[Pete Anderson]

qman, on Dec 26 2009, 08:18 AM, said:

i cant stress enough that the marker 30s are the way to go. its not just the din settings but the whole construction.
they are bomb proof.

How about the mounting of the binding. Are you centered on the ski where it allows you to roll foreward onto the tip, and backward onto the tail of the ski?

I don't want to be drilling and re-drilling my bindings on a pair of nice skis.

Thanks!

Pete

This post has been edited by Pete Anderson: 27 December 2009 - 09:16 PM

[qman]

mounting is the same as for skiers.

i mounted a ski a bit forward of normal and regreted it.

stick to normal mount positions, and i would be reluctant to go to new school (true ski centre) - (unless you are riding switch ;-))

[Pete Anderson]

qman, on Dec 30 2009, 07:57 AM, said:

mounting is the same as for skiers.

i mounted a ski a bit forward of normal and regreted it.

stick to normal mount positions, and i would be reluctant to go to new school (true ski centre) - (unless you are riding switch ;-))

Thanks! I know how it is when your too far foreward on the ski. You loose control on the tail of the ski, and is especially noticable when skiing down steep terrain. On the other hand, I've had skis mounted too far back and couldn't turn, or had difficulty initiating a turn.

Decisions, decisions...humm.


Cheers!

[qman]

most modern skis have a mounting mark for the centre of the boot. Prach has a 325mm boot plate.
Sit skis are actually very centered in terms of weight and pressure (sometimes to a fault) so there isnt any need to go out of the norm IMHO.

mounting as recommended will give you the best chance of loading the ski evenly. there are more problems going forward or back.

[Pete Anderson]

Well I've started to ski alone, without the help of my friend. Last weekend I skied down a run that took me over 45 minutes to get down the same run two years ago, shortly after my accident (this is the bunny hill). I skied that run the normal alpine way, like I had all my life, but I was really disappointed that I couldn't cordinate any turns, or be stable enough to really enjoy it due to my paralysis below my knees. Last weekend it took me less than 4 minutes in my sit ski and that included taking some bumps along the way! Yeee-Haaaa!!

I still have problems loosing an edge from time to time on the steeper slopes when sit skiing. I find myself sliding all the way down the mountain on my side until I hit something, like a tree, after falling over at the top of the hill. Kinda scary.

I really enjoy it. Its challenging, humbling at times, and a lot of fun!

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This post has been edited by Pete Anderson: 07 January 2010 - 05:19 AM

[outkastsl]

Pete Anderson, on Jan 7 2010, 06:09 AM, said:

Well I've started to ski alone, without the help of my friend. Last weekend I skied down a run that took me over 45 minutes to get down the same run two years ago, shortly after my accident (this is the bunny hill). I skied that run the normal alpine way, like I had all my life, but I was really disappointed that I couldn't cordinate any turns, or be stable enough to really enjoy it due to my paralysis below my knees. Last weekend it took me less than 4 minutes in my sit ski and that included taking some bumps along the way! Yeee-Haaaa!!

I still have problems loosing an edge from time to time on the steeper slopes when sit skiing. I find myself sliding all the way down the mountain on my side until I hit something, like a tree, after falling over at the top of the hill. Kinda scary.

I really enjoy it. Its challenging, humbling at times, and a lot of fun!

That's great Pete, I wish I can ski alone right now. I still have to get strong enough to get myself up after a fall. I have a problem with loosing an edge too like you do on steeper hills, I slid last time and literally hugged a tree, NOT FUN, lol. I totally agree though, I enjoy it because of the challenge and it's humbling at times...BUT I STILL HAVE A BLAST.

[Pete Anderson]

After my experience at the Canyons, in Park City, Utah, I don't think its ever a good idea to ski alone. I actually hated my experience yesterday.

It was icey, rocky and I found out the hard way that there are a lot of flat spots, which I really struggled with just trying to get to a lift, or run. Its funny that I didn't ever recall, or experienced any of these issues when I skied their before my accident. By the time the lifts were closing down for the day my arms were "noodled" to the point that I could no longer function on my sit ski. And the problem with this resort is that skiers have to take a tram half way up the mountain, due to the lack of snow, and find themselves commited to skiing down in order to get back to their car, when really they should not be skiing at all due to fatigue.

