Latest posts for the topic "The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!"

The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Alright alright the title should have said, "the 10 essential things you must do related to skiing,,,this summer" Most skiers put away skiing equipment ( some in dangerous places) and forget skiing! Then there are those like you who dream of the endless winter, thus read all messages about skiing. There are 10 \Summer " activities" which are essential,,,if you are really a "serious" skier! I will GIVE to any skier a polar fleece jacket to any skier who gets the most "activities" all serious skiers must do! The answer will be posted in one week! This project is valid for one week! No Mike I will NOT give you hints! Yes Ellistine you can search on Google! The contest is on! 7 Days!

The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Hirsty — GMT

1. Get into or keep in shape. There is no two ways about it - to get the best out of skiing requires you to be fit. 2, Insure your skis are stored flat and with a good covering of wax. 3, Plan your winter trip(s) (you have to have something to look forward to) 4, Repair, fix, and if you aboslutely must replace any damaged equipment (including clothing). 5, Scour Ebay for bargains 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Irritate the hell out of your partner whith your constant chat about skiing (especially the really exagerated ones about powder days and big hucks)

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

You could blatantly advertise your website all over a forum :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Admin — GMT

bandit wrote:

You could blatantly advertise your website all over a forum :D

And wonder why your account's been locked... 8)

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Gooseh — GMT

1. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst in charge of heavy machinery 2. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst in charge of young children 3. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst sitting your degree exams (I failed at this one) 4. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst your girlfriend tells you the details of where/when you're meeting her. 5. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst trying to get across London to make a connecting train. 6. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst lifting weights to get fit for skiing. 7. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst your boss is talking to you. 8. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst your girlfriend tells you about her day 9. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst on the phone. 10. Dream about skiing. All the time. Day and night.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

1. Take your skis in for a wax or service 2. Wash all your clothing 3. Keep reasonably fit (without turning into some kind of fitness nerd) 4. Book your next skiing trip for the coming season 5. Spend time talking on this forum 6. Read every possible publication on the market about skiing 7. Print off your favourite pictures from your last skiing trip 8. Keep in touch with your new ski buddies who you met on the last trip 9. Pick up some bargains, probably stuff you dont really need, but which will make you feel good. For example some new goggles/gloves/poles 10. Pray for a white winter season ahead, religiously, every day I am pleased to say that not only have I come up with that list, but I have complied with it too.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

RossF — GMT

Go for a ski, on your rock skis, on the rocks :mrgreen:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Seems jacket is going to Tony so far! What great imagination you all have. I think the next contest will be who can get the most "off the wall", original excuse to come and ski this summer!!!! ( In Chile)!!!! Keep them coming.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

IceGhost — GMT

Gooseh wrote:

8. Avoid daydreaming about skiing whilst your girlfriend tells you about her day

I did this constantly to my boyfriend 1. Clear up any outstanding bills from last ski season. Where ever they made have accumulated 2. Show your mode of transportation some love. 3. Time to plaster your stickers from your fav resorts all over your vehicle to show everyone where you've been 4. Service your bindings 5. Heal from last seasons misfortunes 6. Keep in some kinda shape. I myself am working on a shape that's not an amoeba 7. Give props to your favorite resorts. From working at a ski resort for a few months it feels great when someone says. Hey, good job guys! 8. It's probably a good idea to touch base with your family, you've probably havn't seen most of them for awhile. 9. It's probably a good idea to take your ski equipment out of the car 10. Make new friends over the summer so you have new ski buddies, or atleast someone that's nice enough to be able to identify the body *gives Pav a hug* Where have you been man!!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

Pavel says he won't offer me a hint !!! So where is my challenge now ? :cry: The real challenge is in trying to pry a hint from him. :-) :wink: My 10 replies are all the same : # 1 - # 10: We must plan for our future needs - the things we need for the next season, the things and events like everyone else has already listed. (I have learned how important this is from a Pavel Quiz of about 2 or 3 years ago.) However I think I should disqualify myself from this "contest" as I am the proud recipiant of the Spyder polar fleece jacket from the "Great Pavel's Wall Quiz". As a matter of fact I'm wearing this jacket as I type this note. It is a really nice warm jacket. :!: But when the trip to Chile comes up for "grabs" ... I'm in that quiz for sure. :twisted: Mike :wink:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

IceGhost wrote:

*gives Pav a hug* Where have you been man!!

You're right IceGhost ... we must show our true appreciation to our great mentor. :lol: Mike

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

IceGhost — GMT

your a cool guy

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

Thanks IceGhost... you're not so bad either :mrgreen: How is your foot coming? I hope you will be back in shape for next winter:!: Your 10 things might include foot exercises and more foot exercises ..... You may be in the best shape of anyone. :shock: Mike

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

I cannot do ten! I try to prioritise, but I have to do them all. 1) Rear entry boots, perform well but need a couple of tightening cables replacing and edges smoothed off. 2) Strip bindings on K2s, degrease, and apply new grease. Take to Niederau next winter. 3) Same procedure on Rossignals, based in Niederau, do in July. 4) Fill sharpen and wax K2s and one other pair. 5) Replace pole baskets, one has split. 6) Review winterpacking list. Managed to get rucsac weight down to 14Kgms, including ski boots and painting gear. Can do better. 7) Cut a bit from the upper centre of goggles, don't wear them much, but when you need them..... 8)Buy new ski gloves and salopettes. Glove thumbs now 90% duck tape, 10% glove. 9) Try to get my lovely Wildsconeau Ski Race Club sweater repaired. It's over thirty years old, and showing the odd hole. But those proud gold dragons on dark blue... 10) Maintain/resume daily ski-specifice exercise routine. This is a big commitment, with a big payback. 11) Finalise research into Austrian beginner and experienced skiers ski week for next New Year. 12) Arrange Jan & March Niederau ski fortnights and one other ski week. 13) Search for a buy new photo frame for an old Manchester friend, long since buried in Niederau, after a ski accident. I take responsibility for the grave maintenance. 14) Learn all the words of "Kufsteiner Lied" I do a John Redwood on most of them, the Austrians don't realise this yet. I just enjoy the yodelling. 15) Have promised Herbert blow up photos of times past in Niederau, for the walls of the Harfenwirt extension. Already am consulting all my older ski friends, (just in case you think I'm part of "times past". 16) Replenish my winter first aid pack. 17) Consider commitment to assisting with Disabled Ski Club. 18) Find out how to load pictures from my computer onto J2ski. 19) Organise dry slope/Xdome lessons for two friends in our village, taking their first ski trip next winter. 20) Buy another ski bag, forgot that I left mine in Niederau. That's enough, I know there are heaps more. However, this has turned out to be quite a good exercise in creating a "to-do" list. With all the building projects, tennis, hill walking, dog training, mountain biking, painting the outside of the house, blah di blah, how am I going to get through the ski list?

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

Dave Mac is the new god! The rest of my 2008 involves:- physio praying the tendon graft takes physio dreaming physio )

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Dav Mac, Have you been talking to Mike? In every course I teach I have student who gives more more than I asked,,then asks me to pick the best ones! This is called, the "shotgun" approach in evaluation circles! Mike is the master of this approach and has won many contests using this approach! Rumors are that he got his engineering degree this way also!!!! Nevertheless. you are now the "lead horse in the race! To be fair to all other skiers I will take first 10 suggestions you made,,even if all others are great! Now for the sleepless nights Dave Mac! If you win,,do you wish a polar fleece jacket from USA National team logo, or a fleece from a well known ski resort? The Team fleece is blue and size medium! The resort fleece is tan and red and is Large size! This last item is thicker and longer than team fleece! The signature autograph from national team member is faded!!!!! Ha..decisions decisions! You never know some smart soul like Ellistine, Jan or Cataline might be lurking waiting till very end like on EBAY!!!!!!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Dave Mac, I re-read your answers again and noted that you need some new gloves! WAIT!!!!! In August one of the prizes for my coming contests will be a pair of Racing Gloves,,Size large! The are well trained for correct position, do not argue much and hold poles very well! You might be the winner! Pav

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

pavelski wrote:

Dave Mac, Have you been talking to Mike? In every course I teach I have student who gives more more than I asked,,then asks me to pick the best ones! This is called, the "shotgun" approach in evaluation circles! Mike is the master of this approach and has won many contests using this approach!

