"I am a very good skier" - Discuss

Pav, When you write your epistle, this is quite often the end of a topic, because nobody dares to follow. However, this is too good a topic, so I want to try and develop your themes.

Your first point is that we compare with others. I feel a strong certainty that this applies to 99.998 of J2Skiers. The other 0.002% take the whacky backy and ski off into the sunset. We all race our counterparts, sometimes in different ways. My ski buddy Mel & I have a philosophy that it is the guy who is just behind who is really setting pace. ie, if he chooses, he can take the short line, take the chance.

Interestingly, this only applies to speed. Do any of us compare our technique against our contemparies? And is it even reasonable to try to do that? I previously described the differences in technique between Jan and myself. But Mel and I are of the same era. Well, similar, anyway, he is 5 years older than I, (107 years old, Bandit?) Although Mel & I have a similar ski style, Mel is a lightweight, and his skiing technique reflects this. (He describes this as "ski light")

Pav, your second comparion is by standards institutions. But most J2ski people do not encounter this type of comparison. So I believe it has a lower relevance.

By far the most interesting suggestions from you is the personal goal. I don't see any point in rating oneself at 40% or 60 percentile for the level. For one thing, none of us can accurately describe our level. And secondly, how would you measure 40%, 50%, 60%. Even if you could, what happens when you get to 95%?

The real value in your idea is the premise ~ I know that I can keep improving, what can I do next? And then, after that? And then....

Moving on to the physical bit, I haven't thought much about apres ski exercise, although a couple of the Colorado accomodations did have swimming pools in the basement, and man, that felt good at the end of the day. One of the Lancashire hotshots that skis in Niederau says every year, "You don't ski to get fit, you get fit to ski" Although at the end of each season, I end up half a stone lighter than at the start, I do believe that to get the best out of the forthcoming winter, you have to put the work in beforehand, with strength and mobility work. Between a half hour and one hour a day, all year.

I do not do an emotional reconstruction each day, but if that works for you, that is great. But I did have one day last year where every turn was just right, every line was as planned, all was neat and tidy, everything as perfect as I could achieve. I will live forever on that day. Until the next time.

Also, just to put this into context, there are more than a dozen 12 year old local girls, that ski in Niederau, that can out-ski most of the people that I have ever skiied with, on or off piste. And this includes myself.

ellistine wrote:My sailing and skiing fall into the same category - All the gear and no idea :shock:

*high fives* Thus me and ice hockey. Very well thought out post. There is definitely a lot of different angle on this. I don't think there is a clear way to pigeon hole any one 8) I'm confident with greens and have fun on blues. I have skied some different types but I'm happy with Intermediate. One can only go up :-o

Dave Mac,

I hope my posts don't stop further "discussions"! I learn so much from all of you!

I hope I do not stop discussions!

This, "I am good skier" issue cuts to core of many teaching skiing issues! What Jan mentionned about the ski school class scene is a "classic" among all ski school lore!

I will try to find a famous article by Warren Miller who at 80 years old speaks of this topic! The final phrase says it all! "I measure the quality of my skiing, in terms of the size of my smile"!

A short comment about that physical factor! I am amazed how much money skiers will spend to travel to; Alaska, Chile, Japan, yes even Europe to ski! Yet once there after two days they get the classic Wednesday "sores" and do not ski again but sit around video games, pools, spas etc.... That saying about getting fit to ski is relevant!

You are again so right about people comparing each other! We intuitively compare each other since birth. Just watch children going up a playground slide or boys doing the stunts on skateboards!

Problem is,,,,there always is someone better than you with this approach!

I prefer the inner self evaluation of my goals as far as technique, conditioning and satisfaction! I have long ago accepted that my sons can ski faster,longer,higher than me!(but I still have a bigger smile than them while sharing my Corona at the end of the day) That tap on the shoulder is worth a lot!

Pavel,

The only reason that the discussion sometimes stops, lies in the prosaic quality of your answers.

I am in a happy equilibrium with my two sons. They both think they can now ski ,more quickly than me. However, I know I still have the edge, should I choose to take the tight line. Most times, I am very happy to ski just behind, smiling quietly, and a little proud-fatherly. Maybe, just once during our run, I will whip past them, just to leave them guessing a little.

I guess this will change soon, but that is OK. This year, they both took a lot of squash lessons, and now they can beat me.

This winter, I want to learn to ski the mamba. You know, Turn L,R,LL, then R, L, RR. Then I want to find someone else to ski it with. It is something new ~ so why not?

Jan I Stenmark wrote:


1. A *very* well known figure in UK / Olympic ski coaching used to take 1 week courses to evaluate potential athletes and he told me that he used to watch his course members walk across the car park in ski boots on day one and could tell with 95% accuracy who would pass and who would fail there and then – Is that fair? Can anyone tell a great skier by how they walk across a car park? I don’t know, but I suspect I could make a guess.

There is demeanor that people who are comfortable doing what they are good at possess. While the example is physical, something of that can come across on the page as well, but is often so subtle that is easy to miss.

In a written post, the only clue as Jan suggest, is gaps in the knowledge that would be expected from anyone with experience. However some people have blind spot for technical jargon of any kind or for knowledge of equipment.

The only real way to establish bona fides on a computer screen is with video. This can give more than just a clue as to whether the person can ski or not. So in my skiing video, it can be seen that I can carve hard, but that my style is unconventional. Many would be able to immediately see that I have not been through ski school, others that I ski like a snowboarder (common comment on the hill).

Only problem is, that it would be rather rude to ask for a video of a new poster in order that we might know how to respond without inaccurately offending their sense of their ability. Then again, a video can never tell you the history behind the person you now see. So I guess we are left with giving everyone the benifit of the doubt.

Trencher

Although others have disagreed, my 'technique' is terrible; I know how to turn, I know how to stop and I don't mind taking daft risks, especially when it's just a matter of evaluating what can and can't be done...

Does that make me a bad skier or a good one?

:shock:

Vampyre.

Good,,,,,Bad Rare is there such a clear cut issue!

Trencher is correct, the best way is to see you!
How do you turn?

How do you stop?

Ask rather, "am I enjoying myself" and "can I enjoy myself more"

Dave Mac wrote:
I do not do an emotional reconstruction each day, but if that works for you, that is great. But I did have one day last year where every turn was just right, every line was as planned, all was neat and tidy, everything as perfect as I could achieve. I will live forever on that day. Until the next time.

In the zone Dave, in the zone :mrgreen:

I had a few of those days last season. I had been focusing too much on adapting to racing, so toward the end of the season I put on my carving skis, relaxed and just let it flow :D :D :D.

Trencher