J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

I agree with bandit about compensation, effected through knees and hips. You have done that much skiing Trencher, that my suggestion would be you don't read the the body movement as compensation. It just happens for you.

I have seen racing pics where the outer leg is 80% straight, and the inner knee angle less than 90 degs. (Ouch!) But the inner leg was laid tight to the snow, so although the skis faces were in the same plain, the lower legs were not.

I make my disclosure that I am not a racer, and you are Trencher, this is observation ~ because I am interested in what makes skiers turn. :-)

Yes you can, almost. Of course you cannot "smell" snow, but the nasal senses pick up temperature, humidity, pressure, precipitation. Add that to experience of the snow occuring after you have felt that detection a few times, and yes you can "smell" snow.

Several years ago, on our local golf course, bright sunny late April day, and teeing off on the 18th. Without really thinking about it, just before I struck the ball, I said, "I can smell snow." Hoots of laughter from all present, (my work mates, and all non-skiers), there was scarcely a cloud in the sky.

Ten minutes later, we had all chipped onto the green, and were crossing the stone bridge over the burn in front of the club house. Then, a few wisps of light snow began to curl down, lighter than eider feathers. By the time, we had planted our bags, and pulled out the putters, it was blasting heavy flakes. The last guy to tee out, had to cope with putting over a white green.

As we crunched our way off the course, there were three looks of total disbelief. I just succeeded in bottling up my laughter, and managed to keep a straight nonchelant face, as we loaded the clubs into the cars.

Now that's street cred. :wink:

You could hire a 7 seater people carrier for £209, from Gren A/port. Go through

http://www.travelsupermarket.com/carhire

Jimbo261 wrote:

Be careful where you carry your screwdriver, an aquaintence of mine carried his in a pocket of his jacket, had a huge crash and ended up with it stuck under his ribcage

Friend of mine, skiing with a camera tucked into a front anorak pocket, suffered a fall, broke ribs, punctured a lung.

Nobody got a photo. :mrgreen:

OK. I get your point Trencher. I was presuming the traditional debate. :shock:

I guess if you are discussing racing then set-up is a given anyway? Back in the way-back-when I occasionally skiied in the local league races. Set up involved which colour hat to wear. :)

Carving I just don't really dig. I can do it, but can't figure out why I would want to, it just makes deep trenches, Trencher. :!:

Interesting, but has never concerned me. I understand that you are dominantly a wide stance skier. I am dominantly, but not exclusively, a closed stance skier.

Do you recall Pavel making the point that he will ski with closed stance, but given icy or other adverse conditions, he would operate with an open stance. That is pretty well how I read it.

A wider stance makes for easier balance control.

Also, the human body has good muscle memory and technique memory. So, as we all continue along our path of ski/board technique learning, our bodies learn minor nuances that implant and overlay over our cognisant learning.

Concious learning and non-concious learning.

So, this logic is leading to a point where I would surmise that to set up for a wide stance would neither be an advantage, nor a disadvantage. Whatever set-up you had, the body would "learn" to deal with variances.

The thread has really widened out to purchasing cost attitudes.

I am quite parsimonious when it comes to spending, and look for value all the time. Mmmm, slight correction, when my OH says we are going to buy something, then consider it done. :cry:

Ruskin was correct, in his lifetime, and his principle broadly remains true. However, markets are now more developed, and consumers more knowledgable.

It not just a possibility, but frequently achieved, to pay between say two and three times more, (or even greater multiples) than the lowest price, for the same product or service. As far as I can see, the biggest factors to achieving the best value are:

1) An understanding of the range of specifications, sources and costs,
2) Timing

Spot on bandit, with the temperature aspect. At this stage of the year, ground temperature is of prime importance. If the winter starts with a good depth of frozen ground, this carries the season, both in terms of natural, and of artificial snow.

The cold winds are an additional benefit.