Who's going skiing and where - 2021 #postcrisis

[Welshbeef]

How many ski resorts in Europe have shut permanent over the years? I’m sure there used to be loads more previously. Ditto the states there are resorts where they are deserted and lifts rusting away.

[Bill]

Whoozit said:

Do yoga, and avoid skiing icy/bumpy stuff. I turn 50 next year after 35 years skiing, those two things are what have kept me ready for 20-30 days on the snow the last 3-4 years. When I'm 75, I might choose not to do the super steep offpiste any more. But I'll sure as hell be carving it up on sunny days.

I've found technique and the ability to bounce is the issue. I've started touring in the last few years (50-y-o this year) and I can cruise piste all day and climb easily enough but coming down in crud is hard going. (I had started a bounce related exercise regime this year but covid stopped me finding out how effective it is. )

[vaud]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

My ski apartment is locked up for 2/3 of the year - I may go there occasionally in the summer, but it's generally December to Easter.

I love the mountains in the summer. Long days, long hikes, clear air, etc...

[Carbon Sasquatch]

vaud said:

Carbon Sasquatch said:

My ski apartment is locked up for 2/3 of the year - I may go there occasionally in the summer, but it's generally December to Easter.

I love the mountains in the summer. Long days, long hikes, clear air, etc...

Me too - unfortunately my wife prefers being on the side of a lake and waterskiing in the summer. Also close to a good surfing beach - first world problems....

[Carbon Sasquatch]

Interski have cancelled all their bookings for Aosta Valley this season. I guess not a huge surprise as most schools won’t be running trips, but still disappointing to read.

Big impact on the local economy and all the instructors.

https://www.interski.co.uk/winter2020.php

[Whoozit]

Bill said:

I've found technique and the ability to bounce is the issue. I've started touring in the last few years (50-y-o this year) and I can cruise piste all day and climb easily enough but coming down in crud is hard going. (I had started a bounce related exercise regime this year but covid stopped me finding out how effective it is. )

I changed from Euro style bouncing to North American big turns 15 years ago, relearning how to ski after breaking my ankle on a motorbike. According to one of the coaches I've skied with, the trick with crud is to go 25% faster than you're comfortable doing, and just do big slow carving turns. Then you float instead of getting bogged down.

Big skis help instead of skinny touring-spec. 98mm + underfoot.

[gregs656]

Whoozit said:

I changed from Euro style bouncing to North American big turns 15 years ago, relearning how to ski after breaking my ankle on a motorbike. According to one of the coaches I've skied with, the trick with crud is to go 25% faster than you're comfortable doing, and just do big slow carving turns. Then you float instead of getting bogged down.

Big skis help instead of skinny touring-spec. 98mm + underfoot.

Could you explain this a bit more? Surely what you’re describing is dependent on the natural features?

What would ‘North American’ style turns look like on a mogul field? Or la face?

[Whoozit]

gregs656 said:

Could you explain this a bit more? Surely what you’re describing is dependent on the natural features?

What would ‘North American’ style turns look like on a mogul field? Or la face?

Sort of - it's a looser, less carving focused style. For moguls, it can use more slarving (mix of carve and slide) and the uphill sides of moguls to keep momentum under control. Less up and down, more side to side. For steeps, you have to learn to do a full turn without speeding through any of the phases, using pole plant, weight and edge transfer to do a smooth turn, instead of hopping (= rushing the first two thirds of a turn).

We're off topic here so if worth taking to a separate thread, let me know.

[S100HP]

https://planetski.eu/2020/11/10/four-uk-tour-opera...

FOUR UK TOUR OPERATORS CANCEL ALL SKI HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER

Edited by S100HP on Tuesday 10th November 14:14

[gregs656]

Whoozit said:

Sort of - it's a looser, less carving focused style. For moguls, it can use more slarving (mix of carve and slide) and the uphill sides of moguls to keep momentum under control. Less up and down, more side to side. For steeps, you have to learn to do a full turn without speeding through any of the phases, using pole plant, weight and edge transfer to do a smooth turn, instead of hopping (= rushing the first two thirds of a turn).

We're off topic here so if worth taking to a separate thread, let me know.

Got a video?

[Bill]

Whoozit said:

Sort of - it's a looser, less carving focused style. For moguls, it can use more slarving (mix of carve and slide) and the uphill sides of moguls to keep momentum under control. Less up and down, more side to side. For steeps, you have to learn to do a full turn without speeding through any of the phases, using pole plant, weight and edge transfer to do a smooth turn, instead of hopping (= rushing the first two thirds of a turn).

