John:
I remember SCSA/Heyoka saying that he could tell the difference after skiing on the wide skis (I think he had an early pair of iM88's) and would go back to his narrow skis on a regular basis to get back in touch with technique (don't remember now what he had before he picked up the SuperShapes).? However, I also remember him almost dying because he went out of bounds in deep powder on a day when he happened to be skiing his SuperShapes (He lost a ski, almost went into a tree well, and wound up stranded on a tree limb with the resort closing).? Fortunately, the guys he was with persuaded Vail to let them ride back to the top after closing and went back out of bounds to find him and got him down.
I don't see any reason that it has to be EITHER have fun OR ski the supershapes.? I'm not about to argue with Harald's recommendations, but I personally don't believe every time on the slopes has to be driven by a desire to get better (and I've got a lot more room for improvement than you).? Use them 60% of the time for tecnique (or some split), skid and smear 10% of the time, work on maintaining technique with a wider ski 20% of the time, and help others learn to get better the other 10%.
When I was 52 (or so) and having a tough day, my son said, "Well dad, maybe you have to accept that at your age you just aren't going to get any better."? I've thanked him since, because his statement was what motivated my search that found Lito and then Harald and PMTS, and at 58 I'm no longer a "terminal intermediate" but there is some truth in his sentiment;? in some parts of our life it's necessary to get to the point that we can enjoy our "recreation" no matter what the skill level.
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