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J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by IceGhost

Messages posted by : IceGhost

Equipment to avoid
Started by User in Ski Hardware, 21 Replies
pavelski wrote:Ha,,,, ski season is just around the corner for you North hemisphere fanatics.
Soon you will be visiting ski shows, planning holidays and looking at those "old" ski pictures.

By late October, if you are like me you will make an inventory of all the equipment you have. If you are like Ellistine ( you must get to know Ellistine) you will want to buy anything related to skiing!

You will begin to read all sorts of literature on "essential" equipment! Several years ago I began to collect on some "essential" products. Mind you the term "essential" is defined very broadly by ski marketing staff!

I will list some of these wonders and hope that others as obsessive as I also have "discovered" such items!

WARNING: This is not fiction.

1. Goggles with built-in fans

2. Ski poles with internal springs or shocks in handles

3. Top sheet "protection" tape

4. Plastic rub plate to take snow off boots

5. Anti-cross plates. Look like small 3" towers near tips so skis do not cross.

6. Binding cold covers. ( so units will not freeze up)

7. Ski bras ( really that is what they are called) For perfect snowplow!

8. Ski lights ( really) Just screw the, on tips!

9. Boot covers. Not sure if they are for cold or to give that "perfect" all together fashion look.

10. Hollow poles for wine or vodka ( again really)

11. Poles with batteries so you can have blinking poles

12. Gold Plated bindings ( again really)

13. Goggles with magnetic lenses

14. Alarms for skis. Unit screws on top near front unit

15. Ski pants with heating wires near rear.

16. Skis with asymetric sidewalls ( Kastle)

17. Skis with 4 steel edges

18. Skis that hinge into 4 pieces ( again, again really)

19. Two skis that can join at sidewall to create a board

20. Rear holder. This you will not believe. Let me describe . A series of levers and pulleys which "hold up" skier who has weak back muscles!

21. Top ski graphics tape. A series of 10 rolls of duct like tape which you can apply to top of ski depending on your mood!

22.Bindings that never let skis "fly off"! The units have internal metal wire anchored to internal spring ! Releases but instantly come back on boots. Great fun! Sold for $125 in 1973!

23. Rear brakes at tails. For the "adventure-some skier who does not want to slide backwards while hiking up Everest!

23. Front brakes. Two saber-like shafts under boot at toe area. Can also be used to "slash" skiers/boarders who come to close. Can also be used to "pick up" small animals for supper while skiing!

24. Long tongs. Before you all get excited these really are called "long tongs" Another era another story. Still see some for sale! Not sure why, but surely not for skiing!

25. Electrical heated gloves. Not so good while skiing but my son "borrows" them often! Why? He does not tell me!



Well there are some of my "collections". Please do not tell my wife since she thinks I donated them to my local ski museum! I realize some of you will no doubt think I made this up, but I hope some skiers will be honest and admit that they bought or tried some of these.

I did not mention some other "strange" systems like the Nava boot/binding system which the producer swore would make me a "better' skier!


Now it is up to you to continue the list!
Stranger the better!


( Notice I did not get into the hats, jackets, etc....)
Good times !

19. Two skis that can join at sidewall to create a board

20. Rear holder. This you will not believe. Let me describe . A series of levers and pulleys which "hold up" skier who has weak back muscles!

21. Top ski graphics tape. A series of 10 rolls of duct like tape which you can apply to top of ski depending on your mood!



23. Front brakes. Two saber-like shafts under boot at toe area. Can also be used to "slash" skiers/boarders who come to close. Can also be used to "pick up" small animals for supper while skiing!

Oh my god I almost fell off my seat when I saw those. 1. Board? Come on 2. A rear holder? That makes as much sense as the ski bra ( probably comes in kinky lace) If you have a weak back you shouldn't be going down a hill. 3. Graphic tape ?! EXCELLENT Pavelski you just rock!


