Latest posts for the topic "A Powder Ski Guide"

A Powder Ski Guide

Sun, 6 May 2012 22:20:12 GMT

Not sure where to place this.
Not sure what to call this.

So let me explain its origins.

I have a ski friend who is a well known, high powered attorney who confessed to me that he wished so much to learn how to ski powder. That was his goal.

After discussing with him all the techniques, the special skis and the preparation for heli skiing, I realized he was missing the most important element in the preparation for true powder skiing.

His mental set. What should happen in his mind.

So I sent him this "guide" and made him promise to read it everyday before he began his work day.

It might help some of you become great powder skiers.

Laugh
Listen Hard
Breath Easy
Ski To the Edge
Caress the Flakes
Do What you love best
Ski as if no one is watching
Leave work with no regrets
Appreciate a long deep storm
Ski as if that is all there is in life
Allow the child in you to take over
Come early, never stop and leave late
Only one way to ski powder, fast and softly
Keep your mouth shut while skiing the deep
Never share your powder day with non skiers ( they will not understand)
Once on a powder run, never stop till you are at bottom
Above all remember those leashes Pavel gave you
Finally you have ONE life
Live it

Sorry to say, he as already ,missed two huge storms.
Hope some of you are more "powder skiers"

Enjoy you summer
Pavel

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Wed, 9 May 2012 07:37:43 GMT

How true! Love powder. To me it's all about anticipation and letting go and flying, and skiing to the point when I can hardly stand anymore and then smiles on people's faces at the end of the powder day. I just wish we had powder days more often. Every day actually should be a powder day:)

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Wed, 9 May 2012 21:11:03 GMT

Verbier,
My kind of skier!

Save up your money, just once in a life time heli-ski !

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Wed, 9 May 2012 21:13:53 GMT

verbier_ski_bum wrote:Every day actually should be a powder day:)

But ..
But ....
But - would that really be that brilliant??

Or .....
Is part of the real excitement the wait and watching weather and getting up after a dump on that once in a blue moon morning of blue skies and deep powder and then just going wild?????

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Thu, 10 May 2012 19:14:43 GMT

I will make a small confession.

There are some of those "perfect powder days" that do last a lifetime.

You seem to relive them over and over again.

I still smell the snow, taste the snow and hear the snow as I go down a slope that has me covered up to chin.

Magic.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:02:30 GMT

pavelski wrote:I will make a small confession.

There are some of those "perfect powder days" that do last a lifetime.

You seem to relive them over and over again.

I still smell the snow, taste the snow and hear the snow as I go down a slope that has me covered up to chin.

Magic.

Yes, Absolutely yes.

That is why, Pavel, I could not wholly concur with "Keep your mouth shut while skiing the deep" My best big powder days have occurred in Niederau and Colorado, and one half of the time, I was laughing uncontrollably.

Yes, I ate a lot of snow!

I confess that some of the time I was crying with joy.

There, I have outed myself!

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:07:03 GMT

Dave Mac,

Just after I woke up,,I thought of you since on television who do I see going the weather.

He mentioned that near your area, "snow" . Is that possible?

Yes that closed mouth hint is given to all neophytes on first +40 cm. powder days.

Yes that powder brings out the child in all of us.

Dream on Monsieur Mac.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:15:02 GMT

I think first turn is key to powder skiing. Count to 2 so have enough speed for skis to work and don't press too hard on first one. After that I guess eveyone is same, just want snow deep enough to keep shot blasting you. Nothing better than being in bar and knowing your "tan" lines are from powder blast as opposed to too long lunch breaks.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:33:54 GMT

Ranchero,
You are so right about "first turn" .

Yes that first turn sets up all the rest. I tell skiers it is like "first date". You are never sure what will happen,,,,,but you must jump into it all the way. No hesitation. No half measures and yes softly .

So well put.

That hesitation on first turn does "limit" many skiers.

Thanks for great observation.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Fri, 11 May 2012 18:53:07 GMT

OldAndy wrote:

verbier_ski_bum wrote:Every day actually should be a powder day:)

But ..
But ....
But - would that really be that brilliant??

Or .....
Is part of the real excitement the wait and watching weather and getting up after a dump on that once in a blue moon morning of blue skies and deep powder and then just going wild?????

Absolutely!:) Given a choice I will take a powder day over non-powder day any time.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:57:17 GMT

Verbier,

The beauty of this sport is that you can not buy this unique experience. You must pay your dues to "earn" to ski powder.

Neophytes are so afraid of powder.

Intermediate skiers have an approach / avoidance relationship to powder. They understand its beauty and thrill but and not yet "competent" to try it.

Powder very quickly makes a skier's weaknesses more evident. No cheating in powder.

The expert skier dreams of +60 cm. but only the ones who have read and believe in the first post get to do it.

In this sport,,there is always a challenge.

Powder skiing for me is the ultimate experience.

I hope all of you try it at least once.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:21:04 GMT

My first and only powder day was this past winter at Sunday River. Likely "small" powder in comparison to what most of you are used to. SR had 20+ cms of dry, dry powder over night. Beautiful !!! I had the good fortune to ski the day before with Pavel (and we thought it a pity Dave Mac was not with us.) We thought of you Dave ... so in spirit you too have skied with Pavel. Pavel has sent me a picture of himself "working" the powder .... the smile on his face brought back that great day to me.

Of your original points Pavel, I try to always live to this one : Come early, never stop and leave late!!

Mike

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:58:26 GMT

Yes
Come early,,,never stop and leave late.

Great items to remember.

I often have skiers who tell me they want so much to ski powder,,,,,but then are too busy to go when +40 cm falls.

Less skiers !

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 14:34:14 GMT

"I often have skiers who tell me they want so much to ski powder,,,,,but then are too busy to go when +40 cm falls." Just call and am there.

Talking about powder guide, did anyone ever ski South America here. Realistically 2013 will have to be a piste year for me unless I make a plan to head South during the "summer months". Does anyone fancy a South American ski trip Late July/Early August.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 22:18:13 GMT

Ranchero,

The Fischer ski company has a summer camp every year in Chile and I go with a group of young ski racers as "support staff" .

Be careful in spending lots of money going there since many times valley is "fogged in" due to the warm warm Pacific currents and warm air coming up valley.

I once was there for two weeks and we got 3 days of clear sun shine.

Check past weather forecasts. Roads are,,,,,,well dangerous.

Isolated from all so bring all you need.

My choice would be New Zealand in summer.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 12:03:52 GMT

LOl like comment about roads. I did NZ in 2009 and somehow did not really fall in love with the skiing there. Like a small Alpine hill but without the charm of small Alpine village. Still Wanaka is definitely somewhere would love to live for a few years. Looks like awesome summer paddling to be had there. Think maybe I made mistake of staying in Queens Town.

Still bungee was definitely worth doing.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 12:35:19 GMT

A friend was trying to convince me to go to South America for couple weeks skiing, but while it sounds tempting, I can pay the season rent in Verbier with the same money these two weeks will cost me and I don't want to lose two weeks of holidays that I can spend in winter in the Alps. If I could have extra two weeks of holidays... that would have been another matter.

Re:A Powder Ski Guide

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 12:53:10 GMT

Ranchero,
Seems to me that your are a , "traveling skier" with all your visits.

You are a candidate for some serious heli skiing. Once in your life time do it.

BC interior. Selkirk area.

Or

Panorama with a two day heli at base lodge.