Poster: A snowHead
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Guys, my wife found it difficult to learn on ski's during her first week skiing so switched to blades. She progressed very quickly on blades (130's not 99's) and now after three years is a very good Blader. The problem is she just cannot keep up with me even though she has good technique and zero fear its all about psysics, on the flats, even when she's egging it, she just runs out of steam and ends up clicking off and walking the last 200m. Now I love her dearly and don't mind waiting (honest) but I'm trying to push her into giving the longer planks a try as I know she'll pick it up instantly as her technique is great, the problem is she refuses to 'give up an of her week' learning again just in case she struggles. What do you think? should I carry on pushing her or just accept she's a blader and let her come to the decision on her own. When I say she's a credible blader I mean she can navigate decent Blacks on an edge and is getting rather good at freestyle too but I won't take her anywhere near off piste as on Blades I know she'd sink like a stone.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not sure I see a massive difference between a 130cm "blade" and say a 150cm ski. Maybe just get her some poles for the blades for easier skating on the flats or rent her short skis for a day and see how she gets on - if she's really got good technique I can't see the transition being a big issue.
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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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Pryle, When your wife first learnt, did she have lessons? Was it an instructor who suggested she switch to blades? Has she had any more lessons since?
It sounds like she's pretty good with the blades, but she will get so much more out of skiing. I'm not quite sure what you mean by
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she refuses to 'give up an of her week' learning again just in case she struggles.
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Why not suggests she tries some really short skis to start with - say 145, or 150 (how tall is she?). And suggest she takes a lesson, which is never a waste.
But if she really really doesn't want to then don't push it too much - skiing holidays are meant to be fun after all!
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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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"Wife ski's on Blades, should I push her into Ski's" - or a tree
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Cheers guys, she's only 5ft anyway so the ski's wont get dramiatically longer but I'll try a bit of gentle persuasion once were there. I could Always burn off and leave her to catch up to prove my point (only kidding), the problem I have with the blades she uses is that they are old and still have the non release bindings on them and I'd hate to think of her falling at speed in those leg wreckers. I priced up some quick release bindings for them but for the price I might as well buy her some cheapish 150's. I think I'll rent a pair for the day so she can choose herself but fingers crossed eh!
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hould I carry on pushing her or just accept she's a blader
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am i missing something here? she is your wife and therefore must obay you
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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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Ha ha, you obviously know her!!
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Acyually, read that wrong, she does as she wants, any attempt to tell her what she should do ends in tears, what I will do is make it seem like it was all her idea, then she'll take all the credit for it and scold me for ever suggesting she ski'd on 'Blades' and that how she said all along that proper ski's are the only way to throw yourself down a mountain.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Beanie1 - Pryle, When your wife first learnt, did she have lessons? Was it an instructor who suggested she switch to blades? Has she had any more lessons since?
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She had two days of private lessons to begin with but wasn't too happy with the instructor (he took her on a red as her second run) so Myself and my mate taught her, she moved to blades on the 4th day and fell in love with the ease of them although we made sure she didn't just chuck herself about like a moron on them. She's now at a competant level and actively seeks out tricky runs so I'm quite proud of her.
Another problem we have is her sister who's also coming with us this year, she's had one week of skiing (thank God on proper ski's) and has the basics nailed down (although sh still ploughs when turning left), saying that she nailed Blues and a couple of reds in her first week so I was quite impressed (last year in Val Thorens). She's looking to book a few private lessons this year (going to ADH at New Year) and I hear a few of the local instructers are good (mainly Masterclass and Stance) but she thinks the prices for private lessons are a bit steep (£70 per hour) what do you guys reckon?
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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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An 2 of private lessons in a week =£140 = less than a lift pass. If it doubles the amount of enjoyment you can get from a lift pass in future then its money well spent.
However I do think customers have to be quite demanding of themselves and their instructor if they are shelling out for private lessons - no-one wants an "it was ok" kind of result.
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Me and my bud have been skiing for 15 years now and have taught around 20 people to ski (new people came each year as there was a large group of us before marraige and all that!!) what still tickles me is that when I tell my sister to do something or try to help her with her technique she ignores me falls over then screams that I'm the Anti-Christ. However when a handsome French instructor tells her exactly the same thing, she coo's and does as she's told, coming out of the private lesson telling me about all the wonderful things she's learned!! I'll teach males anyday thankyou very much!!
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Wife ski's on Blades, should I DIVORCE her
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Much more important aspect to this.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Get this, the missus recently said that the best place she'd been skiing was Pas de la Casa which baffled me a bit, don't get me wrong Pas is good for Apres but the runs are too congested unless you go over the mountain. As I sat and pondered this for a few minutes she then told me that she especially liked Sally's, try as I might I couldn't remember a bar resteraunt or run in Pas or Soldeu so asked what Sallys was! Its the sodding Duty Free perfume shop the shallow cow, still I bought her christmas present from there two years ago (told her it was from Debs!). Women!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Pryle wrote: |
she refuses to 'give up an of her week' learning again |
Get her a couple of lessons at Chill Factore - only down the road from you and no time lost on holiday?
