(Don't) break a leg!
I skiied a couple hours yesterday. Had a dramatic fall on the last run -- shoulda been a yard sale, but I guess my rock skis are set wrong -- banged one butt cheek pretty good.
I went on one ski trip I'm my life. I didn't get good but didn't get hurt either. I did have trouble sleeping well because of the elevation.
(Mobes, you should ski in western Montana instead of Colorado. Don't tell anyone though, we don't need a bunch of tourists clogging up the slopes.)
1: Delighted to hear you felt like skiing; after last year I wasn't sure you'd completely recovered.
I took lessons in skiing from the Ottawa Park district, at Hogsback, when I was 10 & 11. A school bus would drive around to pickup points in the neighborhoods and you could ride to lessons w/ your skis. That last year my boots were too small and I got frostbite more than once. I should have complained by we don't, you know?
I went on a ski trip to Mansfield from Columbus when I was 17, and found I could do it well, maybe better than I had when learning. Haven't been on skis since.
I did go skating last night. It takes me about ten laps to get the motion down and after a total of twenty laps my feet ache.
My daughters took basic ice skating lessons last year and I was amazed how quickly they took to it and how kind particularly the few adult skaters of color we ran across but really everyone was to them. (I did not learn much, mostly because all my ice time involved stooping to hold Selah's hand and go at her pace.) Selah, then 3, was an incredibly noncompliant student but has asked to start hockey and promises she'll do better this time. I can't skate with them at all until my sprained ankle is healed, which isn't now or in any future I can really imagine, but I should get them signed up again and see how it goes.
Tying everything on the front page together, my uncle who lost an eye as a child has been trained to teach people with disabilities skiing in Colorado. I am probably doing them a disservice by not teaching my kids to ski, but at this point I can't imagine doing it. They can put it on the list of reasons to sigh sadly later.
I didn't learn to ski when I was young (I think I've talked about high school "ski trips" elsewhere here) and as an adult with a self-preservation instinct it just seems like an easy way to get terribly injured. Compare with horseback riding, which is probably more dangerous but which I was acclimated to early, so don't think twice about. My ex was a competitive skier (along with other strange patrician sports, did you know the calls used in fox hunting are quite ancient, in fact from Norman) so my daughter is learning to ski and it's kind of terrifying for me, but I am assured it's ok because her center is quite low to the ground.
I went cross-country skiing once. I survived, but didn't have any inclination to do it again.
Yeah, I mean, I wrecked my ankle trying to step from the road to the curb. I'm not actually excited about activities that look like Fun with Fractures and Concussions.
I don't know if I've developed ANY new non-work related skills (aside from sort of abstract social skills) as an adult. I have become more tolerant of doing things I am unskilled at.
I have a strict nothing-but-shoes-and-socks on my feet rule, so all this skiing/skating/snowboarding stuff is right out. The good thing about our family is that my youngest is my wife's kindred spirit and is game for anything, and the older one is my kindred spirit and is game for nothing more than hanging out.
I have the raw athleticism you'd expect in somebody who is level 30 in Pokemon.
In the past year, I've learned to embroider badly and to do okay tapestry needlepoint. My applique is getting better too. I'm not sure I've learned any non-fabric-type skills and I'm being very mopey today about not having read enough books, which usually leads to cramming to get to a point that's less depressing. I'm feeling weird in general about what learning feels like as a (non-academic?) adult. When was the last time I learned ANYTHING? I meant to learn how to program this fall, but instead I've just been sick and miserable, which I already knew before now but have been working on perfecting.
In line to get our lift tickets, I'm having intense "why the fuck am I here" feelings.
15: You're having fun, heebie! Keep telling yourself that.
I'm taking the kids skiing right after Christmas. I remain kind of terrible at it, but it really is fun.
I do wish it wasn't so logistically difficult. If it didn't mean moving, I would love having a life where I could ski casually a couple of times a week in season. As it is, it's one week a year.