Ahhh , yes the springtime sleepless nights !!! :mrgreen: Pavel, I too thought that Dave Mac had adopted "my" style of the "shogun" approach. :mrgreen: I really prefer thinking of this method as more of the "open minded" approach than the shotgun. It is less violent. :P We were taught to keep an open mind as it is far too easy to develop tunnel vision otherwise. So perhaps I am now developing an "all encompassing approach" with the single reply of "planning ahead for future needs" as applied to everything. ...Keeping it simple ..... Mike :wink:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Sorry Pav, I didn't realise this should be ten only. As it happens, the exercise has turned out a fairly comprehensive to-do list. The only problem is that I am now up to thirty two must-do items. No, none of this is shotgun. Every point on my list hits a target. I couldn't possibly discuss prizes, in advance, as my Austrian friends say to anticipate receipt is to bring bad luck. It might be that racing gloves would be too fast for me! I have a little chuckle about sizes. I think I moved from medium to large when I was 13 years old. And finally, I normally take 6 hours sleep a night, and Nothing keeps me awake. Mmm, well, nearly nothing.

The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Hirsty — GMT

Hirsty wrote:

1. Get into or keep in shape. There is no two ways about it - to get the best out of skiing requires you to be fit. 2, Insure your skis are stored flat and with a good covering of wax. 3, Plan your winter trip(s) (you have to have something to look forward to) 4, Repair, fix, and if you aboslutely must replace any damaged equipment (including clothing). 5, Scour Ebay for bargains 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Irritate the hell out of your partner whith your constant chat about skiing (especially the really exagerated ones about powder days and big hucks)

6, Persuade your partner that moving to Canada and working as a liftie/instructor is a sensible idea. 7, Visit your mate at the brewery (nothing to do with skiing but so worth it) 8, Point to the scar on your chin which you got falling over at the pool when you were 5 and claim it was from a cliff jump accident. 9, Whatch You Tube ski videos and pine

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

Sorry Pav, I didn't realise this should be ten only.

Yes, and as a result of posting more than 10, you are disqualified. Pav, I will PM my address for you to post the prize..... :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Here are the 10 essential things all serious skiers should do,,,but first let's define "serious". Serious to me ,means a person who sees skiing as a life long "adventure" where you are learning and progressing at all times! It is a person who wants to "get the most" from skiing! Just from the many answers it is clear we have some serious skiers here! Gooseh's daydreaming suggestions are "understandable" but you must get beyond dreams to progress in skiing. Tony H items 9 and 10 nearly got him a special prize since all skiers should note this! I have found so many great "deals" while traveling and stopping by some small resort or ski shop! Ross's rock skiing is a well know practice to keep skiing alive,,but does have some serious disadvantages! My scars prove it! Worst is sand skiing! The most original and touching was IceGhost's suggestion to , "touch base with family"! Right on the mark for skiing gypsies! Now here are my suggestions for activities to do EVERY year, after a ski season. 1. Clean and check all ski equipment It is during this period that you can detect that zipper that sticks, that velcro that needs extra section, that jacket ripped,that glove with hole,that goggle with elastic cut, that boot with loose rivet, that screw off that ski glasses! Dubbin or MINK OIL are great products to "massage" into ski gloves! I find placing scented wood chips into ski jacket pockets gives me a great feeling in October. 2. Wax skis and set DIN level to 0 on bindings! Edges do rust over summer so any cheap wax on ski edges will do! If you want to keep your binding for more than 4 years set DIN level at 0 since it will release tension spring! 3.Sit down and make inventory of you ski equipment and make "needs list for 2009"! What did you miss while skiing? What product did you see other skiers had which was great? This list is great for; birthdays, Christmas wish list, father's day list or just whenever anyone in family is "kind" to you! In IceGhost's case his family might be so happy to hear from him, they might buy him a "home welcome" gift! The object of this exercise is to every year get a better inventory of ski material you need! In a couple of years you will have a "full inventory" of practical ski material! 4. Make a "bilan" of positive and negative aspects of your ski year! Bilan is a French word for 'end-of-year report! Why do this? So you can avoid the negatives next year and strives to promote the positives! In this manner you will avoid negative ski resorts! Negative ski "friends"! Negative skis! Negative ski products! Yes even negative ski trips! In short ,,ask yourself, "what went well last year" and....strive to repeat it! 5. Now is the time to plan ski trips next year! Now is the time to discuss prices and select ski resorts and ski friends! 6. Of course now that you are in top shape after all that skiing,,now you must keep this this "elite" Olympic level ski shape active! By all means plan activities so that in October you are not suffering from aching thighs, sore knees and backs! 7. Review all your BOOKMARKS! There are valuable ski sites that give you all sorts of information! Evaluate the sites you visited! Some are garbage! Some are too commercial! Then there are those which really are designed by skiers for skiers! Keep those rare pearls! In July I will post my 10 most relevant internet sites! Yes another prize will be given! 8. Visit ski shops, ski clubs, ski bazzars! Now is the time to get great deals since many skiers ( especially ski professionals ) sell their equipment! Most racers want new skis ever year! All ski instructors demand the newest skis and boots! Prestige demands it! You can get fantastic deals NOW! 9. Review ski photos and videos! We are more and more into the electronic world and we can learn via this medium! I have skier friends that I tape every year and at end of ski year we do a video "collage" over a 10 year period! You can see your progress! You can view your mistakes! You can establish what you will do next year! 10. Here is the most important "suggestion"! Set yourself 3 goals! Just 3, but promise to attain these goals! It could be just skiing that "hard" run you have always avoided! It could be skiing with wife at least 6 runs. It could be that great trip to powder heaven! It could be just taking a ski holiday to Maine! Then do all you can to work for these goals! JUST MAKE SURE YOU HONOR THOSE GOALS!!! Now for the winner! DaveMac you are the winner of a polar fleece vest! Please send via PM your residence and choice since I have two types of vests! The team vest is medium and royal blue, with USA Team logo on chest area! The large thick vest is a caramel/honey and red vest! It has a ski resort logo that will be the envy of all your ski friends! Once you have been there,,all other resorts will be evaluated in reference to this place! (This is not a commercial)" You will have to "prepare" some form a story very much like Mike and his instructor jacket he wears! May I suggest you become well versed with White Heat! Pavel

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Dave Mac, Note Tony's very sad face in previous post! If ever you two meet,,,pay him a beer or two since he did honor the quiz rules! We hope to make that sad face an happy one soon!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Hirsty — GMT

Do I not get a squirrel related bonus prize? :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Admin — GMT

Hirsty wrote:

Do I not get a squirrel related bonus prize? :D

Nuts!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

Admin wrote:

Hirsty wrote:

Do I not get a squirrel related bonus prize? :D
Nuts!