At one point I hit a slab of ice and slid for about two to three hundred feet, with my sit ski in tow as I had been jetisoned from it, but leaving my feet still strapped to the foot rest. I finally came to a stop half way down the slope leaving me with a bucket packed with snow and ice. My friend and ski partner was my savior in getting me back into my sit ski. We discovered that it wasn't my lap strap that failed, but rather I failed in properly engaging the snap.

Later that day, my bucket had stuck to the chair lift leaving me hanging as the landing ramp began to fall away. My quick thinking buddy was able to push me off before saving himself. I dropped farther than I'd like, but I landed soft without falling over. My friend on the other hand, dropped even farther, which really spoked him.

Yesterday was definitely a challenge and I found that the Canyons is really not a place for the disabled. Even though there were employees that were happy to help out, I found that there is no parking anywhere close to the ski lift. They designed the resort that caters to their hotel guests. Anyone else that wants to ski there as to park in a lot about a half mile away, climb into a gondola that takes a skier to where the hotels are located. From the drop off point, the skier has to carry their equipment for about a block to get onto another gondola that goes half way up the mountain. Once a person gets off at that point, they have to walk, or traverse over to the ski lift, which is about another 500 feet.

Before my accident, I took it all for granite. Parking, walking to the lift, getting on and off the lift, that was all easy and very little effort. But now, being disabled, my awareness of my surroundings has completely changed. I have found that if I have a lift that drops quickly below me as I'm getting on, or off the chair lift, I find there is very little room for error on my part, or the liftty!

Sit skiing is a blast, but there's more to learn than what meets the eye!

[qman]

i hear you pete, some days it just doesnt work and you need to cut your loses and come back again another day.

and some hills are good for sit skiers and others not for a range of reason. but they are also happy to discuss how to make things easier in my experience.
mostly it is ignorance.

I found i got the liftys to slow the loading down a little for the first week or so and it really helped reduce the loading mistakes. i have never really had dramas getting off at the top except for the loading mech not locking down.

[Pete Anderson]

Its definitely an on-going learning experience for me. The problem that I have is that I've alpine skied all me life up until my accident. So I look at a hill and think no problem, I can ski this, but I find out the hard way and then reality sets in. Nope, its not the same as before and I get spanked!

At times I catch an outside edge and I end of slapping my head on the down hill portion of the slope. Its bad enough seeing stars, but its almost as bad trying to get back up when my legs are on the uphill and my head is on the downward slope. Talk about a turtle being on its back!

To be continued...

This post has been edited by Pete Anderson: 11 January 2010 - 04:44 PM

[qman]

you should never get a downhill edge, if you do you are not leaning. it is like alpine sking you have to commit downhill to force the edge over.

[Pete Anderson]

Yeah, I know. I think that I am sliding at times in icey conditions when I put too much effort in getting the ski turned around. That's when I'm catching the outside edge........Ouch!

[Pete Anderson]

I'm getting my new, Elan Quad 1 ski mounted to my sit ski tonight. This ski is really fat! I'm excited to see how it handles in the fluffy stuff.

I think my past issues regarding skiing on ice is that my ski, Rossignol Cut, 210, are too soft and I'm loosing it on my turns in the tail area of my ski. It flexes, rather than getting an edge into the slope. Washes out, and I wipe out. I get intimedated from the increasing speed and that's when I twist my shoulders away from the fall-line and towards the hill. It gets ugly.

I think a good stiff racing ski would be good for icey conditions. My Rossys would be good for the groomers and rocks. My Elan's would be good in the pow. Well see. I'll leave the bumps alone for now.

Pete

PS: Utah is finally getting some snow!

[outkastsl]

Hi Pete,

I think that's my issue. My ski seems too soft and I'm loosing it on my turns in the tail area as well. It looks like I need to look around for a stiffer ski.