I didn't try skiing at all until I was a teen, when I got to cross-country ski, which I enjoyed. Joining people for downhill skiing in college wasn't much fun--I was on the bunny hill most of the day and was slow to pick it up. In adulthood, I've done each version once or twice more--it's rare that I'm invited, but I'm game.
When you're commenting while going down the hill, remember to lean your edges away from the phone.
I went cross-country skiing once. I survived, but didn't have any inclination to do it again.
You only need to be inclined to do alpine skiing.
I am just a very, very chickenshit person. The extremely flat parts were fun but that had too many terrifying parts.
The two bits of skiing advice I have make it much less terrifying pretty fast. The better you get at leaning your weight way forward on your toes, the more in control you'll feel.
Also, for some reason, keeping your shoulders facing straight downhill makes a huge difference. You're turning back and forth across the slope to control your speed, but if you turn by pivoting your legs under you, and keeping your face and upper body looking straight down, you've got way more control.
That is all I know about skiing.
Next year we will be learning to ski or snowboard. I think it's a requirement here.
I survived my then-boyfriend's family's concerted attempts to get me to learn to ski by getting the instructor to join me in a thorough inspection and quality control tour of Megève's various drinking establishments. Worked great!
Tree-wells too. That's worth learning.
Tree-wells are in the same class of life threatening phenomena as, say, flash floods in that, at some level, I can't convince myself that they could possibly pose a risk to me or anyone reasonably fit. I know I'm wrong but I just don't believe it.
I don't understand how you get the trees in the bucket.
On the OP, why the hell did this have to go to the courts? Surely at some point someone in USA Triathalon should've noticed how needlessly stupid their policy is, right?
At some level, I can't convince myself that the world is often needlessly stupid, either.
I don't even know what a tree-well is.
But I've only skied groomed trails -- is this something that happens in amongst trees, even if you don't hit them directly?
I'm assuming a tree-well is the little depression in the snow that surrounds a pine-style tree. But I didn't know it had a name.
Yep, often loosely packed and deep. Like lightning sand.
"Lightening sand" sounds like a non-traditional way to get highlights put in your hair.
I should make the family go try the runs at Salad Dressing Brand ski resort.
It would be like $250, not counting lunch and any medical care needed. No wonder so many people push soccer on their kids instead.
I'm happy to watch all your things, in the lodge, with the whiskey and cocoa.
http://flatheadbeacon.com/2016/09/26/whitefish-mountain-resort-settles-lawsuit-tree-well-death/
I've never tried mixing whiskey and chocolate but it sounds like it would detract from both.
How many exchange students got to Montana and live?
Speaking of medical care, Moby, what did the doctors have you do for your achilles tendon? I'm having persistent pain after a too-ambitious series of uphill sprints.
I'm not going to mix them; I'm just going to drink them while not dying in CharleyCarp's tree well.
You should probably stop doing too-ambitious uphill sprints because as near as I can tell, the doctors have only done two things that helped. One was they have me some stretching exercises (which, you know, you could probably find on the internet). Two was they told me that I could take way more NSAIDs than I would have felt comfortable taking otherwise.
A significant portion of my calories have been coming from hot cocoa and vodka. The NY Times informs me that the kids are using red wine these days but I'm a traditionalist.
On the OP, why the hell did this have to go to the courts?
Right? I assume it was an instance of officious people "solving" a nonexistant problem for the sake of their own self-righteousness. As usual.
The orthopedic surgeon made me feel better about myself because he was younger than me and fatter. All the doctors I see lately have been pictures of physical fitness and it is getting really annoying.
Mixing red wine and vodka seems like it should be a sign of problem drinking. And why not just get some fortified wine and save the effort.
whiskey and cocoa
So far the best thing about being back in Missoula is how the Old Post has a whole page of hot cocktails that are all very delicious and also cost $5. The peppermint schnapps cocoa is my favorite so far.
