My 12 yr old son is a pretty good skier and has been dissuaded from going to the dark side (boarding) by pointing out the skills are totally different, would put him back as a beginner, falling over hurts, etc. He has now started that he wants to try blades, just to try something different. As far as I can see blades don't do anything proper skis don't do and seem to result in the user being less in control. So, the question is are they good for anything?
I'm more tempted to persuade him to try telemark or touring.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Tell him to man up, and get him on a snowboard.
"Falling over hurts", blimey. He's 12. Nothing hurts when you're 12.
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?
MontriondSkier, he's only 12 - let him try boarding, telemarking, touring, whatever. He'll pick things up quickly and there are some parallels between boarding and skiing when it comes to understanding turn shape and edge engagement but that's probably more technical than a 12 year old wants to get, anyway - so just let him have a go.
Personally, I don't see any benefit to blades for becoming a performance skier. Still, they can be fun for a day - but that will be it. A one-day wonder.
andy, quite right 1/2 a day of, what Richard_Sideways rightly reminds us , fun.
.... but that's it
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
flowa, had Big Foots too (they are a major ROFL in the piste-side fluff - something blades can't usually do)
After all it is free
After all it is free
MontriondSkier, so in your efforts to put him off snowboarding you have turned him gay. Well done.
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.
andy, actually Big Feet are my preference too for a half-day ROFL
Can you still hire them? Haven't seen them since [cringe] the 80's
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
FUN? Good grief you'll be telling me it's a holiday next!
My son has a smidgen of dyspraxia in him so I am reluctant on anything that may detract from hard won skills. I wonder whether his curiosity will extend to dipping into his pocket money for the hire
People who telemark get "respect" and are babe-magnets - at least that's what they say!
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Tue 8-01-13 16:16; edited 1 time in total
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
flowa, I hired them in the late 90's. A sH owns the Big Foots (Big Feet?), and I just happen to have a 100% equity stake in a pair of Salomon 99's
Agree that Big Feet off piste is a better way to waste an afternoon tumbling in the snow. Underfoot width is something crazy like 100 or 120mm iirc.
Actually one of the guys had a pair of 123's too.
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.
MontriondSkier, The nearest skip
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Does your son own skis? If you are already hiring hubby swapped his hired ski's for blades for the last day of our holiday one year with no extra charge, he had good fun for that day it hasn't bothered again since.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Forget blades, go for freestyle skis. Freestyle has overtaken snowboarding big time in the cool stakes. It's only a few Brits now hanging onto snowboarding.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Skiing and snowboarding are good for each other as complementary skills, and being able to do both is a great feeling. Gives you much improved awareness of other slope users too.
Blades get a lot of stick, but I've been meaning to have a go for ages.
Just please, keep him away from snowbikes and yooners.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Richard_Sideways wrote:
MontriondSkier, what are they good for?
Fun, sir, FUN.
A twelve year old is FAR more interested in doing fun things than aquiring some yeasty old telemark skills.
In terms of actually having a use, yes when skiing with young children who are learning. Lot easier to get close to them to pick them up, ski backwards to look at them, shuffle close to get them onto a button lift. Mine paid forthemsleves in that respect
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?
Lizzard wrote:
MontriondSkier, so in your efforts to put him off snowboarding you have turned him gay. Well done.
People who telemark get "respect" and are babe-magnets - at least that's what they say!
Nope, it's the greatest lie in the mountains. Its just not cool, never has been. Whenever anyone says it is, they're just taking the piddle or talking through their ice-and-food hung beards.
Mollerski may be on to something despite his foam-flecked mad-eyed anti-snowboard stance.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Richard_Sideways wrote:
Mollerski may be on to something despite his foam-flecked mad-eyed anti-snowboard stance.
My Daughter is currently in Morzine doing her BASI L1/2 snowboarding.
(but it is worth telling him that the fandan love tele-dudes, oh yes)
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Richard_Sideways wrote:
MontriondSkier wrote:
People who telemark get "respect" and are babe-magnets - at least that's what they say!
Nope, it's the greatest lie in the mountains. Its just not cool, never has been. Whenever anyone says it is, they're just taking the piddle or talking through their ice-and-food hung beards.
New quote of the year.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Blades are fun, why shouldn't he have a go? A lot of adult skiers who are permanently in the back seat would learn a great deal from a day on blades.
But of course he wants to learn to snowboard! Fantastically good idea. As for having to be a beginner again, he's 12 for goodness' sake.
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.
Quote:
As for having to be a beginner again, he's 12 for goodness' sake.
My 12 year olds had a 2 hour lesson on Saturday at MK - first time on boards. You wouldn't think so by end of that time Give them another day and they'll be better than me at that as well
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
show him (and the girls in his class) this
(dirty smelly hippies)
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Tue 8-01-13 16:58; edited 1 time in total
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Elston, who put that penguin on snow blades? Seriously. His jacket comes to his ankles.
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.
Mollerski wrote:
Forget blades, go for freestyle skis. Freestyle has overtaken snowboarding big time in the cool stakes. It's only a few Brits now hanging onto snowboarding.
What he said.
Get him some twin-tips and let him loose in the terrain park, he'll have much more fun than he would on blades.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
zanarchist, who cares. I'd ski butt naked if flowa would let me It really doesn't matter. All that matters is that he is enjoying himself.
Quote:
My 12 yr old son is a pretty good skier and has been dissuaded from going to the dark side (boarding) by pointing out the skills are totally different, would put him back as a beginner, falling over hurts, etc.
That's a bit negative but typical for some kids(me included at that age). If he wants to try something new then he will fall. Falling is part of learning and progressing. This is especially true of park skiing.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
MontriondSkier, with his dyspraxia does falling over hurt 'more' or is it the confidence knock to starting over again as well as the falling?
Park skiing involves A LOT of falling - far more than learning to board or ski. There are some tricks that are easy to pick up though, like 180's and skiing switch, that don't involve too much falling.
Perhaps having a go at boarding towards the end of the season when there's more slush about would help cushion the falls?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
MontriondSkier wrote:
So, the question is are they good for anything?
Spiral fractures of the lower leg.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
barry, so basically as I telemark on a snowboard I'm so far past the coolwall I'n in the freezer with the Aston? That may explain why my wee fella is saying it's not coming out till spring
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Gosh - this has ignited some opinions!
flowa, The dyspraxia doesn't hurt; he's just a bit on the clumsy side and skills take a bit longer to learn. Nothing wrong with his self-confidence though - in his head he'll be teaching Tomba to ski moguls next week and spent all last week skiing off-piste (round the back of each tree at the side of the run)
Guess he'll have a go at blades in Feb - damn, should have kept the baby skis from a few years ago
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?
MontriondSkier, great news. In that case, I revert to my first post and wish him all the best in branching out into new snow skills, whatever they end up being
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
, fun.
owns the Big Foots (Big Feet?), and I just happen to have a 100% equity stake in a pair of Salomon 99's 
Give them another day and they'll be better than me at that as well