J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by nicoatridge

I used to have rear entry boots back in the day, when every oher person complained about how uncomfortable they were. Modren boots seem to give you so much better control, but like OH I have trouble getting them on. I've had them for years so maybe my feet have got bigger or something. My tips: definitely keep them in a warm place, try wearing ski socks with thinner fabric around the foot, push your hand in first and squidge it about before you put your foot in, pull the tongue forward as far as you possible can, ease in slowly and feel your way in. Once my feet are in, my boots feel perfect, but it's quite a performance!

It always feels when you're learning that your boots should be tighter, I'm not sure it really makes much difference. The key thing is to feel your shins really pushing up against the front of your boots. It doesn't feel a natural stance, but snow ploughing is not the most economical of techniques, it just makes sense to be the first one to learn.

There are so many things to learn at once. Ski lessons, especially with an intolerant instructor can be very tough. Try spending some time on your own practicing simple techniques - getting up (skis parallel to the fall line), traversing on a very gentle slope (weight on downhill ski), making snow plough stops on a very gentle slope (varying pressure on inside edges), things where you just need to concentrate on one technique at a time to build up your conficence and feel.

PS When you get on the proper slopes you'll realize skiing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Hang in there!

olly123456789 wrote:Here is a link to the part of the document about ski length.

I am a trained salomon techinician and this is part of the course.

peterk11 if they are to short acording to this then take them back.

www.explosive-potato.com/skilengthselection.pdf

This is posted on my site so don't worry about the site it is not dojy.

Thanks for posting that - interesting that height no longer plays a part in deciding length. Back in the day it always seemed to be about height, not weight. Anyway, it looks like it really is that I'm not good enough that I'm in the Olympics - my skis are roughly the right length. The reality is I am not the best skier in the world, and I spend more time on-piste than off and I don't race.

What I don't know is how long should I keep skis for before I trade them in? Mine have done about 10 seasons now, 10-30 days skiing each season.

cwagner wrote:Day one I was run into by novice skier (do not know what they were doing on that red slope to start with) and fell backwards and banged my head - saw stars! Conversation with OH about how we should get helmets.
Day two on the slopes, I was run into by another novice, twisted my knee and cracked my head again!
- now starting to notice that 90 percent of skiers are wearing helmets.
Day three on the slopes - came out of a left hand turn and smack bang into another person doing a right hand turn - bruised ribs.

Keep me posted where you are next skiing. That's more crashes than I have ever had and I ski every week! I think we should keep to different slopes! )

olly123456789 wrote:If you follow the Salomon ski chart to work out what size ski for you. It does not go on you height at all. so if they are saying that is the right ski for you it is more than likely the right length. Times have changed a lot sins you bought long skis.

So you're saying I won't be good enough for Vancouver even with longer skis? I feel deflated. I always thought it was my skimpy carvers that stopped me being a better skier. And my 20yo boots. :wink:

I'm 6'6" and my skis are 175cm. This explains why I am not in the Winter Olympics and can't ski the Valle Blanche without making a couple of turns.

I think the case for helmets is strong. As I said, I wouldn't let my kids ski without one and I think it is essential for novices. However, I do believe some people ski in a way that makes injury unlikely and some ski in a way that exposes them to additional risk even if they have a helmet on, that concern at head injuries lulls people into a false sense of security, that risk is broader than concerns over head injury and should include discussion over other defensive equipment and that the only place this debate is going to end up is with compulsion. Somebody is going to make me wear a helmet after 42 years of injury-free skiing.

Obergurgl is pretty. Good luck, shame about the rugby!