Quiver vs. Technique

[jbotti]

Everyone here knows that I love gear, new skis and different skis for different conditions. Having said this, I just came back from skiing 3 days with HH and MAX 501. We skied all over the mountain with Head SS's (yes three pairs). I watched Harald and Max just slay any conditions on the SS's and the last day we had 8-10 inches of powder. In places, there was extreme wind buff (very tough to ski with sidecut) and in pockets it was easily knee deep. These guys just skied everything with ease. They both have incredible bullet proof short radius turns (and I don't).

All three of us at once came to the conclusion that next season I should ski everything on my super shapes, in all conditions. Fat skis definitely make certain terrain and conditions much easier, but it also allows one to get by with ineffective technique (in fact reinforcing it).

So the real question for me is whether I want to have fun or truly improve my skiing. I have already made up my mind and I will be slkiing everything on my SS's next season.

[jim-ratliff]

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.

[jbotti]

Jim. all your points are well taken. Balance is so important in life, and the whole point of skiing is to have fun!!

I'm sure my powder skis will come out at least a few times next winter. I think the point I am trying to make is that I want to learn to ski all conditions well on carving skis. If I can accomplish this, I will have become the level of skier that has been my goal. I think it's attainable (but maybe not that soon).

On the fun component, I can have a blast doing drills while skiing with my wife and daughter. I also can do drills for an hour and still have fun the rest of the day.

You're right, when it becomes an obsession, it's no longer fun, just something else that is running me (or anyone else stuck in the same place!!). JB.

[Gary]

hey guys...I think much of attitude on the slope depends on ones personal definition of what having fun is. For me, I try and own each turn, each run with good form and carving skills...but hey...that's me.

I do agree that learning to ski your carving ski in all conditions can teach you a bunch, but trying taking out your mid fats or fatties on a boiler plate day and see how strong your edging skills are can also be a huge challenge.  Again guys, this is me.

Now beating myself senseless on a heavy wet and deep crud day may not? be my idea of fun for enjoying the day so out come the fatties to smooth things out....heck, I'm not keen on beating my self up all day.

Knowing when to challenge? yourself and making most out of the day is very individualistic.

For me for instance...I have found the SS to meet 90% of the conditions I love to ski. The Monster 82's don't see much use unless the conditions are deep. Still, having it there is a comfort knowing no matter what, I can extend my day on the mountain and keep a yahooing all day.
Best,
Gary

[jim-ratliff]

Gary:

Excellent point.?

Actually I am somewhat like John; at the beginning of the year I identify things that I want to improve on in my limited days (some years it was just don't suffer an injury).? However, if I find myself skiing the slopes and not stopping to appreciate the slopes that I'm skiing on then I need to adjust my balance a little bit.? For me, being out on the mountain is far too peaceful an experience to take it for granted.? The skiing is the reason to be out there, and even though I want to get better, the skiing isn't the goal.

PS.? Have decided to replace iM77 chip (170cm) with iM78's (177 cm) from Scott (DawgCatching).
PPS. Gary, what I was thinking when I asked about your skis was if you could have traded back your SuperShapes to buy another ski, then we could have gotten the iM78's through your shop.? I'm sure the SuperShapes will go quickly, it's amazing how much more general acceptance of Head skis there is now vs. 2 years ago.

[Gary]

Ah yes Jim..balance! It truly is about balance, being of physical and emotional balance. Man Jim...we could have some great discussions if you could find your way to Steamboat this Dec. (plus some great skiing)

The skiing IS the reason to be out there. What we get out of it is that perception of what skiing means to each of us. The pure enjoyment of carving, sliding, jumping, all that cool kid stuff that we all have in us. Or, maybe just taking a moment to look around, check out the view, relish those momments we're sharing with friends. It's funny, sometimes when I close my eyes to sleep, I picture that run on Metor, stopped along the side, looking along the left edge where the snow is piled up....I see the snow, feel my first turn and then the start of a rythmic carve, now a look over my shoulder and a bast of speed followed by the rush of a? big GS turn, I owned that run!..."groovy baby, groovy" Austin Powers said it best.

Man, I'm feelling the need right now...sometimes it's about what the mountain, the day, the friends, and the gear give back!

Best,
Gary

PS Jim, I'd be interested in hearing your comparison of the 77's to 78's since I owned the 77's.

[jim-ratliff]

I'll be interested in your comparison.? ?? I am planning on Steamboat and plan to bring the 78's; and, as you know, Railflex's are pretty easy to adjust for different boot sizes.

What I'm hoping for is a ski with a more uniform flex and more versatility.? The iM77 Chip seemed to me to have a stiff tail and softer shovel.? Looking at my tracks, the tail was always skidding a bit (some me, some it).? One of the Dawgcatching's comments about the iM78 that caught my eye was

"This ski almost felt like a wider version of the Supershape, which isn't too surprising: adding lots of versatility at the expense of a bit of power underfoot".

A little less power than even the 82 is probably good for me.? Also has a little bit more shape, and I don't lose anything underfoot.? And besides, I've never skied a laminate ski before and you all have raved so much about the Monster Laminates that I had to try one.? Never can tell, they may be for sale by Christmas of next year.