What Bindings are you guys using?

Steve

[Pete Anderson]

I'm finding that there can be many factors that can cause wash out on the tail. If your boot center on the sit ski plate is too far foreward on the boot center of the ski, your turns will be easier to engage, due to your weight being foreward, but your tail would have less weight, and less weight on the ski edge means an increase chance of having it slide out from under you.

On the other hand, if your sit ski boot center is too far back from the boot center on the ski, you will have better edge control on the rear of your ski, but less control in engaging a turn. You might find yourself trying to turn, but the ski doesn't respond, or responds slowly.

Finally, if you have a soft ski, and your heavy on it, which we are due to having only one ski below us, you may do really well on the groomers of the fluffy stuff, but the hard packed snow and ice can be a bitch, especially on a steep incline.

[qman]

Re: bindings. Marker 30 din race bindings are the only way to go.

Generally stiffer skis are good. I find that turn initiation has never been an issue. So mounting forward only has disadvantage. Sit skiers can't shift weight forward or back while skiing as much as normal skiing. Therefore you need the setup well balanced over the ski. Stick to the factory mounting recommendation. Note. That sitting in you rig you should be boot plate center balanced first.

I have a couple of skis. The head monster 88 are great. I also have a k2 apache x which is a bit soft. I have a rossi world cup gs ski also that rips But I broke one.

[Pete Anderson]

qman, on Jan 24 2010, 08:25 PM, said:

Re: bindings. Marker 30 din race bindings are the only way to go.

Generally stiffer skis are good. I find that turn initiation has never been an issue. So mounting forward only has disadvantage. Sit skiers can't shift weight forward or back while skiing as much as normal skiing. Therefore you need the setup well balanced over the ski. Stick to the factory mounting recommendation. Note. That sitting in you rig you should be boot plate center balanced first.

I have a couple of skis. The head monster 88 are great. I also have a k2 apache x which is a bit soft. I have a rossi world cup gs ski also that rips But I broke one.

Yep. This is exactly what I have been reading too. However, when I purchased my Elan Quad 1 ski, a lot of alpine skiers were saying that the factory boot line is too far back. They were saying to mount the boot center 3-4 cm in front of this factory boot line that is drawn on the ski. I went with 3.5 cm foreward and its centered nicely. Other than this particular ski, I tend to believe that plate boot center be mounted as shown on the boot center indicated on the ski, otherwise you might be finding yourself drilling holes all over your ski trying to find that sweet spot.

No such thing as too much din either. A super strong, high din race binding is ideal. No plastic should be used in the release mechanism. I destoyed my Rossy bindings on the 5th run due to this.

[qman]

yeah, i did one 5cm forward after reading a RPC manual and really regret it.

[wheeels]

I just got some Bro 174's from Pm Gear, mounted a tyrollia 20din race binding and set off to Kicking Horse this last weekend, I mounted it 1.5cm forward as recommend by the shop as the top sheet was off.

These are a stiff ski, I they felt really stable and solid.

They skied great, I have some video and photos in my Blog Skiing Videos

[Pete Anderson]

I went night skiing last night. I used my fat powder ski at first on hard pack snow. I found myself going faster and faster, but couldn't turn. I finally found myself intentionally falling over to avoid running into trees. I swapped out my pow ski for my soft grommer ski and that worked best.

After falling over a few times, I found that if there is any snow wedged inside the bucket that it becomes impossible to turn in the direction towards the the side where the snow has accummulated between my ass and inside the bucket. The accummulated snow on that side of the bucket, I have found, actually shifts my weight to the other side of the bucket allowing for turns in one direction only.

Unfortunately I don't have the best feeling in my ass anymore, so it wasn't until I got out of my bucket to swap out my ski that I realized this had occurred. For new sit skiers, this is just a heads up...Or, bottoms up...He, he, he

Okay, so much for humor...

Also, do you guys use the ski school line to get back on the lift, or do you wait in the long lift lines like everyone else?

Pete

[wheeels]

Depending on the hill I will cut in, the only line I don't cut is the patrol line.