Cashews would be nice :!: :!: :lol: Congratulations Dave Mac Mike :wink:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Please note all skiers********* If ever you are skiing in Europe and you see a skier with a fantastic golden/caramel polar fleece jacket with a ski resort logo on back that no one seems to know,,,,,,it is DaveMac!!! Stop and tell him you are Tony! You will get a free beer and a great story as a bonus! The lucky Scot!!!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Pavel, as one of your "must do's", you list winding down binding settings to zero. I know it used to be recommended, then it was deemed unecessary. Has it now been re-recommended? The latest tech manual I have is the 05/06 US Tyrolia, and I can't see this anywhere amongst the 80 odd pages :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Bandit, In regards to your question about DIN setting release at end of season! Here is my answer. It is a question of attitudes about equipment and economics. Let me address the attitude part first. In the past skiers tended to keep equipment for long time (+5 years) and would have the long term approach about keeping material in top form! Thus the release of the tension spring for the DIN setting. Of course that meant you did not have to buy bindings every three years! Now for the economic aspect. Modern life is centered on "disposable" practices. Long term attitudes about product life is now 3-5 years great for companies and economy,,but what about our world? Mike once showed some ski trashed in crusher! Ski companies wanht you to change skis every two years,,,,and in the process buy new bindings! Not for security reasons!!!! Better profit for them! If you take care of your bindings they can last +10 years easily! Think! Any spring under tension over time will lose its "internal tension"! Does it not seem logical when not in use to "release" that tension! I have some Salomon Drivers which I use on my Sugar Daddys powder skis and they are well over 10 years old! Still going! Still functional and I check them every year on an electronic binding calibration tool! I challenge any ski binding company to publish data over time on their bindings! I have such data and can tell you that any good binding well maintained will last easily +10 years! It is your call. Join the "disposable" society or save some money and our earth and try to "dispose" less. Of course you must every year check your DIN and the functionality of the units! Tell me, do you; 1.Turn your car engine off when not in use 2.Turn off lights when not in use 3.Let computer on for 24 hours 4.Let video camera on at all times 5.Let water tap drip water 6.Leave perfume bottle open 7 Let cognac bottle open 8.Let fan in car on all the time 9.Leave flashlight on all the time 10.Let toilet flush water all the time It is your call! Ask those who tell you NOT to release setting to tell you why they recommend this! Then ask them to show you proof! You all must be more critical consumers.Think for yourselves! Let me finish with a small example! Many years ago all ski companies had bases with a center groove down the middle of the base! All ski companies! Skiers started to ask why this groove? The answer was, "stability"!!!! No studies to proof this. No real "factual" data. Just tradition! Now name me ONE ski that has a groove in the base! In this Google world you must think critically and ask for "proof" ! Enjoy your summer and so nice to hear from you. Hope your cottage issue will be settled soon!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

Just about to attack 3 sets of bindings with my screw driver now!!!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Pav, it's clear that you value winding down binding settings for the reasons you list. You've not addressed my query as I still don't know if the binding manufacturers are recommending it currently. If the manufacturers are not recommending it being undertaken, if consumers perodically wind the springs down it may invalidate any warranty or litigation claims involving their products.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ellistine — GMT

Just don't do what I did and forget to do them back up again, especially when you're aleady up a mountain in Tignes. However, I discovered you can use a 5p coin to do them up! The girlfriend didn't find it as funny that I had remembered to tighten mine and not hers!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

bandit wrote:

Pav, it's clear that you value winding down binding settings for the reasons you list. You've not addressed my query as I still don't know if the binding manufacturers are recommending it currently. If the manufacturers are not recommending it being undertaken, if consumers perodically wind the springs down it may invalidate any warranty or litigation claims involving their products.

To my knowledge, it's not recommended in part because it's not really needed in many cases, some bindings don't actually have the spring under tension when the binding is released. Modern material technology being what it is then I'm less than sure the spring lifetime doesn't far exceed the lifetime of the other components anyway. As I understand it, litigation concerns from the manufacturers would mean a couple of things, first, that if they recommend releasing the springs there's a risk people don't reset them either correctly or at all in which case there's a potential liability. Second, if the spring fails over time as a result of not having the tension released then they have a further potential liability. It's rather better for them to ship a bind as "no user serviceable parts" and be done with it all, use modern materials or a zero loaded on release spring. More tellingly, there's no mechanical or physical reason a spring under tension will creep, we're talking about a consistent static load which unless the spring is flawed or unsuitable for application will not impact the spring performance. The mechanics of this is that springs will degrade if pushed beyond their static yield strength or on cyclic loading, neither should be true in a ski binding. You say it's not in your current binding manual, it would be interesting if it's actually in any binding manual, I'm guessing not but I don't know for sure. Maybe the first ski bindings used general purpose springs which weren't suitable for the application and some failures led to this becoming common practise, I don't know but there's no good mechanical reason for it now as far as i know, it's just "common wisdom" and that's something to always be wary of.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ZoomZoomZoom — GMT

Hirsty wrote:

Do I not get a squirrel related bonus prize? :D

My waterskiing squirrel is better than your waterskiing squirrel. :shock:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

I see another "discussion" beginning! In all North American binding clinics given by companies, they do not recommend that skiers touch bindings, for the very reasons ise mentioned! Ellistine gives gave a good reason why most skiers should not touch units! The trick Ellistine is to place a tape on bindings with note or just every year check bindings in October! Sorry Ise but I must disagree with you as far as your statement, "there is no tension when bindings is released"! If you take a binding apart you have a cam system which is calibrated by having a "piston" resting on a cam type mechamism. This piston which exerts pressure on cam IS under tension at all times. When you screw DIN setting what you are doing is screwing IN the spring tighther into the piston thus placing more tension on cam! Even if bindings are "off" or released the DIN setting spring is under tension! The spring you are referring to Ise for the release portion of the binding is in all cases under the DIN spring for the rear units. It rides on the base track of the rear units! As far as the front units there is no fore/aft movement! Here is the issue in a nutshell! If a skier has a binding with a "lower" performance range ie DIN range of 4-8 ( since he/she got them on Ebay ) and the DIN is set at 7.5! Guess what is happening to spring even when static, open and released? It is under tension. That is why skiers should never buy lower end bindings or "special deal" bindings with lower performance range! In conclusion. it is up to each skier to decide. I prefer to release and check every Fall all my bindings! PS The older bindings never had general purpose springs! Even the Look Nevada's had springs specifically made for Look! They had three types each color coded for the technician! Now to really start a "discussion",,are you aware of the new Atomic ski which changes its width,,yes width ( ie side cut) as you ski it! Seems there are internal springs which hold ski together!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

Take a look at this item and especially item #7 under the heading of Binding Maintenance. http://www.skiseeker.biz/main.cfm?p=4000&l=en&SectionID=2&ContenuID=25 Like they say ...fatigue is the potential problem. Doing some simple maintenance will save $$$. Springs can be very complicated things and for some in depth reading on a night when you find the time long or just want to get into deep study of the things, take a look here: http://www.mitcalc.com/doc/sprcompress/help/en/sprcompresstxt.htm Even an elastic band will loose it's strength over time if under continual tension. For even more study on the subject look into the molecular metallurgy of the materials than make up springs. If there is a load on the spring the molecular metallurgy of the spring could change over time. Another reason to drop the DIN is because we can pretend to be a cool ski technician with a screwdriver as a weapon! :lol: Mike :wink:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

pavelski wrote:

Sorry Ise but I must disagree with you as far as your statement, "there is no tension when bindings is released"! If you take a binding apart you have a cam system which is calibrated by having a "piston" resting on a cam type mechamism. This piston which exerts pressure on cam IS under tension at all times. When you screw DIN setting what you are doing is screwing IN the spring tighther into the piston thus placing more tension on cam! Even if bindings are "off" or released the DIN setting spring is under tension!!

re-read it, I said some bindings not all, and a quick Google search shows I'm not the first person to point this out to you.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

Mike from NS wrote:

Take a look at this item and especially item #7 under the heading of Binding Maintenance. http://www.skiseeker.biz/main.cfm?p=4000&l=en&SectionID=2&ContenuID=25

and they're wrong I'm afraid, just repeating an old story.

Mike from NS wrote:

Even an elastic band will loose it's strength over time if under continual tension. For even more study on the subject look into the molecular metallurgy of the materials than make up springs. If there is a load on the spring the molecular metallurgy of the spring could change over time. Another reason to drop the DIN is because we can pretend to be a cool ski technician with a screwdriver as a weapon! :lol: Mike :wink:

The first point isn't relevant, elastic isn't metal. The second point is just wrong, forces below the static yield strength will not deform the the spring, that's the point in fact, if the forces exceed static yield strength or there's cyclic loading in which case the spring is unsuitable for the application. And your third point is right on the money, that's exactly why people mess with their bindings :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

pavelski wrote:

Here is the issue in a nutshell! If a skier has a binding with a "lower" performance range ie DIN range of 4-8 ( since he/she got them on Ebay ) and the DIN is set at 7.5! Guess what is happening to spring even when static, open and released? It is under tension. That is why skiers should never buy lower end bindings or "special deal" bindings with lower performance range!

