J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Jan I Stenmark

Hi Jacqui!

Welcome and well done for taking the most important step, admitting your addiction :)

As for you Pavel - My nights were spent in splendid perfection until this ridiculous list of questions turned up! I just wish I could post half of the answers I have considered but I don’t think Mr Admin’s server would handle the volume :shock:

So in the spirit of Jacqui’s admission, I too must confess … “I am addicted to Pavel’s quiz” :oops:

By the way did I miss the announcement of the closing date?

Now then where was I, 3 67 48 255 7 …

Jan

Pavel,

Please could I ask for some further clarification?

Once a post is made will you be providing a total mark for that post? I understand you wouldn't want to mark each question individually but a total mark might make it more interesting for the rest of us to try and guess which questions gained the marks?

Thanks,

Jan

Some interesting responses here people so here’s my tuppence worth!

When I started skiing on plastic matting there wasn’t a clear technology leader. Some mats were very hard, some very soft, some made of a single piece of injection molded plastic and some formed by pinching bristles into a “U” section piece of metal. The latter slowly gained favour and the others gently disappeared. (See here for details of the winner for at least 40 yrs: http://www.impactleisure.com/dendix.html )

In the late 1990’s a continuous matting solution started to be used which was favoured by snowborders and freestyle (probably not the currently correct term!) skiers. This mat allowed an easier skid but due to its greater contact area also generated higher base temperatures. Here’s a link for details http://www.perma-snow.com

As for the experience I have to agree with Ellistine that one of the beauties of matting is that it remains relatively constant in it’s behaviour, although anyone skiing on a frosty February morning will certainly have a different experience to the one skiing on an August afternoon!

To avoid repetition here is a previous thread on a similar line – Note my comments about Wycombe! http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/8/3121.page

In terms of technical development I am 100% certain that learning to ski on plastic slopes is beneficial (even over artificial snow slopes) and certainly over learning on “real” snow i.e. in the mountains. Why do I say this? Partly from personal experience and partly from observed results.

Learning to ski well on snow is (relatively) easy and so beginners tend to move from stage to stage of their development quite quickly, whereas on plastic it is really VERY hard to ski well. Having spent 20+ years watching skiers on plastic I think that perhaps only 1% - 2% could really be classed as technically expert. The simple truth is that the surface requires a much greater depth of technical understanding and sympathy to elicit the best results. On snow the surface compensates for the skier and allows a less perfect technique to suffice. This lack of detailed technical understanding becomes all to evident when the user transitions from groomed piste (trail) to ice. Suddenly all the little weaknesses come rushing to the surface and it falls apart.

To put my comments into context there are, of course, many snow conditions that plastic slopes can never prepare the skier for: powder; granular; slush; pack & chopped to mention just a few. My point is that if the foundation of skiing is mastered on plastic the transition to snow will be a breeze and the refinements will follow far more quickly.

I look forward to hearing others views of what could be a controversial subject!

Cheers

Jan

... and there was me going to enter ... but I think a size "medium" would just hang off me :P and I had some good pics too :(

Jan

Hi all,

I hope you won't think of this as spam but an Austrian friend has asked me to help advertise his flat which he is looking to sell. He is a local from Niederau, isn't a developer and is only selling because he has purchased some ground in the Valley to build a new home.

The Flat has two bedrooms, kitchen/diner, spacious lounge and a "keller". Access is controlled by a security phone. It's in the center of the village, is in great condition and overlooks the beginner area.

The price is EUR 230K,- and will be available well before the start of the winter season.

If you are interested please PM me and I can give you further details.

Thanks for looking,

Jan

Hi All,

In the interest of providing facts I went on a mission yesterday to find out for one and all what is happening at the Vicky!

It seems that the maths of the deal are such that the Vicky will only be open in the winter but (currently) for the next two winter seasons for sure!

Having popped round yesterday I don’t see any huge signs of refurbishment but then it’s quite a while till the winter season starts so I will keep an eye out for further news.

On the news front, the construction of the new 4-man chair is due to start on Monday and the lumberjacks have already started clearing the trees in anticipation. It’ll be very interesting to see how the new chair affects the dynamics of the resort especially around the classically busy moments at the beginning of the week.

Perhaps I will post some photos as the development goes ahead or I may just point the webcam that way :)

Jan

Surely not this cam: http://www.auhof.co.uk/webcam.asp ;) it was supposed to be a secret ... :shock:

Jan

Perhaps just to lighten the mood I would like to make a small comment in support of the humble drag lift.

How often do we hear "experts" extolling us to warm-up before setting off at the beginning of the day? But how many repeat the warning about dismounting from Cablecars, Gondolas, or chairs? I find that using a "surface lift" keeps me just warm enough that additional warmups are not required whilst a long journey up in/on a non-surface lift often leaves me cold and stiff. From the point of view of continued warmth I would like to vote for surface lifts. Additionally the use of a drag gives many people the chance to "stretch-out" tight legs and re-establish blood flow to cold feet.

Perhaps for those who only get a few days skiing per year the chance to get some "free" fitness training may be more valuable than the comfort of a chair ...

I'd also mention that a resort with a high level of surface lifts is unlikely to attract a high percentage of snow-boarders ... Don't know what that matters but I thought I'd mention it :)

Jan