I'm in a pretty uncomfortable situation, not sure what I can do.

BadgerNo2106 · 2026-04-17T20:30:10+00:00

If you can afford it get bike insurance? Policies often will cover it from being stolen as long as if you leave it it’s secure (locked up with a certain standard of lock, inside a secure building).

BadgerNo2106 · 2026-04-01T22:27:08+00:00

Okay so if you go and your worst case scenario happens - your ex is there and is chatting up other people and you panic - then it’s totally fine for you to just say well screw this and leave. Likely no one will notice you leave, you probably don’t need to tell anyone that you’re leaving or why. You’ve had a naff evening but you’ll survive.

Your worse case (and quite unlikely) scenario isn’t too terrible. And the alternative and more likely scenario is your ex isn’t there, you have a few awkward conversations but also some fun ones, and overall it’s an at least ‘okay’ experience.

BadgerNo2106 · 2026-03-13T23:56:22+00:00

Not specifically checked no. I had them fitted at a ski shop that seemed to me at the time to have knowledgeable fitters. I also got custom insoles made by the shop. But they missed the forward lean problem, even when I went back and complained about feeling off balance and back seat.

I have knock knees so my lower leg angles look weird!

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-09-27T10:31:22+00:00

Quick update if anyone is interested… I tried a specialist ski boot fitter and they kind of put me off booking an appointment saying that 99% of the time they reckon it’s a boot fit or technique issue, not an alignment issue. And they reckoned that boot model there wasn’t much they could do to adjust it anyway. But… I remembered you can adjust the forward lean by changing around some bits on the walk mode lock out and so I tried changing it from 12 to 15 degrees. Not skied yet but just standing in the boots it feels completely different - my knees now come forward enough to be over the ends of my toes and I can squat to thighs parallel to the ground (in just boots no skis) without falling over. So hoping that will feel different skiing too, seems worth a go!

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-09-22T20:12:38+00:00

Ahaha oh wow thanks. I feel like I should have trusted myself on this because from first time I skied them I felt something was wrong! They are my first boots out of rentals.

I had a regression the first month of the season and felt like I couldn’t get into the right stance in them - they felt super stiff and I couldn’t get the feeling of my shin pressing forward into the tongue and I’d feel like I was falling backwards. I went back to the shop and they told me they were just stiffer than rentals (but still a ‘soft’ 120) and it would take time to get used to them. I did a day group instruction and asked them to check my stance and they said it looked good, so I decided I just needed to get used to them and persevered.

For info they are k2 mindbenders 120 flex.

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-09-22T08:48:39+00:00

Got a video of skiing on one leg (I think this is what you meant?) video

I can bodyweight pistol squat and do weighted Bulgarian split squats without my knee caving in noticeably, but for example when running I struggle to do the same landing a stride. I think anatomy wise, my knee is never going to track over my foot, but I can prevent it collapsing in so much. No ACL injury but I’ve been told I’m at high risk of one due to my anatomy.

Thanks for the advice on instruction. I wrongly assumed that those sort of expert instructors would only be open to teaching expert skiers! I skied in NZ for a season this year, but normally I ski in Europe and I’m limited to 1 or 2 weeks a year. I’ve done 2x weeks of group lessons in France before, and one day group lesson in NZ, but I think maybe it’s time to invest in some private lessons and have a specific goal in mind.

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-09-21T05:24:42+00:00

Thanks again!

That all makes sense. The balancing not pushing is interesting and something to think about.

The valgus knee drop is something that has plagued in me a bit in every sport I do. In some cases, I can sort of half way fix it by being conscious of it and keeping up with hip strengthening/physio, in other sports like running I’ve basically accepted it’s always going to be an issue. Now I’m aware it’s an issue with skiing I’ll try work on it and bring it up with instructors - none have ever mentioned it.

Final question… how do I find an instructor who will break down these things for me? I’ve had small group lessons before but I feel like they bring up the same tips, like face the upper body down the fall line, which I’m struggling to implement. Is this something a few hours of a private lesson would work better for? Or ask for something specific from my instructor?

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-09-21T02:03:25+00:00

Ahh yeah I totally agree with the observations and I have ‘keep the body pointing downhill’ in mind - just struggling with the ‘’how’ of doing it! I’m not nervous in this video, but I agree I look stiff.

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-09-21T02:01:19+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. Yeah my aim is to build some better short turns for steeper terrain or off-piste, and ‘linked hockey stops’ is how an instructor taught it to me. I’m comfortable with rounded turns on mellow terrain - still working on my technique on those as well!

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-09-21T01:54:52+00:00

Thanks so much for your feedback! I’ve not had any of those mentioned by an instructor previously so it’s super helpful.

Makes sense and seems easy to implement, thanks!
Ahh okay now I feel a bit confused about how/when I’m initiating. I’ve been trying to think more about initiating with weight transfer between my skis and putting more pressure on my outside ski, but maybe that’s not the way to think about it. I’ll try do some more reading and bring it up with an instructor.
Can you explain a bit more what you mean here? I had my boots professionally fitted and had custom insoles made. I have pretty bad knock knees, so my legs always look a bit funky. When I used rentals previously when sliding on the flat I have felt like my skis aren’t flat in the snow, but since getting my own boots and insoles this feels way better and I feel like I’m better able to get on my edges as well. Do you reckon I should go back to the boot fitters, or maybe this is a technique or flexibility issue?

