How do you determine your ski ability level?

In article , "JQ"
wrote:

"Alan Baker" wrote in message
...
In article , "JQ"
wrote:

I have read, heard and seen people claim to be an intermediate level
skier
because they can turn and stop or have skied a few times on season.
Most
have skied less than 20 times and generally at the same mountain. I
would
consider this skier a beginner and a far cry from intermediate level.
The
same applies to the skier that claims to be an advance skier because
they
can make it down a black diamond at a small mountain.

So how should a skier's level be determined? This is also important to
know
for many skiers so they are better able to get the right equipment for
themselves. using these levels: beginner, intermediate, advance, expert
&
master (a skier that can ski just about anything that is skiable -
"extreme
skiers" also has the knowledge and experience to go along with it).

Thanks,

JQ
Dancing on the edge

I'm trying to figure out why you care so much what other people choose
to call themselves...

--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
"If you raise the ceiling 4 feet, move the fireplace from that wall
to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect
if you sit in the bottom of that cupboard."

I don't! I was talking with a few friends the other day about skiing and
the comment about skiing levels came up. So I wanted see what the group
thought about the topic. So now you know...

Sorry, if I'm wrong, but it seems to me like it was more about putting
people who perhaps aren't as good as you in "their place".

Other than perhaps spending more of their money than they might need to,
what does it *matter* if a beginner buys "expert" equipment? It's not
actually dangerous to them, you know.

--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
"If you raise the ceiling 4 feet, move the fireplace from that wall
to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect
if you sit in the bottom of that cupboard."

"Alan Baker" wrote in message
...
In article , "JQ"
wrote:

"Alan Baker" wrote in message
...
In article , "JQ"
wrote:

I have read, heard and seen people claim to be an intermediate level
skier
because they can turn and stop or have skied a few times on season.
Most
have skied less than 20 times and generally at the same mountain. I
would
consider this skier a beginner and a far cry from intermediate
level.
The
same applies to the skier that claims to be an advance skier because
they
can make it down a black diamond at a small mountain.

So how should a skier's level be determined? This is also important
to
know
for many skiers so they are better able to get the right equipment
for
themselves. using these levels: beginner, intermediate, advance,
expert
&
master (a skier that can ski just about anything that is skiable -
"extreme
skiers" also has the knowledge and experience to go along with it).

Thanks,

JQ
Dancing on the edge

I'm trying to figure out why you care so much what other people choose
to call themselves...

--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
"If you raise the ceiling 4 feet, move the fireplace from that wall
to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect
if you sit in the bottom of that cupboard."

I don't! I was talking with a few friends the other day about skiing
and
the comment about skiing levels came up. So I wanted see what the group
thought about the topic. So now you know...

Sorry, if I'm wrong, but it seems to me like it was more about putting
people who perhaps aren't as good as you in "their place".

Other than perhaps spending more of their money than they might need to,
what does it *matter* if a beginner buys "expert" equipment? It's not
actually dangerous to them, you know.

I beg to differ, if a beginner buys a ski that is too stiff for them they
will not be able to turn them when conditions get a little rough as it will
through them into the back seat and out of control I speak from experience
here.

JQ
Dancing on the edge


--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
"If you raise the ceiling 4 feet, move the fireplace from that wall
to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect
if you sit in the bottom of that cupboard."

In article , "JQ"
wrote:

"Alan Baker" wrote in message
...
In article , "JQ"
wrote:

"Alan Baker" wrote in message
...
In article , "JQ"
wrote:

I have read, heard and seen people claim to be an intermediate level
skier
because they can turn and stop or have skied a few times on season.
Most
have skied less than 20 times and generally at the same mountain. I
would
consider this skier a beginner and a far cry from intermediate
level.
The
same applies to the skier that claims to be an advance skier because
they
can make it down a black diamond at a small mountain.

So how should a skier's level be determined? This is also important
to
know
for many skiers so they are better able to get the right equipment
for
themselves. using these levels: beginner, intermediate, advance,
expert
&
master (a skier that can ski just about anything that is skiable -
"extreme
skiers" also has the knowledge and experience to go along with it).

Thanks,

JQ
Dancing on the edge

I'm trying to figure out why you care so much what other people choose
to call themselves...

--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
"If you raise the ceiling 4 feet, move the fireplace from that wall
to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect
if you sit in the bottom of that cupboard."

I don't! I was talking with a few friends the other day about skiing
and
the comment about skiing levels came up. So I wanted see what the group
thought about the topic. So now you know...

Sorry, if I'm wrong, but it seems to me like it was more about putting
people who perhaps aren't as good as you in "their place".

Other than perhaps spending more of their money than they might need to,
what does it *matter* if a beginner buys "expert" equipment? It's not
actually dangerous to them, you know.

I beg to differ, if a beginner buys a ski that is too stiff for them they
will not be able to turn them when conditions get a little rough as it will
through them into the back seat and out of control I speak from experience
here.

