Your Ski Equip. Awakening?

[midwif]

The culture of skiing thrives on ski choice selection above all else and to a degree higher than any other equipment oriented sport. We all get wrapped up in skis, and, I dare say, we have all bought at least one pair that just did not measure up. While I can say I'm very happy with my 2 ski quiver, both are new to me this year. Is change for change sake or perceived meaningful need a good thing? Are we influencing others to ask the right questions or are we encouraging them to join in on the hype. Ask me, next year, about this years quiver and challenge the sanity of changes made.

Now back to "how can I get my skis to higher angles?" and "when am I going out again"?

Mike
Truer words have notbeen spoken on this board!
I find myself getting caught up in the "must have the best, next new ski" feelings.
Then bills from the next semester show up!!?
Helps to keep this ski quiver GROUNDED in realilty.

I am satisfied with my Every Thangs (except for the horrible name).
And the skis Jim got me for 100$ which are now known as the Vision Zeal made me quite happy at Aspen.

Looking forward to getting another 15+ days of skiing in. Starting this weekend in Vermont.
I also ordered the PMTS Instructors Manual. I need to get my tipping back.

Lynn

[Ron]

Ah, yeesssssss!? I am guessing that this is the reason that I thoroughly enjoy skiing with you!!?

And i enjoyed skiing with you as well! We both enjoy skiing the same type of terrain, It's all good, it just depends on what you like to ski and where you're heads at.

[jbotti]

Mike and Lynn, yes, I agree with you both. And yes the hype is bad. Still just as Ron says that skiing should be fun, buying new skis can be fun, although often it is unnecessary!!

But... there are those times and purchases where the new ski has taken my skiing to new levels. I know I would not be the skier I am today had I not owned my Head ISL Chips, and my Head SuperShapes. The only question that I would ask around these is whether I could have gotten the result on a different pair of slalom carvers and the answer is probably yes but I still feel confidnet that things went faster because of how great the Head SS's are.

One thing is for sure, there is nothing like a pair of skis that you love and feel totally in synch with. We should all own a piar or two of these!!

[Ron]

yes, at least 2 pair, Nomad SFT's and kastle 78's for now.   But the new Icelantic Keeper is coming out and I am thinking the MX88 would be really sweet for chile BC.

[midwif]

One thing is for sure, there is nothing like a pair of skis that you love and feel totally in synch with. We should all own a piar or two of these!!

Yes, for sure!!
 In 5 more semesters!!

Okay, maybe a bit sooner.

Lynn

[jim-ratliff]

One thing is for sure, there is nothing like a pair of skis that you love and feel totally in synch with. We should all own a piar or two of these!!

Yes, for sure!![/u]
 In 5 more semesters!!

Okay, maybe a bit sooner.

Lynn

OK, I am sensing a bit of BS here, Lynn.? I've seen your eyes light up when looking at shoes, or when showing shoes that you already own.? Skis have never, ever triggered that look in your eyes.? Maybe skis is as close as us guys can come to the shoe love that women experience? ?

[Gary]

Well gang....getting quite a broad slice of emotional and financial opinions..

What I was trying to express is the point JB stated....new skis can make a difference.
 IF you are aware of what is happening below the ankles, sometimes a bit wider, floatier, turnier, softer, more snappy, can all bring a new element of performace to skiing.

Maybe that something out there may not be the magic bullet or cure all...but it may certainly make your performance on snow a bit more fluid, easier, more fun, even with your current ski skills.

 Much depends on the individuals mindset....I can work with a drill with and power cord or a cordless drill...they both will do the job...but I may recognize benefits of one over the other....you may not....It may depend on how many holes you have to drill. I guess some of us do it because the pretty shoes just make us feel prettier? ....some of us really do get something out of it...a little more, a little faster, a little smoother and at the end of the day.....pretty shoes or sweet skis...it's just gotta make ya smile even longer and bigger.? ?
Best, G

[midwif]

OK, I am sensing a bit of BS here, Lynn.? I've seen your eyes light up when looking at shoes, or when showing shoes that you already own.? Skis have never, ever triggered that look in your eyes.? Maybe skis is as close as us guys can come to the shoe love that women experience? ?

HE LIES!!

But only a little.

[Gary]

Ah Lynn....the truth will set you free!!!! 

[midwif]

Gary,
To get back on track in this thread, I am not the most "sensitive" skier.
I just don't feel a great deal of feedback from skis. Not in the way you, Ron and JBotti describe.

I wish I had an "epiphany" (yes, pun intended) when on new equipment..

