Messages posted by : JamesA
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Pavel I think that somewhere in my basement I have a pair of 180 cm skis with a pair of Burt plates mounted to them. The skis are from the first GLM short era and the plates worked fine until the cables broke and couldn't be replaced. I used to ski a one-piece shell boot called a HANSON and the ridiculous idea for a ski boot that had no ankle flexation and bees wax as a fitting material and a neoprene liner. You had to use silicone spray to get these things on and you skied in bare feet. Egad I feel old.[/Users/jamesp/Desktop/hanson_73b.jpg] |
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Skiing in a new center can ba a challenge. If you are looking for approved accommodations try the centeral residence bookiing service. Big White is a ski resort that is somewhat remote from a major city, Kelowna is nearby but that's still 45 minutes by car. cenres@bigwhite.com will have most on hill accommoadtions as part of their listings. Try them.
I have skied Big White sevral times in the past five years and have good success with the Copper Kettle lodge. Mid price and a good place to stay in Big White village on the hill really. Kelowna has many hotels and private accommodations just google the town to get the chamber of commerce and follow the links to the accommodadtions to find a spot. All prices and types of stuff. Most hotels in Canada are clean and worthy of a stay if part of a chain such a Best Western. The last bet I'd suggest is try B&B Canada. You might be surprised what is there. A private home with a private room bath and even private enterance can be found. Most includde a breakfast that in itself is worth $10- 15. www.bbcanada.com/british_columbia I have stayed at this beach front resort and was pleased I was riding my motorcycle and was well recieved. www.amykonos.com/ See what you think. The photos are of the summer as that's the high season for beach front. The lake doesn't freeze over in winter but is damed cold. The B&B is almost a boutique hotel and rather quaint. As I said the skiing is about an hour away higher in the mountains. Good luck. James |
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Pavel
I thought that the 5 thiings that 90% of skiers do wrongly are 1. Fall down 2. get up 3. fall down again 4. drink too much and 5. then of course fall down. LOL Ski till it hurts from laughing..... |
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Skiing in the west is always a viable option. As Pavel suggests you need to detewrmine what you want. You can go big and very ritzy or small town and local the choice is yours.
My favourites ar of course close to home so I can get ther with in four or five hours drive. Distances are vast in Canadsa and that time is about right for a weekend skiing. I go to Jasper's Marmot Basin for those days. The areas will have all level of runs and enough variance for a day or two, If I'm out longer I am prepared to travel further. Then I go to Banff, Golden or Fernie. All these areas with the exception of Fernie will give you a good varied experience. Fernie is more expert when the snow is hard pack. When the snow's soft Fernie can be easier but you need skills that will enable you to ski deep and steep snow. Banff has the most areas to choose from wihtin an hour's or so of your hotel. Banff also has night life and day life if you don't want to ski - shops and stuff. Fernie and Golden are hard core skiing and the towns are very small and industrial, This is the Canadian wild after all. The towns are logging and mining centers wiht the rough and tumble edges that that life can bring to a town. Golden has about 5 restaurants and of that I'd eat at two with only one having a wine list as a for instance. That's a shame as BC has some great wines to try out. Search the www to see what you want. Travel here and rent a car. Going on ski-about. Visit as many areas as your time will allow. You will not be disappointed. Ciao. James |
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Sound advice. Any where in Canada will have a certified ski instructor capable of teaching snowboarding to a visiter. Rental shops have the snow boards and boots but you will need to bring clotes suitable to snow board in. Do not try this in blue jeans. THey get wet and uncomfortable really fast.
Last tip consider a set of wrist bands, some knee pads and an absolute must a helmet. Safety while learning and proper gear will make the experience memerable in a good way. If you come during February you might want to reserve gear as some schools have limited supplies of boards in specific sizes and limited boot sizes. Boarding in size 14 boots on a 140 board is downright dumd! In fact a size 14 boot is the same size as a 140 cm board!!! LOL |
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I would like to add to the other posts here. When skiing trees do not look at the trees. The idea is to ski the spaces!! Focus on the spaces between the trees and think of skiing those open glade parts.
When skiing trees you should be half way through the turn or later when beside a tree. The idea is to finish the turn around the tree not start your turn as you pass the tree. Plan to ski turn initiation earlyier and earlier. You will find that the best snow is just on the downhill side of the tree. Use the tree as ou would a racing gate. Try this. Put your poles and a friends poles on an easier slope all in a line about 3 mters a[part. Now climb up and try to ski between the poles left then right as if they are a series of gates. That will give you the idea. Another trick is when skiing wiht friends create a ski course. the skiers line up and the skier at the to winds his way down between the lined up skiers takes one turn more after the last one and then stops. The next top skier then goes through the "gates" stopping aone turn past the lowest skier. THis snakes and ladders is fun and good practice for trunin timing. Skiers are also softer than trees! One last tip. Don't get too steep to start wiht start on an easy glade where you can control your speed. Leave the steep and deep until our confidence builds. Remember ski the spaces not the trees. Ciao J. |
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It's really simple, go to a ski shop and ask for some advice from a knowledgeable professional. Any advice you get from the likes of folks like me must be tempered with prudence. Freee advice is worth what you pay for it - nothing!.
OK enough BS... I like the Austrian skis for durabillity and skability. My style of skiing favours that type of ski. The 'shape' of a skier tends to match the ski. Shape??? Yes a ski only knows how much you weight not how old or tall you are, so length and technique favours different manufacturers. When I was young and thin I skied on French skis they were foam cored flexible and quick. I was flexible and quick too. Now I weigh a bit more and want a ski to last longer so I choose a wood cored sky with more shape to turn easier. I also ski in soft snow mostly in Western Canada so I like a fatter ski as well, finding that they can ski where I want to go. Boots - I like a softer flex say a 100 now whereas in the past when I raced i wanted a 120 or even a 130. Bindings are different now and I prefer a full flexing floating binding that lets the ski flex under foot thus eliminating the "flat boot spot" under foot. Bindings are all "safe" and you are paying for options really. Avoid the "race" bindings you do not need them. The stiffer springs will actually inhibit your skiing. Ski with the binding set to the lower part of the settings for your weight and knee dimensions (bone siand endon sizing). Having a ski that is "bolted" to your boot tends to teach poor technique. I ski wiht a setting that is actually well below my weight this allows me to focus on being centered and carving rather than excentrically (too far back or forward) weighted and cranking. I can ski all types of snow with equal aplomb. Poles - buy adjustable ones and feel free to experiment. confused by the terms and concepts presented? Didn't I say go to a professional to learn more...... Try renting too to get to know what you like to. Welcome to the sport..don't forget to try Telemarking and Boarding to... CHeers J. |
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