Some hills encourage sit skiers to use the short lines, at Kicking horse I had my own entrance my friends loved it no lines just ski down and get right back on the lift.

[Pete Anderson]

The ski patrol line and school line is the same line. When I skied last night my buddy/helper and I were burning up the slopes. No waiting. I felt like a V.I.P. without any waiting in line.

Tickets are half price for me and my helper.

Parking is usually at the base of the hill, next to the lift.

V.I.P. treatment, and I have to ask why?

Why half price on tickets, and why no waiting in line? I'm not complaining, but after stand up skiing all my life and paying full price, why the special treatment now that I'm a bit disabled? What is the rationale?

Also, do you use risers on your bindings? I'm thinking of getting risers for my powder ski due to its slow, big turn radius.

Thanks for your input!

Pete

[wheeels]

Discounts for hills around here vary, I've had $6 lift tickets at Castle Mountain that is the least expensive, but the most common is 20 - 25 percent off and that includes some seasons passes. I have not gotten a discounted ticket for someone coming with me mind you I have never asked.

I think they offer the discounts on lift tickets to help get the disabled community out skiing or to support us I know that the hills out here also give members of the Canadian Association of disabled skiers discounts that are the same as what I get.

I have only been to one hill that encouraged me to take a shorter line, I just wait like everyone else the rest of the time.

Nope no risers, but I have not skied much power so I can't really comment on that.

Personally I don't expect a discount or fast lift access at hill, I will ask for the sake of saving some cash and time, mind you if the hill has shitty accessibility I will make a stink about it.

Where are you skiing Pete?

[Pete Anderson]

I'm skiing at Park City, Alta, Brighton, and The Canyons, here in Utah, with the sit ski. There are others, such as Snow Bird, Solitude, Snow Basin, Wolf Creek, Powder Mountain, Deer Valley, that I have yet to sit ski. Its really a good place to be if your into skiing.

Before my accident, I was the typical standup skier, and I was getting pretty bored with skiing. But after my accident and selling off my hang gliding school and my skydiving gear, I re-evaluated the skiing thing and its been a great, new challenge that I needed in my life, without too much risk. Its like learning how to ski all over again, with big rewards after having a good day of skiing. But I've had my share of some really bad days too.

Pete

[wheeels]

Cool I will be in Park City the first week of March for a bobsleigh driving school and hope to get some runs in.

[Pete Anderson]

I have lessons on March 6, in the morning thru their program for two hours. Keep in touch. Will you be skiing that Saturday? If so, lets do some runs!

Pete

[qman]

in NZ we get 1/2 price if you are members of the DSNZ and also up to 2 helpers at half price. including season passes, which makes it pretty good and it is easy to find people to come skiing with you. ;-)

[Pete Anderson]

I'm thing about purchasing a used Volkl P40 F1 Race Carver for $100/pair. They are a 193 cm. Does anyone have any opinions on this ski for sit skiing? Its kind of long, but apparently it turns easy, even though they are considered a "stiff" ski. It has a wood core and comes with Marker M9.2 Race binding (I weigh about 210 lbs, plus gear).

My Rossi is really soft and does not hold an edge in icey condtions. They are flat out miserable to ski on other than on a nicely groomed run and when the hill is not too step.

Thanks!

This post has been edited by Pete Anderson: 01 February 2010 - 05:27 PM

[qman]

193 is pretty long. longest i have skiied on the sit ski is 184cm,
i have found single skis pretty easy to come by, i woudl say that 175-185cm would be a good range.

[Pete Anderson]

Well, I purchased another set of skis. I am definitely out of control here in Utah. They are the 193 cm Volkl P40 F1 with risers. I will let you know after this weekend if I creamed into a tree. They're definitely a racing ski and the biindings go up to 14 din. I'm getting my drill set out tonite to pin the heel piece.

To be continued...
pete

[qman]

oh well they will be good for Super G racing. should be FAST.

also i am not sure risers will make any appreciable difference on a sit ski, unless they are greater than about 1" high.