?' posted Jan-2011
Trencher wrote:Skiing on ice is a bit like cutting a sheet of glass. The first few times you cut glass, you are very light with the cutter, and hesitant with snapping along the score line. Result is shattered glass. After a while, you start to treat it with contempt, and the result is perfect cuts.
Ice will sense your fear, and snatch your skis out from under you.
Trencher,
GPWM
A nice pair of tuned Kessler's would assist :mrgreen:
I just love the gravitational pull
Snapzzz
reply to 'How do you handle skiing on ICE?' posted Jan-2011
snowb4ndit wrote:I tend to say 'whoooooooa' as my skis slip/skid over it! :lol:
Plenty of "whooooaaaaa's' being called in La Plagne the other week. They try to hide the ice with a dusting of man made snow but it really catches you out. I would prefer to be able to see it rather than stumble across it unexpectedly.
That man made stuff on ice is like sand on a sheet of glass, you can dust it off.
I find that most ice patches tend to be mid piste and are fine if you just traverse over them and turn at the edges where the snow tends to amass. But by a few days of it i just pointed my skis down hill and just ignored it, when you feel it begin to slide mid turn i just pushed my edges in harder.
Like previous posters have already said......Sharp Edges, thats the key......Mine were nice and razor like, even hacking up my brand new TNF sallos :-(
Skied: Arinsal, La Plagne, Alpe D'huez, Flaine, Les Arcs, Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Sauze, Courchevel, Val Thorens
Snowb4ndit
reply to 'How do you handle skiing on ICE?' posted Jan-2011
Snapzzz wrote:snowb4ndit wrote:I tend to say 'whoooooooa' as my skis slip/skid over it! :lol:
They try to hide the ice with a dusting of man made snow but it really catches you out. I would prefer to be able to see it rather than stumble across it unexpectedly.
That man made stuff on ice is like sand on a sheet of glass, you can dust it off.
I find that most ice patches tend to be mid piste and are fine if you just traverse over them and turn at the edges where the snow tends to amass. But by a few days of it i just pointed my skis down hill and just ignored it, when you feel it begin to slide mid turn i just pushed my edges in harder.
Like previous posters have already said......Sharp Edges, thats the key......:-(
This is exactly what I do...I must say that my new skis have been brilliant on the ice, up until yesterday. Today ice skates would have been more appropriate!
Take Life With A Pinch Of Salt... A Wedge Of Lime, & A Shot Of Tequila :-)
Dave Mac
reply to 'How do you handle skiing on ICE?' posted Jan-2011
OldAndy wrote:I think that 90% (ish, about etc) of handling ice is in our heads. Its the fear of being out of control that causes most problems.
And ...
We probably all work out our own way to handle ice. A mixture of kit (nice and sharp edges as Emma says), preparation - knowing the mountain and ice blackspots, how to avoid them (I'll ski a black rather than a busy, icy blue anyday), time of day etc etc.
And then when we get to an icy patch each to their own on survival strategy.
Mine is; speed control - if it's icy keep the speed down so I don't find myself arriving on an icy bit too fast.
If I know I'm going to ski an icy piste,pause at the top and see what other people are doing - to avoid them!! My bete noir of ice is other people, so I'll wait a bit if necessary and find a gap so I don't get tangled up with others.
Look for soft snow to turn on and check speed - sides of piste best.
Finally; don't give a s*** what I look like, sideslipping, stopping, survival skiing - get past it and enjoy the next bit of good snow.
It's all in the head - got to stay as relaxed as possible; locking up, stiffening legs and knees, "hanging" onto the hill, will all cause grief.
Don't be scared of ice - coz fear is your killer. Just work out your own survival tactics!
This is the best post, except that I don't agree that it is all in the head. No, for most people, it is a real and justified fear. When you have skiied as long as Andy and I have, you just deal with it. I would also add that in the majority of cases, we are not dealing with ice, but more like hard packed snow. It still has to be treated with respect. In a previous similar thread, one J2 clown of a poster suggested being "aggressive" on ice, and was swiftly, and rightly, taken to task by Admin.
Edited 1 time. Last update at 25-Jan-2011
Tony_H
reply to 'How do you handle skiing on ICE?' posted Jan-2011
I think most of it IS in the head.
I don't like ice. I like hard packed snow. There is a significant difference. I don't come across much ice, and if I do, I do what Andy says and plan my route carefully, trying to sweep round at the edges where there maybe some loose snow. Remembering to put pressure on the fronts of the skis is important, but if you find yourself slipping, don't panic and keep going. You might not look great, but it realy doesn't matter. Its all about survival and confidence. Like Andy said, its in the head.
Knowing what the pistes are likely to be like at the time of day is also of huge importance. That comes with experience to be fair.
I don't like ice. I like hard packed snow. There is a significant difference. I don't come across much ice, and if I do, I do what Andy says and plan my route carefully, trying to sweep round at the edges where there maybe some loose snow. Remembering to put pressure on the fronts of the skis is important, but if you find yourself slipping, don't panic and keep going. You might not look great, but it realy doesn't matter. Its all about survival and confidence. Like Andy said, its in the head.
Knowing what the pistes are likely to be like at the time of day is also of huge importance. That comes with experience to be fair.
www
New and improved me
Dave Mac
reply to 'How do you handle skiing on ICE?' posted Jan-2011
Tony_H wrote:I think most of it IS in the head.
I don't like ice. I like hard packed snow. There is a significant difference. I don't come across much ice, and if I do, I do what Andy says and plan my route carefully, trying to sweep round at the edges where there maybe some loose snow. Remembering to put pressure on the fronts of the skis is important, but if you find yourself slipping, don't panic and keep going. You might not look great, but it realy doesn't matter. Its all about survival and confidence. Like Andy said, its in the head.
Knowing what the pistes are likely to be like at the time of day is also of huge importance. That comes with experience to be fair.
You being the person that advised being agressive on ice.
Topic last updated on 03-October-2011 at 22:05