J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Ranchero_1979

Chamonix Thursday-Friday received upto 50cm on top lifts and >20cm in town. Conditions must be truly epic in Alps now.

PrivateBryan and anyone else heading to Chamonix will be pleased to know fantastic conditions at moment. The "warm" weather that people seem so worried about did not really materialize here, and certainly no damage to pack. Nights have been cold -6 degC in town (1000m)in mornings and only getting up to 5-6degC so slopes have still been below freezing.

As I type snow is starting to fall, local reports are predicting up to 17cm in next 24hrs and further snow on Sunday.

Great start to season, looking forward to 3 weeks skiing in April.

Digging with skis, another well prepared group. Would never ski in group that didn't have, shovel, probe, transceiver and ideally skins.

BB, without wishing to sound like your mother. I am currently 7 months into rehab from doing something equally not so smart. Skiied this morning for first time in 9 1/2 months (currently restricted to uphill only).

Photo 2: leaning back, no weight on left ski which is now in "phantom foot position".
Photo 3: ACL snapping dream position, weight all infront of left knee. Weird angle between hip, knee toe.

Had your bindings not released (which they are not really designed to in those positions), you would not have been a happy chappy.

Obviously, like everyone have done similar, less style. Just an observation having spent lot of sofa time reading about body mechanics and avoiding repeat of ACL rupture misery.

In Chamonix, beautiful weather conditions. Physio in 1 1/2hrs. Fingers crossed am cleared to ski uphill tomorrow. I fear downhill is still 3 months away. Still time for few weeks at end of season so can't complain.

Nasty habit of placing the shovel down vs digging placing blade into snow. Know from experience blade lying flat + gravity = runaway. Probably not very helpful if you are trying to dig someone out. Silly things you pick up when practicing. Also valid reasons why whole group should have all equipment required.

Chamonix 7th Jan for a week. Unfortunately just for physio and continuation of rehab. Still if anyone is in town give a nudge.
Note to oneself: Do NOT BE TEMPTED TO SKI!

Before trying to ski moguls hard I first take a steady run just focusing on pivot of skis.

Basically with modern skis, we now spend large percentage of time utilizing skis edges (shape), and high high angulation to perform carving turns. Even if there will need to be a element of pivot to control speed on steep slopes.

Therefore we start to lose the art of pivot. Chose a not to steep slope, focus on a single object (helps with separation) and go down pivot, pivot. Requires (flat feet). Suprising how strange it feels 1st time. After few 100m will be getting hang of it. Focus on keeping body downhill and getting skis perpendicular to slope in each direction.

Then when you hit the moguls, same skills will control your speed and let you flow down them.