For what it's worth, even at 200 lbs. I took Scott's advice and went 170 with the iM77, so I was always quite impressed that you could manhandle the 177.? I did go back to a 177 length for the iM78.

[Barrettscv]

Skis don't care if your monogamous  .

Michael

[Gary]

Hey Jim...I'm so happy you are making the Steamboat trip.
I have heard great things about the 78...again do to design it being a different ski than the 77. My buddy Ed, who will be at Steamboat too, (he was at Beaver Creek for Real Skiers 1) is 6'2 and 200lbs and loves his IM72's. He has them in I believe the 177 length.

I'm sure that ski will give you lots of versatility and maybe with some luck...Steamboat will provide some of the famous fluffy stuff to put smiles on our faces.

Jim just a thought...I know if I moved the binding forward on the 77's and I was pushing the ski hard in shorter turns, the tail had a tendancy to wash out. When I center the binding, that for the most part went away. Just curious if you noticed the same thing or not.

I have really enjoyed the "skiability" of the 82 and do notice it has more snap than the 77. I think the "laminate" factor plays a role there. I'm thinking the 78 at your weigh, could be a great all purpose carve/float machine for most snow conditions.

And Michael..true..."skis don't care if you're monogamous"...but we let them think they are the one and only as we slap them on our feet....yes my skis smile when they hear that!

How many days and counting till Steamboat?

Best,
Gary

[Barrettscv]

And Michael..true..."skis don't care if you're monogamous"...but we let them think they are the one and only as we slap them on our feet....yes my skis smile when they hear that!

How many days and counting till Steamboat?

Best,
Gary

My skis are glad that I'm unfaithful. I told my Contact 11's & Inspired by Nobis that I'm taking the lowly rock skis (the Scenios) to Vermont because of the rocks that would harm their perfect edges. They concurred. (a variation of the old "its not you, its me" speech)

Of-course the Scenios showed me a thing or two on Sunday. Both the skis and the Tecnica plug boots kicked my ass. Even the bindings gave me a false release, and I was still standing!


Michael

[Ron]

Ahh yes, the anti fat-ski brigade no , really, fat skis are simply awesome, fantastic, fun and just plain better in powder and soft snow and remember this ESPECIALLY with PMTS or modern skills. What got me hooked is when I skied with two snowboarders this Christmas in powder. The boarders we so graceful and could easily handle the pow. Fat skis are not evil and they wont and don't make you a bad skier. Using good technique just akes them even more fun. Floating throught he pow, turning on a dime, yes, a dime with little effort, is just palin fun folks, just fun. Terrain that I had skied with SS's and they are still the greatest front-side ski IMHO, and then skiing the same with my my MOJO90's was so different. The SS's were just fine, but the MOJO's were so much more fun and more ease. I realized after a couple of hours how muc less effort I used to ski over the SS's. However, on the hard-pack day, the SS's would have been that much more fun than the MOJO's. Yes, its technique in the end and not the ski folks, just like when in the off-season, I shoot Sporting Clays, and the mantra there is "its not the gun, its the shooter". Same thing, much different sport. OK, so here's the final summary, right tool for the right job. Have a well-equiped tool box of techniques and ski's and have fun dammit! I would agree that many of the skiers on fat-skis have limited skills but that doesn't make the ski bad; and fat skis don't make skiing less enjoyable, in fact, its the right tool for powder!

[jim-ratliff]

Jim just a thought...I know if I moved the binding forward on the 77's and I was pushing the ski hard in shorter turns, the tail had a tendency to wash out. When I center the binding, that for the most part went away.? Just curious if you noticed the same thing or not.

Gary: Yes, I skied them at center at first, moved them forward and tried them for a couple of days days, and moved them back to center (0) and left them there.? I even considered trying them at -15 but didn't.? Tails 'washing out', yes excellent description.

Ron:? I always thought "sporting clays" was a bit of an oxymoron.? Do the clays feel it's sporting to get thrown around and shot at?   

[Ron]

Jim, although the clay birds are shot, we do eat them . Cant wait to ski again!  Surgery is April 21, Gary and I plan to ski in July at the latest

[Gary]

Ron like your explanation on fat ski....the evil ones!
The right tools can really smooth out conditions and wear and tear on the ole body.

Miichael....so it's not just me who talks to my skis....hmmm.....do ya think are boots might be a little to tight?

I think it would be more sporting for the clays if they could fire back if you missed...no there's an adventure!

Jim, me thinks the 78's will give you another perspective on mid fat ski performance compared to the 77's. No skiing off the roof this summer....wait to the "Boat" grasshopper!

Ron has his knee being worked on to cure some old knee abuse issues but plans to be back strong so we can try and find a resort like say TImeberline that will take two snow craved addicts for 4 days of skiing mid summer. Ah yes....one can only dream about it today and hope the conditions will allow such an indulgence.

Ron found a buyer for my SS....Thanks Ron...ya da man!

Best,
Gary

[jbotti]

Gary and Ron, when are you guys planning to go to Mt. Hood/Timberline? Depending on the timing, I might try to make it up from the bay area for a couple of days. Remember that June is better than July and July is better than August!!!