 Poster: A snowHead
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It is also lets stuff to lug - for me the dakine back pack and diagonal attachment is great - blades, back pack, etc. I might get adjustable poles.............dunno yet havnt really felt a need.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just returned from a week in France (Meribel/Tignes) and have to say that
there seems to be more bladers out there than last year.
I've been using them for a couple of years and have found my confidence
has improved massively. Before using them I could ski most pisted runs
with the exception of very steep/icy blacks perfectly competently but could
not manage to go very fast - I was still doing big S-turns and almost stopping
on each turn when it got steep. By the end of a week on skis my legs were
wrecked - the last day would be more just trying to survive upright than fun.
On blades I can tackle pretty much any type of terrain except for very deep
powder. Up to 35-40cm is fine but more than that and I send the other half down
on his board first then follow his tracks. They have also allowed me to go much
faster than I had ever managed on skis. You need to be careful with bumps
(hitting one at speed can send you flying) and intially you also need to be cautious
of leaning too far back/forward. I'd definitely reccomend wearing a helmet unless
you're totally sure you won't crash! Steep slopes/ice are no problem. I've found
that because so much less effort is required to turn it's much easier to swap from
edge to edge - as a result I've gradually managed to go faster and have gradually
moved from S-type turns on the steep slopes to little short turns just taking the
edge of my speed.
This year I bought new skis and have discovered that I can now ski a whole lot
better. I can now go pretty fast (and controlled) down most reds/blacks which I
would have struggled with last year. I suspect my skiing would have improved if
I'd stuck with skis entirely but it might have taken me several more years to gain
the confidence to go faster/steeper. I also don't have the same pain in my knees
which I used to get skiing - but perhaps that's just because my technique is better.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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After a week in Saas Fee I was fine until trying to do a black at speed lost my balance and pulled my right quad or another muscle in the same area - took the last day off and the muscle is feeling better.
I have found that I have no problem with speed, keeping up with all of our group last week and often leaving them behind. I dont know how much of that is down to mass and gravity. 
I am coming to hate T bars and buttons - I dont know why but I seem to use up more of my reserves in my quads on them than I do if I just ski to the next gondola and take the lift up.
I have taken to going from S Turns to straight lining blue and just rolling as I was advised on skiboards to go from one blade edge to the other - great fun and I pick up a load of speed.
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You can still go fast on boards but not that fast. If you tried straightlining on blades and compared to a moderate length ski, the ski would be much much more stable. This is the main point, stability. To go as fast on something shorter, you will need to fight much harder to keep it under control.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It is fast enough for me at the moment - and no chance of entering an over 40's race
I dunno if my weight - properly balanced adds to the gravity of pulling me straightline downhill - by other "full length" skiers I am fast on these a lot faster than they thought I could get.... - I dunno - I can go bloomin fast on rollerblades too 
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Im now starting to come across the limitations on skiboards. There is no doubt that those of less adventure could enjoy them on pisted slopes for ever and a day..... but im finding it tougher....
bumpy steeps - skiboards actually turn too sharply, it is very difficult to follow the contours because they have been carved by those making wider turns!
partially churned slopes - skiboards are great on an icy or hard surface, they are also not so bad (assuming you dont have thin boards) in a bit of pisted powder or soft stuff. However, if you get a mixture (such that you have a hard bit then a soft), it is a nightmare! The skiboards will run fantastically on the hard then come to a screeching stop when they hit the soft!
Another little aside, it is rather easier to unbalance yourself on skiboards. Because the tip and your foot is close, hitting a bump you werent expecting is much more likely to throw your weight back than on longer skis.
I have to say I think I will be tending towards longer and longer boards, I am on 99's now but think that I may be tempted to 120's next year.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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fitz, Well said Sir! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I called no one a nazi - I said that the time for intolerance at a recent high was during WW2, Al queda or the Taliban could be deemed as intolerant if you want to use a modern analogy.
However of course hounding and persecuting people is a very tolerant attitude ise if you dont find something wrong with it, well that is your opinion, therefore I think the point is well made - easily understood and quite clearly comparative - we are talking about recreation activites here - not religion, politics etc, none of which are worthy persecution.
I would like to hope my over the top comparison actually helps people wake up to reality a bit.
I am the kind of person that gets in the way of bully's, I have put myself at risk stopping assaults having been stabbed twice for my trouble, I will not stand by and do nothing, it is not my nature.
If anyone finds my comparision too over the top - admin please feel free to remove it.
