22 replies to this topic

[mellowgator]

I've been bi-skiing for 20 years. I decided to try mono skiing this time. My instructor taught me off tetter and low and behold I'm skiing by myself and I'm having a blast. I can't believe I waited so long to try it. Today I skied from the top all the way down. I'll never bi-ski again. I am having the best time ever. Today is my 25th anniversary of my injury. Life just keeps getting better.




Mellowgator

[Smileyblue]

Congrats Hun!!!

May you have many more happy adventures and new experiences! Have a fabulous Christmas season and new year.. ;-)

[Bethann]

Sounds like fun and enjoy!

[Talan Skeels-Piggins]

That is great news indeed, I'm glad you took the plunge into the world of mono-skiing. I use a set of shoulder straps to help with my balance, it might be something you could look into, as it saves the hip from simply dropping as you can sort of catch it or shrug with the shoulders. It might not be for you, but as you're leaving the norm behind, it may help. Keep going. Talan

[mellowgator]

mellowgator, on 23 December 2011 - 07:56 PM, said:

I've been bi-skiing for 20 years. I decided to try mono skiing this time. My instructor taught me off tetter and low and behold I'm skiing by myself and I'm having a blast. I can't believe I waited so long to try it. Today I skied from the top all the way down. I'll never bi-ski again. I am having the best time ever. Today is my 25th anniversary of my injury. Life just keeps getting better.




Mellowgator

Edited by mellowgator, 27 December 2011 - 04:08 AM.

[lavenderthistle]

that's because you rock!! I'm really excited for you. hope the rest of the trip is/ was good.

[jenny407]

Karen, you're absolutely cool! Great video --- fantastic snow, and you look great. I'm impressed. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[twisted_ophelia]

Karen, that is so awesome! My first ever sit skiing experience was in a bi-ski and a mono ski is COMPLETELY different. Night and day. I'm so glad you were able to make the switch! It's a big change but so worth it. I did not enjoy the bi ski and being in a mono felt more like the skiing I used to do pre-injury. If you are ever looking to buy your own ski, I highly recommend the Freedom Factory Revolution Pro Comp SS. It's what I have.

Where did you ski? I have no plans to ski this season though my ski is now with me in Toronto instead of being stuck out in Mammoth but I've got my hands way too full with the baby and I don't want to get injured. We've had no snow here anyway so I doubt there'll be late season skiing (even Mammoth is getting crap snow). I miss it and I'm sure I'll be super rusty when I get back into it next year!

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 04 January 2012 - 06:47 AM.

[Grinch83]

That's awesome! I used to snowboard pre-injury and I really miss the mountain! My friends bought me mono-ski lessons for this February at Stowe and I am really excited (and just a little nervous). One question...what do you do to keep your feet and toes warm? Obviously I will have good boots and socks on, but we were thinking that it may be a good idea to stick some hand wamers in the boots as well? Suggestions?

Edited by Grinch83, 06 January 2012 - 07:12 PM.

[KayDub]

Hooray!!! Mono is so different than bi-skiing in an amazing way.

I solely mono-ski on my own but recently have been in the bi-ski a lot helping train new instructors and volunteers how to use it. It's a lot of fun if you don't have the fixed riggers on, but I fall back into some of my old lazy stand ski habits like leaning too much and not completely finishing my turns. The way you have to approach how you ski in my opinion.

You probably said it, but where were you skiing??

[mellowgator]

Talan Skeels-Piggins, on 23 December 2011 - 10:22 PM, said:

That is great news indeed, I'm glad you took the plunge into the world of mono-skiing. I use a set of shoulder straps to help with my balance, it might be something you could look into, as it saves the hip from simply dropping as you can sort of catch it or shrug with the shoulders. It might not be for you, but as you're leaving the norm behind, it may help. Keep going. Talan

hi talan,

my instructor had my torso strapped in pretty good so i was sitting straight up. being a quad i don't have much trunk control.

i'll look into a shoulder strap to see if it makes it easier for me.

thanks for the tip.

karen

[mellowgator]

twisted_ophelia, on 04 January 2012 - 06:44 AM, said:

Karen, that is so awesome! My first ever sit skiing experience was in a bi-ski and a mono ski is COMPLETELY different. Night and day. I'm so glad you were able to make the switch! It's a big change but so worth it. I did not enjoy the bi ski and being in a mono felt more like the skiing I used to do pre-injury. If you are ever looking to buy your own ski, I highly recommend the Freedom Factory Revolution Pro Comp SS. It's what I have.

