Does a moderate amount of alcohol improve your performance?

A snowHead

No, I have hurt myself a few times whilst a bit boozed, I have more confidence, but less coordination. Obviously skiing drunk is lots of fun, I celebrated my birthday this year whilst doing a torchlit descent in a toga after a fair amount of pisco and beer, but I wouldn't bother skiing anything 'proper' whilst under the influence.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

A small amount of alcohol is considered performance enhancing in shooting and archery as it is relaxing. Like beta blockers.

If the limiting factor is nervousness then maybe, but generally strong drink increases desire and inhibits performance.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

And remember Bill Werberniuk!

Personally, I don't think alcohol improves my performance at any level of consumption. I'll have a small beer about 50% of lunchtimes, but definitely not if I'm looking to do anything slightly demanding.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Don’t know about alcohol, but I did once find my skiing transformed for the better by eating a giant doughnut. It turned out that the skis, piste, and weather weren’t all poo-poo, I was just really hungry.

You'll need to Register first of course.

I heard a rumour that the piste below the Moserwirt in St Anton would be patrolled and people would be breathalysed.

...... with anybody tested to be under the limit given a stern warning and being sent straight back up.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

In some sports such as snooker and fencing alcohol counts as a performance enhancing drug, similar to beta blockers in controlling fine hand tremors.

It was said upthread that small amounts of alcohol can help flow of performance or nerves. What is a small amount? I guess it is different to everyone.
I read up at the weekend (due to Scotland lowering the drunk in charge limit from the Uk standard 80mg to 50mg) about effects of low limits of alcohol. Research showed that 2units (that's a pint, maybe less depending on strength) slowed reaction times. On average reaction times increased by 0.2sec. If you are travelling at 30mph then this equated to travelling a further 7' before starting to react.

When I am on a skiing holiday I will have a drink or two everyday on the slopes. I am not saying DONT drink. It might even help your nerves or your confidence. But it will be detrimental to reaction times, and you don't need to be on a bender for that to take effect.

Just be aware that this will happen.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I discovered, a couple of years ago, that with X pints of stella inside me, sking switch from the MontBlanc Pub (Vallandry, LA) ... yes, down * that* bank, back home was a sobering experience..... probably good job I coudn't actually see where I was going (;>)

A snifter on the slopes, yes, absolutely.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I found years ago when taking part in rifle shooting competitions that after about just under a pint of beer my scores were higher than not having any beer. However after a pint and more the scores dropped off very quickly. I understand that in serious competitions today when testing takes place you would be disqualified if any trace of alcohol was found to be in your system.

snow reports

The people who scare me most on piste are p1ssed up people.

I was a bit nervous today driving in monumental rain on the M6, but would the situation have been improved if I knocked back a couple of pints?

If I did that, most people here, rightly would call me a git.

Ski, then drink, That's the way.

You know it makes sense.

@allanm,+1. NehNeh

to all the prissy Puritans and Methodists.
I don't equate skiing after moderate drinking to drink driving. I like rum in my morning coffee stop, a bottle of wine with my lunch followed by a mellow ski afterwards, it feels sublime. Then again I don't ski like a nutter, with or without a drink.
I can imagine a drink might help a timid skier. Leaning back & fearing the slope doesn't help technique.
Mind you, you can overdo the drinking.
http://youtube.com/v/mYjO1Vvoa5E

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

My wife was "treated" to a 5 or 6 (allegedly: so I guess twice that many) "Jagerbombs" on Friday night.

She hit the treadmill on Saturday morning, holding epic speed for 50% longer than normal (i.e 40 minutes) and didn't wantto stop. Dismounted, repeated on the cross trainer.
Similar, but not so impressive acheivement on Sunday!. Back to normal Monday. She's noticed quite frequently that her run is better after a good drinking seesion the night before.

Anyone else experience similar?

That means that this years ski trip will be sponsored by Red Bull and Jagermeister Toofy Grin

Iain

A snowHead

I don't know if it helps ski better, but one of my favourite things on a ski trip is to stop on the mountain after a good run or series of runs open my jacket sit in the sun look at the view, and have a beer,!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@Lechbob, that video is funny, hope he went home in the gondola, acres ski up the mountain can be a dodge, lol,

You need to Login to know who's really who.

http://youtube.com/v/fsCcK5D4Vqo

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

http://youtube.com/v/b8s8VsOvKUk

You'll need to Register first of course.

