J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by snowpack

Remember to stop, look around and take in the environment. Enjoy yourself when you ski. At the begining it's all technique this and equipment and lifts and scary steep bits. I seem to remember that once I stopped and just examined the place I was in I felt a lot calmer about trying to get the skiing right.

Oh yes and don't beat yourself up for how you ski. I don't think anyone skis "right" all the time. What you are looking for is control and as a beginner once you have that you're on your way.

As a contact lens wearer myself I think goggles are probably the more sensible option BUT I tend to wear sunglasses that wrap around and I've had no problem at all. The main issue, for me, is the light. When it gets darker or if it snows, my sunglasses aren't that useful whereas my goggles have an amber lens and allow me to see better in low light.

As I rule I take both with me if the weather looks suspect.

I think from a fashion point of view goggles are "in at the moment" and sunglasses may suggest you are simply "on a holiday". It's a bit like the helmet debate, too!

But from the contact lens perspective sunglasses do work and I've never lost a lens at speed when wearing glasses.

I don't think many people would recommend going off-piste on your own unless you actually were a mountain guide/high level instructor or someone working on the mountains.

Going with a group of friends is IMO not ideal either unless you really know what you're doing and where you are, but it is certainly better than being off piste alone.

I'm not sure whether mountain guide would, in your insurance policies view count as instructor. It should do, and they may even be better than some instructors for off-piste skiing but insurance companies are not very flexible on their specific interpretation of their policies.

Have a great holiday what ever you're able to do.

Well, hopefully it can't be any worse than the place I just came from. Looking forward to posting here instead.

Hello,

I'm new on here. Like you I learnt to ski way back when and spent most of my time learning to get my legs together. I took a break from skiing for a couple of years and then it all changed.

I ended up buying some Bandit B1s as they were not too waisted as a ski. I've had some lessons in the new technique, and while I understand how things have evolved I'm still not 100% convinced it suits me. But I try my best to get into it.

A while back I had this discussion on another less friendly forum and got a pretty negative response from everyone as to new vs old technique. Actually, most posts there seemed to end up being an attack on people so I've decided to move on and try this place out.

I'm thinking about changing my skis sometime soon, and have considered the x-wing. Although my trusty old B1s are fine.

Anyway, hello everyone.