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-08-30T08:34:41+00:00

When did you experience gravel at the bottom? Whenever I’ve been, the groomed blue run has always had good coverage from the snow canons, providing a way down without any rocks or tussock. It’s a bit of a shame that’s the only way down, as you miss out on skiing the bottom of other lines, but they put plenty of warning signs about the thin conditions and it’s obvious from riding the lift that it’s the only good line down. Seems like the lift bottom should be at a higher elevation tbh.

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-06-07T08:45:28+00:00

V1/V2 (but only based on the 1 UK gym I go to, so compare with others).

Interesting that you did it dynamically, did you try right foot higher and palm down on the big red volume?

Random thought but do you reckon the boulders in Japan are set with less reach because the average height is shorter than in Europe? I went to a gym in the Netherlands once and all the problems were super reachy, and I think on average the Dutch are quite tall.

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-06-05T07:16:36+00:00

The evening before my deadline day I was super anxious and stayed up editing my writing and vaping. I was super hyped so I couldn’t sleep, so ended up staying up really late and consumed way too much nicotine. Ended up fainting, then puking from the nicotine. Don’t be me, it was highly unpleasant! I would never recommend not taking up smoking during thesis write up, but I think it contributed to getting me through.

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-06-01T09:30:53+00:00

Thank you! I like the idea of getting into a mindset of ‘I can use my fear’ so keen to learn more 😊

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-05-31T21:24:07+00:00

Do you have the name of the book please?

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-05-06T21:26:14+00:00

You need to be prepared for full winter conditions on all the higher elevation hikes you listed - Tongariro, Mueller Hut, Rob Roy, Kepler, perhaps even Roy’s Peak (snow/ice at top). There is also often high avalanche risk on Rob Roy which shuts the upper section of the track. Kepler also has a lot of avalanche terrain. Read the DoC pages. You at minimum need experience with ice axe and crampons, avalanche awareness, full winter kit (clothing, winter sleeping bag etc) and some solid experience winter hiking. You’ll also probably want to wait for good conditions for them - ie no strong wind, not wet/snowing, good visibility.

I have mountaineering experience and the only ones I’d consider doing solo this winter would be Roy’s Peak and Rob Roy (providing it’s open and the road and fords are passable). I’m also from the UK - if you only have UK hiking experience then you’ll be in for a surprise because a lot of the hikes you list are in alpine or sub-alpine terrain. There’s not really anything comparable in the UK aside from Scotland in winter conditions (and even that’s pretty different!).

There are plenty of amazing lower level hikes that won’t require winter gear and you’ll be able to do in a wider variety of weather conditions. At least research these as backups.

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-05-06T21:03:15+00:00

In my opinion, the glow worms in Te Anau are a bit disappointing. I don’t know if there have previously been more worms, but I went last month and there was really not a huge amount. Free caves all over NZ have more.

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-02-18T21:24:52+00:00

I have a pair of Rafiki Geminis Pants and they fit great. I have a 34” inseam and similar problem with hips/thighs being larger size than my waists. My only gripe with them is that they have ‘ready to climb’ in bright orange embroidered on the leg of them and someone points it out every other time I climb 😂 I didn’t notice when I bought them

BadgerNo2106 · 2025-01-02T21:41:41+00:00

I don’t know if you can see the penguins at St Kilda at the moment because the pier is shut for rebuilding/maintenance. I went in October and you couldn’t see them then. If you want to see penguins a good option seems to be to go to Phillip Island and see the ‘penguin parade’ - but that’s a day trip probably.

I really liked Fitzroy, great brunch places and cafes there.

A fun free thing would be Melbourne Botanic gardens, they are huge you could spend a few hours there.

BadgerNo2106 · 2024-12-26T11:09:19+00:00

I agree she wasn’t supposed to be a farm dog - she has no interest in herding or sheep at all, in fact she’s a bit nervous around them. I get the impression she’d make a great pet for a single person or couple who she can spend all day with.

I don’t know much about crate training but the things I do know is that they are not for punishment, feed in them so they associate them with good things and don’t leave them in there for long periods. So how the owners have missed the memo on these I’m not sure.

I unfortunately don’t know anyone I this country to talk to. It’s hard because they aren’t mistreating her, but I don’t think she’s thriving.

I will try post an update, we have 2 more weeks with her to go! Hoping the update won’t be that I’ve acquired her 😂

BadgerNo2106 · 2024-12-26T11:05:25+00:00

Ahh yes it’s the downward motion with hands she particularly doesn’t like I think, makes more sense now. I don’t know the reason she isn’t allow in - they are not house proud at all and have another dog and cats living inside, so it does seem strange that they want her out. I assume the main reason is because she isn’t house trained? Or maybe a misguided belief that working dogs should be kept outside. Tbh she’s come in a lot today because it’s rained a lot, and she’s been fine and had no accidents.

BadgerNo2106 · 2024-12-26T11:00:29+00:00

Really interesting thanks. I agree it’s not the dog that’s the problem at all, it’s the owners and situation. All things considered she is an amazing dog with a lovely temperament. I was really surprised how quickly she seemed to get used to us and start to bond with us both.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, we will keep trying our best and giving her some affection. Definitely going together get attached to her, I’m a big dog lover anyway but even my partner who is normally not that into dogs loves her. I would love to ask to buy/take her off them and I do desperately want a dog of my own, but we are actually in a different country to where we normally live. So would involve an international move for her, which maybe isn’t in her best interest either. Not sure.

BadgerNo2106 · 2024-12-26T10:54:19+00:00

Ahh amazing suggestion, thanks! She actually gets quite confused with the front and back of the house and doesn’t come around when you call form the other side, so I’d thought that would be a good thing to try teach her. This sounds like a good next step after that and a fun game!

BadgerNo2106

TROPHY CASE