Drinks on the slopes are like skis on your feet: One is not enough and three is too many.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Would any of you ever drink and drive? For me I never touch alcohol if I am going to drive and the same goes for skiing. There are a lot of people on the slopes that should consider their relationship with alcohol, skiing and driving.

After all it is free

Feet up, glass of red in hand, popcorn at the side. And we're off Laughing

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

@biddpyat, There you go ! Toofy Grin

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I'm happy having a beer at lunch on my motorbike tours Twisted Evil

snow reports

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Lechbob,

To be fair, I normally ski (or try to) pretty hard when I'm out, hence not drinking anymore. But if it's an easier day (i.e. end of the season, snow not so good, lots of sun) and I'm just cruising then I'll have a beer at lunch or afternoon break. But generally if i'm not heading out for some serious-ish skiing for some reason (e.g. poor weather) I'll not ski at all, and go party hard instead! Then there are a lot of drinks involved...

A snowHead

@fixx, That is where stupidity gets me, Even in snowing whiteouts, I still have to ski, so will be out in the thick of it, of course your back bottom gets frozen on slow two man chairlifts, ( that has snow on the when you sit on them) and I get cold, then a bloody strong hot chocolate with brandy is your only man. Or two, lol.

A snowHead

ooooooooh , you n can't say as they do in Father Ted, AR*SE,

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Anyway, a brandy is no harm, now LSD on a mogul field on a sunny day, THAT can be fun.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Mrs T would always head straight for the café for a Lumumba in Soldeu before her ski lesson.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I guess it depends on whether you mean "performance" or "enjoyment". I doubt that alcohol will improve anybody's performance, except maybe for the terminally nervous. Even then, I suspect the effect will be more to make them feel better.

In terms of the latter, ie enjoyment, it falls into "whatever floats your boat...".

You'll need to Register first of course.

Each to their own and there is of course a difference between performance and enjoyment. What I don't get though is that we all know that one of the key skills in skiing is balance. We also know that numerous studies have shown that even very small amounts of alcohol impair our ability to balance.

So, to answer the OP's question, I would say it's a categoric NO, a moderate amount of alcohol is going to impair performance in all but a very few cases (with those being people who are struggling with managing some of the psychological elements. It might however seriously improve your enjoyment.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Some people over think everything, each move etc, so their enjoyment of the wind in their hair, breeze on their face, thrill of the speed on their feet etc would be hampered by just overthinking it all, so I can imagine if they had a wine with their lunch they may adapt the ah just ski attitude and as @abd, said enjoy their run. While skiing ia all about balance it is also about rhythm and relaxation, so perhaps if you are a little more chilled both will come nicely together, just sway down the mountain, lol.

After all it is free

I never drink and board. I have tried it but just felt completely dehydrated and I reckon being sober keeps you on edge.

Love getting leathered from 3:30pmn though and getting the bubble down to continue the apres

I think that if you are an advanced skier / rider, you should be able to handle a few drinks and still be able to get down the hill fine. Of course a beginner / intermediate may have difficulties and probably wouldn't enjoy the experience. I think some people ski and ride with too much caution sometimes. They see a little bump ahead of them and tense up quick. After a couple drinks, they would be more relaxed and mellow and their abilities may even improve.

From my experience, I still ride well after a couple of beers or shots. I find my rhythm easier BUT I find that the board owns me and I'm on it for the ride (maybe a bit too relaxed?). When I am riding normally (not under the influence), I really like to work the board, get some pop happening out of the board in my turns.

I've got some friends that are always smoking something, have hit flasks in their jackets etc but that's how they enjoy their skiing. I don't care what other do while their skiing - as long as they can handle themselves and that they don't hurt anyone else or put others at risk (skiing fast in crowded areas, or cutting people off - I'd pull them up for that). I'm a bit more mature now but I've been there and done all that before. I've gone snowboarding with no sleep after a big night out.

Getting that mountain air is the best thing to cure any hangover. I guess it's about knowing your abilities and don't be stupid

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

@SpeedySydney, Good post, well done for staying up all night and then getting on the mountain with no sleep, I find the mountain air zonks me, and I am in bed early at night. ( see it is mountain air and not age, )

Help!!

Does a moderate amount of alcohol improve your performance?

snowHeads Forum Index >>> The Piste