JQ
Dancing on the edge


--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
"If you raise the ceiling 4 feet, move the fireplace from that wall
to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect
if you sit in the bottom of that cupboard."

--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
"If you raise the ceiling 4 feet, move the fireplace from that wall
to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect
if you sit in the bottom of that cupboard."

In message , JQ
writes

So how should a skier's level be determined?

Three categories aren't enough. Kit catalogues usually have 10-12 which
is too many to remember. Lets try something between:

1) Never-ever. Easily recognised off the snow by their inability to
move around in ski boots, on snow they're the ones trying to stand on
their uphill ski while clipping back into their downhill one.

2) Beginner. On snow they're the familiar "wobblies"; in the bar
they're the ones listening open-mouthed to the outrageous lies of a
slightly more experienced skier.

3) Low intermediate. On snow, they're attempting something beyond their
ability. In the bar they're describing the consequences.

4) Terminal intermediate. These are the ones whose skiing is not going
to improve in the forseeable future. If male, they're likely to ski
very fast in a straight line until they get to a bend in the piste, stop
there, then repeat the operation. If female, they probably refuse to
attempt any but the easier runs.
In the bar you'll find they always go to the same resort at the same
time every year.

5) Fashion victim. On snow you'll know them by the details: their
sunglasses, avalanche shovel, GPS etc will be the latest, not just their
clothes. They usually ski well, but it's not automatic.
In the bar they're the ones that remember exactly what each item cost
them and insist on telling you, which gets wearing.

6) Proficient skiers. Difficult to be sure if you aren't one yourself.

Why categorise them? Well, if you're organising a trip you don't want
to take just one person who's much weaker or stronger than the rest of
your group.
If you're going on one, you want to avoid the organiser who's planning a
powder trip for his own level (proficient) where his partner and friends
won't be able to cope with the conditions - unless you like listening to
couples bicker for a week.

--
Sue ];(

JQ wrote:

So how should a skier's level be determined?

It's quite easy, really. It's just like determining the load limit on a
bridge - you drive heavier and heavier trucks over it and when it breaks
weigh the second to last truck to cross.

For skiing ability, start on an easy slope and then try harder and
harder terrain until Dr. Darwin appears to take away all your earthly
pain. Then send in the experts to measure the difficulty of the second
to last trail you skied and attach the appropriate medallion to your
casket.

What's so friggin' hard about that? sheesh!

--
//-Walt
//
// http://cagle.slate.msn.com/working/040514/matson.gif

"NSAID" wrote in message
news:cGhhdHBoaWw=.016a9a067230502de22f507aa5689ddf @1094736131.nulluser.com...
Sue wrote:


Why categorise them? Well, if you're organising a trip you don't want
to take just one person who's much weaker or stronger than the rest of
your group.

Spend a lot of time, alone, do we? It's kinda amazing, all the goofs that
suggest this type of
crap are insecure posers that can't ski worth ****. Who died and left you
tour guide?


Speaking for myself, I thought Sue produced a legitimate response, and it
contributed to the discussion. Your post, on the other hand, was
unnecessarily abusive, and qualifies as a throwaway.

On 9/9/04 11:29 AM, in article SF_%c.368151$gE.301320@pd7tw3no, "Norm"
wrote:


"NSAID" wrote in message
news:cGhhdHBoaWw=.016a9a067230502de22f507aa5689ddf @1094736131.nulluser.com...
Sue wrote:


Why categorise them? Well, if you're organising a trip you don't want
to take just one person who's much weaker or stronger than the rest of
your group.

Spend a lot of time, alone, do we? It's kinda amazing, all the goofs that
suggest this type of
crap are insecure posers that can't ski worth ****. Who died and left you
tour guide?


Speaking for myself, I thought Sue produced a legitimate response, and it
contributed to the discussion. Your post, on the other hand, was
unnecessarily abusive, and qualifies as a throwaway.



Ask me if I give a **** what you think.

Ask me if I give a **** what you think.

Likewise.
Moron.

"Norm" wrote in news:RW_%c.352447$M95.148551
@pd7tw1no:



Ask me if I give a **** what you think.

Likewise.
Moron.





NSAID = no **** am I dumb

Walt wrote in :

JQ wrote:

So how should a skier's level be determined?

It's quite easy, really. It's just like determining the load limit on
a
bridge - you drive heavier and heavier trucks over it and when it
breaks
weigh the second to last truck to cross.

For skiing ability, start on an easy slope and then try harder and
harder terrain until Dr. Darwin appears to take away all your earthly
pain. Then send in the experts to measure the difficulty of the second
to last trail you skied and attach the appropriate medallion to your
casket.

What's so friggin' hard about that? sheesh!


Nah. Just point 'em straight down the mountain. If you get to the bottom
still standing, you're an expert. If you don't, try golf.