Biggest tells on level/type of skier?

G

G_Adams

Member
Inspired by WankerTanker's recent thread https://www.newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/768376/

What aspects of a skier's outerwear or gear do you think are the biggest tells on how good they are or what type of skier they are (park/all mountain)?

A few for me (just correlations, not hard rules obviously)

1) goggles under helmet = Either park skier (good or bad) or good all mountain skier

2) center mounted skis= park skier (kinda obvious)

3) Longer park skis = good skier

What do you guys look for?

 
there has been a recent influx of mind numbingly retarded threads, and this one is certainly no exception
 
At first I thought that there could be some potential here... until i realized that you were talking about outerwear. There is no correlation between outwear and skill/ability.
 
I was pretty much talking about anything... looking at a skier in the lift line or something, what do you look for to tell you what kind of skier they are? wasn't trying to make a thread saying that if you wear cool outwear you are good...
 
shit, looks like i've been doing the wrong thing all these years wearing my goggles so the lenses are on the back of my helmet and the strap covers my eyes. So many people looking at me in the lift line must have thought I gulped penis
 
i'm gonna turn things around here with a legit ass answer (the only kind of answer i give amiright?)

-really good but beat up or mismatched gear. wear some mismatched FKSs on some edgeless armadas and the lift line quickly reorganizes itself into a line waiting to suck you off
 
He is right, i am lying! his boy jimmy is proof. If you don't have min of 5xl tall, then when trying a rail you are sure to fall.
 
how you carry skis and how you walk down steps in ski boots. if you can do both at the same time, you ski black diamonds.
 
you sound like literally ANY park skier at my home mountain. not that i dont wear saga too, but there isnt a single one who doesnt
 
im the best skier on the mountain and i wear old beat up things i find in dumpsters.

this thread is aids
 
You're right, this guy sucks.

162117.jpg
 
Its very hard to tell just by looking at a rider, if he skis well or not. Its nearly impossible. These are my tells:

1:Outwear vs Age of rider. A kid under 12 with bright gear and expensive brands tend to be a lower caliber. It means they got rich parents. Looking at a teen with mixed up outwear often is the guy who shreds best. But, damaged outwear and overall "bum" look also ride hard. Tighter clothing with markings (ski school, ski patrol) from 18 to old always means this person can only ride flat, but can ride well. But, this is more by gut feeling.

2: Size of crew. Again, this isnt always true, but older riders in bigger crews tend to be better riders.

3:body posture. It is subtle, but its the only tell that is reliable. Riders sitting forward with a straighter back while using their poles as tools to get around is a sign of a confident rider with experience.
 
Watch someone ski out of their natural element.Example: Park rat on a powder day.

You're a good skier if you can ski everything well.
 
How humble they are. If they get stoked on other people complementing their tricks, 9 times out of 10 that guy is a better skier than the kid in 600 dollar outerwear saying how much better they are than everyone else.
 
Just the good old goggles-helmet fitting and size - Is the helmet an appropriate size and being worn correctly? Does it leave them with a gap? Do the goggles let the person breathe out there nose?

wrong-way-to-wear-a-helmet-cartoon.jpg
 
It's not that there's a "right" way to do it, but there are definitely many "wrong" ways to carry skis. "Wrong" = horrible inefficient, unstable, and you look like a dumbass.

I typically carry my skis on my right shoulder supported by my right hand. Tips facing in front of me and tails to the rear. Have the top ski interlaced with the binding brakes so it can't slip forward (if it slips forward, just flip your skis over). This still allows carrying poles in the left hand and offers support if needed.

Google searched "carry skis" I do this, but rest the ski on my shoulder instead of the edges. Whatever works I guess:

article-29341.gif


It's funny watching people, especially unexperienced skiers, carry their shit from vehicle to lodge or ski lift.

We've all seen this (or maybe some of you still do this):

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Going out on a limb here but I try this radical thing called watching people with my own two eyes. That usually gives me an indication of whether they are good or not.
 
How bout putting poles (if you use them) under your leg as the lift comes? Not that everyone good does this, but more I'm not sure if I've seen a pretty bad skier do it.
 
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