Skiing update

Spie

Spie

Spie

Godfather
Godfather
Joined
17 Oct 2002
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13,054
Location
Bromsgrove
Had 2 lessons now at Tamworth Snow Dome and I like it :)

Bought my own boots but used hired skis. First lesson was quite hard even though all I did was use the last 20 odd feet of the slope. It's all about balance really. Basic snow-ploughing and stopping. A bit boring.

Second lesson today was more fun. Half-way up the first slope. Still snow-ploughing but stopping mid-slope on demand and did a bit of turning. Great confidence building stuff though and nice to use to Rope pulley instead of sidestepping all the way up.

I'm hoping that after another 4 or 5 lessons I'll be good enough to at least have the basics ready for Whistler. If anyone is thinking of having a go, just do it. It's great fun :cool:
 
I found it easier out on the open slopes to be honest, never got on with Tamworth, but won a gold in slalom races on my 4th day in austria :)

It's so relaxing on the blue runs there, just peace and quiet.... I cant wait to retire to a skiing bunker in the alps!

Wait till you try the black runs!
 
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Bend ze knees, roll ze ankles. Ah happy days, give it a few more lessons and you'll soon be carving up the slope.

Jokester
 
Hehe, Tamworth is where i had my first lessons and then i went to Whistler too.. infact.. im fairly sure thats what i recommended in your request for info thread. :p

You're gonna love Whistler so much more with the experience your getting from the current lessons.
 
gord said:
Hehe, Tamworth is where i had my first lessons and then i went to Whistler too.. infact.. im fairly sure thats what i recommended in your request for info thread. :p

You're gonna love Whistler so much more with the experience your getting from the current lessons.
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didn't realise you were into skiing G0rd? :cool:
 
I've actually got mixed memories of Whistler.

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Bit of a fog problem because of it's location on the coast, though it was good for the skiing as it meant a lot of people kept of the foggy parts.

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And I had the misfortune of being there during the worst winter in living memory (2004-2005) for snowfall.

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So it was real patchy at the bottom with just a piste bashed track down the last 20% of so at the base.

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But up on high the conditions were excellent and well out of the fog if there was any.

For skiing I've been to plenty of better places, but Whistler has a great town at the bottom with pretty much anything you could want and the kids will love it.

Jokester
 
Booner! said:
didn't realise you were into skiing G0rd? :cool:
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Board, Skis, Blades, its all good to me. Love the mountains. Been all over British Columbia, the usual places, Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise, Sunshine also to Jasper.

Also been to France, but Canada knocks the socks off of it.

@Jokester, yeh, the problem with skiing is you just dont know what the weather will do and it can really impact on your enjoyment wherever you are, but its like most holidays considering the unpredictability of the weather.
 
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Sounds great - never done Skiing before but with a trip to Austria for £299 with a uni society I'm going to start a few lessons and see if it's any good.
 
Spie said:
Had 2 lessons now at Tamworth Snow Dome and I like it :)

Bought my own boots but used hired skis. First lesson was quite hard even though all I did was use the last 20 odd feet of the slope. It's all about balance really. Basic snow-ploughing and stopping. A bit boring.

Second lesson today was more fun. Half-way up the first slope. Still snow-ploughing but stopping mid-slope on demand and did a bit of turning. Great confidence building stuff though and nice to use to Rope pulley instead of sidestepping all the way up.

I'm hoping that after another 4 or 5 lessons I'll be good enough to at least have the basics ready for Whistler. If anyone is thinking of having a go, just do it. It's great fun :cool:
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Keep it up, it is one of the greatest sports and pastimes on the
planet.
IF you can put up with a dry ski slope wait until you are on top of a mountain with 20km and 2500m of vertical, blue-bird sky and a field of powder all to yourself.
 
Good score spie. Thank god you bought your own boots! It does make all the difference (i hope you made sure you spent at least 1 hour in shop during fitting). I still think that when you go to the proper slopes, you should only hire (skis), that way you can change them every other day if they are pony.
 
gord said:
Board, Skis, Blades, its all good to me. Love the mountains. Been all over British Columbia, the usual places, Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise, Sunshine also to Jasper.

Also been to France, but Canada knocks the socks off of it.

@Jokester, yeh, the problem with skiing is you just dont know what the weather will do and it can really impact on your enjoyment wherever you are, but its like most holidays considering the unpredictability of the weather.
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No no, snowfall predictability knocks the socks of France, but the Skiing in France is form another world. Bigger, better badder. Make a mistake in france and you leave in a body bag.

May this year:
The Mont Blanc (my destination this coming spring), 3800m from summit to valley
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At the top station, as you exit a tunnel carved through the ice a sign warns of death to all those ill-equipped and without the necessary skills. You are immediately thrown onto a steep knife-edge with a death slide on either side of you. Chamonix is 2800m below you.
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out here there is no one to hear you scream. 1000m to climb back up, 1800m to ski and walk down... an accident here as some consequences. ...ahh, but it is easy and mellow
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Until you fall down one of these
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Negotiating avalanche debris, seracs, creavsses
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Just another day in the hills.
 
leaskovski said:
Good score spie. Thank god you bought your own boots! It does make all the difference (i hope you made sure you spent at least 1 hour in shop during fitting). I still think that when you go to the proper slopes, you should only hire (skis), that way you can change them every other day if they are pony.
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Yep, I did. I hadn't realised jusy how important boot fit is. Had them heat moulded with some insoles and they are fit superbly. Got them from Lockwoods in Leamington Spa. These are the boots. Their boot man really knows his stuff.
 
But that stuff is for the serious and the nutters :D

Good luck with it all Spie, I tried skiing and loved it, so I tried 'boarding and loved that even more. Just a pity the wife hated it all.... :( no more snow for a while
 
By the end of your skiing trip you'll be parallel turning (depends if you are getting some tuition I can't remember). Most people do learn quite quickly and you look to be on track.

Love skiing, shame i've got no friends that can ski or would come skiing to learn.

I'll get back to Italy or somewhere where day to enjoy myself some more :D
 
Woo havent been to Tamworth for years, might have to pop down again soon!

I have only been to Switzerland and Italy for skiing, after looking at D.P's pics im thinking of going to France next year now!!
 
Spie said:
Yep, I did. I hadn't realised jusy how important boot fit is.
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My one and only experience of Tamworth was not being able to walk for a week afterwards, had half a day shuffling up and down 20 feet of a slope not realising how bad a fit the boots were. Oh well.

Had a proper half day lesson in Scotland a few years after on real snow and found it far easier - was up and down slopes all afternoon following the lesson. Great fun.
 
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