J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Snapzzz

duplicate post.

tspill wrote:

Snapzzz wrote:
I've learnt so much this season. I now carve reds where I used to side slip and have discovered the joys of off piste and moguls.

Quick question. How I'd u make so much progress? Lessons?

Well, this is the subject of another thread i was going to start next week, on my return.....but since you ask....

In my skiing life i have had 4 days ski school in Andorra and that is it. I have never really felt the need for lessons, i think i just 'get it'.
Now that might sound arrogant or maybe a little neive and i really don't mean it too but i just seem to be at home on skis.
When i was a child i skated all the time, ice & roller and this continued into my late teens where i was always on half pipes and the like. I think i just naturally like having things strapped to my feet.
I have read a fair bit on technique and have just gone out and tried it, its not been a problem.

Now when i said "off piste" i don't mean waist deep powder in the middle of no where....im not that foolhardy. In fact skiing powder is probably my weakest aspect right now. But that will come with time.
The off piste i have being doing is many the heavily tracked areas between pistes, stuff clearly in the bounds of the resort but not pisted.
The moguls, well for the first time they just looked like fun. To me they didn't look worrying and i guessed it was all about rythmn and gave it a blast... i was right.....as long as you keep the movement going and plan your route at least a couple of turns ahead it was fine. I've never deliberately chose to ski moguls before this week but seek them out now.

I definitely know my limits though. I've skied one black in my life and that shame was reported early this season. Right now i don't believe i am at a point where i could trust myself on a steep, narrow, bumpy black. And its the narrow pistes that scare me. I like to turn in my own time and when you are running out of snow your hand gets forced and i don't like that.....if i ever have lessons it will be for that.

And of course the J2Ski regulars have inspired me massively and the most important thing i learned from here was this, and it is probably the most important factor in bringing my skiing up a level.

Lean forward.

bandit wrote:
Admin is quite right. We are less than halfway through a European season with the biggest snow for years. Time to save for an April getaway :D

Sadly Aprils getaway is already booked, its the costa blanca.......at least it will be only 1 euro a pint though.

Well that's it for 2012. The sun is setting over Flaine and I'm packing my stuff knowing that it will be next season before I will ski again.
Gutted.
I've learnt so much this season. I now carve reds where I used to side slip and have discovered the joys of off piste and moguls.
Standard pistes just don't cut it anymore, all though I do find them fun..

I can remember this feeling last year, I know the pain will ease but for now you can't give me comfort.

Come in Iceman....let's get hammered

Bandit- I wasn't questioning the clearing of snow and ice from the sole, that's a given. It was just the method.
I generally clear mine with the tip of my ski pole.

Ok I saw this being taught today to a class ran by ESF.

You know when you get snow and ice built up on the sole of your boots and they become difficult to lock into your skis. Well this instructor was reaching the class the scrape/kick them hard against their bindings to remove it before retrying to click in.

Surely that's not good? I spent a lot of cash on my skis and I'm not going to kick hell out of them, especially the most mechanical and safety conscious parts.

Am I being silly?

Do you do this

Adrian1964 wrote:Hi Owen,

Thanks for the advise. Went in a shop and tried some boots on. They made me stand at a funny angle. That's why I was thinking and looking for some execise books specifically for skiing.

Thanks once again

Adrian.

I really would bother buying books, just get lessons with a decent ski school.
Books will help you advance once you reach a certain level and you understand how it feels to ski but for now it may just confuse matters.

Go skiing for the first time with a blank canvas...and be prepared to have a ball.

Tony_H wrote:Having personally progressed over the years, in particular in recent times, I have to say that fitness is not the key factor. I am less fit than I used to be, but I get much less tired skiing now than I used to. I am totally convinced it is technique, and that mine has improved so much that makes the difference. I am sure if I was fitter it would also make a difference and I'd be better, but being super fit does not make you a good skier.

I think Pavel, as always, hits the nail on the head.

I think you are 100% bang on Tony. Technique is the key.

Up until this week, see my old threads, my thighs burned after a steep run and i was always knackered by the end of the day. Not any more. And i am far from fit.

Looking at my style of skiing up until this week each turn on steep slope was more of small skid, kicking up the snow. And that transfer of energy (speed) was being absorbed by my thighs.
Now i am carving smoother and there is much less of a braking effect going on hence less pain.

To kill speed that kinetic energy has to be converted to another form. And generally, in any situation whether it be skiing, motor sport or just the natural world it is converted to heat.
Its physics.