Where did you ski? I have no plans to ski this season though my ski is now with me in Toronto instead of being stuck out in Mammoth but I've got my hands way too full with the baby and I don't want to get injured. We've had no snow here anyway so I doubt there'll be late season skiing (even Mammoth is getting crap snow). I miss it and I'm sure I'll be super rusty when I get back into it next year!

hi mimi,

i skiied in snowmass. i've been going there for years. they have a huge program with tons of new equipment. the mountain is huge and you can ski a different trail every time and it's 7 miles to ski down from the top i always stay at the silvertree and i go down an elevator and my ski school is 20 feet out the door. it's a great set up.

i have never been to california but i'd love to visit there sometime. i was wondering how motherhood would affect your old dare devil life. i took the kids out skiing when riley was only 6 weeks old and rachel was 2. my oldest daughter now skiis bowels and black diamond runs and riley is a pretty good snowboarder, but none of of can keep up with rachel.

the snow wasn't great but i've seen worse. i thought you were in hawaii. i didn't know you were freezing up in toronto. please post more baby photos.

karen

[mellowgator]

Grinch83, on 06 January 2012 - 07:11 PM, said:

That's awesome! I used to snowboard pre-injury and I really miss the mountain! My friends bought me mono-ski lessons for this February at Stowe and I am really excited (and just a little nervous). One question...what do you do to keep your feet and toes warm? Obviously I will have good boots and socks on, but we were thinking that it may be a good idea to stick some hand wamers in the boots as well? Suggestions?

years ago i bought these white fur boots. they sort of look like my lab and i get teased about wearing dog boots. i also wear big ski socks. but these boots have been totatally wet and have always kept my feet warm. i haven't tried the inserts but i know they all all the rage. i found that boots that laced up the front would get my feet wet and my feet would freeze so try to find a slip on boot.

have a great time. i wear a ton of layers. i wear a a layer of long underwear then a tee shirt then a sweater then a coat. i was toasty but i also covered my face. being a florida girl i can't be cold. so i just load on the clothes.

mellowgator

[Grinch83]

mellowgator, on 06 January 2012 - 10:25 PM, said:

Grinch83, on 06 January 2012 - 07:11 PM, said:

That's awesome! I used to snowboard pre-injury and I really miss the mountain! My friends bought me mono-ski lessons for this February at Stowe and I am really excited (and just a little nervous). One question...what do you do to keep your feet and toes warm? Obviously I will have good boots and socks on, but we were thinking that it may be a good idea to stick some hand wamers in the boots as well? Suggestions?

years ago i bought these white fur boots. they sort of look like my lab and i get teased about wearing dog boots. i also wear big ski socks. but these boots have been totatally wet and have always kept my feet warm. i haven't tried the inserts but i know they all all the rage. i found that boots that laced up the front would get my feet wet and my feet would freeze so try to find a slip on boot.

have a great time. i wear a ton of layers. i wear a a layer of long underwear then a tee shirt then a sweater then a coat. i was toasty but i also covered my face. being a florida girl i can't be cold. so i just load on the clothes.

mellowgator

Great info. Thanks!

