 Poster: A snowHead
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Went skiing on the local dry slope this afternoon. I thought I'd try and practice and consolidate some things I'd picked up in VT last month.
Well......... I skied as though I'd never been on skis before  I just couldn't commit myself into the turns - it all felt awful.
It could be down to a few things.....poor technique, lousy hire boots and even lousier skis (or a combination of all three)
Well my technique served me relatively well on snow last month but obviously it's still work in progress, and I could take my own boots - I doubt whether they've got any good skis to try.
So, do I persevere and try to master the dry slope, which wasn't enjoyable today? I don't want to compensate and possibly compromise what I've learnt so far. Another alternative would be to stick to skiing on snow -albeit indoor or on the mountains?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hywel, I started dry slope skiing just about a year ago, and had a pretty similar experience - totally unable to make an effective turn. The surface (I assume it's Dendix) is incredibly unforgiving, and punishes you big time for any mistakes you make. However, precisely because of that it's very good for technique improvement, so if that's what you're trying to get out of it you'll really benefit. It may also be worth getting a lesson or so for someone else to point out to you what you're doing wrong. Don't worry that you'll pick up techniques inappropriate for piste skiing, quite the reverse (although my experience is that if you do much off-piste skiing it de-emphasises several techniques you need in soft snow). Take your own boots, but don't worry about own skis (unless you try doing any racing). If you have any knee/bum pads (from skateboarding etc) wear those as well, and always Always ALWAYS wear hardwearing trousers, longsleeves and gloves, as falls HURT!
If you just want a bit of a ski I'd forget it though.
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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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Hywel, I started skiing on dry slope 1 month ago & had identical experience (as does everyone I have spoken to with similar past to me) I have skiied since I was a small child - however, my skiing radically improved from the dry slope lessons, I'm told this is because everything is much slower & correct technique is essential. I use my own boots and ski's (good ski's made a big difference to my skiing - but its not everyones choice.)
I am going to continue skiing on dry, because the instructors in norwich make it so interesting, I have learned loads of new stuff that I hadn't even heard of. good luck, I really hope you start to enjoy it soon - it took me 2 sessions to get used to it - and I love it now! rebecca 
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Hywel, Definitely stick with it. The previous 2 posts are spot on. On Dendix you just can't get away with things you get away with on piste. You'll learn better technique which will stand you in good stead when you get back to the snow. Where are you skiing? There's probably a club you can join with regular coaching sessions, a very good way to improve and be ready for your next trip to the snow.
BTW, very good skiers do adapt pretty quickly - when I was working at Sandown an instructor from ESF ValThorens came over. It took him 2 runs to "acclimatise"!!
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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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Hywel, keep at it, when you get to the snow next season the transition is really easy, i grew up skiing on the plastic and got the same thing, you spend the season skiing on the real stuf then struggle for the first few turns on the plastic. the more you do the easier it gets 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hywel, As above, just stick with it fo the time being, you will get used to the surface pretty quickly. Take your own boots as they will be a much better fit and more comfortable.
Have they got any regular group sessions that you can join in with ?
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Hywel, Ditto everyone else...boots will make the biggest difference. Was the slope misted ? If so, you can use your own skis without them coming to too much harm....
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Hywel, I went to the dry slope at Gloucester this week for the first time in ages and found it really difficult to begin with. The Dendix is very unforgiving and highlights all my errors. The long slope at Gloucester has Snowflex at the top for anyone who can do tricks on snow - definitely not me - and I found that even more difficult than the Dendix. It was almost impossible to get the edges to bite and I am too much of a coward to simply let the skis run. Towards the end of my session I moved over to the shorter slope which is all Dendix and found it almost enjoyable!. Own boots and skis make a big difference. I shall try to go fairly regularly over the summer to build up both skill and confidence.
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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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Hywel, I am in the 'ladies club' and as an example of lessons, for the next 3 weeks our instructor is dissecting turns, so first week we did leg rotational turns - coming down doing something like a windscreen wiper action with our skis about 1 foot apart and something called 'braccage' then next week is 'pressure turns' the third week 'edge turns' then we put it all together. after that it is steering corridors, then jumps & slalom. I really look forward to these lessons. I'm sure all the clubs around the country run similar courses - norwich also does 'fun park' stuff which I might try too!! good luck - & wear a helmet, that stuff is hard to land on! rebecca
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Braquage?
should pivot(steer) from middle of ski not push end around - hence not like a windscreen wiper turn at all if I understand both terms correctly...
ummm one instructor i know insists braquage means something like "twisting" and hence really is simply a name for steering the skis using rotary skill not the name of an exercise... but many use the name for what others call Pivot Slips... side slip down hill - so skis across fall line... turn them to fall line keeping body still travelling in straight line down fall line... then turn them back to the other direction across the fall line... then back again....so you leave a track like a bow tie in shape if you do it all right....
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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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For some reason I have it in my head that I wouldn't want to use my own skis on a dry slope - can anyone remember why?
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little tiger, I meant 2 separate exercises - braquage, or however you spell it being different from the windscreen wiper exercise, there were actually 4 or 5 different exercises to get us to do leg rotational turns, can't remember the other names. Our instructor explained braquage in a similar way to your pivot slips.
