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#51
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
i agree.. Same thing, except you now only have 1 ski, and have to use
both legs to move it.. I've skiied for about 15 years or so.. (well, not entirely true, I started when i was 4 (I'm now 22), but stopped quite a few years ago).. I find them very similar.. Baka Dasai wrote: On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 16:55:00 GMT, Baretta said (and I quote): PS, None of the skiing skills are transferable to snowboarding. I totally disagree. I learnt snowboarding after about 20 years of skiing (I was an expert skier), and from the first run was mentally translating the technique in my head. I knew I had to unweight the ski/board, tilt the ski/board to get it on edge, pressure the front of the ski/board, and gently swing the tail around. I could immediately do all these things on a snowboard, but at first the timing and coordination was all wrong. But it only took two runs to get it mostly worked out, and then I was off to explore the whole mountain. If you understand how to turn a ski, turning a snowboard is very, very similar. I remember being shocked at just how similar the two sports were. |
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#52
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
"Joe Ramirez" wrote in message ...
It seems to me that hand holding is an obviously useful tool that could help all beginners. At least some instructors apparently use it: http://atearl.com/ski/snowboard_lesson4.html Hey, I see you found Charles Roberts, he's very good and experienced instructor. I know him personally. Here's the thing you must understand about snowboard instructors at various resorts. For many years resorts didn't have enough instructors. The end result was it was very easy to sign up as one. A lot of kids (15 - 18yo) signed up because of free lift tickets and some other perks. And after a very basic training they were sent to teach. Most of them were excellent riders, but had no teaching skills, nor the technical knowledge behind the sport. The situation has improved over the years, instructor training has become much better. If you want to make sure you'll receive quality instruction, have a private lesson and ask for (the magic words): "PSIA certified instructor" (at least level I, but level III is the best). Certified instructors have gone through various clinics and training and are very well prepared to teach students of all levels. But I suppose it [hand holding] might be hard to use in a group lesson. Depends on how big of a group it is. The idea of hand holding is not to make student dependent on it, but to get started with new maneuvers. Once a student is "getting it", the instructor is there only to do small corrections and prevent falling. |
#53
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
"Jürgen Schmadlak" wrote in message
... Joe Ramirez wrote: Seven Springs is a little far for a roundtrip on a weekday night, but the small Boyce Park ski area, which is much closer to home, is also open at night, I believe. When I was learning to ice skate I would often go at night after work, so I could probably pull this off. There are many ways to start snowboarding. For me wintersport must be *relaxing*. Drive to the mountains after work and go back on the same day is not my way of relaxing. I agree with you. However, Boyce Park is closer than Seven Springs. It's not really in the mountains -- it's just a big hill in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. What about a week/weekend in a nice Apartment near by the slope? If you spend a week and *really* don't like boarding after one or two days you can spend the rest of the time with walking/relaxing/sleigh-ride or anything you like. What can you loose? OK, the money for the rented equipment. But you win a nice holiday with your wife and your son. Actually, we are considering something like this. At first I thought about going to Snowshoe, West Virginia, which is one of the largest and highest (maybe *the* highest) ski resorts in the eastern United States, but then I saw a brochure at a local ski & board shop for a great trip to Lake Louise & Banff in early April. Low price and stays at the Chateau Lake Louise and the Fairmont Banff Springs. We love that area and are seriously tempted. Joe Ramirez |
#54
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
"Han Solo (D)" wrote in message
.8... "Joe Ramirez" wrote: Where do you teach? Europe, South Germany, at my Home Town, and at University where I'm studying at the moment (which is, on trips they organize). Ah -- the Fatherland. You may not be able to tell from my last name, but I'm German and Swiss-German on my mother's side. I've been to Germany a couple of times on vacation -- what's the name of your town? Joe Ramirez |
#55
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
"Sharkie" wrote in message
om... "Joe Ramirez" wrote in message ... I sent Seven Springs an e-mail with an abridged version of the report I posted here. No response so far, and I'm really not expecting one. Yes, but if you mention that you're a guy who starts huge threads on the internet (making their resort very infamous for the internet community), they will probably be more responsive... Well ... in fact, I did mention in my e-mail to the resort that it was an abridged version of a report I had posted on Usenet. And, contrary to my expectations, Seven Springs *has* responded, very nicely. See new thread. Joe Ramirez |
#56
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
"Joe Ramirez" wrote:
Where do you teach? Europe, South Germany, at my Home Town, and at University where I'm studying at the moment (which is, on trips they organize). Ah -- the Fatherland. You may not be able to tell from my last name, but I'm German and Swiss-German on my mother's side. I've been to Germany a couple of times on vacation -- what's the name of your town? *g*, no, your name points more into mexican origins... well, I lived in a small town near Ulm, but now I study in middle Germany near Erfurt, Thuringia. Martin |
#57
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
Joe Ramirez wrote:
