I used to hate skiing - I wasted 3 years in running ski section in univercity, while I could play football or, let's say, chess. Well, there was no chess section, but whatever else it could be more interesting than ski.
And this year I opened myself alpine ski. I did it about 15-20 years ago previously when was in school, and it was simple small plastic skis. Technology made a significan progress since then and I got ability to test real skis.
That's what I did this and previous weekends - two days in Stepanovo ski resort. It was essentially the first time I tried big slope (not that big compared to real resorts in Europe of course, just about a kilometer or less and 100 meters drop) and real snow. And it was fucking incredible - it is fast, it is long enough to feel the speed and ground, it is quite different - there are multiple traces and a lot of small roads from main trace, where one can ride over hummocks and small ski jumps.
I bought myself all equipment except skis itself - want to touch different things first, but I believe I will get my own next time. With the proper equipment it is not cold, warm or wet, it is just ubercool. Getting that I basically have no technique, I open lots of cases for myself all the time. And I believe that I have some progress, maybe not that good, but very pleasant for myself.
I tried long blue trace previously, but today I started a red one. And it was fucking beautiful - so fast and so strong. No boring places and long waits, just pure pleasure of speed and control. On this trace I found myself moving noticebly more technically than on a simpler trace.
I started to sit lower, put legs closer and change ski edges using mass center and not ass or legs, pipe changing arcs became shorter and with longer radius, which increased speed compared to plain skiing.
Of course it was not always perfect, and frankly I believe it looked like crap and was a real crap from good technique point of view, but it was very pleasant for me, and that's what matters. I want to get another hour or so with good teacher, who will tell me where main problems are, since I can not see how I made a slope. Sometimes I flew over the trace couple of meters and than landed in 'different positions' usually already without skis moving on my body another dozen of meters. But I like it too - it shows complex cases and sharps instincts.
Currently I believe there are no somewhat big parts of my body, which do not try to scream and ache. Especially shine bones (hard to move or stay long enough) and various leg muscles, but it is not a problem - I will be fresh again in a day, and hundred or so of "The Glenrothes" and couple of hours playing piano and trumpet will quickly help me. So plan is to make another turn next weekend or preferably move to ski resort couple times.
Fucking incredible. Just love it!
I just returned from a week of downhill skiing. It's one of the most fun winter sports I can think of. You have to be careful though, the consequences from falling while maintaining high speed might be severe.
although bones were aching quite bad later that evening. But next day was already good :)
Hi,
I'm just a basic Linux user who likes to read the Kernel Planet feed to see what's going on. I must say that I really enjoy reading your entires about your various projects and activities. So I just wanted to congratulate you on what sounds like some really excellent skiing. And also to thank you for what you share on your blog. Thanks for posting.
Cheers!
Seconded. It's astonishing what you're doing with those code (especially that you actually preformance test them properly), but it's fun to read about your activities. (Especially because they're not "doom parties" [or whatever game windoze guys play these days] and getting dunk every even and odd days.) [I'm hanging around mainly to see pohmelfs to born again, but I can wait. :-)]
By the way skiing is one of the most beautiful part of my life, too, it's pretty rare (0.5 - 1 times a year), but since I have the possibility to go to Austria, it's always a pleasure. They've got real mountains (1500 - 2500 meters) but the main thing is that they have real infrastructure, so you do not have to struggle to get uphill, worry about where to eat of sit down. Just pure skiing. And since we avoid high season it's almost never overcrowded. I'm pretty amateur in skiing [still], but I really enjoy it, both the speedy parts and the slow sliding through the woods in the sparkling snow alone.
Aren't larger hills around you? I have to update myself in Russian geography, but I would've guessed some pretty big mountains around there. :-)
There are multiple ski resorts here - Ural, Caucasus, Karelia to name a few, but usually it is either compable to Europe in price or way less comfortable from infrastructure point of view. So to have good vacations it is simpler and more convenient to move outside of Russia for couple of weeks.
Moscow region in turn is quite flat in that regard, I know about 4-5 resorts here, but the longest trace is about 1 km only and usual altitude drop is about 100 meters.
:)