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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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Pryle, I hope she doesn't read this forum - or that she's got a really good sense of humour...
Peering into my crystal ball I see for you trips to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Courmayeur, Davos, Zermatt, Lech and the like...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I'd hate to think of her falling at speed in those leg wreckers.
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Fully agree. 130cms with non-releasing bindings and she's only 5'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If she's really keen to stay short, she might enjoy something like the Atomic 123 skiboards. We have some of the Decathlon (Wedze) version and having skied those, and the original short (99cm) Salomon Blades, and a range of ordinary skis, I can say with confidence that short skis are much more like skis than like blades (ie in the way they feel on your feet). And of course they have proper bindings.
Most hire places have them - and they're actually shorter than what she's using now. It shouldn't take any "relearning" whatsoever, and her risk of a spiral fracture will be much reduced. I have a young French friend who only skis on blades but after getting one of those he now skis on blades with proper bindings.
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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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130s with non-releasable bindings? I was sure the maximum permissible was 99.9?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Pryle wrote: |
me even though she has good technique and zero fear its all about psysics, on the flats, even when she's egging it, she just runs out of steam and ends up clicking off and walking the last 200m./ |
You might want to wax those a bit better :lol:
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One of my ski buddies was on blades (120s with releasable bindings) for years - finally switched back to skis last season and picked it up really easily.
But although we'd hinted it would be a plan with some benefit as we were going off piste more and more, it was for him to conclude for himself really.
... though you could buy her a nice pair of skis for xmas
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Pryle, I'm surprised that 130's have non-release bindings. These days there are so many release bindings made especially for short skis/snowblades/skiboards, I would say that on the grounds of safety alone, if she wants to stay with 130's, get her into ones with release bindings!
My husband moved to 120's when his arthritic knees couldn't take longer length skis, he has never had a problem keeping up with our 2 "boy-racer" sons, but they only ski on piste. We've been told that switching 2 wider models has the same affect as a longer length - still keeping the nice small radius feel, but they float better. I've used blades for years, but then I'm just looking to enjoy; not keep up with anyone, go off piste or ski blacks. You could contact these guys and explain the problem, they seem to think these 130 Skiboards do it all. http://www.skiboardsonline.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=sprucesherpa&Category_Code=skiboards
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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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If your lady is only 5ft, (which is 150cm) then a 150 long ski would generally be considered too long these days.
130 would only be a 'little' short in terms of normal skis. Her ski ought to be a 140, 145 at most, not a 150. If you're pushing her for 150 and she refuses, in my very humble opinion she is damn right!
What you should worry about is the non-release bindings... I rather have a lady enjoying herself on 130's with release bindings then 150's staying home.
As for the ability to keep up on runouts. Even if she'd use 180 long candlesticks i'd worship her on my bare knees if she'd keep up with a much heavier bloke. Her weight vs air resistance is just that much in her disadvantage.
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Ronald, Couldn't agree more, I know so many women who gave up because full lengths skis (no matter how much coaching they had) terrified them - better to have her there with you on blades than at home. When ski instructors tried to talk me out of blades, I told them I'd rather be there on the mountains using a tin tray to get down if I had to, than miss out on such a fantastic experience, so instead of throwing the towel in, I found what made me feel secure and happy - looks like your wife has done the same.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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At least they are "long" blades so have so flex to take some of strain than blades usually inflict upon knee joints.
If she's comfortable with them then it's difficult to argue constructively. On the otherhand there are aches and pains with strains to knees, difficultly is stopping due to lack of edge etc then maybe considering alternatives such as the I143cm celantic Scout http://www.icelanticskis.co.uk/skis/0910-scout/ would be a positive step.
On balance providing it's not a safety issue for your wife although for me it would be, I'd concur with Ronald "I rather have a lady enjoying herself on 130's with release bindings then 150's staying home."
I hope you both have a fantastic and safe season.
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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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Guys, took your advice and we bought some new Rossgnol 'the mini' short skis at 130cm with quick release bindings. We went to chill factor to try them out over the weekend and she had a fantastic time on them. At least my mind is at ease now due to the quick release bindings and to be fair she was absolutely flying on them.
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Pryle, great!
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You know it makes sense.
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Pryle, brill
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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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Isn't the answer to this, well you could do, but it will make one hell of a 'clatter' and probably annoy the owners of the skis?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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In the words of Dolly Parton.. D-I-V-O-R-C-E
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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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mfj197, Yes it took me a while to go back and work that out.
Is that becos:
a) I am a bloke or b) suffering from altitude sickness from last weeks trip to Tignes?
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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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Pryle, Great news - glad it's all sorted!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Now all you need is for your wife to push you into English punctuation lessons
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Now you're just making me jealous Jivebaby!
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Yoda,
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