5 hints that a skier is a pro!!!

james_gray wrote:

It's like a ski-snowboard!!! Coool. I want one!!!! I want one!!!! Can you get instruction for this particular instrument?

It may not be the best vehicle to start out on. At only 130mm wide at the waist and with both feet strapped in, it takes some speed to become stable. I understand they are most common in France where they originated.

I may be biased, but imho if you are getting into snow sports for the long haul, snowboarding may impart concepts more quickly than skiing. However, the initial learning curve is steeper. If you have limited time on the slopes, you might feel more sense of accomplishment by learning to ski first. So much depends on your level of interest (how much you read, research etc) and also on the quality of instruction. I would concentrate on one discipline first. Latter, cross benching between skiing and boarding enriches your abilities in both.

Trencher

Oh - a couple of others I've realised should be included.....

. Everybody asks them what the weather forecast is

. They carry a Swiss army knife to effect minor repairs on the piste/run (but this is just a ploy to get chatting to a member of the opposite sex who will admire them for their knightly behaviour. This rule applies to men only).

. If they fall (Which is very unlikely) they convert the fall into a bit of trick skiing

. When waiting for followers to catch up they stop facing uphill with their skis in a V shape with the poles held dangling directly in front of them

. When they 'de-ski' (at a restaurant for example) they undo their ski bindings whilst still moving and jump out with a small trot and then plant their poles at their neatly aligned ski tips

. They ski at full speed in a white out

. They will gladly admonish any skier who skis dangerously

. They know the first names of all the ski teachers and will wave their ski pole at them and nod when they see them taking a beginners class and give a look of 'poor you having to go so slowly'

. They say which animals created the tracks in the deep snow

. When walking through the ski village with skis on their shoulder they slide along in their ski boots. ('I can't get enough skiing - look - I don't even need skis to ski')

. They rarely buy drinks for tourists as this helps the image of 'Look, I ski all season and it costs a fortune and I can't afford to buy people drinks as well!!'

. They gladly accept drinks from tourists and will wave to them in the future which does the tourist good in that they think that they're in with the 'in crowd', so propogating the futherance of free drinks, which helps cement the previous rule

That's enough for today. :o)