I only just noticed that, that's totally untrue and quite easy to test, any store with the suitable equipment can verify the datum force is still able to open a binding at any given DIN setting. Those of us who have our bindings checked regularly know this, in fact I've computer printouts somewhere of the forces on my bindings over time which remain just the same even though I ski at the higher DIN settings. Sorry, but the idea that springs degrade when used inside their normal operating ranges is just plain untrue, it's bad mechanics, machines all over the world would be failing all the time if that were true. Urban myths die hard I'm afraid )

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Firstly, thanks to Pavel for the award, commiserations to my fellow conspirators. Now, this thread has developed into an area, about which I do know a small amount. The skiseekers article/binding maintenance/section 7, refers to fatigue in the binding spring. Fatigue is a function of stress reversals, characterised by the stress reversal range and the number of reversal cycles. It is famously demonstated by the S-N curve, which is particular to specific materials. Fatigue life is affected by other factors such as temperature, surface finish and residual stresses. But.... the mode of failure by fatigue is by crack evolution, and fracture. How many bindings in the world have failed by spring fracture? Anyone? I think they may have the failure terminology wrong. If not, then I think they are just wrong. The most likely effect on a binding spring is creep. Creep affects all solids under load. A good analogy is the flow, under self weight of medieval glass. However, creep effectively exhibits at a reasonable elevated stress, (loading). This is markedly influenced by elevated temperatures, but that is not an issue for us. So creep will affect our binding springs, the question is, to what extent. I discount the dynamic effects, (ie effects when we are actually skiing), because this is a relatively small percentage of the spring life. We are only really discussing the static effects, when the ski is in storage. Under low load, we might expect the spring to undergo creep, but that this will be very small, and for practical purposes not measurable. The failure mode for creep is a reduced length, when under sustained compression, or vice versa for sustained tension. So, when the binding is not in use, but the spring is active, there will be creep, but in a well designed binding, this will not be measurable. Man, I have just lost the will to live, I just want to point downhill.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Trencher — GMT

Great explanation Dave If I understand the effects of creep correctly, it would make the bindings release at a fractionally lower din setting than designed ? That doesn't sound so terrible. I run my bindings on the minimum Din to do my type of skiing. I'm never in a "turn or die after this jump" situation, so I fgure a prerelease due to creep is not a major concern. At the same time, if backing off the sping tension, then having it reset and tested befor the season makes you happy, then why not. The benifit to all this talk, is that it gets people thinking about thier bindings. That's always a good thing. Trencher

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Spot on Trencher, creep wouold permanently change the spring length, and therefore it's resistance force. However, when the spring is at a low tension for an extended period of time, the creep effect would be minimal. How minimal this is does depend on the ski binding design. If there is a spring that remains under a heavy tension when the binding is not in use, that would exhibit greater permanent deformation that a spring under lower tension. I am not expert in binding design, so could not comment. I used to set my bindings at DIN 5. My logic being that having a dodgy knee, I want to avoid a slow twisting throw-out with a higher setting. This changed when, on steep, heavy, wet off piste, the ski jammed into soft stuff, and I walked out of it. The loose ski then took off. The brake didn't work because the snow was soft, and I had a 300 metre hoof down on one ski. That night, I reset the Din to 7, where it has remained ever since. I'm afraid to confess that I bench test my bindings by hitting the side of the boot sideways, so that I can "feel" the binding retention force. Old habits......

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

My God....... :shock:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

Fatigue life is affected by other factors such as temperature, surface finish and residual stresses. But.... the mode of failure by fatigue is by crack evolution, and fracture. How many bindings in the world have failed by spring fracture? Anyone?

well put, I was going to ask the same question. Equally well put was the succinct definition of what fatigue is, better than I'd manage for sure :D The purpose of SN curves is help engineers select suitable materials for applications is it not? Which is why given it's well understood I struggle to understand why binding might contain the wrong springs. In terms of fatigue, it struck me today driving down the hill, mind wandering, that corrosion would be another problem, I was particularly thinking of the effect of salt from the road if you're chucking the skis on the roof without any covering. Would that be right?

Trencher wrote:

Great explanation Dave If I understand the effects of creep correctly, it would make the bindings release at a fractionally lower din setting than designed ?

but hard to measure as Dave said, below the threshold that the binding test machine can manage from my limited field testing

Dave Mac wrote:

I used to set my bindings at DIN 5. My logic being that having a dodgy knee, I want to avoid a slow twisting throw-out with a higher setting. This changed when, on steep, heavy, wet off piste, the ski jammed into soft stuff, and I walked out of it. The loose ski then took off. The brake didn't work because the snow was soft, and I had a 300 metre hoof down on one ski. That night, I reset the Din to 7, where it has remained ever since.

ah, a direct hit on one of my many pet peeves :D I'm seriously wound up by the people who have their bindings set too low, after twice narrowly missing being hit in the head by loose skis and having one of the owners explain to me how is was "safer" to have the bindings low :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Trencher — GMT

ise wrote:

In terms of fatigue, it struck me today driving down the hill, mind wandering, that corrosion would be another problem, I was particularly thinking of the effect of salt from the road if you're chucking the skis on the roof without any covering. Would that be right?

Never mind whether the bindings work, How else are you going to show off your skis ? 8) If mine are not inside the vehicle, then they're in the top box. The only problem I have with the top box is I tend to leave eguipment in there and the condensation is not good for gear. Trencher

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Ise, Theoretically your thoughts on salt based corrosion have a murmuring of truth. When the stress reversal situation is in air, the S-N curve flattens, lets say for a particular material at 300N/mm2. If this takes place in the presence of water, the base stress reduces to less than 200N/mm2. However, in a Sodium Chloride solution, there is no fatigue load base limit, and failure occurs at a much lower number of cycles. But you have to remember, this is not an occasional skis-on-roof situation. This is a skis operating in the sea situation, it doesn't happen. And on your roof rack, stress reversals are not occuring, you ain't skiing at the same time. I don't think that ski engineers would choose an incorrect spring material, so I agree with that. When Pavel mentioned off-season spring relaxation, I thought it was a reasonable idea. I don't think that it does any harm. Another empirical aspect to this discussion, relates to the nature of the individuals, and how much skiing they do. A few people on J2 are fortunate enough to do more than the regulation 2 weeks a year. Most of those, plus I am sure many others, ski at a fairly swift pace, for most of the time. In the event of a fall at speed, a Din 7 setting would pretty well ensure that the skis exploded away from you, quite desirable, should you be dilligent about keeping your edges sharp.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

ise wrote:

ah, a direct hit on one of my many pet peeves :D I'm seriously wound up by the people who have their bindings set too low, after twice narrowly missing being hit in the head by loose skis and having one of the owners explain to me how is was "safer" to have the bindings low :D

what about people that have their bindings set too high by the lovely chappy in the hire shop telling you "no you didn't put weight on over christmas" and then the skis didn't come off causing you ligament damage on both knees? I curse the day I laughed at his "compliment".

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

caron-a wrote:

ise wrote:

ah, a direct hit on one of my many pet peeves :D I'm seriously wound up by the people who have their bindings set too low, after twice narrowly missing being hit in the head by loose skis and having one of the owners explain to me how is was "safer" to have the bindings low :D
what about people that have their bindings set too high by the lovely chappy in the hire shop telling you "no you didn't put weight on over christmas" and then the skis didn't come off causing you ligament damage on both knees? I curse the day I laughed at his "compliment".