[twisted_ophelia]

mellowgator, on 06 January 2012 - 10:05 PM, said:

hi mimi,

i skiied in snowmass. i've been going there for years. they have a huge program with tons of new equipment. the mountain is huge and you can ski a different trail every time and it's 7 miles to ski down from the top i always stay at the silvertree and i go down an elevator and my ski school is 20 feet out the door. it's a great set up.

i have never been to california but i'd love to visit there sometime. i was wondering how motherhood would affect your old dare devil life. i took the kids out skiing when riley was only 6 weeks old and rachel was 2. my oldest daughter now skiis bowels and black diamond runs and riley is a pretty good snowboarder, but none of of can keep up with rachel.

the snow wasn't great but i've seen worse. i thought you were in hawaii. i didn't know you were freezing up in toronto. please post more baby photos.

karen

That's awesome, I've skied Aspen (pre-injury) and was in the area last March (but didn't ski). It's probably not that motherhood has affected my "daredevil" lifestyle (hehe!) but more that I am having a looooOOOOOOng recovery from the pregnancy. There's definitely the fact that I don't want to hurt myself because it would seriously impact my ability to care for Noa but it was such a tough pregnancy that I'm still nowhere near 100%. I just recently started gently riding my horses again, having not ridden since I was maybe 4 months pregnant (back last April). Noa will definitely be s ski kid! I grew up skiing and loved it. Well, he might end up a snowboard kid LOL! I've been putting some pics up on my Facebook but not really any on public forums because it scares me that creeps could look at/steal photos of my baby. Check out my FB! :-)

The snow is pretty terrible all over North America, I've heard. Mammoth is also dire and there were rumors they were going to lay people off, etc., and not all the runs are open. I believe they're saying it's the driest season there since the 1800s. Resorts all over the country and in Canada are offering crazy deals on passes and stuff cuz there's just no snow. Weird. Even here in TO we have had one snowfall with less than an inch. I've put Hawaii off until summer 2012, I'm looking at some real estate now. :-) I needed the Canadian health care (and support from friends and fam) during my pregnancy that going to Hawaii would have been a bad idea. No healthcare!

About keeping the feet warm (for the poster that asked), I wear good winter boots. I also wear ski socks (my favorite are these expedition socks from LorPen). I wear Burton socks as well. Don't make the mistake of wearing crazy thick socks. Thick socks does not mean warm socks. Also, chose the right material and NEVER anything too tight (or too loose). Sometimes those warming pads work well in boots but be careful they don't get too hot. I've never succeeded in having warm feet post-skiing. There have been times where my feet were freezing cold and grey (on very bitter days) but I got better boots and took care of that. They are always a little too cool to the touch when I'm done skiing regardless of what I wear. It's my little theory that having them sit on the metal footplate of the ski makes it harder to keep them warm (plus my circulation issues, etc., that we all have). Good boots are key. I've skied in Ugg boots a few times and they actually worked well for warmth but they're not waterproof so if you wipe out a few times and get snow packed on you, they get wet and cold.

[Edinburgh Colin]

I've just noticed the post Karen. Ddn't realize it was you who was the OP!
Brilliant, looks like great fun and congratulations on rediscovering something you love doing.
EC

[KayDub]

twisted_ophelia, on 07 January 2012 - 07:06 AM, said:

The snow is pretty terrible all over North America, I've heard. Mammoth is also dire and there were rumors they were going to lay people off, etc., and not all the runs are open. I believe they're saying it's the driest season there since the 1800s. Resorts all over the country and in Canada are offering crazy deals on passes and stuff cuz there's just no snow. Weird. Even here in TO we have had one snowfall with less than an inch. I've put Hawaii off until summer 2012, I'm looking at some real estate now. :-) I needed the Canadian health care (and support from friends and fam) during my pregnancy that going to Hawaii would have been a bad idea. No healthcare!

About keeping the feet warm (for the poster that asked), I wear good winter boots. I also wear ski socks (my favorite are these expedition socks from LorPen). I wear Burton socks as well. Don't make the mistake of wearing crazy thick socks. Thick socks does not mean warm socks. Also, chose the right material and NEVER anything too tight (or too loose). Sometimes those warming pads work well in boots but be careful they don't get too hot. I've never succeeded in having warm feet post-skiing. There have been times where my feet were freezing cold and grey (on very bitter days) but I got better boots and took care of that. They are always a little too cool to the touch when I'm done skiing regardless of what I wear. It's my little theory that having them sit on the metal footplate of the ski makes it harder to keep them warm (plus my circulation issues, etc., that we all have). Good boots are key. I've skied in Ugg boots a few times and they actually worked well for warmth but they're not waterproof so if you wipe out a few times and get snow packed on you, they get wet and cold.

