What one thing...

Kneale Brownson wrote:

Lisa Horton wrote in message ...
If you could tell a beginning skier just one thing, just one piece of
advice, what would it be?

Lisa

I start every first-timer lesson by making the beginners pull out all
the crap they normally stuff down the cuff of their boots. I want
them with nothing inside the boots but a pair of socks pulled up so
there are no wrinkles. Then I make them tighten the boots until their
feet/ankles are held like a hand gripped in a firm handshake.

Great! The first boot rental guy was adamant, nothing but socks inside
the boots, and I've kept to his advice. Took me a while to find out
about THIN socks, but now I've got proper ski socks. By working with
the buckles, I've got my foot in a very firm grip, and just about
eliminated any numb spots, and haven't had any sore spots (in my feet)
since I got my own boots. They're actually not uncomfortable at all,
just quite snug.


After that, it's all about learning how your feet feel without any
sore spots from inappropriate pressure points or rubbing.

That part is real interesting, I'm slightly surprised at how important a
role the feet play, small movements, small weight shifts have an obvious
and pronounced effect.

Lisa

Terd Fartingmor wrote:

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 20:39:48 -0700, Lisa Horton
wrote this crap:

If you could tell a beginning skier just one thing, just one piece of
advice, what would it be?

Make sure that underneath your ski clothes, your're wearing a white
tank top and orange shorts.


I don't wear orange. Period.

Lisa

The Real Bev wrote:

Lisa Horton wrote:

If you could tell a beginning skier just one thing, just one piece of
advice, what would it be?

Don't eat yellow snow.

OK, everybody already knows that. Here's the real one:

Don't believe your hot-shot friend when (s)he tells you "Come on, it's
easy!" when (s)he tries to drag you onto the double-black-diamond lift.


Ah, survival advice Since my friend talked me into the disconcerting
and disturbing "high speed" detachable lift on my second day, I don't
believe a word she says about how easy or hard anything snow related is


Lisa

foot2foot wrote:

"Lisa Horton" wrote in message
...
If you could tell a beginning skier just one thing, just one piece of
advice, what would it be?

Lisa

I'm starting to wonder if you're serious, or just playing
some sort of game, or *really* desperate for attention,
but anyway, that one thing would be:

I've been thinking about this comment more, in the context of recent
newsgroup history. No games, not from me, not here, not ever. Except
clever and humorous word play, but nothing hostile or antagonistic. I
don't have a dog in that fight. Desperate for attention? If I was, I
would have adopted a different approach, probably have adopted a fake
personna tailored for effectiveness, and I'd be a lot more flirty.
Nope, the only attention I crave is in the context of my professional
work, and even there, only certain types of attention. Serious? I'll
tell you what I'm serious about, having a whole lot of fun. Now, I'm
probably a little different than many in that I know that sweating the
details initially, getting a good grounding in the basics, is the best
path to the maximum level of enjoyment. I approach everything this
way.


Keep your hands forward, elbows ahead of the body,
arms at least belly button high, at all times. As though
you're carrying a big beach ball. Hold the hands in this
position every second of the time you're skiing. It's the
number one problem most skiers have, beginner or not.
If your hands aren't forward, nothing will work.

You've given me a lot of info, a lot to digest. Much of it won't make
sense until I try it next week while actually skiing. By selecting just
one item, you help me understand what is most important to learn.
Thanks.

Lisa

Lisa Horton wrote:

If you could tell a beginning skier just one thing, just one piece of
advice, what would it be?

Thanks to all who've replied, in case I forgot anyone. Your advice is
appreciated.

Lisa

Kneale Brownson wrote:

I start every first-timer lesson by making the beginners pull out all
the crap they normally stuff down the cuff of their boots. I want
them with nothing inside the boots but a pair of socks pulled up so
there are no wrinkles. Then I make them tighten the boots until their
feet/ankles are held like a hand gripped in a firm handshake.