I was thinking about going skiing this afternoon, but now I'm going to go to the Old Post for "lunch" instead.
I felt less hopeless on a much flatter run with no scary parts.
I thought lightning sand was how glass got discovered.
Did you try the weight forward, shoulders facing downhill thing? I find it's huge -- not just that you're skiing better, but that it feels so much safer.
I didn't see your comment until we stopped for lunch. But after I enjoy this cup of coffee, I will pay attention to my toes and shoulders. I do welcome advice.
Normally, I wouldn't try to coach anything physical in blog comments because (a) it's an insane medium for it, and (b) I'm kind of terrible at most physical things. But those two things skiing are really simple and non-obvious feeling.
(On last year's trip, we hauled along a friend of Newt's -- an athletic but previously non-skiing kid. With basically just that as coaching, and an annoying level of teenage athleticism and fearlessness, he was skiing better than I was by the end of the week. Damn kids.)
Also I have to overcome mild inertia about braving the chair lift alone.
What the fuck is wrong with us that chair lifts exist? They are terrifying. How do people keep from compulsively flinging themselves off them? Or throwing their phones? Smearcase would understand except he'd never be so dumb as to get near one.
Also the family resemblances of some of the families in this lodge is entertaining me.
All right. Off to keep my weight over my toes and my shoulders facing down the mountain. Even when it's steep?
Especially when it's steep. You're skiing back and forth across the hill still, but always facing straight down. If you face forward over your skis, you'll feel like you're careening helplessly. Facing straight down, you'll feel in control.
Smearcase would understand except he'd never be so dumb as to get near one.
I understand.
Remember what Dumbledore said. "Death is just the next adventure."
"Come on, you sons of bitches. Dumbledore said death is just the next adventure."
How do people keep from compulsively flinging themselves off them? Or throwing their phones?
A very weird impulse that I completely understand. What's with that anyway?
A very weird impulse that I completely understand.
One of David Foster Wallace's lesser-known works.
Why is your family making you ski alone when you don't know how to ski? Why aren't you practicing on the bunny hill or taking lessons or something? Scowl at Jammies and shake your head disapprovingly on my behalf.
Jammies kept me company during the long terrifying run and the flatter fun run before lunch, and then went off to have big kid fun. I didn't actually mind the solitude, though - not letting anyone down with my pokey pace. Now we're meeting up again (which is also nice).
63: so I'm taking very shallow grade cuts back and forth across the steep part, with my torso turned so that my chest is facing downhill?
The thing I'm finding hardest is to get my lagging leg to come along - like out of pizza wedge and into French fries, for ex.
It must be that I'm putting weight on it when I shouldn't be, or else I just have weak outer thigh hip muscles or something. Flexors?
71: Exactly. And having your weight forward will help that lagging leg come around.
Are we going to end the year killing off Princess Leia? Jesus.
67:There's a word for it in French: "l'appel du ciel".
I haven't seen "Rogue One" yet. No spoilers.
75- I thought you were referring to our bad skiing advice to Heebie, although I don't recall that we've ever referred to her as Leía.
All done. I'm pretty beat. I definitely got more successful in the afternoon.
78: Actually the skiing advice has been pretty solid in this thread.
50 is correct. If you're going to ski, you shouldn't mix red wine and vodka. Stick with one or the other, especially if you plan on taking on the advanced runs.
I have a friend who regularly brings homemade eau de vie up to the hill. And know a bunch of old men (including said friend) who'll stop off at "The Knob" for a toke or two on a sunny afternoon.
The lodge had signs that said no smoking cigarettes or marijuana inside the lodge. It's like an actual legal casual thing.
The two bits of skiing advice I have make it much less terrifying pretty fast. The better you get at leaning your weight way forward on your toes, the more in control you'll feel.
