u/Horse_of_Turin

Hi everybody,

I am in need of recommendations for skis that could work for me:

• 6', 185 lb dorky guy
• Boots are Nordica ProMachine (130)
• Former HS (NHARA) and College (USCSA) racer, last competed in 2000
• Gap in skiing from 2000- 2023 to go to grad school, get a job, start family.
• Currently skiing on a pair of Volkl GS RaceTigers (177cm). They're dead. No camber, edge or snap left. Like 'error 404 dead'
• I like that they are stable on steep groomers (Gondi Line) when I can throw my hips way out and arc the ski.
• I'd like something that is more vesatile that's not a race ski screaming, "I USED TO RACE BUT I CAN'T LET GO OF THAT IDENTITY SO I INSIST ON CONTINUING TO USE GS RACE SKIS"

As with all things, there was a lot of new technology in skis from 2000-present and I am hopelessly out of the loop. While I research more about ski features, I want to probe the sub to see what people think and what sort of features I should be looking for (turn radius? underfoot width?) and what skis could fit the bill.

I'll head to the Wachusett swap meet next week, so knowing what to look for will be massively helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Hey all, I'm new to hockey as I didn't play but both of my kids do.

My daughter is 15 and starting her sophomore year in HS and her experience with the sport has been steadily declining, but I truly believe she likes the game.

We're in a Boston 'burb and the town hockey league/level has been her sweet spot. She's not interested in a club which makes her a rarity. The studs skate with the various clubs and are game-only for her town team. Even the really weak skaters with a low hockey IQ have spots on one of the clubs that has deep rosters.

Last year, she skated in the fall and every game was a crap shoot as to who would show up. One game had a delayed start because they needed 7 girls to start and only had 6. Other games its a bunch of like 14 girls. She played on the HS team for 1 full practice and then got a concussion at the 2nd practice and ended up missing the season. Of course, this was when the two bullies stepped in, accusing her of faking the seriousness of it to hide the fact that she knew she wasn't very good.

This year is off to a lousy start. The three best players aren't doing the town team, as two went to private/boarding school. The total roster shrank a little. The two girls she is closest with aren't even going to play game-only and one is saying she won't do HS because she didn't like the coach.

Her town practices are from 9:15 to 10:15 PM and she's refusing to even consider going because of how late they are. I haven't pushed this, but I just want her to try.

Has anyone else dealt with this kind of scenario where the odds are really stacked against your kid to have an enjoyable time? Bullies, friends leaving, crappy practice hours? I know there is tremendous growth potential here for her as a person to perservere through a lousy situation but I don't know how to help her through it and to be open to dealing with the circumstances.

First off, if this is not the sub for this question, please redirect me.

As I approach 50 years on this planet, I want the next chapter of my skiing to involve a free heel. I am a former alpine racer trying to learn about the gear required for uphilling and at times it's like being on the business end of a firehose (shoutout to 'UHF') with all the nuance involved in the gear.

I plan to do 2 types of uphilling/skinning for my skiing

1. Local place (Wachusett) and local-er place (Nashoba) to cut my teeth with skinning when time is limited. Getting as many laps as my muscles can bare.
2. Days at Waterville and Sugarloaf with family when I can skin in the morning and then join my kids or dad for some runs, swapping over to my existing alpine set up (Nordica Promachine + Volkl GS RaceTigers) if the conditions warrant.

I'm still mostly clueless here, but since I'm not planning any true backcountry skiing, my thoughts for appropriate gear are:

1. Shift bindings. I am not prioritizing low weight for my gear and from what I understand Shifts are designed to be a hybrid binding ideal for resorts
2. A 'frontside' type ski. Not planning to go full tele here and given the way I ski now, it sounds like this ski would scratch the itch
3. Boots- ??? My thought here is that since I am use a 130 boot currently, and expect to ski in a most similar manner I should try to aim for a pin-compatible boot. I'm brand-agnostic and given the importance of fit here (vs. alpine boots you can crank on the downhill and loosen on the chair) I think fit will be the most important thing.

I'll be heading up to NH in 2 weeks and will stop in at White Mountain Ski company to chat with folks there and to get a better idea about what they have and reccommend. I'll also look at Ken Jones in Manchester to see what kind of gear they offer.

If there are other resources to learn more about this (other than bugging people on the internet?) I'd appreciate any guidance.

Has anyone else experience morning stiffness in their chest?

Currently on MTX (15 mg/wk), methylprednisone (4 mg, 2x a day) and rituximab (infusions on Mar 13 and 28, so second dose ~ 9 weeks ago). Had awesome success with Enbrel but had to stop due to development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in late November.

Been battling pain and stiffness for a while but for the past week or so I have pain in my chest right in my sternum that eases up as the day goes. I see my rheumatologist at the end of the month, but I'm really curious whether anyone else has experienced this.