Today was not my most shining hour. My instructor put me in the same rig I skied last year, but someone had changed the bucket (the thing you sit in) and the straps weren’t very good. Plus it was too big for my fat ass. There were other problems as well, especially when one side of the bucket came undone from the rig. I also didn’t bring my outriggers (dumb me) and I was skiing on a fatter ski than usual. So, different bucket, different ski and different outriggers. That’s the problem with not having your own equipment. I’d buy a new rig, but I don’t know how much longer I’ll be skiing. Also schlepping it out to Colorado is a pain in the ass. We had a lot more room in the car this year without my old rig. Still, I survived to ski another day.
They haven’t had much snow this year and some runs are closed. Fortunately, the runs that I like are all open.
Denny, with all the advances in ski design, does that translate well to your rig? I mean, when I went from straight skis to parabolic, it made a huge difference. Now I ski a pair of Atomic Vantage skis and they are a huge improvement over my last skis. Was up at Whistler and saw a huge selection in design.
Btw, you should come up to Whistler one of these days.
There have been major advances in adaptive skiing. The rig I’m skiing on now is better than my old rig. It just wasn’t set up properly
It must be very frustrating when the equipment fails you. But, for me, it’s simply marvelous that you’re there skiing. I think tomorrow will be better.
Hell, Denny, at least you’re out there at it again. How many of us have never even made the effort to get on skis, even with most of our physical attributes up to snuff? Now, when it comes to our mental capabilities, I’d suspect that lots of us here are more than a little suspect ourselves.
My Uncle Greg (RIP) had cancer in his spine when he was 20, and had four vertebra removed. Every time he fell down, or out of his chair, his shtick was to look horrified and say “I can’t feel my legs.” Got a reaction every. single. time.
Funny guy, I miss him.
When I was around 8 or so, I was skating on a frozen pond with like 2 inches of snow on it. Jumped over somethin and went straight through . . . and UNDER.
Found the hole and realized I was near enough to the bank that my feet were touching bottom. Used my elbows to break a path so I could climb out on the bank.
Couldn’t untie my skates, so I had to walk back home in ‘em, ‘bout a quarter mile to the house. Nice cut on my scalp. Still got a scar. Developed a real swell case of pneumonia, and had some purty bad dreams over the next few nights.
Since that time, around 1948 or so, I haven’t been able to stand up on ice skates, roller skates, water skis, or snow skis. Tried several times.
I have an aunt with a doctorate in child psychology. She talked it over with me several times, then finally came up with this:
“Ask yourself how important skating and skiing are for you, and if you decide they’re high on your list, then go get on your skates and keep at it until you get over the mental block. Otherwise, find something else to do for fun and quit worrying about skating.”
She’d prob’ly be arrested for that advice today.
So I tried, and kept fallin on my butt, and finally shifted to baseball, football, golf, hunting, and fishing . . . and finally girls.
Seventy-seven years old and can’t stand up on skates. Skis, either. No problem with sleds; just can’t ski, snow OR water.
Here’s hopin’ all’s well, sir. Get just a tad worried when there’s no new post, but that’s probably just ’cause you’ve been kidnapped by a beautiful snow bunny. Or maybe you’ve sound Cankles other private server in the restroom at truck stop on the Interstate and you’re guardin’ it with your life. If that’s the case, don’t let the FBI near it, hold out for the Boy Scouts of America to take custody. I’m pretty sure that most folks here would trust BSA over the Feds these days.