Oh it's so bad in parts of Colorado right now. It's a La Nina year, so that usually means tons of moisture. Last year we had records in the Rockies. But unfortunately right now there's a low pressure system hanging around and sandwiching it out. Southern Colorado (Wolf Creek) has great snow, but right now the eastern plains and the Denver area even have more snow than the main Colorado resorts like Vail and Breckenridge do! It's nuts! It's snowing right now in Avon/Beaver Creek now where I live (about 10 miles from Vail) but it'll only be a few inches, max.

As far as good boots, I'd recommend Sorrels. You definitely want something water proof, I wouldn't recommend boots like Uggs, especially for Colorado. Anyway I just got the best pair for Christmas and I wear them everyday, whether I'm out on the mono-ski or just working (I work at the top of the gondola so I have to get through the snow). Super warm without being too warm and cute. I also have a pair of Solomon boots that are really heavy duty (kind of like these but not exactly http://www.amazon.co...ASIN=B002SP9AXS) They're great when it's REALLY cold.


(My new boots with the tops rolled down to show the fuzzy inside)

I think we should have an APP ski trip. Any takers?

[Pete Anderson]

mellowgator, on 23 December 2011 - 07:56 PM, said:

I've been bi-skiing for 20 years. I decided to try mono skiing this time. My instructor taught me off tetter and low and behold I'm skiing by myself and I'm having a blast. I can't believe I waited so long to try it. Today I skied from the top all the way down. I'll never bi-ski again. I am having the best time ever. Today is my 25th anniversary of my injury. Life just keeps getting better. Mellowgator

After my hanggliding accident, I spent a couple of days trying to ski as an able body person. What a big disappointment, especially after skiing all my life and now not even able to get down the bunny hill! I went from double black diamond runs to not even having the ability to snow plow. My buddy at Park City, Utah, told me about their program and I've learned to sit ski/mono ski. I haven't looked back! Although my parallysis is below my knees, its enough to keep me tripping over the pattern in the carpet! Have fun! Pete

Edited by Pete Anderson, 23 February 2012 - 05:28 PM.

[Ches]

 mellowgator, on 23 December 2011 - 07:56 PM, said:

I've been bi-skiing for 20 years. I decided to try mono skiing this time. My instructor taught me off tetter and low and behold I'm skiing by myself and I'm having a blast. I can't believe I waited so long to try it. Today I skied from the top all the way down. I'll never bi-ski again. I am having the best time ever. Today is my 25th anniversary of my injury. Life just keeps getting better.




Mellowgator

Quick question, slightly off topic. How well does the air pressure hold up in your tires, traveling from sea level Florida to the mile high altitude of Colorado?! Do you take an air pump?

[mellowgator]

 Ches, on 20 April 2012 - 06:18 PM, said:

 mellowgator, on 23 December 2011 - 07:56 PM, said:

I've been bi-skiing for 20 years. I decided to try mono skiing this time. My instructor taught me off tetter and low and behold I'm skiing by myself and I'm having a blast. I can't believe I waited so long to try it. Today I skied from the top all the way down. I'll never bi-ski again. I am having the best time ever. Today is my 25th anniversary of my injury. Life just keeps getting better.




Mellowgator

Quick question, slightly off topic. How well does the air pressure hold up in your tires, traveling from sea level Florida to the mile high altitude of Colorado?! Do you take an air pump?

hi ches,

no i don't take an air pump. i use these fat knobby tires that work well going through snow. they're so bulky i can't tell the difference the air pressure makes. but a good question.

[ZEN12many]

I admire you much, Mellowgator.

[Ches]

Good to know, thanks!!

[megatrig]

Cool!! Glad you enjoyed the swop.

So how much do you "go for it", as it were?? Or do you prefer a controlled steady ski down a slope??

youtube clip was great! It should inspire others!!!