That's obviously unfortunate and you're the victim of someone else's stupidity in that. There's a problem in a lot of ski shops and hire shops that the staff really don't have any special knowledge at all, it's a skiing oddity, we know the lad in Dixons or PC World isn't likely to be offering good advice necessarily but then we go next door to the local ski store and behave as though something's altered. That's not to say there's not a lot of fantastic specialist stores run by real enthusiasts who have a lot of knowledge of course, it's just in the end in many cases, you've got a guy who works in a shop. It's not just that I've had a near miss with loose skis nearly hitting me that winds me up, it's the mentality of the people that do it that really makes me mad. Because it has no apparent downside for them then there's not a split second of thought about if it might be a problem for anyone else.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

When Pavel mentioned off-season spring relaxation, I thought it was a reasonable idea. I don't think that it does any harm.

Providing you reset them then I can't see any harm at all, it's just I see no beneficial effect so it's as much of a ritual as anything, you might as well as smear the bindings with garlic :D (it's going to turn out that garlic has some benefit I'm unaware of of course now)

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

caron-a wrote:

ise wrote:

ah, a direct hit on one of my many pet peeves :D I'm seriously wound up by the people who have their bindings set too low, after twice narrowly missing being hit in the head by loose skis and having one of the owners explain to me how is was "safer" to have the bindings low :D
what about people that have their bindings set too high by the lovely chappy in the hire shop telling you "no you didn't put weight on over christmas" and then the skis didn't come off causing you ligament damage on both knees? I curse the day I laughed at his "compliment".

Many years ago, I was also the victim of lousy binding setting by a ski shop. I subsequently had surgery and have now just been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis as a result of the original injury. The ski shop (a UK one) was abusive when the issue was raised with them, and I was simply not rich enough to sue their ass. I learned that it's not just the numbers that are important. The space that your boot occupies between the toe and heel pieces is crucial to your binding setup. If it's been set too close together, then the binding will likely shut, but only open with a huge amount of force, which bears no relation to the numbers on the dial. I learned (a little late I know) to watch the hire shop's do the setup like a hawk, and not to be afraid to tell them to lower the numbers, or do it myself. Last month, I questioned my local ski shop when setting my new bindings to 7 ! It's your weight they said :shock: Set it to 5.5 I says :lol: They tut, but I have had no pre-releases at all.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

bandit wrote:

Many years ago, I was also the victim of lousy binding setting by a ski shop. I subsequently had surgery and have now just been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis as a result of the original injury.

That's not good. I hope you're not in too much pain.

bandit wrote:

I learned (a little late I know) to watch the hire shop's do the setup like a hawk, and not to be afraid to tell them to lower the numbers, or do it myself. Last month, I questioned my local ski shop when setting my new bindings to 7 ! It's your weight they said :shock: Set it to 5.5 I says :lol: They tut, but I have had no pre-releases at all.

Forgive me for being totally ignorant in these matters - is there any way of telling the person how you want the bindings set, ie: figuring out which number you need in advance?

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

caron-a wrote:

Forgive me for being totally ignorant in these matters - is there any way of telling the person how you want the bindings set, ie: figuring out which number you need in advance?

http://www.dinsetting.com/dinchart.htm might help, it lays it out fairly reasonably.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

caron-a wrote:

bandit wrote:

Many years ago, I was also the victim of lousy binding setting by a ski shop. I subsequently had surgery and have now just been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis as a result of the original injury.
That's not good. I hope you're not in too much pain.

Thanks for your thoughts, it's not acute, just fat, wobbly and annoying )

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

IceGhost — GMT

Can someone dumb this conversation down for me :wink: gimme the cliff notes Must say I did loosen my bindings and got off any extra buggers on them

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

IceGhost wrote:

Can someone dumb this conversation down for me :wink: gimme the cliff notes Must say I did loosen my bindings and got off any extra buggers on them

The executive summary .... There's no reason to loosen your bindings, if you do it won't do any harm as long as you remember to tighten them up to the same setting.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

IceGhost wrote:

Can someone dumb this conversation down for me :wink: gimme the cliff notes

Ice Ghost; On page 4 Bandit questioned dropping the DIN setting for the ski storage time and said ..."The latest tech manual I have is the 05/06 US Tyrolia, and I can't see this anywhere amongst the 80 odd pages" Ise suggests it is a waste of time and only done as a ritual ... if I read his comments correctly. DaveMac suggests that the spring under load may show signs of creep which may change the characteristics of the spring - however slightly. As part of wise maintenance and to promote longer binding (spring)life, Pavel suggests to drop the DIN. This too is why I am on side with dropping the spring setting. A spring under no load will last longer than one under load. However small the difference.... and I want my bindings to out live me ! No harm will come from dropping the setting; and I'm sure that more good will be the end result. If you take care of your gear, your gear will take care of you :!: The Marker Bindings and Product Guide FAQ's ( http://www.marker.de/en/product-guide/F.A.Q.) recommend dropping the DIN for summer storage to relieve the tension: " You should turn down the Z-number (DIN/ISO) of your binding to the minimum setting to relieve the spring...." they say and also caution in proper resetting before ski time returns. In short you need to adopt what works for you. :wink: There are as many opinions as there are people willing to voice them. Mike :shock:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

Mike from NS wrote:

There are as many opinions as there are people willing to voice them. Mike :shock:

this is engineering so we can stick to facts. There's no need to do this, you will not increase the life of your bindings by releasing the DIN.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

The Marker Bindings and Product Guide FAQ's ( http://www.marker.de/en/product-guide/F.A.Q.) recommend dropping the DIN for summer storage to relieve the tension: " You should turn down the Z-number (DIN/ISO) of your binding to the minimum setting to relieve the spring...." they say and also caution in proper resetting before ski time returns.

This tells me that Marker are suggesting that users wind down the spring. I see nothing about, Salomon, Tyrolia, Vist, Fritschi, Naxo, Dynafit.........et al, doing the same. To me, this says, that Marker bindings need to be treated differently.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

ise wrote:

Mike from NS wrote:

There are as many opinions as there are people willing to voice them. Mike :shock:
this is engineering so we can stick to facts. There's no need to do this, you will not increase the life of your bindings by releasing the DIN.

In other words, you believe YOU are the voice of authority on this subject. Why then do Marker state otherwise? I have Marker M900 bindings on my skis, and if they say thats what you should do, thats what I will do. Yet you tell me this is engineering, lets stick to facts, and winding down din settings will not have any effect. So tell us ISE, why do Marker say you should wind down your settings over the summer, and other companies dont. Are they made differently? Do they care more about preserving the lift whereas the others are more interested in your wearing them out and replacing them with new ones to keep their income streams higher? Or do you just think you are right and everyone else is wrong?

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

Mike from NS wrote:

The Marker Bindings and Product Guide FAQ's ( http://www.marker.de/en/product-guide/F.A.Q.) recommend dropping the DIN for summer storage to relieve the tension: " You should turn down the Z-number (DIN/ISO) of your binding to the minimum setting to relieve the spring...." they say and also caution in proper resetting before ski time returns.

Thanks for that info Mike. As I have Marker bindings, I will be doing the same. Also, if Pav says its good for him, then its good for me )

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

Tony_H wrote:

ise wrote:

Mike from NS wrote:

There are as many opinions as there are people willing to voice them. Mike :shock:
this is engineering so we can stick to facts. There's no need to do this, you will not increase the life of your bindings by releasing the DIN.
In other words, you believe YOU are the voice of authority on this subject. Why then do Marker state otherwise? I have Marker M900 bindings on my skis, and if they say thats what you should do, thats what I will do. Yet you tell me this is engineering, lets stick to facts, and winding down din settings will not have any effect. So tell us ISE, why do Marker say you should wind down your settings over the summer, and other companies dont. Are they made differently? Do they care more about preserving the lift whereas the others are more interested in your wearing them out and replacing them with new ones to keep their income streams higher? Or do you just think you are right and everyone else is wrong?

rude and belligerent as usual, put a sock in it.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

My post was asking a couple of questions, and pointing out that you seem to have your own forthright opinion, and little else seems to matter to you. Thats an observation, nothing rude about it.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

ise — GMT

Tony_H wrote:

My post was asking a couple of questions, and pointing out that you seem to have your own forthright opinion, and little else seems to matter to you. Thats an observation, nothing rude about it.

give it a rest.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Tony_H wrote:

So tell us ISE, why do Marker say you should wind down your settings over the summer, and other companies dont. Are they made differently? Do they care more about preserving the lift whereas the others are more interested in your wearing them out and replacing them with new ones to keep their income streams higher? Or do you just think you are right and everyone else is wrong?

