Old Guy's Story.....update.

Brimstone

Brimstone

Member
I've posted previously (see my signature) about my perspective on skiing's progression and my semi-conversion from snowboarding to skiing. Here's a little update for those that are interested.

Well it's the end of the season and I have to say that I'm pretty hooked on skiing. It's hard to beat a snowboard in the pow but I think I'll be mostly skiing from now on. I spent most of

this year skiing, trying to get proficient technically before I get

crazy in the park. (Well ...my version of crazy anyway)

I was able to

get some instruction from a buddy who is very good technically, but not

hip with going airborne. It seems that I was skiing pretty upright and back on my skis a bit. I think I corrected that and I feel really good on the groomers but pow is

still a bit difficult. The only real way I felt I could manage it was to almost bounce up and down to weight and unweight the skis.

I've learned to become quite a bit more comfortable in the air, no more windmill action. This is going to sound a bit dorky but early in the year I finally mustered the courage to attempt a .....get this.......180. I know, I know it's pretty risky but I laughed in the face of danger and lo and behold I landed it. I even threw a little fist pump after sticking it. See, on a snowboard you don't ever land 'backwards'. If you do..... you get the pleasantness of catching your heelside edge and tomahawking down the landing. You may get an understanding of trepidation. Anyhow by the end of the year I was landing small 3's. I've also been trying to slide boxes sideways and having some issues....which foot do you typically put most of your weight on, front or back? Hit me up with some pointers.

I've also decided to purchase some different gear. I got some new threads. Gone is the old North Face gear, I'm going hip-hop dog! I got some bonfire pants, a sessions striped jacket and K2 rant lid. I got a couple of pairs of boots that I bought from some of my NewSchoolers brethren....neither of which ended up fitting properly. They'll be back up for sale (Tecnica Vento 8 size 28.5 and some really sweet Nordica Supercharger Ignitions size 27.5). I picked up some used but great condition Liberty SB180s from the great BURRITO. What a different ski than the 1080s that I was using. I like them way better. Next year I may try to pick up some Hellbents but we'll see.

Anyhow, thanks for reading and hopefully we'll see you on the hill.

PS: My son still won't shake the snowboarding desire. Looks like I'll have to throw him on one and see what happens :).
 
thanks for the update, glad youre learning. earlier this year i was teaching my dad to do 180's (hes 53) and had the about the same reaction. also on boxes or rails you just want to put youre weight about 50 50 on each foot (that is if its a flat rail or box) and just play around with the concepts.
 
i was trying to teach my dad (he's 49) how to do boxes and 3s and it was a little hard. but thats great your learning and i hope u get park down soon
 
Get him doing both if you can... tell him it's way sicker... My oldest does both, but chose skiing several years ago and hasn't looked back.
 
i had a lot of trouble on rails when i started out, i'd been skiing for a while and was comfortable in the air but rails are a lot more slippery than they look. i just started out leaning as far on my foot closest to the end of the rail (in my case right foot) and that way i didn't fall backwards and nail my elbow on the metal and as i got more and more comfortable on them i just started distributing my weight evenly and if you do it gradually you get the hang in no time. try to keep your skis as flat as possible on the rail, your edges will slide bad if you're on them too much and keep your weight centered completely on your skis, don't lean one way or the other. also start on low flat boxes, don't try down, up, kinked, anything until you're really comfortable on boxes. in a few days you'll feel totally natural on them

also get your son off the lame ass snowboard
 
go to a boot fitter at a respectable ski shop to get boots that fit right. and please dont go to a shop try the boots on, find some that fit and then go buy them online.
 
Good to hear that you've been progressing a fair bit technically and even trying jumps and rails.

I don't know if this will apply to ypu, but its the analogy most people use for which foot forward on boxes and rails. Imagine you were going to run and slide on a patch of ice in your shoes, now, which foot would you put forward?

Hope that helps
 
Yeah, I got my dad into park a couple years ago, he never spun but he would straight air any jump, (Keystones big line, Brecks big line) but never spin or rails, then he was doing a jump overjumped and freaked out, broke his collarbone, that was January 06, he just got okayed by his doctor for normal use in Feburary, he had to have 3 surgeries...bones don't heal well when you get old. He was 45 when he broke it.
 
if you are starting out on boxes, you will automatically want to lean sideways like you are edging, and you will slide out. To correct for this, think about putting weight like 60 percent on your front foot, and 40 on your back. the overcorrection mentally will even out with what you subconciously want to do (lean back and edge) and you will end up in the middle. Once you get a feeel for it you want to be 50 50.
 
Hey man thats legit that you're getting out on skis after so long on the snowboard, I've never seen the original thread you referred too but I get the drift.

Rock on holmes
 
yo snowboarding is a dream in powder for sure but i guarantee when you buy those hellbents you will like them. maybe even think about riding some ep pros or bacons for that snowboard feel you maybe miss.

 
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