J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by dustyfog

Ise - dude, those are some tracks - thanks for encouragement.
Bandit, you are a class act, and your words are solid motivation.
Eljay, Mr W - you guys are a riot, a real riot!
Rest, appreciate wisdom, learnt a lot and learning more,..

The pics are breath-taking.

Here is an unrelated question, me being what I self-rate as a lower-intermediate skiier,(instructors say I am better, well you have seen, and I am realistic) and knowing that camera angles are seriously deceptive, they make things look a lot easier than they are, but to find the sort of un-tracked powder stash you folks seem to uncover relentless, you must alpinists and seriously expert powder hounds, no? I mean, one first needs the confidence on the mountain, climbing to places or hiking without ever having gone there before, that by itself is cause for trepidation of all sorts, and then one has to have the conviction, you are able to ski down pretty much anything...

this is going to take some time to go through..but here in warm, balmy, manhattan - that stash looks irresistible. just got to get good enough to get up there.

Skiing is good for the soul!

Thanks, he is a joy to behold, as any parent feels when they see their kid take to a sport like a fish to water (he boogie-boards too, second favourite sport)

Anyway, My son now is all carve, in fact, he has run into a new unforeseen problem, given that he has basically forgotten how to wedge, and the stem-christie is his stopping routine, when the snow is heavy, and his speed is rising and I discerned, he himself is realizing how fast he is going, that stopping on steep inclines, i.e. 25degrees+ on black diamonds is a tough one, especially when snow is heavy, and face-plant risk is high! I found him in early March, lying there at the bottom of a relatively steep black diamond, he told me "dad, i could'n stop in this snow, my skis got caught!" it was tragically funny.

Here is a video of his escapades, he is made to watch all the time from Dec07, to remind him "It's all about controlled speed" - he has learnt that lesson well! Watch the "dot" at the top of the screen explode into view and land perfectly on his head!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KeEigKz7mk

And Caron-a, I am about to take his suit to his mom's place so she can sew onto a laminated card with name, phone number, plus a bright distance-viewable strip on it! She volunteered, reading your post, I am doing that asap..

And once again, you folks make a Dad feel good this afternoon..

And by the way, bandit, the blog you have is tremendous...where are ski pics from? glorious! Your saga with your spanish hacienda had me in splits! especially the last zinger with the incredible sand-castle.

For your entertainment if nothing to do : here is video of my son and me in Alberta, in April 08 - me raw beginner, around 8th time on skis then, and my boy just turned 5..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8-421g2wAM

and here is his Dad Mar 15, 09 - long way to go to catch up with my son(he is so much faster, we have raced, he turns it on, when he sees me approach since i usually give him a few seconds) but skiing injured but no quitting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIZ_yB0hmZc

i still am shaking my head at instructor's losing their charges...unreal..you cannot make this sh*te up!

This is bordering on a laugh riot! One thing though, an instructor better not lose my boy, though he is usually way ahead of the class, but on the flats he is slower, small frame, so skating momentum is less, but once downhill begins, he is all controlled velocity. Bottom line, lets say any incident bordering on that will have lifelong consequences for said instructor.

That aside, I still cannot believe, you folks believe that when you pay for a service, you do not expect at the very least, safety and security. The least the guy or woman can do is make sure his crew is safe. That is the basis of leadership, sounds a lot like a bunch of clowns in those teams of instructors. They have an obligation and duty to protect those they instruct.

Still, its hilarious. Maybe being from the US leads me to have a different reaction, but you folks are hilarious.

I am cracking up totally...but definitely see the cultural distinctions ... how does an instructor lose their students! You are kidding me....That instructor should be arrested for gross negligence. Remarkable information flowing through this forum

Many thanks. Am from NY where I been following this as convention, ski instructors who teach my boy are usually young kids in their teens to mid 20's, and I tip them, generously, since almost all have taught him well (he is an awesome skiier, he just turned 6 and is a carver-machine!), most importantly, I am implicitly grateful that his love for the sport grows after every period with them (this also applied to our trip to Sunshine Village in Alberta last year), and they bring him back safe, those chairlifts always make me wonder, and hence their safe escorting of my boy is deeply appreciated by me and his mom.

On the other hand, adult instructors, many of whom are my age or considerably older, often regular professionals in Medicine, Finance, Real Estate, Engineers etc, that is a bit trickier. Lets put it this way, if and when I am good enough to instruct( a ways to go still), I would decline any tips. Anyway, the instructor who spent some time with me this season and with my son, he is older than I am, got a pair of POC Lobes Goggles (Black, with green lenses), that seemed more kosher so to speak and I believe he genuinely appreciated that gesture.

It comes down to who is instructing. And reading your knowledgeable responses, it appears in Europe, its more of a full-time profession and hence appreciation, even monetary is expected. Thanks much, any other insights are appreciated. I think I understand the differences between Europe and North America a bit better now.

The dude who said " not while i have a breath left" or something to that effect, I laughed out loud reading that..have a good day folks.

We will be in Lech-Zurs over the Easter period, praying for good snow and great skiing, and looking forward to an unparalleled instructor who we have corresponded with. Son's skiing should improve exponentially, skiing with native Germanic and other European kids, while Dad is going to ski with a shredded rotator cuff and damaged arm..but as my friend Kenny's granny said it " we are'nt here for a long time, make sure its a good time" ... hence surgery after we get back.

For private lessons in Austria and Switzerland, an hour or all day, is tipping expected ? Especially after an all-day session, thanks?