Perhaps the springs on Markers are not made from the same grade metal as other binding springs on sale at the moment?

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

Tony_H wrote:

Mike from NS wrote:

Thanks for that info Mike. As I have Marker bindings, I will be doing the same. Also, if Pav says its good for him, then its good for me )
Tony, I was about to reply to bandit with what you just said. That being Marker cares .... :-) I haven't looked for what the other binding manufacturers suggest but I take what Marker says as a form of "customer service" I also take it to say "We know our bindings are good and with due care they will serve you well ... to take care of them - reduce the DIN..." And it was seeming to me that ise must be in the spring replacement business. It takes no effort to wind back the tension, yet he really seems to be against it :shock: Sure it is engineering and the best engineering is done with an open mind. It terms of load an application maybe there is little effect from dropping the DIN ( I haven't run the calculations )but I like to err on the side of caution - keeping an open mind. If the engineers running the Phoenix Mars mission kept a closed mind to the suggestion of capturing the Phoenix in the decent stage with the HiRise craft we would not have that neat photo of the Phoenix with parachute attached as it fell to the Mars surface. The first ever photo from one spacecraft taken by another while at Mars. Oh yes this has no bearing on simple spring tension release, but it is a prime example of engineering with an open mind. Glad the FAQ's page was of use to you Tony. It looks like ise is a tad tired of this discussion. :D Mike :wink:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Errrrr, you guys are trying to 2nd guess the business motives of a multinational company. This will allow you to make any speculation you want to make fit the facts, so it must be true. :-D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

bandit wrote:

Errrrr, you guys are trying to 2nd guess the business motives of a multinational company. This will allow you to make any speculation you want to make fit the facts, so it must be true. :-D

:thumbup: :thumbup: However ..... maybe Marker realizes that some skiers want input or direction from the manufacturers as this will make for happy customers and returning customers. They go with the fable - "you get more with a smile than a frown..." The other guys can't care as much....I'll look into it. :evil: I must agree with Tony ... he wasn't being rude at all. Too bad the oil companies wouldn't have some sort of concern for their customers. :cry: Mike :wink:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

ise wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

My post was asking a couple of questions, and pointing out that you seem to have your own forthright opinion, and little else seems to matter to you. Thats an observation, nothing rude about it.
give it a rest.

I dont get you at all. There is no need to be so dismissive of others, as you have often been on other threads as well. Is there some kind of problem with being asked a question? Its not a problem if you dont have an answer, but you dont need to get all abrasive about it. Take a pill and calm down.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Mike from NS wrote:

bandit wrote:

Errrrr, you guys are trying to 2nd guess the business motives of a multinational company. This will allow you to make any speculation you want to make fit the facts, so it must be true. :-D
:thumbup: :thumbup: However ..... maybe Marker realizes that some skiers want input or direction from the manufacturers as this will make for happy customers and returning customers. They go with the fable - "you get more with a smile than a frown..." The other guys can't care as much....I'll look into it. :evil: I must agree with Tony ... he wasn't being rude at all. Too bad the oil companies wouldn't have some sort of concern for their customers. :cry: Mike :wink:

Maybe.....Marker are engaging in a little psychology. You know, make their product appeal more to guys who like to twiddle with their gear :D Oooh, it's that maybe word again :shock:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Mike from NS — GMT

Good reply Bandit :!: Thanks for the laugh :!: :D Mike :wink:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Re-addressing the engineering issues. Hopefully I have presented the logic that cyclical fatigue is not an issue when the bindings are not in use. Hence we are discussing the issue of metal creep. I previously indicated that at low stress levels, creep is not an issue. I do not accept that Marker either choose inferior materials, (if his were the case there would be high number spring failures), and nor would they issue a maintenance instruction just for marketing reasons. The most likely explanation might be that Marker binding design might be such that when the binding is not in use, there is a higher residual spring force - higher than other makes of bindings. I re-iterate that I am not an expert on bindings, I am happy to help clarify the spring engineering aspects. Incidentally, I still am of the opinion that the old Marker latch-up heel binding was terrific, it was so simple in construction. In disclosing this, I am, of course admitting to pre-dating step-in bindings. That's a fairly modest step, I could admit to so much more.....

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

The Meercat — GMT

1. Talk to random folk in the pub that they should try skiing. 2. Make sure the pub serves quality, ice cold crisp continental lager. 3.Tell random folk's friends in the pub, that skiing really is very worth while trying 4.Soak up mid afternoon rays in the pub beer garden/restaurant terrace/public park/country meadow/friend's gaff's garden/your own gaff's garden. 5.Have some cereal bars and loads of water. 6. Ask one of your friends to order more cold drinks, and steak and thin chips with mustard and garlic mushrooms on the side,with perhaps bread and quality butter. Then ask for seared fresh scollops. (Or, you may alternatively order loads of really delicious veggie or vegan food) 7.Accentuate how much more your converted ski chums will benefit the ski experience even more, by doing certain tried and tested ski specific excercises. (practical displays of these are optional) 8. Announce to the entire pub/bar/restaurant/friends' house how absolutely essential it is, for all of them to try skiing at the earliest opportunity. 9. Go and watch "Speed Racer" in the cinema right now (in an IMAX if you can)- It's the closest cinematic experience I'd had to skiing. 10. And above all, Introduce them to j2ski.com

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

Incidentally, I still am of the opinion that the old Marker latch-up heel binding was terrific, it was so simple in construction. In disclosing this, I am, of course admitting to pre-dating step-in bindings. That's a fairly modest step, I could admit to so much more.....

STOP PRESS In a shock announcement Dave Mac, admits he's actually 102 years old :shock: )

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

ise wrote:

caron-a wrote:

Forgive me for being totally ignorant in these matters - is there any way of telling the person how you want the bindings set, ie: figuring out which number you need in advance?
http://www.dinsetting.com/dinchart.htm might help, it lays it out fairly reasonably.

So I did the calculator thing. I'm thinking I may be a little nervy when I get back on the skis so I tried two skier types. One came up as 5 and one as 6, which releases quicker? seeing my boots (to measure the sole length) has made me pine even more :cry: :cry: :cry:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

Pine away Caron. Thats all the motivation you need to get right again.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Trencher — GMT

caron-a wrote:

So I did the calculator thing. I'm thinking I may be a little nervy when I get back on the skis so I tried two skier types. One came up as 5 and one as 6, which releases quicker? seeing my boots (to measure the sole length) has made me pine even more :cry: :cry: :cry:

The lower the #, the easier it will release. I regularly set mine at 5 and have no problems, yet I am a 6.5/7.0 on that calculater. I am sure you will be taking it easy and not hitting the moguls or jumps next season so if it were me, I'd go light on the setting. Or to be really easier on your knees, you could snowboard :lol: Trencher

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Bandit wrote

STOP PRESS In a shock announcement Dave Mac, admits he's actually 102 years old

And still skiing! I think people should be told! caron-a wrote

So I did the calculator thing. I'm thinking I may be a little nervy when I get back on the skis so I tried two skier types. One came up as 5 and one as 6, which releases quicker?

The higher the DIN number, the more force required for binding release. Keep doing the exercises!!!Build up to knee muscles to like Desperate Dan, and set your bindings at whatever DIN number you want.