Also, for some reason, keeping your shoulders facing straight downhill makes a huge difference. You're turning back and forth across the slope to control your speed, but if you turn by pivoting your legs under you, and keeping your face and upper body looking straight down, you've got way more control.
I think of myself as a competently good skier, and have a lot of fun doing it and generally feel in control. Your first tip (lean forward!) is indeed vital. But the second?? This is blowing my mind, because it sounds terrible. My shoulders are supposed to be pointing a different direction than my skis? I definitely generally face my shoulders the same way my skis are facing. I think. Although now I'm wondering if I actually turn my shoulders/torso downhill without realizing it? I'm certainly not consciously turning my torso downhill. I do tend to look downhill, mostly, but that's mostly a turning of my head. I think. Now I want video of myself skiing. Or at least I want to go ski somewhere and pay attention to this. Am I doing this wrong or not??
Perpendicular to the fall line, urps. You're surely already doing that.
Now I think I must literally not be understanding what you're saying, although it seems clear enough, because none of the people skiing in youtube videos (of good skiers) are doing what I think you're describing, or anything close to it. So I guess I'm not following you.
85 to LB. I'm sure I'm not following 84. "The fall line"?
Weirder or less weird than the sinbad thing? If you had to rank them?
Watching "Cosmos" and now sad that I probably won't see Halley's Comet again and could barely make it out the first time.
Heebie, why not take a couple of ski lessons?
Is what you're describing just the 3rd (or maybe 4th, I lost count) tip described here? (Don't rotate your upper body into the turn in an attempt to force the lower body to turn--let the lower body lead.) Because that makes total sense.
(Incidentally, what it sounds to me like you are describing in your advice is "counter-rotation"--the seventh problem he describes (and demonstrates) in that video. Which, as he notes, you're NOT supposed to do. What he demonstrates as the problem is what your description sounded like to me--but, again, I'm probably misunderstanding you. As you noted, describing all this with words on paper is hard.)
Downhill, which may or may not correspond, exactly, to the run you're going down. The line between your shoulders should be perpendicular to the line going where a ball would roll. Not rigidly, but you return to it when you can.
Charley, does the guy in the video linked in 90 look like he's doing something wrong to you? (When he's not demonstrating one of the errors, I mean.) Because his shoulders don't stay perpendicular to downhill.
I should mention I'm now convinced Sinbad used to be in Driving Miss Daisy.
He's not straying that far off. If the hill was a lot steeper, such that control was going to be an issue, we'd see him sticking a bit tighter, I think.
89: I might, especially with the kids next year or something.
You need the skills to descend the hills.
77: They don't really get the plans, and it ends with a teaser for Rogue Two: This Time We Really Get The Plans, Maybe.
76 In English I think it's called "Brexit."
Just a quick note to apologize to emir and others for not following up on drink requests -- it's been a pretty intense time with extended family and the fun game of Emotional Labor Hot Potato and I'm not sure we'll have the time or inclination to try to set something up. I do generally recommend the cocktail bar MVP across from our lodgings, though.
We'll be in London Monday and after, but two kids in the group have succumbed to a stomach bug and we probably all got infected cleaning up after the second one (on the train, sweet Christ -- MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL), so... feel free to name establishments in London or Dublin that you do NOT want contaminated with norovirus (or whatever). And happy holidays.
I'm working in London Tuesday. We could perhaps arrange something, which I would like. On the other hand, I might be fixing my mother's central heating
Where will you be? One of the three of us got the virus today, so odds of an encounter are fairly low, but we can try. I may be about to succumb too actually, so I will perhaps not see the denouement of the day-long struggle for control of the archery set. On the plus side both 5yos can now easily take out any enemy standing still at a distance of eight feet or less and suffering from a fatal allergy to suction cups.
I'll be in the neighbourhood of Kings Cross station.
email me as in the link
I've been out of Dublin since Friday & things were hectic before that so probably wouldn't have worked out anyway.
The niblings mostly had the virus too, as have other small children of my acquaintance.