I will add, that one of the pieces of equipment that has enabled me to ski better out west is the ......camelbak.

I get seriously dry out there. I remember being at Alta in a group lesson and wanting to chew on snow.
I finally learned about the right winter camelbak. I can go longer, stronger on the slopes because I have it.

[LivingProof]

Well gang....getting quite a broad slice of emotional and financial opinions..

What I was trying to express is the point JB stated....new skis can make a difference.
 IF you are aware of what is happening below the ankles, sometimes a bit wider, floatier, turnier, softer, more snappy, can all bring a new element of performace to skiing.

Maybe that something out there may not be the magic bullet or cure all...but it may certainly make your performance on snow a bit more fluid, easier, more fun, even with your current ski skills.

 Much depends on the individuals mindset....I can work with a drill with and power cord or a cordless drill...they both will do the job...but I may recognize benefits of one over the other....you may not....It may depend on how many holes you have to drill. I guess some of us do it because the pretty shoes just make us feel prettier? ....some of us really do get something out of it...a little more, a little faster, a little smoother and at the end of the day.....pretty shoes or sweet skis...it's just gotta make ya smile even longer and bigger.? ?
Best, G

Gee G,
I wonder what happened to the logical guy I skied with last April at Holimount who was "ranting" about this perfect 2 ski quiver of a Fischer Progressor for everything up to 12" new snow, plus, a pair of Icelantic Pilgrims, 92 waist, for the western dumps?

I know you turned 60 this year, I'm kinda wondering what happened? Buying a pair of JJ's without demo'ing! The switch to Kastle midweek in JH!

Admit it, no matter what you said in the post, it can be reduced to 6 words.

"I wanted them, I bought them". And we are all guilty of making such purchases.

Enjoy!!

PS, I think you really did it so that you and Alice can remain a matched pair. She looks sooo good on the MX 78!

[Gary]

Hey Lynn...you see my point almost .....each of us experience our own skiing evolution. This year, yours maybe your camelback. I'm not making this stuff up..it happens. You indeed found a value in owning one, your skiing more, your outwest more, and you're much drier....A need has been filled...indeed.

And Mike, Yeah it was pretty unusual to buy the JJ's without trying them. For me, I skied Rons Hellbents, a run on Phils Never Summer, Watea 94's, the Pilgrims,....I had history with some fatter boards. I also knew with the limited supply of JJ"s if I totally hated them, I could sell them. The other thing this past 2 years I feel my ski skills and terrain I've challenged myself to warrented my evolution. The JJ's for me just make it that much easier to ski broken snow and pow. So much less yanking, pulling, jumping, twisting and energy to move through pow, soft bumps and crud....Yup...suces ss. Things gotta work or there ain't no moving forward. 

Best, g

[jim-ratliff]

My Ski Awakening

Took my Watea 84's out yesterday at SugarBush Vermont just for a change of pace.? They were horrible.!!!!? ? ? I don't know what Perry did to them, but there wasn't any edge, all they wanted to do was slide.? They seemed to be stuck in a perpetual wedge (but still edgeless).? I started down a slope they use for slalom races and finally had to slide off the side of the trail, my left foot wasn't getting any bite at all.

Once I slid to a stop, thinking the safe action was to walk down the hill and absolutely confounded at what Perry?could possibly have done to my skis, I took a quick glance down.? I noticed that the binding toe was barely clamping one side of the boot toe, the other toe was out of the binding and the boot was crooked with the ski; the boot clearly wasn't communicating anything my feet were doing to the ski.

And then I had my ski awakening.? ? I had forgotten to adjust the binding back to my boot sole length after Perry's longer boots.? I'm actually amazed that the skis didn't just fall off, there was so much slop and difference between his BSL and mine.? I made the adjustment, checked the forward pressure, and my skis were back to the Watea 84's that I have come to really like.? Lynn took me on some pretty soft but challenging bumps on Middle Earth (very sketchy cover, combination of dodging rocks and sheets of clear ice) as well as holding well on pretty firm slopes and that same slalom course.?

Very glad I was able to exorcise the "Perry Influence".

Ohhh, by the way Perry.? The answer to an earlier question is that my Watea 84's are 178 length (my Magnum's are 170).

[Perry]

That is great to know that they were the 178. 

I am also amazed at you ability to ski that way, kind of like driving a car with the front tires with loose lug nuts...can cause a crash.  Surely you did not think that my "carving" rubbed all the edge off of those boards.

Stay in  the bumps when you get a chance.

Perry

[jim-ratliff]

    Perry.  GUILTY.  My first thought was, indeed, what could PERRY possibly have done to my skis.