Re: Age and DIN values

pavelski — GMT

Speaking about DaveMac's "advanced" age may I note the following; Age can be seen in many ways. I think of it like we do about wines! The older the better ( if kept in a cool calm context)! Now back to my title. Have you all noticed that there are some correction factors in the DIN setting chart for; large feet and age! I will not comment about the large feet since I am sure to start another long long chat about large feet skiers and the physics or dangerous to having large feet! My focus is on the age factor! If you carefully read chart you will all note that you are "supposed" to reduce DIN scale after 60+ years! Here is an excellent example in NOT using statistics or charts blindly! Let me explain. Charts are based on "normative" data that has been collected to represent the "normal" population! Then this is used as a basis to generate a chart! An excellent example of this is the famous "normal" weight/age charts we see in physicians offices or the famous children's weight charts we also see in physicians offices. For those two last charts,,,look at the very bottom in small print and you will read, " 1953 study of....) We all know that populations change and children are on the average bigger at birth and grow taller! No wonder every child seems to be in the 98 Percentile! So it is with the DIN chart! The assumption is that as you get to 60+ you get weaker, softer bones, more fat etc..... My experience has been that there are some skiers like DaveMac that are as fit as when they were 40. So if you can still run Boston marathon, do +30 push ups, or do +100 laps swimming,,,the DIN setting rule which makes you reduce your level should be questioned! Yes of course consult DIN chart,,however understand that this chart was generated in the early 70's using lab data from corpses and traditional skis ( +200cm.) As always I ask people to think, before doing anything blindly! If you do not fit the "average" mold.....by all means begin with chart then wisely set you DIN level! Hope this helps fellow skiers like DaveMac! PS Just a another comment,,,,, all IQ tests charts stop at 100! I conclude that at this age you have arrived at Nirvana, the wisdom state that no IQ test can sample such wisdom!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Pavel wrote

Yes of course consult DIN chart,,however understand that this chart was generated in the early 70's using lab data from corpses and traditional skis ( +200cm.)

Pav, do you think they want my body now, or are they prepared to wait? Huh, and on the days when my dodgy knee is feeling less dodgy, I sneak a few runs on my K2 Merlin 5s, 200cm. They are a bit scary, they are carvers, so easy turn, but on the schuss, they are very fast, but front chatter like crazy. I confess that I am definitely not as fit now as in my 40's. I wish. Didn't take up marathon running til I was 42, but then did manage several sub 3 hour runs. Then along came the knee stuff, out went the running and squash, and along came the tennis. I think that it is important to keep competitive at whatever you can manage. I'm sure I have told the story before about skiing past a local in Niederau who turned out to be a 94 year old ex police chief. Here's a Dave Mac age story, (Admin, should I number these? Carpet innersoles from under the bed, DM1, The Niederau Blackburn ski school, DM2, Diamond grinder toe slicer, DM3...) So, I'm in the Bichlwirt, mit guitar, and some Manchester lads dirging, when in walks a lovely looking twenty something girl. She looks at me, points, and says, "You're Dave!" My, "aged" heart did it's best to give a leap, as she continued, "My Dad told me about you!" Man, what a let-down. She turned out to be a delightful lady, but I had already figured that it was possible that her old man might have been thinking about Dave Lambert, who was a great guitar player/singer, ex-Strawbs, (Union Man). Dave went on to become a Niederau Instructor, who also played three nights week at the Hotel Vicki. Fantastic nights. However, I did not enlighten Sarah from Essex of my suspicions. And it is entirely possible, that her old man had had one great night in the Bichlwirt with the real Dave! Crap guitarist, non-singer, but a few Zipfers works wonders for everybody. Go for it....

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Dave Mac, Since you mentioned bodies and wanting bodies, and of course those young ladies I have to ask you a very personal question! Please feel free if you do not wish to answer it! I should say that it also is a way to ask a Scot some "advice"! Have you ever worn that famous Scottish "kilt" while skiing! Why I ask is that my wife is part Scot and some years ago she bought me the full attire! I do not know why,,but I have this desire to wear it one day while Spring skiing! I mean the full full dress up!!! My skiing life will then be complete! PS You have inspired me to have another Pavel Contest in which the most "unusual ski outfit will win a pair of North face pants! (coming in July)

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

AJ — GMT

Does this mean that you will be going commando Pavel :shock: CHillieeeeeeeeeeeee. AJ Adele

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Pavel. Here's some Scots to show you how it should be done. :D Then of course, there's this fella: He could wax my skis anyday :D He can ski rather well too )

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Bandit, With those kilt photos I think you have won already. Pav, My location is Scotland, My OH, and two skiing and sometimes kilted sons are Scottish, but I am from Manchester. However, having lived for so long in Scotland, I qualify to wear the kilt, and a finer looking pair of legs..... My tartan is Hunting Robertson, (I like the colour, and, erm, it was a bargain) My sons have the Black Watch and the Matheson tartans, each their own altruistic reasons. They both dress in the Kilt as true Scotsmen, which they are, I dress under the Kilt in M&S Y fronts. I can say for sure, in my case, there is zero chance of kilt and ski coming together. Well maybe when I am a bit older.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

Pavel. Mrs H is Scottish, although I am very proud to have anglocised" her over the past 20 years! I was in Sauze last March 2007, and took the one man chair lift across to Sestriere on a bitterly cold morning. Coming the other way was a man in a kilt and several warm layers on top. However, he was bare legged, and commando or no commando, he was one hell of a brave guy. It was minus 19 up on that lift that morning, and he must have been freezing. I was too cold to be bothered to take out my camera.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

skidaddle — GMT

That guy, I take it, was the one wearing the retro AFC Sunderland shirt and blue tinsel wig. The one we had a beer with at the Clotes bar the following afternoon? Mentalist. End of story.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Thank you all for the comments! Bandit, I always did like your taste in cars, bikes and of course skiing,,but now you have "revealed" that you also have a fine "taste" in men! The "commando' comments make me think of another Pavel story which I will share with you all soon! You all seem to bring the very best in me! My attitude is; if you do go..go all the way but with style and elegance! So I promise you all next year a video with the Black Watch music from the Last of the Mohicans! If ever you want to be "inspired" to reach higher levels in skiing, place this sing on your Ipod and ski down a steep section! You will soar with the music! Just the notes will "lift" you! Now I must add another "activity" for my summer list! I will have to practice, setting an edge and turning with gradual elegance so that certain "coverings" do not rise too high! OR Just ski so fast that all is a blurrrrrrr! Pavel

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

IceGhost — GMT

Bandit!!!!! WHERE DID YOU GET HIM?!!!? )

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

IceGhost wrote:

Bandit!!!!! WHERE DID YOU GET HIM?!!!? )

Unfortunately he's not mine, but there's a few more images of him here... http://www.alainbaxter.co.uk/photogal.htm and another kilt photo, which shows some very fine legs :lol: http://www.alainbaxter.co.uk/images/skikilt.gif Amazing that he raced in a kilt! Pavel, take note! And here's his FIS Biography ... http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/613.html?type=biog&competitorid=3467§or=AL He also has a younger brother. Just thought I'd mention that in passing. :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Admin — GMT

bandit wrote:

He also has a younger brother. Just thought I'd mention that in passing.

Tempted to ask if you've met his parents yet... :lol:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Hirsty — GMT

pavelski wrote:

Dave Mac, Since you mentioned bodies and wanting bodies, and of course those young ladies I have to ask you a very personal question! Please feel free if you do not wish to answer it! I should say that it also is a way to ask a Scot some "advice"! Have you ever worn that famous Scottish "kilt" while skiing! Why I ask is that my wife is part Scot and some years ago she bought me the full attire! I do not know why,,but I have this desire to wear it one day while Spring skiing! I mean the full full dress up!!! My skiing life will then be complete! PS You have inspired me to have another Pavel Contest in which the most "unusual ski outfit will win a pair of North face pants! (coming in July)

I have skied in my kilt, sporran, argyle jacket,shirt and dickie bow. Unfortunately, I lost my sgian dubh and it is probably somewhere in a marmot hole in La Plagne. One word of advice - if you fall make sure to pull your kilt down quickly.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Dave Mac — GMT

Amusing moment at Munich airport last winter. Scotsman going through security, had already divested himself of the Prince Charlie jacket, brogues, and sporran. Then he was asked to remove the belt. He started to do this, but thought to warn the security official of the full consequences. Remove the belt, and a yard and a half of Tartan would come away with it, revealing all that skiers like to keep warm! There was a hasty security consultation, before the Scot was waved through. :wink:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

AJ — GMT

Trust the germans to bottle it :lol: AJ Adele

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

Keep doing the exercises!!!Build up to knee muscles to like Desperate Dan, and set your bindings at whatever DIN number you want.

