J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by andyoneil

I think we've done this before but can't find it.....

Got to thinking about this due to my own stupidity last week:

First morning mad for it, takes ages to get boots on (always does as I have zero ankle flexibility + arthritis in my feet). Once they are eventually on I think "they are more uncomfortable than normal"?

Now I know that it all feels a bit strange at first after a whole year off (some sympathy from the "live in the mountains" crowd please)but this was new - my feet were sore on the soles - everything else fine which I'd expect as my boots are normally super comfy, once on

Skiid all day with this sensation - which seemed to get better the harder and faster I went (not necessarily ideal on day one I grant you)

It was that night that I was thinking about this and realised that I'd had my boots adjusted for flex - and the inners had ended up in the wrong boots. With the wrong custom footbeds! No wonder getting harder on the edges eased the pain!

So yes, in my stupidity, I had, in effect, skiid for a day with my boots on the wrong feet!

I'm a doofus and admit it - anyone else wish to share? (or just point and laugh)

NB this is NOT a trolling post or an attempt to start a "one tray is better/worse than two planks" discussion

Last week in Andorra noticed that boarders were a definitely smaller minority that I've seen lots of other years and this got me to wondering and discussing with a few different people

Things discussed included:

Board technology now on twin tips skis so the younger generation take them to park?
Differs from country to country
Def in decline as we now employ fewer board instructors (from a ski school employee)
Powder ski tech now so good that backcountry advantage gone for boards
People sick of unclipping on flat bits/chairs etc has finally caught up!

Anyone have any thoughts, comments, statistics etc?

Again I'm genuinely interetsed, not trying to be controversial for sake of it!

Back from a great week in Soldeu - full report to come in separate thread.

Conditions now are fantastic - well worth a last minute look for anyone

Our thanks to Brucie for his hospitality - I'll never read "Rebus" with the same image in my head of Ken Stott.....

Brucie wrote:Re your goggle lenses, those days are over I'm afraid. Soldeu has moved on, like everywhere else, to designer and fashion gear, and its not cheap anymore. Having said that, there are a couple of really good equipment shops in the village, with a wide variety of goggles etc. You might find just what you're looking for.

Thought it would be the case - 15 years since I was in Pas (think I left my liver there so may ski over and collect it from the Underground)

Cheers Brucie, will look you up in 10 days

Crabby - welcome to the forum!

Sorry to hear of your tumble - knocked confidence is the principle problem for most beginners (you get nervous so the natural desire is to sit back which is only going to go one way....). You're doing the right thing by "getting back on the horse" and huge respect to you for that as many people never recover psychologically from their first bad tumble and never ski again, sadly.

I'm off to Soldeu in 10 days myself so we may overlap? I haven't been for 15 years (everywhere else around the ski globe since) so can't really help you with specific runs.

I would say though that your best bet to a) regain confidence and b) get advice on slopes is to have a lesson in resort

Andorra is famed for its excellent, English speaking, ski school. A private lesson for a couple of hours (if you don't want to do full on ski school) will give you confidence as they reinforce strong technique and also show you where is suitable for your level. Time spent on the lifts can be used to "quiz" your instructor on where else in the area to try / avoid given your level

Generally speaking the pistes in Andorra are wider and better groomed than Bulgaria (generalisation I know before someone throws metaphorical rocks at me) so this will help your confidence. Just remember to tell yourself that a little more gradient is actually in your favour: you only have to think about the turning, the "downhill" bit will take care of itself - this is also a sub feature of having a wider slope so fewer turns necessary in comparison to indoor slopes where the "downhill" part often is a conscious effort for beginners.

I'm there from 22nd to 29th Jan so, if we coincide, then the missus and I would be happy to meet up and ski with you a bit to help you with your confidence (we are NOT instructors but reasonably competent and used to skiing with friends of varying abilities so I would NEVER take someone down a slope I didn't believe they were capable of and, more importantly, they were comfortable with - which seems to be the opposite of your time in Bulgaria).

Someone like Brucie will be along in a bit and he's our man on the ground in Soldeu so will be more specific about runs (and less rambling as I look back on this post).

Hope this helps though

Andy

Brucie wrote:Brilliant day in the powder here and still snowing. Visibility was not great but hell I'm not complaining. The real season finally starts!

Great news Brucie as its only 12 days til I fly out and, I admit, was a little nervous even though I could see the snow making had done a great job.

Very excited now

BTW is Andorra still good for cheap gear? - I fancy some more lenses for my goggles and thought they may be cheaper duty free?

I to have an insert which works well. Got mine in Uk though as I have a slightly strange prescription due to astigmatism, dunno if that would be stocked in resort?

Thanks Agysler - will bear that in mind though my lid has a brim so may well negate that

Also the fact that I don't ski fast (unless unwittingly) should be ok :-)