J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Neiltoo

I am impressed by the YouTube clip but can I just ask, do they really use the term 'lean forward'?

I've always been amazed by the number of people who use this phrase in relation to skiing.

I assume it came originally from instructors who didn't speak english as a first language and they thought that it conveyed what they meant.

Think of leaning forward... not in a skiing sense just in an every day sense.... is that really what you are trying to do on your skis?

I have always thought that when beginners are told to lean forward it results in them trying to get their head as far forward as possible, resulting in bending at the waist and a sitting posture, which is hard to change once you get to an intermediate level.

When you watch the clip, the guys head is above his feet, there is no leaning (in a forward direction) going on, the knees and ankles are bent, resulting in pressure on the front of the boots with the centre of gravity staying above the feet. (in the forward/backward plane)

Angulation is often explained as if its a 'fixed' artificial position.
If you think about your skis - they are designed to turn [thats why they cost so much :D ] Put weight/pressure on the ski, put it on its edge and it will turn. Your job is to balance on the ski while it turns.

Your body knows how to balance - if you let it.

So the ski is turning, if you are relaxed in the waist and upper body (where most of your mass is) then your upper body wants to fly off at a tangent to the arc of the turn and the result is angulation, or rather angulation is what happens while you balance against the forces that act on you body during the turn.

Now I know that I'm over simplifying [before I get my head bitten off ) ]
but I find life is easier when kept simple.

Just my tuppence worth and I don't mind being shot down in flames :D

Barts make good quality kids thermals - they are more expensive than some that have been mentioned but as with most things you get what you pay for. :D

Not sure what your budget is, but the cheapest place that I know of in Tignes is Chalet Chardon in Tignes Les Brevieres

http://www.chaletchardons.com/

The Tignes tourist office site has loads of apartments available for that week

http://213.56.134.251/vel2/index.php?lng=uk

I know that looks like a strange address but it is the official Tignes tourist office accomodation site

RossF wrote:Neiltoo, you should offer more freeride skis... your website does not have enough p0rn for us gearheads :lol:

Maybe for next winter :-)

Our website has only been up and running 6 months or so. What we stock at the minute is really what has sold well in our shop over the years. We are now selling to a much bigger and different market and we do need to expand our product range but it will take time.
Given the current economic climate we need to be able to sell what we have, I wouldn't want to get stuck with gear that nobody wanted!

So I'm afraid you might have to get your 'gear p0rn' somewhere else for a while )

Ian Wickham wrote:
...... and blades give them a go neiltoo you might find them fun.
As for do you value your head that is a basic decision you have to make, I don't value mine if I did I would wear a helmet. :wink:

Tried blades, just the once ) and I don't wear a helmet either. Given that I know that I should, this probably shows some nasty masochistic streak in my personality which is best not explored :shock:

"Decent" is one of those words that means different things to different people.
If you like what you have and it does the job then I would call it decent.

Ian Wickham wrote:
Do you value your head, no, then stick to the cheap one. Blades rent and see if you enjoy them, I don't use mine all the time I have to be in the mood !!!!!

With most of the helmets on sale you wont get a 'safer' helmet by spending more money. All helmets should have a 'CE' mark or European safety mark. When you pay for a more expensive helmet you might get more comfort, more ventilation etc but generally not more safety in my opinion.

If you pay a lot more for a carbon fibre helmet then you will get a lighter and longer lasting helmet - it wont need replacing after a hard knock the way plastic helmets should be replaced, but they aren't cheap!

As for blades - I don't really get where the fun is, but as said above 'each to their own' )

I taught on one of these for 5 summers in the 90s in S.Africa. They are great for fitness and also for beginners to learn basic techniques on. If its just for your own use its possible to build one or get one built for you pretty cheaply. I have been thinking of building one but I dont have space at the minute.
A couple of rollers, electric motor, chain drive, lots of plywood and some industrial carpet, and some steel for the framework. :D

I'm going to bite my tongue, or my typing fingers as it were, and leave this thread alone )