On the other hand if people want to do what they enjoy on the mountains - please let them as long as it doesnt put others at risk - dont slag it just because you dont like it just enjoy what you want to do. 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| obelix67 wrote: |
| I called no one a nazi - I said that the time for intolerance at a recent high was during WW2, Al queda or the Taliban could be deemed as intolerant if you want to use a modern analogy. |
OK, I'll try again. Accusing people of being intolerant becaue they express a different view from yours isn't very tolerant.
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Sorry ise, so are you saying that if someone is intolerant, we can't point that out because that would make us intolerant too...?
I would say that calling someone else's hobby "rubbish", calling them an "idiot" for using blades and suggesting that everyone on this forum "hates" skiboarders is not just expressing a different point of view - it's being insulting and intolerant. As a very placid ski boarder myself who has never once been out of control I take some offence to that myself. obelix67 was just replying in kind - well said mate!
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You know it makes sense.
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ken_1969, Agreed 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| ken_1969 wrote: |
Sorry ise, so are you saying that if someone is intolerant, we can't point that out because that would make us intolerant too...?
I would say that calling someone else's hobby "rubbish", calling them an "idiot" for using blades and suggesting that everyone on this forum "hates" skiboarders is not just expressing a different point of view - it's being insulting and intolerant. |
No one said anything of the sort, in fact the majority of expressed opinion in this thread were positive to blades.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Buns, its interesting that you feel inclined towards longer skiboards. As I've already mentioned I moved from 79cm trick Salomon blades to 127cm short skis at the start of the season and now no longer want to use my blades. I've also used my 160cm carving skis and found them so cumbersome and slow reacting, so short skis should be the way forward for you.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ise the fact is I never accused anyone of being anything (apart from guaging some posts as over the top in intolerance.)
The smiley of a wink should say to you on a forum that I am taking the P, thats all. I would never accuse someone on a forum of that - it is a lot more fun doing it to their face - if I think it is worth the effort.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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woooooooooo hooooooooooooooo, 25 cm of fresh snow so far this evening when night skiing, I am getting to the speed stage where I can get my gloves down, we went down the slalom course and it was brilliant, the second time push it too hard and back flipped, got up push hard again and face planted - yaaaaaaaaahoooooooooo what a buzz
my wife reckons my maniac grin is ear to ear at the moment
it lastest for about 2 hours after my last fast run
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Champery?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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obelix67, we want pictures!!!!
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fitz, If you were here this week, or last, or the week before you might agree with Parlour, if people who use blades keep insisting that this hooligan element doesn't exist they may very well end up getting banned. These groups of yobbos on blades are a nightmare. BTW Parlour is out on the mountain daily as I am - we probably see a lot more of what goes on. Perhaps I'm a snob, not liking bullies and hooligans???
obelix67, you say "as long as it doesnt put others at risk ", but sadly the majority of people here on shorties (of any type) do - that's the problem. I've owned a pair of snowblades for years, teach blading when required, but this hooligan element is another thing entirely. The point is they can come to resort having never skied in any way, shape of form and get a pair of blades and go to the top of the mountain and get down. Totally out of control, no idea of piste rules, and because they're mostly young adult males in groups "mob" anyone in their way.
Maybe it's just particularly bad here, but I don't think so. I suggest responsible bladers get together and try to do something about the hooligans.
buns, Interesting that you're now saying what I said in a similar thread last year (to which you disagreed) - they're fun but they have limitations!
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easiski, if I am on a mountain and someone puts someone at risk I will et them know. Mobs exist it is part of human culture unfortunately, if you ban them on blades they will probably turn up on short skis.......
There are hooligans out there if they have taken to your piste or Verbier - that is crap - no debating that point I think we are all grown ups on here (and act like it most of the time).
Piste patrols will just need to become able to deal with hooligans should they venture onto the piste. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Charlotte, its very disturbing what you are saying about mob hooligans on blades and very difficult to do anything about it. These hooligans would be on skis or boards if not on blades but at least you are aware who they are and can avoid them if possible. Next time you are angered point out to the blader that his bindings are loose and that should slow him down for a while!
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chris, both at verbier and at zermatt I have forgotten to do up all the bindings on the first run, a lot of skaters do not do their boots up tight instead use balance, you might just get a "yeah so" answer.....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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easiski, one of the things I love about night sking is that I have a lot less to worry about than when the piste is busy and can really let rip down the piste. Still it doesnt stop a formation skiing group to stop just the far side of a blind summit - idiots. It would have been like 10 pin bowling.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| chris wrote: |
| These hooligans would be on skis or boards if not on blades but at least you are aware who they are and can avoid them if possible. |
That's hard to prove, I'd tend to not believe it personally, but it's most certainly not something you can state with any certainty. The argument would go that we're talking the sort of individuals that would not be prepared to invest the time in learning to ski or board, it's only opinion but that sounds compelling to me.