We're off topic here so if worth taking to a separate thread, let me know.

It's worth keeping here imo, if only to keep our hopes up!

[Whoozit]

gregs656 said:

Got a video?

Here's a demo of skiing crud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu_wqCipvZs

These show the relevant skills. You'll spot they all revolve around skiing steeps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOGg8faQRdk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtnr09nmIqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o73ReQW_780

And for moguls specifically, watch this. The key is to watch his head and shoulders which don't bob around, the legs are doing most of the moving underneath while never leaving the snow (except for fun). They're going side to side not up and down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETOxehsC8xk

Happy to try and answer questions. I have a CSIA Level 1 ticket so I have some understanding of turn theory and how to explain it simply. Plus I've got 20 years skiing in Whistler under my belt, where every trip I've taken steeps and offpiste coaching to keep improving.

Edited by Whoozit on Tuesday 10th November 18:28

[Fluffsri]

Need a 2022 thread, just booked for Jan 22

[gregs656]

Whoozit said:

Here's a demo of skiing crud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu_wqCipvZs

These show the relevant skills. You'll spot they all revolve around skiing steeps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOGg8faQRdk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtnr09nmIqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o73ReQW_780

And for moguls specifically, watch this. The key is to watch his head and shoulders which don't bob around, the legs are doing most of the moving underneath while never leaving the snow (except for fun). They're going side to side not up and down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETOxehsC8xk

Happy to try and answer questions. I have a CSIA Level 1 ticket so I have some understanding of turn theory and how to explain it simply. Plus I've got 20 years skiing in Whistler under my belt, where every trip I've taken steeps and offpiste coaching to keep improving.

Edited by Whoozit on Tuesday 10th November 18:28

Thanks.

I don't think there is anything there that I haven't been taught in Europe.

[JQ]

Fluffsri said:

Need a 2022 thread, just booked for Jan 22

Wow, I'm amazed it's even available to book. Where are you going and was it super cheap?

[Whoozit]

gregs656 said:

Thanks.

I don't think there is anything there that I haven't been taught in Europe.

Excellent. Now put on a toque, complain about the viz and the death cookies, and say "Give 'er!" when your friends go for it. Then you'd fit right in.

Being slightly more serious, European ski schools tend to focus on piste techniques with a bias towards racing. North American ski schools look more towards big mountain skiing and move strong intermediate students into offpiste asap, consequently less emphasis on edging and carving. There is a lot of overlap of technique of course. It's how it's consistently applied that is different.

I'm lazy, with knees that can't take a big bashing, and want to ski for another 30+ years. So I'm happy taking the more mellow approach.

[gregs656]

Whoozit said:

Excellent. Now put on a toque, complain about the viz and the death cookies, and say "Give 'er!" when your friends go for it. Then you'd fit right in.

Being slightly more serious, European ski schools tend to focus on piste techniques with a bias towards racing. North American ski schools look more towards big mountain skiing and move strong intermediate students into offpiste asap, consequently less emphasis on edging and carving. There is a lot of overlap of technique of course. It's how it's consistently applied that is different.

I'm lazy, with knees that can't take a big bashing, and want to ski for another 30+ years. So I'm happy taking the more mellow approach.

I've had a fair bit of off piste instruction so perhaps that is the difference.

I didn't get a chance to ski in Canada this year, but hopefully I will next year although with COVID kicking off in Ontario again it isn't looking probable.

[CAPP0]

Whoozit said:

Here's a demo of skiing crud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu_wqCipvZs

These show the relevant skills. You'll spot they all revolve around skiing steeps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOGg8faQRdk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtnr09nmIqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o73ReQW_780

And for moguls specifically, watch this. The key is to watch his head and shoulders which don't bob around, the legs are doing most of the moving underneath while never leaving the snow (except for fun). They're going side to side not up and down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETOxehsC8xk

Happy to try and answer questions. I have a CSIA Level 1 ticket so I have some understanding of turn theory and how to explain it simply. Plus I've got 20 years skiing in Whistler under my belt, where every trip I've taken steeps and offpiste coaching to keep improving.

Edited by Whoozit on Tuesday 10th November 18:28

That's all really interesting stuff, thanks!

[JEA1K]

St Anton opening 17/12 ... delayed by a couple of weeks. There is a glimmer of hope ... not much, but a glimmer.

[Amateurish]

The way cases are going in France right now, I find it very hard to believe that the ski season will start next month.I've got flights booked for Feb half term but can't see that happening.