J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Ian Wickham

Dave Mac wrote:I should have said, I don't usually paint from photos, (Hendrix and Dylan apart!), it is just an easy way to start.

Thanks Dave, Great advice, I would never had thought of that :D

souldrive wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Come you tight buggers pay the price or go tea total :wink:

I wouldn't call resenting to pay £6+ for less than a pint tight, you defo wouldn't pay it in england!!

Think you're right though, we should go to andorra and livigno if we want cheap booze!! Can always buy beers from the supermarches anyway which will be considerably cheaper than in the bars!!

I love Livigno, but I got lazy, there was a little too much walking in ski boots but I still go back in the summer, We were there last summer for a week, Bellavista pizza's possibly the best in the world and then onto the Bar agata loverly people. When I first visited Livigno beer was 3000 lira for a small 4000 for a large which was about £1.50 and £1.80, a glass of house wine cost 30p and a very large brandy was 95p, great days if a bit blurred.

My point in all of this is that because skiing has become easier to learn for which I am not against, beginners are missing valuable lessons in etiquette and in part become dangerous to themselves and others. Since the near miss last year I ski at the back of the line of three so at least there is an option of protection for little Wickham, I was at the front last year and so could not give protection. It does not bare thinking about had the skier been three inches to the right.

An old boy on in Norwich used to service my skis he gave me an awful telling off about my new carvers,
he said " these things are bloody dangerous " I asked him why " because they make you think you can ski when you can't " he was a grumpy old sod, I came away thinking he's living in the past and can't let go of his skinny skis.
But the old boy has a point I started skiing on 185 cm, I'm now down to 160 cm. So have carvers made it too easy to learn to ski ?????

Trencher wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Here we go I am going to have my two pennies worth, I would think straight skis should be able to carve as it not just down to the ski but the skill of the skier, the side cut on skis today just surly take carving to the next level. :D

Ian, have you ever really seen a skier on on old skinny skis actually carving ?

Trencher

Sorry Trencher, I have to agree with El bandido, I have seen skiers carving on straights and still do, the straights can't do what the carvers can but they can still carve. 8)

Have a great holiday 8)

Salski, I'm sure the rain never falls on you, just around you :mrgreen:

Neiltoo wrote:Do you think that modern carving skis have resulted in many skiers skiing at higher speeds than they used to?

This occurred to me last April while watching a particularly busy piste in Verbier.

It seems to me that as it has become easier to carve, there are many skiers carving before they have learned to balance properly on a skidding ski. The result is a lot of skiers who are not in as much control as they might be in terms of being able to stop suddenly or make a sudden change in direction when necessary.

I'm not convinced this is the case but I'm curious what others think.

I don't think it is totally down to the carving ski, in my experience there are still people who do not take enough
lessons try and keep up with more experienced friends or have just had too many beers at lunch time.
I feel frustrated especially when I have a seven year old having her ski tails skied over, some of these people have not learnt the etiquette of the slopes. I will always stop if I see a skier has fallen just to check they are ok not many people seem to do this these days, stopping in the middle of the piste,skiing slopes too steep for ability, piste awareness, common sense is always required,but it seems very rarely used. :(