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ise, there is a 57 year old guy at work - has never been involved in snow sports before, was convinced by long skiers that he should invest the time learning to ski, spent a day at ski lessons and 4 days recovering afterwards.
Now where we live the amount of time to learn to ski, board is made slightly easier by the proximity we are to piste.
As he is going to be going down hill - just to go downhill, not racing, no tricks, just going from vin chaud hut to vin chaud hut.
To me I would ask the question - why not let him invest the time learning how to blade at a basic level - then if he wants to at a later date he can use those skills when he migrates to ski's - if he does.
The time spent learning to blade to an effective level to get down blue and red runs is not that great and that is all he wants..
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You know it makes sense.
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obelix67, sorry, I don't see the connection 
We all agree blades are great for people who can't or won't learn to ski which is why it's a perfectly pointless topic.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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ise, I can ski perfectley well on full length ski's & have done for years, I now use blades as I find them more fun, I go skiing to have fun not to conform to other peoples ideas of what is correct.
If you have a problem with that then tough. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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provenjohn, ok, sorry, I meant to say, We all agree blades are great for people who can't or won't ski which is why it's a perfectly pointless topic.
It's a perfectly accurate observation, you put yourself in the "won't" category I see.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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provenjohn, Other people's idea of correct are the rules of the piste which should be followed by everyone - you suggest that if we're not happy that certain elements don't follow them then there's something wrong with the rest of us. I would take issue with that, if that's what you meant.
I don't think these yob mobs would be on skis or boards - because they can't just do it. The whole reason why they come and blade is for precisely that reason - they can get away with it.
chris, Can't avoid them - how can we? They're even all over the teaching slopes! Of course this week it's Paris, so it's probably the same lot that were rioting a couple of weeks ago!
obelix67, If your friend at work needed so long to get over his first lesson, then I'd hazzard a suggestion that he wasn't being taught very well (in view of his age etc.)
BTW I'm proposing an over 50's beginners week next year and will be using mini skis for these guys to start with, so I'm really not against the things - just a large proportion of the people on them.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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obelix67, was that photo taken last wednesday? We were at Les Crosets that night. Did you see that bloke doing old skool moves down the red under the chair? I can only describe it as moonwalking on skis.
I've not come across many hoolies, apart from a couple of blokes on snow bikes last year who cut me up; apparently quite intentionally. I nearly got run over by a boarder weaving between skiers on a narrow, tree lined run towards Ardent last week. No problems with bladers...as yet 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Sharkymark, Eh nope - sorry - I didnt meet you things have been a bit "different" the past few weeks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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obelix67, Back in the day I've done slalom training (serious) on Big feet - uuuuggggghhhhh
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obelix67, not the only one mate. No probs
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easiski, it is possibly eaiser in the day than at night
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| chris wrote: |
| Buns, its interesting that you feel inclined towards longer skiboards. As I've already mentioned I moved from 79cm trick Salomon blades to 127cm short skis at the start of the season and now no longer want to use my blades. I've also used my 160cm carving skis and found them so cumbersome and slow reacting, so short skis should be the way forward for you. |
The Wed'ze (or similar?) Sorry, can't find your previous mention of this. Tried both Wed'ze and Cery Wed'ze a couple of days back, thought I could maybe get a pair of the slightly more reactive "Very Wed'ze" (a bit longer at 132, better suited to intermediates and above, compared to the rather docile, boring and beginnerish Wed'ze - or that's how I found them, anyway).
Can't see myself using them much though, more to lend to bladers when we're likely to ski flat terrain such as the plateau across from La Rosière into Italy.
| Quote: |
| 160cm carving skis and found them so cumbersome and slow reacting |
 Only because the blades are too unchallenging! Slalom skis especially are sooooooo easy to turn.
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ise, you are a person who looooves to contradict anyone and I have learnt in life to ignore people like you.
Easiski, unfortunatly L2A does seem to attract yooof and with that comes the yob culture.
PG, for the type of skiing I love which includes steep bumpy moguls and off piste powder, my 127cms are the best skis I have used. I admit that for skiing on piste at speed (which I don't enjoy mainly due to fear) they are not as good as longer skiis. Each to his own.
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FAQ
that causes the issues and form the reason why skiers and snowboarders hate skiboard(ers?), but have a look around you on the piste. The most inconsiderate, out-of-control lunatics on the piste are all wearing skiboards. They're a menace and as far as I'm concered should be banned.