(maybe *the* highest) ski resorts in the eastern United States, but then I saw a brochure at a local ski & board shop for a great trip to Lake Louise & Banff in early April. Low price and stays at the Chateau Lake Louise and the Fairmont Banff Springs. We love that area and are seriously tempted. and, you meet a lot of nice people when you go boarding with a group. I always enjoy this kind of trips. -- Satisfy your thirst for life! NP: Peter Gabriel - Shaking the Tree |
#58
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
"Han Solo (D)" wrote in message
.8... "Joe Ramirez" wrote: Where do you teach? Europe, South Germany, at my Home Town, and at University where I'm studying at the moment (which is, on trips they organize). Ah -- the Fatherland. You may not be able to tell from my last name, but I'm German and Swiss-German on my mother's side. I've been to Germany a couple of times on vacation -- what's the name of your town? *g*, no, your name points more into mexican origins... Actually, Guatemalan on my father's side, but there are certainly plenty of people named "Ramirez" in Mexico as well. well, I lived in a small town near Ulm, but now I study in middle Germany near Erfurt, Thuringia. Martin I don't think I've ever been to Erfurt, unless it was just passing through, but I have visited Ulm. I climbed the magnificent cathedral there when I was 12. Going up was pretty easy, but coming down hurt a little. All those stone steps are hard on the knees. Wasn't Ulm also Einstein's hometown? Joe Ramirez |
#59
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
In article , Joe Ramirez wrote:
"ACey" wrote in message .. . This might have been a double-edged sword. Sure step-ins are convenient, but they can also be a bit 'floppy' - I'm guessing that they are the Rossi/Emory ones with a bar that sticks out either side of the boot? These are very common on rental boards and really do suck, as they wear very quickly and once worn are really imprecise. Yes, that's the kind they were. However, I didn't have a problem with the bindings. They were easy to use and seemed effective, as least for someone at my non-level. Are you certain about that? There are a couple of problems with these step-ins. The binding should not just connect the boot to the board, it should do it in a way that there is no wiggle room. Otherwise it is very easy to catch an edge (and fall). Moreover, with a step-in, all the force has to be transmitted from your foot to the boot, then to your binding, then to the board. Hence you have to tie up the boot very tightly, which often is painful. If you have a soft boot set up, the straps (or strap for Flow) will take some of the force (which the boot just spreads), so many people feel more comfortable. From your experience's I guess you won't be too keen on spending more money on the sport, but if you do decide to persevere (and you should - it can only get better) really think about getting your own boots. They needn't be expensive ones, just a pair of basic softboots. I will definitely have to consider this. Rental stuff is always somewhere between adequate and bad. It's never good. Never say never. I spend my first week on a Palmer Clown with step-ins. It was kind of ok, but not great. The next time, I got a old Rossignol board, soft, 155 cm (I'm 6 ft, 220 lb on a good day), with well-worn step-ins and half-broken boots. It was sheer hell - I could not do anything with that board, and my feet went from hurting to bleeding in one day. I was ready to give up on boarding, but I had already arranged for yet another weekend. That time I got a Blax Dimensional in the right size, with a Flow binding and _comfortable_ Flow boots. It was amazing - I was in total control, linking turns like never before, and really flying down the slope. After one more mixed experience with rentals (decent board, but very soft boots) I broke down and got my own gear (a Rossignol Levitation, with Flow binding and boots). Having adequate gear makes a real difference, and in my opinion even (or particularly) for a beginner. Couple of other things: [...] Let me add onw more thing: Rest and sleeping are really important for learning, at least for me. I'm always much better the morning after a lesson than directly after it. Your brain needs time to process the information, and your muscles need time to relax and uncramp. You might also try to go without your son, so you can concentrate on your own performance more. He is likely to outpace you eventually anyways (with 30 years and 30 pounds advantage ;-). Good luck, and try to keep it up. There are few things as enjoyable as riding down a mountain in glorious sunshine on a nice board. Bye, Stephan -- -------------------------- It can be done! --------------------------------- Please email me as (Stephan Schulz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
#60
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Our snowboarding misadventure at Seven Springs
In article
slrnc2728s.h0e.idontreadthis@yahoobb220004112021. bbtec.net, Baka Dasai wrote: On Wed, 4 Feb 2004 18:11:21 +0000 (UTC), Stephan Schulz said (and I quote): There are a couple of problems with these step-ins. The binding should not just connect the boot to the board, it should do it in a way that there is no wiggle room. Otherwise it is very easy to catch an edge (and fall). Moreover, with a step-in, all the force has to be transmitted from your foot to the boot, then to your binding, then to the board. Hence you have to tie up the boot very tightly, which often is painful. If you have a soft boot set up, the straps (or strap for Flow) will take some of the force (which the boot just spreads), so many people feel more comfortable. Isn't this a mute point as most step-in boots have a wide ankle strap of a similar size and shape to the ankle strap on a regular strap binding? In my experience (limited, since I moved to a Flow setup after my first season), those straps are mostly decorative (they may help if you are lousy at lacing up). And at least for me, heel lift is much more a problem for the hind foot. That foot is in the boot all the time, but out of the binding a lot, so you can stand more pressure from the binding straps than you could from a shoe strap. And of course that extra strap is useless for the boot/binding interface. Bye, Stephan -- -------------------------- It can be done! --------------------------------- Please email me as (Stephan Schulz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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