J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Ranchero_1979

'Locked in' muscle memory is definitely a big factor in skiing well.

Just on the 'steeper' is the only way we learn. How about skiing faster, trying to get more angulation etc. All of these would have a far more positive effect on someone's skiing ability than just going steeper and steeper. That is ultimately why low intermediate can get down a black. Only an advanced skier can truly style a blue.

Although they have a bad rep for durability I have always liked Salomon off-piste skis as they seem pretty forgiving. 92 seems pretty wide for an all mountain ski but with gladed trees and better snow conditions maybe it works in the US. Certainly in Europe I would be tempted to go for the 85s.

"Parallel' turns disappeared some time ago, and the people who look like they're doing them are usually experts who have never got out of the habit".

Sorry this statement is plain wrong. Even a downwhill racer will have an element of skid/parallel some turns. Its is also an inherent function of doing any turn radius that is not the one stamped on the ski. Practically for the mere mortals parallel/skid is an essential component of skiing on all but the flattest slopes as pure carve inherently means big speed.

But people should try to do some pure carving which essentially requires a decent angle blue with no people on it. Once this is mastered then you can add in pivot and pressure as means of getting nice rounded turns on all slope angles.

Back to your video and the main problem is that the gentleman is not stacked. Freeze frame on the turns and his body is essentially leaning in with an essentially a straight line from toe to head. This is also why at the end of the video he has essentially lost control. The reason that it is so difficult to achieve is simple - do a side lean in the gym and you can maybe get a 10 deg separation between upper and lower body (damn spine). Hence to achieve full separation you are going to have to have both your feet pivoted from body (this concept of facing down hill) and lean forward and keep arms level. Although this is a natural movement i.e. if you all pick up something from side of your feet you will inherently be in this position it all become a bit much when skiing. Hence muscle memory and a few reference points to know when you are going wrong at key. Personally I try not to let my arms cross the zipper liner (helps to make sure body is at worst not rotated uphill) and try to get downhill hand towards top of boot which will give me the separation am looking for.

I wasn't suggesting a ban - more from a if you want to address tiredness from using snow plough go back to basics. Gentle slope and get controlling that speed through finishing and linking some turns.

Chamonix over Christmas if anyone is about.

I would tend to ignore things like 'hockey stop' as a nonsense unless you are trying to spray your friends or skittle people. It is not as if you can ski down a slope hockey stop to hockey stop and be less tired than now.

Simply you need to learn to finish your turns which will inherently results in you stopping on all but steepest runs. This is best achieved by disciplined practice and lessons. Bit of a generalization but people try to ski slopes which are a bit too steep for them. Until you can achieve a nice rounded (you should be perpendicular to slope), linked turns at a constant speed on a given slope it is pointless going steeper.

Consider briefly - realize you can't get a £50 flight to US and book as normal.

Whichever side of the Brexit line you stand the idea that people are afraid about not being able to travel to Europe is frankly absurd.

What is far more likely to be of concern is that world economy is wobbling and Brexit aside UK is in a poor state to weather the storm. Low productivity, awful infrastructure, asset (house) prices that make no sense, still having a budget deficit at end of cycle etc.

Ski holidays are far more expensive than summer ones so for sure industry will suffer some form of downturn.

Reality is that there is a difference between opening dates and having all runs available. As long as your expectations are aligned with that you will be fine.