FORUMula1.com

[sagi58]

Dumb question of the day:

Is "off-piste" like cross-country skiing?

Off piste is off the trail, meaning not on the main slopes, so you're skiing through trees, rocks and through nature.

Was wondering if it's like cross-country skiing, which is also "through trees, rocks and through nature"!!
Apparently, the difference seems to be the grooming and the patrolling!

p.s.

How many dumb questions of the day do you get?

One per thread!!

[sagi58]

Motor racing-Schumacher's condition critical but stable - agent ..."Michael's condition remains critical but stable. We would like to clearly stress that any information regarding Michael's health not coming from the doctors treating him or from his management must be treated as invalid and pure speculation," Schumacher's agent, Sabine Kehm, said in a statement.

Kehm added that Schumacher's "helmet camera was voluntarily given to the investigating authorities by the family".

[racechick]

Sagi, off piste is not like cross country skiing. It's down hill skiing but not on the groomed pistes. It's often over more trickery terrain( but not always) and won't have been secured against as many dangers as possible ( trees, drops, stones) the pistes are kept in as good a condition as possible, off piste is virgin snow. The snowboarders in my party when I go skiing love to go off piste, for me, a skier, I find the pistes much easier....but I do have to go off piste if I want to ski back to the chalet.

[sagi58]

Thanks, RC!

As a non-skier, I was curious if there was a difference in the terms we use on the two sides of the pond,
or if there was an actual difference in the types of skiing!

[operaman]

Sagi, off piste is not like cross country skiing. It's down hill skiing but not on the groomed pistes. It's often over more trickery terrain( but not always) and won't have been secured against as many dangers as possible ( trees, drops, stones) the pistes are kept in as good a condition as possible, off piste is virgin snow. The snowboarders in my party when I go skiing love to go off piste, for me, a skier, I find the pistes much easier....but I do have to go off piste if I want to ski back to the chalet.

But it's actually a little more complicated than that. In America we now have a trend towards pistes that have been returned to their natural state (trees, drops, rocks, un-groomed snow), in order to satisfy the Hipster's constant quest for "authentic" experiences. Also in America, we now have groomed as well as track-set courses for the Nordic types. I think to simplify I'd say this ....... (my first try)

On Piste - marked trails at an Alpine (Downhill) ski resort. (controlled situation)
Off-Piste - skiable terrain at a resort that is not marked on a trail map. (somewhat controlled)
Back-Country - skiable terrain outside a resort that is not lift serviced or patrolled. (you are on your own Babe, so don't screw up)

[sagi58]

I think to simplify I'd say this ....... (my first try)

On Piste - marked trails at an Alpine (Downhill) ski resort. (controlled situation)
Off-Piste - skiable terrain at a resort that is not marked on a trail map. (somewhat controlled)
Back-Country - skiable terrain outside a resort that is not lift serviced or patrolled. (you are on your own Babe, so don't screw up)

And cross-country would be something between on- and off-piste, right?
((Or is that even a term used to describe a trail??))

[racechick]

Cross country is about hiking along, more on the flat. The others are all downhill, and speed is the name of the game.

On piste is going on marked runs graded for difficulty green, blue , red black.

[operaman]

Cross country is about hiking along, more on the flat. The others are all downhill, and speed is the name of the game.

On piste is going on marked runs graded for difficulty green, blue , red black.

I think it might be easier to define things in terms of gear ..... Alpine, Nordic and Telemark or back-country. After all some of the most terrifying runs downhill I have ever had, have been on steep trails through trees on Nordic equipment. Myself I'll stick to groomed runs on Alpine gear these days, despite the speed I think it is safer.

[CookinFlat6]

[stonemonkey]

Isn't cross country like going for a hike wearing skis whereas the on/off piste talked about here is all downhill with off piste just being off the marked runs?

[racechick]

Isn't cross country like going for a hike wearing skis whereas the on/off piste talked about here is all downhill with off piste just being off the marked runs?

Yes. That's pretty much it!

[sagi58]

Michael Schumacher shows 'slight improvement', French investigators to make statement Wednesday

...Doctors treating Schumacher say he remains in a stable but critical condition...

...The team treating Schumacher said they would be giving no details of the treatment the 45-year-old is receiving in order to protect his right to privacy.

"The privacy of the patient demands that we are not going into details of his treatment, and this is why we do not envisage any press conferences or statements in the near future."

French prosecutors meanwhile said they would this week brief journalists on their investigation into Schumacher's accident.

A press conference will be held on Wednesday night (AEDT) in the Alpine town of Albertville, local prosecutor Patrick Quincy said.

Investigators are focusing on the retired racer's speed when he fell and slammed his head on a rock on a small off-piste section, prompting his evacuation by helicopter to Grenoble.

Prosecutors are also looking at whether the limits of the ski runs next to the accident site were correctly marked and whether the rock in question was lying close enough to the piste to require some kind of protection or signage.

They are also examining whether the safety releases on Schumacher's skis operated properly in a probe aimed at determining responsibility for the accident.

[operaman]

I am starting to worry. One of my fav pro skiers died from head injuries a couple of years ago, while training for the X-Games. Circumstances were different of course, but still.

[operaman]

http://youtu.be/PP57wwgqQyI



Can't seem to make the Youtube function work tonight.

[sagi58]

I remember reading/hearing about Sarah!!
Just terrible!!