But I actually have a real question . I obtained a set of straight ATC (slightly older model) Atomics that I was told was for aerials which are about a foot taller then I. Now I'm new to the game and am currently riding Blizzards ( got the ones in the cheap side in case I wrecked, in which I did serveral times) I wanted to know if bindings can be adjusted. They are a dudes 12 and I need them down to a chick's 8. Since I'm used to riding on parabolic skis (trying to sound cool here cuz I don't know anybetter) I wanted to know what would I expect if I took these buggers out for a run? I also have a weakened left knee and want to know what I can do to make it one bad dude for skiing. Next, okay my boots are a bit chewed up there are digs along the places where they fit into the bindings and I just wanted to know how much damage is still good to ski on. Can the liners be taken out of the boots ( I'm NEW at this so forgive me :mrgreen: ) Mine stink like something unholy in part becuase when I wrecked in Tux my boots never had the water dumped out :(
Okay I think that's it for now! I must say I've been reading more and more stuff on here and you guys totally rock!
I read about your accident a wee bit ago. Meee Ow that bites. On the Contrary I've been in the same boat and still kinda of am. 1-27-07 I went skiing for the first time and wrecked big. Then I went out to Hintertux in July and got hesitant and spooked when I got up to the glacier cuz I didn't want to mess up my knee. Ended up coming very close to dying, My advice is to invest in a good brace that won't let you down. A pow wow with a good psych and just try the little things to get your confidence back up. You'll get back out there! Good luck and have fun


-Rock On
The Evolution of a Skier
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 4 Replies
:shock: You are god *bows down*
Anyone skied Hintertux in the summer?
Started by User in Austria, 3 Replies
I just got back from there. I hit the glacier in late July after their hottest heat spell in over a century. The slopes were VERY rough and icy. After 12 the glacier turns bad very quickly. It starts to melt under your skis, or in my case under my boots. There are GREAT places to stay in Innsbruck There is a hotel in the Bahnhof that's great and on the cheaper side. Then there is Hotel Europa which was GRAND. Then there is always the lovely (not) Hotel Schwaz krankenhaus ( It's a joke, seriously) I guess this is too late of a post but hope you had fun and didn't die out there :)

-peace
IG
Gloating Skier
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 4 Replies
greenskier wrote:Working is a technique that some people need to employ from time to time to be able to go skiing. However, like snowploughing, if you can ski without doing it you should avoid it!
LOL haha good one, glad you had a good trip. Where exactly do you ski there?
Wow what a dang good deal!
freezywater wrote:Not sure about December, I think Pavel's about right, now is when it starts getting busier, I'm one of those unfortunates that live in the UK so only get to ski a couple of weeks a year, condensed into a 2-3 month window, so this website tops up my need for a daily fix of all things ski related!! I've certainly noticed the amount of traffic has increased steadily over the past 2 weeks and now we are into September I'm sure it's going to get way busier, so stick around, especially with the incredible knowledge base that exists with the collective contributors. I've found it most useful and at times quite funny!! :-o
ha ha ha your right. Me being a newb it's given me a much better understanding on things
New skiier with bad luck
Started by User in Ski Chatter, 2 Replies
powderhound wrote:Hi IceGhost, welcome aboard.

Ok, first off I hope your injuries are healing well; take your time and make sure everything is mended right before you ski again. You'll enjoy it so much more.

Now, I think the title of your post is wrong. 8) After an "adventure" like that you are, seriously, lucky to be alive!

Modern equipment makes it very easy to quickly access some very dangerous places, and to ski fast well before you really understand how to ski right.

I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm at all - but think you need to just redirect it a little for the moment. Learn everything you can about mountains, about snow and ice, your equipment and your ability and take your time to practice in safe locations.

The absolute best way to deal with situations like that is to avoid getting into them in the first place :-

Don't ski in areas that you don't know are within your ability.
Don't get lost.
Don't ski alone - ever.

You obviously have a feel for the mountains so how about taking some time to enjoy them at a more pedestrian pace? Go hiking / walking and immerse yourself - look at the landscape; visualize yourself skiing down a slope - what if you fell just there? what if your ski bust over there? Sit and watch the view, do some route-finding, plan escape routes in your mind, and watch the weather. Slow down a little... 8)

Keep it real, dude, and remember to take care of your body enough so that you'll still be skiing when you're 80!

Powderhound
Haha thanks. All I had planned on doing was putzing around on the little stuff, becuase the thin air was getting to me. I planned out my...well plan on the website and I kept up on the views and locations of the good snow so I could educate myself the best way I could being 5K miles away. :) I tried not to get lost, I had NO idea that the mist was gonna move it like that!! it was nice one minute then blamo! couldn't see a nose lenght in any direction. I'm a bit of a lone wolf, very stubborn and independant. Too independant for my own good :) Thanks

+ thought of a new question, What, where and how would I go about packing an "oh shit" bag when I go out next. Like about packing extra clothes, flare gun, ice axe etc etc.