Thanks Dave. The quads of steel are coming along very nicely! I'm cycling 5 - 10 miles every other day and I've got an induction at the gym on tuesday so I can do the exercises I do in the physio's gym plus some upper body stuff. The pounds I gained whilst immobile are starting to shift too so I'm happy. ROLL ON WINTER :D Oh, and thanks Bandit for that lovely diversion :mrgreen:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

Trencher wrote:

Or to be really easier on your knees, you could snowboard :lol: Trencher

Hi Trencher This is a consideration for me, I've always wanted to give it a go, but my specialist said it's particularly hard on the knees while you're learning. Is this right? Another question. I heard somewhere that it's recommended that kids shouldn't learn to snowboard until they're 13 as it's detrimental to their wrists at a young age. any opinions? I keep promising my boys but I'm delaying... Caron

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Tony_H — GMT

Yes, and probably right, yes. I am going to have a go at snowboarding sometime, just having too much fun skiing right now.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

RoseR — GMT

I think also the trouble with youngsters snow-boarding is they dont just want to be able to come down a mountain safely they want to be progressing to tricks, riding rails, half pipes etc. I think they probably need to be about 15 having learnt to ski first. I learnt to board at 50 its the hardest thing I have ever done, I love it but feel more in control on ski,s. Thats just my opinion but I am sure others think the earlier the better. When I had my lessons I was the oldest by far in the group, the next ages down were about 21-25, but there was one 12 yr old, he had no fear but we all thought he was an accident waiting to happen he was a right little dare devil.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Trencher — GMT

caron-a wrote:

This is a consideration for me, I've always wanted to give it a go, but my specialist said it's particularly hard on the knees while you're learning. Is this right? Another question. I heard somewhere that it's recommended that kids shouldn't learn to snowboard until they're 13 as it's detrimental to their wrists at a young age. any opinions? I keep promising my boys but I'm delaying...

I would say from my experience that there is little risk to knees while learning to board. The knees can take some knocks when falling on them and for that reason many people wear light knee pads under thier ski pants. When I learned to ski, my legs were strong from years of boarding so it is hard for me to make a good comparison. I also go light on my din settings, so despite some major falls, I have never really felt any stress on my kness during releases from ski bindings. I do think there is more stress when skiing on chopped up snow than there is in the same conditions on a board. I have met several people who have had major leg injuries from skiing and feel much safer on a snowboard. Caron, I would certainly entertain the idea. Maybe when your legs are stronger and the stores have thier winter gear next autumn, go and try a snowboard set up to see how it feels. If that feels good then try a lesson. I would certainly opt for a private first lesson to have the instructor set your gear up comfortably. As for the age at which to start kids on a board. It is generally thought that kids do not have the coordination to snowboard, much befor eight years old. This was certainly the right age for my daughter. Of course there are always exceptions and I have seen five year olds doing well. I would not wait until the mid teens to try boarding, as at this age, ego is everything. Looking silly falling down on a board is torture to a teenagers self esteem. Most kids at this age seem to prefer to keep on skiing. As for the wrist risk. Everyone sould wear wrist guards to learn. Wrist guards are a must for riding in the park and icey conditions.

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

Thanks Trencher. I think what we'll do is get through next season on skis and then take a trip to the snowdome in the summer, have a lesson and take it from there. Pavel, I'm already thinking ahead to essential things I must do next summer! :thumbup:

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Caron-a, Your comment about next summer's plans tells me you are a "smart" women and practicing one of the key business strategies many multi-national should practice! That is being ahead of the "curve"! Looking ahead at will happen and NOT at what is happening! You intrique me since few people think two summers ahead! Does that mean you have already planned your winter? I reviewed all your "messages" and indeed you are a "fanatic" skier! If you have a chance view the SKI FANATIC site you may be surprised! Pavel

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

I am indeed fanatical, Pavel, everything in my life is all or nothing, black or white, no grey areas. Something to do with being a Libran I've been told. I'm also glass (at least) half full and therefore always look ahead with optimism. My plans for 08/09 season in Tignes are in place (with hopefully an extra trip earlier depending on the knees) but, unfortunately, my plans for 09/10 have to change now. We were going to go on a major 10-14 day trip to whistler over christmas but my sister has very selfishly decided to get married on christmas eve 2009!!! Of course, I'm only joking, I'm very happy for my sister :twisted: What is the ski fanatic site? Caron :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Caron-a, Sorry for great delay,,I am busy on some projects! The ski Fanatic site is a store in Eastern USA which has the very best deals I have seen! I bought my Spyder Underwear there for $20,,when regular price is $120! Think globally! Just look at the numbers! $20 for underwear,,,$6 shipping!!!! The owner has a CAM so you can see product! I can recommend this place since it has just quality ski material! Again I have nothing to do with store! Let me give you all another example. I have a friend who works at an Alaskian ski resort! She has one ski shop in area and prices are.........out of this world! I send her two pairs of powder skis! Priced for her here $250 and $400! Shipping via Fedex $27 per ski! Same skis in Alaska were $700 and $1,300!!!! If you do go to Whistler,,,,plan a day stay at Vancouver! You can buy all sorts of ski equipement at very very low prices! Then go enjoy your skiing!

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

caron-a — GMT

I've been busy googling, Pavel... Is the shop in Pittsfield, Ma or Campton, NH?

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Trencher — GMT

Not wishing to put a damper on global shopping, but shipping is a deal killer. Then there's the dreaded VAT. To make it worse US postal services has stopped ground shipping to the UK, so now there is only air parcel. If US ski trips are still such a good deal next winter, I would buy on line and ship to a US contact for pick up when you are here. Trencher

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

Trencher is correct! I checked with USA postal service and seems they ONLY ship via airmail! Too costly! I had a pair of ski boots I was giving to Ellistine some time ago if he would pay shipping! After checking cost it was not worth sending boots since weight and size made shipping in the +$125 range! So only solution I see caron-a is that you buy all your ski material now (skis, boots, pants etc...) then fly in to get stuff and a slo ski! Pavel

The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

IceGhost — GMT

Hirsty wrote:

10, Irritate the hell out of your partner whith your constant chat about skiing (especially the really exagerated ones about powder days and big hucks)

I can relate. I however enjoy yakking CONSTANTLY about my trip to Aspen and Breck last winter. LOL hucking. hehe. You huck, I fall on my bum

The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Hirsty — GMT

IceGhost wrote:

Hirsty wrote:

10, Irritate the hell out of your partner whith your constant chat about skiing (especially the really exagerated ones about powder days and big hucks)
I can relate. I however enjoy yakking CONSTANTLY about my trip to Aspen and Breck last winter. LOL hucking. hehe. You huck, I fall on my bum

That's how I exagerate - I claim to have landed them. And that they were 10m high as opposed to 10cm

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Go for a little walk in the fresh air..... :D

The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Hirsty — GMT

Awesome, where is this idle?

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

Trencher — GMT

bandit wrote:

Go for a little walk in the fresh air..... :D

Very cool Trencher

The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

bandit — GMT

Hirsty wrote:

Awesome, where is this idle?

It's in Switzerland. The Moiry glacier above Grimentz, Valais There's some more photos of the area in ma bloggy :D

Trencher wrote:

Very cool

Ta very much :D

Re:The 10 Essential Things you must do this summer!!!!!

pavelski — GMT

As some of you have noted, English is not my native (mother tongue)! In fact it is my fourth language that I learned at a late stage of my life. I will be very, very careful how I communicate in the future. Are some of you teachers? Linquists? Or just,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,