Why You will become a better skier

Several times I have mentioned that skiers who tune their own skis become better skiers faster and reach higher levels of competency than others!

Let me now elaborate on this.

Most skiers think that ski tuning is a pure manual process to go faster! So wrong!

You can go on a number of internet sites and they present the "robotic" processus of ski tuning, but there is more to ski tuning. That is what you will develope here in this course.

Three key aspects of a competent tuning process are required.
1. Proper tools and how to use them effectivel
2.Correct ski technique to "feel" that difference once ski is tuned ( Ellistine, that ski feel concept again)
3. Having the knowledge to know what you want in a ski.

Let me briefly develope each aspect.
Think of a person who is going to do a ice statue. A beautiful Polar bear. He need tools to carve the block of ice and he needs to know how to use these tools.
He needs to know the ultimate goal,,,that Polar Bear statue. Its posture. Its size etc...

He needs to know his/her competence level. If he/she goes beyond those levels the statue will fall down or leg will break off.

I want all students to have in mind this "carver" and the polar bear during this class. It will help you in many ways.

Like the Polar Bear carver you must first have a well defined goal in tuning your skis. Seems simple you say!
Well in a couple of months you will discover that it is not!

Then like the carver you must "master" the tools you will use.

Finally, and in my opinion the most important is knowing how to feel the skis effectively helping you enjoy skiing.
Like the carver you must learn to know that ice block (skiing), feel for weaknesses in the ice. Feel the flow of the sculpture , feel the transition from one part of the statue to another part.

That is why I say becoming a competent tuner takes times, a great sense of observation and not just physical labor!

The three elements; tools, goal, feel are all intermeshed to create that wonderful statue. In your case the very best pleasure- skiing effectively!

In this course I will deal with all three! At the end of this course you will be aware of all three elements!

The mastery of the tools really is a simple process and I have no doubt you will all master your tools.

The knowledge of what you want in a ski will come gradually. I do not know your skiing level however it is more than just physically skiing! It means knowing what the prevailing conditions are in your area ( powder, ice, crud, etc..) the slopes you ski on, the temperature ranges, and finally your ability level!

We will deal with all theses aspects in the course. Allow me to just give you one example.

I tune my skis for me, for my area, and with my style of skiing! Once I was teaching someone how to ski ice. I mean sheer, steep, wall to wall ice on a double diamond run! The client by chance had the same skis and after 30 minutes still could not master a transition technique!
We switched skis and on the very first turn, he fell over the skis at the apex of the turn! He had never skied on a very sharp, well tuned ski and expected (like on his skis) to drift or slide over the ice!
My skis just bit into the ice, created a groove and cut the slope!
His technique was not adapted to my skis! He did not have confidence on his skis so he never really set his edge! He never progressed beyond "entry level expert"! He though it was his ski technique. He discovered that it was his ski tuning that was the weak link!

I hope you all understand now that tuning a ski is not just a "mechanical process"! It is the synergy ( the relationship) between you, the ski and the hill. That is what you will learn in this course and that is why you will be the very best skiers in your area.

Let me finish with a specific note ( which applies to all of you) to Ellistine. Soon you will test some new Atomic boots. Let me show you how to get ski feel!

Every time I go skiing I go to the beginner or easy intermediate run first and with my boots NOT buckled I ski down doing long gradual turns and slowly do shorter turns.
Why do I do this?

First to get my body "warmed up" but more importantly I want to let the skis tell me how they feel! How the skis and snow are "mating", how the tune up I did last night is translated on the slope. In other words I am letting the ski "out to pasture" like a race horse! I am letting the skis freedom!
So Ellistine when you are in the alps and while others buckle the boots hard to last notch and they go to the expert runs, you do not put buckles on. Go to easy runs and introduce the boots to the skis. FEEL the boots and skis working together!

Soon you will notice that some models do not like your skis! Do not like you and your style! No amount of tightening the buckles will help!

Think of it like a dance Ellistine. The first time you have a new girl in your arms ( I am thinking here of the "old fashion dances where male and female actually touch) you will be "tentative"! See how good she his! Then as you put on your "Travolta" moves you note if she will follow you! If so.....you are going to do Saturday Night dancing with her!! Heaven!


Hope you enjoyed this brief intro into my tunning course!