thursday 1 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 > fell on to his hands next to a skier some times admiration can go too far. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 maybe it was submission. Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Bushpig, I know there are a lot of very skilful boarders out there (and I'm sure most of the guys here fit that description), but in my experience (in 10 years of purely skiing) is that there are a lot more beginner/intermediate boarders who are chopping up advanced terrain than skiers of similar skill levels, and they seem to get away with it better than a skier might. Therefore, my (possibly mistaken) viewpoint that boarding is easier to get proficient at... Or am I just a snob? Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 maybe that's only because there are a lot more boarders than skiiers out there these days, while proportionately it isn't all that different?? Mate, we don't really need to get into this! Just some friendly ribbing is all that's going on here. Most of the guys I board with are skiers anyway! Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 I wasn't trying to start an argument, I'm cool with boarders, I just think that at least part of it's explosive rise in popularity must be because it's a bit easier to pick up, not just the cool factor. Fun is fun, and if no-one gets hurt, it's all good. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 hmmm, well I'll disagree with that hypothesis. I reckon its explosive rise in popularity is more image driven than anything else. Although notice how skiing is a lot "cooler" now too and therefore more poular than a while back when snowboarding held more "cool" attraction? I've heard probably equal numbers of skiers and boarders say that they found one or the other easier at varying stages in their progression. It really depends, I think, on what level you are happy to push yourself to rather than the nature of either form. Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Good good Welcome So many possibilities with skis. The face shot, high speed turn, much easier access to the mountains compared to snowboarding, telemarking, and snowshoeing and the general fact that skiing rules Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Now that's being deliberately provocative, Toque. I'd agree though, BP, that the "New School" in skiing has given skiers a bit of a leg-up in the Cool dept. Especially in the park and pipe, I reckon the top skiers look so good, and there are a lot more variables available in the tricks with two planks intead of one. And landing switch looks much more impressive than fakie... Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Now telemarking, that is freakin weird. Why kneel all the way down the mountain. I've noticed that there are at least 2 boarders to every skier on the slopes. The lift lines says it all. Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 "Misery-sticks"... that's what I heard one guy calling telemark skis. Still wanna try it one day, though. Maybe next time it snows in Oz Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Get much snow on the Gold Coast, keba? Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Which reminds me. When I lived in Perth I had to go to Townsville for a conference, followed by Mt Isa for some field work, and then back via Canberra to visit my boss at AGSO. I had to pack a suit, my mask and fins for a day's diving, field kit, rock pick and boots, ski boots, and snow clothes. That suitcase was full. Link to post Share on other sites
Markie 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Telemarkers? Those things are designed to get you moving real fast on the flats or uphill. Have you ever held one in your hand? They are featherweight light. OK, if I'm doing downhill skiing at a resort with good lifts, then of course they make no sense. But they are so great for taking a cross-country hike. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 they look gay Link to post Share on other sites
quattro 1 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Quote: Telemarkers? Those things are designed to get you moving real fast on the flats or uphill. Have you ever held one in your hand? They are featherweight light. OK, if I'm doing downhill skiing at a resort with good lifts, then of course they make no sense. But they are so great for taking a cross-country hike. It's oblivious you have not seen any modern Tele gear. Mine weights as much as any alpine setup. Same goes for the boots. Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Not nearly enough, Soub... but I'll be arriving in Hakuba at the end of January, where there ought to be plenty. Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Friend of mine that I am doing lots of touring with is a BC gal telemarking early early in life but is now alpine touring and downhilling it for the first time ever. She had only ever locked down her heal twice and was absolutly amazed when we were out on the weekend at how much easier a randonee setup was for going uphill Weight isn't even a question anymore as well with the Dynafit bindings In North America I'm pretty sure I've read numbers at 50/50 Link to post Share on other sites
Markie 0 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by quattro: It's oblivious you have not seen any modern Tele gear. Mine weights as much as any alpine setup. Same goes for the boots. Obviously NOT! I'd better check that out then. Guess you really need to be fit to move around in those then. Link to post Share on other sites
quattro 1 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Quote: Obviously NOT! I'd better check that out then. Guess you really need to be fit to move around in those then. It's a lot of work. I still find it hard to ski all day since switching to Tele gear at least at the beginning of the season It is a lot of fun though. Especially in powder Link to post Share on other sites
Markie 0 Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 But do they still have the light stuff? I can understand the need for the heavy stuff to give the equipment the robustness needed if you're doing downhill on them. However, I was thinking of doing this on flats or undemanding terrain, sort of like a winter hike. Backpack some lunch, walk somewhere at a leisurely pace for half a day, have lunch and head back just to enjoy some light exercise and take in the scenery. Do they have light equipment for that sort of thing? Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 Markie, you are confusing telemarking with cross country/ski du fond/langlauf. Telemark was the origin of downhill/Alpine skiing. Telemarkers use essentially downhill gear, but with soft boots and a free heel. The name comes from the style of turn they make; kneeling. The SJF soldiers have to endure telemark kit. Cross country kit is super light, and hopeless for downhill. In the summer, cross-country skiers need to dress in skin tight flouro-lycra and ride bikes with a saddle 40cm higher than the bars. We have an expression in English: "daft as a langlaufer". Link to post Share on other sites
Markie 0 Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 OK, thanks for clearing that up for me. I did in fact think they were the same thing! Link to post Share on other sites
quattro 1 Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 Markie There is a mix of x-country. If you are looking to stay off the x-country trail. You may want to look at something mid wight. Either get a 3 pin binding or a NNN BC or SNS(not sure of this one it is a Solomon version). The last two are a binding system and integrate with the boot. Get a ski about 60 mm at the tip. Waxless is a little easier to deal with then waxable skis for a noob. The lighter stuff is designed for trails. Link to post Share on other sites
Markie 0 Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 Trails? Now that's a word that sounds undemanding and inviting. I'll probably do that. Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 Trail is american for track. It means walking uphill. I'll see you from the lift. Bye bye. Link to post Share on other sites
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