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Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
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@Don in Morrison Your grandkids are going to be a great source of joy, and vice versa. :golfclap:
 

amorFati

Booting up
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2021
Posts
18
Location
DC
@Bill Talbot We spent a little time on a carpet in SF after I got new boots last year while we were playing around with my LLD and canting. It was an eye opener because the carpet magnifies things that you don't think of when you're out enjoying the snow and sunshine.
My boots have never been more dialed.
I have been doing this in DC. I call it the ski treadmill. It is most certainly eye opening.
The carpet definitely magnifies any technique flaws. I have been skiing for 17 years straight now and never knew I had so many problems. :)
I mostly went to get my new boots dialed in right where I bought them so if there were any adjustments it would be easy. It is good for that.
It is great conditioning, it gets the legs burning.
It is all about training. Not much fun IMHO.
One thing about it is that the instructor is right there working with you, standing in front of you and you can watch in the mirror. First few times I was too busy surviving to watch in the mirror. It is pretty good once you get used to the treadmill.
If you like to take lessons to improve your technique you will like the ski treadmill.
Way more feedback than being part of a group lesson for sure.
So if you want one on one ski technique feedback it is great.
It's all about learning when you are on the ski treadmill.
Me, I ski 98% for fun so I'm not a big fan of the ski treadmill.
But I do want to get better and get in shape for my ski trips. So I'm going.

The ski treadmill doesn't feel like skiing on snow. It seems the better you ski the harder it is to start over. And it is starting over.
You are all the way back to snow plow. And that is hard. 4 lessons in I am just now getting good at the snowplow. My son is pretty good. 4 lessons and he is just begining to parallel. It is a tough deal. It is weird. Edging and turning to get traction to go up the treadmill. Seems backward to me. Who turns to go up?
Supposedly it is a great way to learn the basics as a beginner quickly and accelerate the learning curve. It would be great for that.
I always figure it takes three painful days of skiing before you get good enough to enjoy it. But I learned when I was older. Kids are great. They learn to ski, get beat up, fall down, get cold and have the best time of their life. Me it took three days, but then I thought it was great.
If you could do the ski treadmill to work through the learning curve there, it would make your first time at the resort a lot better.

I will have to report back when I get on the snow to see how much it helps or not.
I am worried I have adapted to the ski treadmill, so snow will be more akward than usual.
Hopefully the training will make things better.
We'll find out in a couple of weeks.

If it isn't apparent I'm quite on the fence about the ski treadmill.
I would never use it if I could ski for real.
I love ski for the mountains, the company, the festive atmosphere, staying fit .... I'm not much into the challenge of self-improvement.
Self improvement honestly should be more important as I am a perennial advanced skier. It would be nice to get into the expert ranks. Usually I am too busy with work, family and so on. It's all albout skiing with the family. So no time for lessons. When I do get on a trip I am so busy exploring new places so I don't have time for lessons.
My passion is going to new places. I love exploring new resorts. Ski safari is my thing.
I do like to condition ahead of ski trips alot so the trip is more fun and less fatigue.

I suppose some would like the ski treadmill.
As a bootfitter it would be invaluable.
But they are 300k a piece. Not a small investment. $$$

I would post a video of me on the ski treadmill, but I am afraid I couldn't stomach the comments on my poor technique.
This guy on snowheads did that and it was brutal. They treated this quite advanced skier like a beginner.
Like Tricia said, the ski treadmill does amplify any shortcomings.
I guess that is good for learning. It is quite hard on the ego.
My thoughts FWIW.
 

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
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Like Tricia said, the ski treadmill does amplify any shortcomings.
I guess that is good for learning. It is quite hard on the ego.
My thoughts FWIW.
I can't comment on ski shortcomings, as much as the new boots that needed alignment addressed.
I'm glad it works for you as an overall training tool.
 

amorFati

Booting up
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2021
Posts
18
Location
DC
Yes, it does. It reminds me of boot camp.
Sergeant: you will do push ups until I get tired.
But you will never be in better shape.
The jury is out until I actually get on the snow again.
 
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SCWVA

Spent a little time on the mountain
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2018
Posts
266
I have been doing this in DC.....
..,...........

Argh.......DC? Them's fightin words for the peeps in Leesburg, VA. :)

I bought my new boots at Pro Fit. I hope I don't need to go back for any tweaks, but I guess I'll find out after tomorrow!

I've watched people on the synthetic hill, but never done it. I hate falling, plus I don't like to have people critique (tell me I suck) my skiing technique.
 

amorFati

Booting up
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2021
Posts
18
Location
DC
I finally got out on the snow a week ago and wanted to report my experience after 4 ski treadmill sessions.
It took me about 3 runs to feel normal on the snow again as the ski treadmill is a different feeling. But by the fourth run I was all back and I noticed was much more cognizant of being forward in my boots and keeping my upper body facing downhill. So I think the ski treadmill did help my technique and it did help me get in a little better ski conditioning. Sure I was sore some, but not as much as usual after skiing all day first day of the season.
I still don't think the ski treadmill is a fun thing, but if you are serious about skiing and will put in enough time to master the new world of skiing on this weird super huge ski treadmill, you will improve your technique and get in better shape.
One thing is that it was only by the 4th time did I feel like things started to come together for me on the ski treadmill. You will be probably adapt quicker than I, but it takes a while to get used to the new experience. Skiiing on the carpet starts you over with the snowplow. It was weird for someone who has skied 17 years straight.
But I think it helped me to ski better.
My personal experience. YMMV
 

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