J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by verbier_ski_bum

It has been around for a while and there were debates both on TGR and Youtube about this accident. While the bag is a good equipment, people should buy it to carry on the days when they should be in backcountry not on the days that they shouldn't - because they really should be somewhere else then. There was another avalanche in States this weekend that claimed lives of 3. One skier (female) had a bag and survived. But just because the bag worked as designed shouldn't let us forget the fact that this group (experienced and trained apparently)ignored the red flags that were there. Whether the airbag will be efficient or not will depend on many factors - run-outs, depth of the slide. The bag itself may be punctured and become no more useful than a piece of rug. Meesh when taklking about her "calculated risks" that she had taken doesn't talk much sense and sends a wrong message. This is not how risks must be calculated, not in the context of avalanche safety. When risks are calculated people don't end up being swept by avalanches. having to use your safety equipment means nothing but a poor judjment. She's lucky to be alive IMHO.

+1.

You should check general local weather websites, not resorts websites to get a more objective picture. If the weather in the area is reported to be warm, it might be a few degrees colder in the resort because of the altitude, but not drastically different. It's warming up in Switzerland, that's for sure.

Well, these days you can wire your own boots and have a small device clipped to the side that will provide heating. I don't think this season will get as cold temperatures as the last cold spell that we had recently, but I am definitely getting my boots wired for next season. Also if boots don' fit you right you may tend to buckle them too tight affecting circulation. Skiing in your own boots is always better than sking in boots worn by hundreds people before you.

acarr wrote:Thanks everyone for your advice. I think a trip to a good boot fitter is in order, even if I have to raid my piggy bank for the money :roll:

Allie

It's a good investment that you won't regret. Nothing ruins your day on slopes faster than badly fitted boots. On the other hand properly fitted boots will let you concentrate on your skiing instead of constantly worrying about your feet.

Iceman wrote:Wait until the summer they will be cheap then :shock:

I think in summer you can only buy ski gear online or in shops specializing in ski stuff only. At least in switzerland you can't find any winter stuff in general sport shops during summer. Also, sale stuff will mostly disappear even in the specialised or online shops and you will end up paying prime rate for next season's stuff.

Hi! If you feel that you are off balance than most likely you are. However your description is very vague, starting from "natural powder" (do you mean real mountains as against the dry slopes or off-piste powder?) and so on. "On your toes" - do you mean that your heels lift too much or that your weight is far too forward? If your heels lift too much that may be caused by boots too big or too stiff or the combination of the above. You might be getting on your toes to get better leverage to help you flex too stiff boots. I can't see how tightness of boots ("tight" as in too small boots) can affect the balance. It will create pressure points and may cause cramping but your balance should stay as it is all else being equal. But if you struggle to flex the boot, releasing little bit the second calf buckle (the one around your ankles) may help some as it will give some room for your ankles to flex.You feet should stay flat in your boots with your ankles flexed and shins touching the tongues. Your knees with your ankles flexed should be over the lugs of your boot soles. If they are much further than that your boots probably have too much forward lean for you so that your weight gets more forward than it should be. If your knees don't get as far as the lugs of your boots than you probably can't flex them enough with your feet flat. But you will be better off asking someone who can watch your ski, knows what you are trying to do and sees what happens as a result. Do you ski in your own boots or you rent each time you ski? Personally I can't get the boot renting thing and would never put my feet into any footwear worn by tens or hundred strangers before me. Even as a beginner you should get fitted in boots suitable for you. If you have your own boots than talk to instructor in ski school about your experience and take them to a bootfitter, maybe he can make some adjustments to address the issue whatever it might be.

Megeve? But no-tourists requirement is hard to satisfy particularly at Christmas, many French skiers are also tourists having come from various places in the country..