Ian Hopkinson, I think it is possible to ruin your skis, but mr.rpft gallantly offered me his to use for my lessons (methinks he has his eyes on some new ones next year and me trashing his is a really good excuse)
personally I am skiing better on my own skis - maybe because the edges are better, I don't know.
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You know it makes sense.
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rpft@rpft.co.uk, Mr rpft is clearly after a new pair of skis, I will learn from a master 
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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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Ian Hopkinson, think you're right, he sniggered when he read your post & looked very slightly embarrassed
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Poster: A snowHead
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I wonder if there is a psychological limit with dry slopes in that all the ones I've been on are not very long and you don't feel as though you can commit yourself to speed and turning before you think that you are going to run out of slope?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ian Hopkinson, If the dendix is dry there is more friction between the slope and the soles of your skis and therefore the bases wear out more quickly. However if the slope is watered (misted), as ski, says and/or you wax your skis properly for dry slopes, then you should not have any problems. The slope will hate you for using sharp edges, but they won't stop you.
halfhand, The whole point is surely to learn skill - skill is to be able to do it slowly!
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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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easiski, yes I didn't mean belting down hell for leather but if you are learning then the prospect of trying to turn slowly and confidently could be a little daunting on subconscious level. I'm sorry I'm not explaining myself very well. I'll leave it to you experts 
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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CEM, Lol! The problem is even worse on Perma-snow!!! Especially in turns in a certain direction! Some JNL slopes are having to re-sole their rental stock. Allegedly.
I know several SSE coaches that are tearing their hair out at the unsuitability of Perma-snow. Race skis are "too sharp" and are cutting the matting.
From the "ESRA" forum:
++++++++++++
I tried 'PermaSnow' some months ago at Swad along with several other coaches at a revalidation course. It was only on the nursery slope but I soon formed an opinion. I must admit that I was so surprised that I continued to ski on it many more times than my fellow coaches in order to be sure mine was not a 'transitional' reaction. I should add that the course leaders left the slope after 1 go.
I found the surface 'unskiable' in any enjoyable or useful sense. In short I found there was little grip in the start of the turn and then the ski tracked when the edge finally bit. I would compare it to skiing on boilerplate ice after it had received 2 inches of fresh snow which had been brushed into clumps so that there is no grip on the ice followed by sudden grip in the clumps.
Possibly ok for beginners (lesson 1 & 2) and maybe for boarders (ask a boarder). I cannot envisage this surface being successful in its present form. Please note that all this assumes that the Swad nursery slope represents a typical representation of the surface. Even if there was a way of fixing poles I would not like to race on it.
It skis very differently to SnowFlex which I think will be raceable as soon as there is a way of fixing the poles.
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From "MySnowSports.com":
+++++++++++++
The biggest problem was losing the abiltity to set courses. As well as this the surface was affecting the way in which the kids were skiing. One problem is that it is very difficult to add/remove pressure from the skis effectively. Most kids were just doing riding the edges top to bottom and not skiing effectively. It is also very difficult to skid the skis which again causes lots of problems.
Over time the kids have improved but I would say that the surface has slowed down there development as skiers.
We now train at Aldershot and Wycombe to give the guys a chance to run some gates and ski on dendix so that they have a chance in races.
+++++++++++++
The decision to lay the surface is a business and insurance one. The plus side is that snowboarders and freestyle skiers love the surface as it is much nicer to fall on so at least some people have benefited from it.
Interesting article from "Racer Ready":
http://www.mysnowsports.com/main_cpg/News/article/sid=278.html
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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hi all the dry slope is no substitute for snow,i ski it three times a week at ipswich,it all depends on the outside temperature the wind direction ,but as easiski says it still good to practice ,and with wax and mist it doesnt take long to get the skis on there edges,try taking to the slope when its raining theres not so much friction ,and wood core skis help as well,falling isnt reccomended though,so persivere and itll be worth it 
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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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where on earth is pembery 
No idea about where the normal skiing happens, but the race training has been on the fairwater? slope in north cardiff this year
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Pembrey is West of Llanelli, near Burry Port. Haven't seen the ski club at Fairwater for a couple of years - Monday night used to be the regular, before they turned to the Dark Side and went to Pembrey 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Alan Craggs wrote: |
| Pembrey is West of Llanelli, near Burry Port. |
The thread has gone full circle as it was skiing at Pembrey last weekend that prompted me to enquire!
BTW, which club skis every week at Pembrey?
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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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Hywel, I was feeling guilty thinking I'd hijacked the thread Don't know the answer to your question but Cardiff Uni used to come to Fairwater until a couple of years ago. When they stopped coming we (the instructors who worked with them) were told that they were going to Pembrey instead - allegedly because as a Council subsidised slope they could offer a very cheap deal which made the trip worthwhile.
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One summer years ago I completely ruined a new pair of skis at Hillend in Edinburgh. The skis got so hot I ended up with bases that had riples and ridges all over them - I was not a happy bunny!
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You know it makes sense.
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roga, You needed Back to Black!!!
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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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How does playgrass compare to snowflex for wear on ski equipment and durability . Considering building a dry ski area in a climate of between 25-36 degrees Celsius ?
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FAQ
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