OK, but what about silk longjohns whose cuffs are too small to go up
over the calf? Is this just a learning device, or should you never wear
undies like that?

After that, it's all about learning how your feet feel without any
sore spots from inappropriate pressure points or rubbing.

--
Cheers,
Bev
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx
"If anyone disagrees with anything I say, I am quite prepared
not only to retract it, but also to deny under oath that I
ever said it." -- T. Lehrer

BrritSki wrote:


Lisa Horton wrote:

If you could tell a beginning skier just one thing, just one piece of
advice, what would it be?


Take time to look at the mountains.

Exactly. Good one - we sometimes forget to pause and enjoy.

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 10:46:39 -0700, Lisa Horton
wrote:



"ski.no" wrote:

"Lisa Horton" skrev i melding
...
If you could tell a beginning skier just one thing, just one piece of
advice, what would it be?

I'm starting to wonder if you're serious, or just playing
some sort of game, or *really* desperate for attention,
but anyway, that one thing would be:

I'm serious. The question was open ended intentionally. I'm hoping for
things that would not be obvious for a beginner to look into, about any
aspect of skiing.

I've gone back over old post again though, and so I understand why
people here might be a bit skittish. I had no idea of the drama I was
walking into.

Or rather "skiing into". My best advice to a newbie skier? To get the right
and optimal equipment (skis, bindings, boots etc. ) for your particular
skill level. Any decent ski store should be able to give you some good
advice here, about what to buy, and equally important, what not to buy, as a
newbie. Good luck.

I didn't quite follow the conventional wisdom in buying my first set of
gear. Not much in the way of help at the local Any Mountain. I THINK I
got stuff that's pretty appropriate, especially the skis which are very
obviously easier for me to turn and control than the rental skis. At
least I got a good enough deal that if I need to replace/upgrade
anything within a year, I'm still not spending foolishly. I think


Sorry, but there is no such thing as skis that are appropriate for a
near complete beginner to buy.

In the early days, you are likely to improve so quickly that you will
need better skis before you have skied enough days on them to break
even with rental costs.

You really would almost certainly have been better to rent for your
first few weeks of skiing.

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 18:15:06 +0200, "ski.no"
wrote:

"Lisa Horton" skrev i melding
...
If you could tell a beginning skier just one thing, just one piece of
advice, what would it be?

I'm starting to wonder if you're serious, or just playing
some sort of game, or *really* desperate for attention,
but anyway, that one thing would be:

I'm serious. The question was open ended intentionally. I'm hoping for
things that would not be obvious for a beginner to look into, about any
aspect of skiing.

I've gone back over old post again though, and so I understand why
people here might be a bit skittish. I had no idea of the drama I was
walking into.

Or rather "skiing into". My best advice to a newbie skier? To get the right
and optimal equipment (skis, bindings, boots etc. ) for your particular
skill level. Any decent ski store should be able to give you some good
advice here, about what to buy, and equally important, what not to buy, as a
newbie. Good luck.


And if they give you advice to buy, other than clothing, as a complete
beginner, then they are not a decent ski store.

Normal advice to a newbie skier is NOT to buy at this stage.

The Real Bev wrote in message ...
Kneale Brownson wrote:

I start every first-timer lesson by making the beginners pull out all
the crap they normally stuff down the cuff of their boots. I want
them with nothing inside the boots but a pair of socks pulled up so
there are no wrinkles. Then I make them tighten the boots until their
feet/ankles are held like a hand gripped in a firm handshake.

OK, but what about silk longjohns whose cuffs are too small to go up
over the calf? Is this just a learning device, or should you never wear
undies like that?

After that, it's all about learning how your feet feel without any
sore spots from inappropriate pressure points or rubbing.

I'd offer you something like a penknife to make them fit above the
boot. If the silks had a footshape on them, like little kids' PJs,
you could wear them as socks. The cuff is a potential pressure point.
I've seen ankles ringed with blisters from wearing the ends of
silk-like longjohns inside the cuff.