[NA] SNOW Skiers -- HELLLLLPP

[Lawreston]

I haven't been skiing in a bunch of years, but tomorrow a friend -- new in the area -- wants to go to Shawnee Peak, Bridgton, Maine. So I'm going.

PROBLEM: I have this Ski-Tote carrier which has a combination lock on its cable. It's been so long since I've used it I don't remember the combination. Is there a "cheat" method(certain combination of the numbers) that will release the lock mechanism; and then I would reset a new combination? The boots haven't been on my feet for so long I figured I'd better see if they fit. (It took a while). After an hour or so they began to feel somewhat normal. ) HELP!
(They may be old but they're as good as new)

HR

I think the "S" stands for seeds because that's what I found - ½ seeds - in one of the boots, along with a golf ball sized cottony substance -- damned mouse, but no damage.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

This has always worked on any combination lock for me in the past!

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

This has always worked on any combination lock for me in the past!

Hammer and cold chisel works well on most cables. Shouldn't have to hit it more than once if the chisel is sharp...

 

[Lawreston]

ROTFLMAO! I don't really need to use the Ski-Tote tomorrow because Shawnee Peak is a lot smaller area than Sugarloaf or Sunday River, so we won't have as far to hike; but I might want to use the carrier at some point in time(if I survive the re-introduction). Frances has skied in many of the prestigious areas. Moi? I guess I'll have to get the Rossignols re-acclimated to the Bunny Slopes for a bit.
http://www.shawneepeak.com

HR

 

[wabower]

Dude. Those Solomon's are seriously old. (and you can't look in my attic to see how I know). Last time I skied in mine was in 1984. Just rent some so people won't look at you funny.

I haven't been skiing in a bunch of years, but tomorrow a friend -- new in the area -- wants to go to Shawnee Peak, Bridgton, Maine. So I'm going.

PROBLEM: I have this Ski-Tote carrier which has a combination lock on its cable. It's been so long since I've used it I don't remember the combination. Is there a "cheat" method(certain combination of the numbers) that will release the lock mechanism; and then I would reset a new combination? The boots haven't been on my feet for so long I figured I'd better see if they fit. (It took a while). After an hour or so they began to feel somewhat normal. ) HELP!
(They may be old but they're as good as new)

HR

I think the "S" stands for seeds because that's what I found - ½ seeds - in one of the boots, along with a golf ball sized cottony substance -- damned mouse, but no damage.

 

[Lawreston]

One day at a time, Wayne. A guy I know works in the Pro shop. He said "come on in and I'll check them out(and the bindings) for safety purposes." I won't mind funny looks; I'll be laughing the hardest -- at me. Fran, on the other hand, last skied in the Canadian Rockies. She's also skippered 100+ foot schooners and has taught the Coast Guard Power Squadron courses, so I'm already in "over my head."

HR

 

[gkainz]

Dude, what's up with those funny looking plastic boots? My last boots were leather with laces, slipped right into my cable bindings on my Head Masters.

 

[Lawreston]

) If y'all think my boots are old -- they were new when I bought them at Sugarloaf USA -- you should see my Rossignol skis. Engraved into each ski is John P. Dimmer. ????? John Dimmer was a long time customer of mine at my camera store. J.P. used to bring untold thousands of old movies in to me to have transferred to VHS tapes The movies went back into World War II and after. John would bring me 40 or 50 50' reels at a time but only 5 could be shipped out on any given day. If the transport should be lost he'd only be missing a few of them.

So along came the 50th anniversary of the end of WW II with some gathering of world leaders meeting at The Hague, Netherlands. John was a special guest and with a front row seat. Years before that occasion I had interestedly asked John, "What kind of work was your profession?" He responded, simply, "I was in government services."

I suppose he could have been a city manager, a congressman, a tax collector. Whatever! I just sensed to not ask further questions. He was always going to some distant land and always traveled with his and Teedy's skis, they never to miss an opportunity to ski. He bought new equipment; I bought his Rossi(s) for which I needed to buy some boots.

John was a most interesting person, very quiet, appreciative of much, and a big spender whom I continue to hold in high respect long after his death of quite a few years ago.

If y'all are curious about this individual, Google "John P. Dimmer"(without the " "), or "F. M. Begoum"(John's pseudonym) and you will get a lot of hits relative to the secret and/or double life of a CIA agent.

I don't care if I get laughed off the slopes -- I'll be laughing, too -- but if the equipment(his and mine) passes muster, I'll be smiling -- and thinking of John.

HR

 

[coach]

Harley,
Those boots take me way back to my ski instructor days. I agree with others, I would recommend new ones, unless you really like the fit. Rent or buy your choice. BUT, if your skis are from the same period as the boots DO NOT use them. You would not believe the advancement in technology and ease of use. Skis from that era are worse than worthless.

Have fun on the slopes.

 

[colomtnflyer]

I'm going to concur with Randy on this one... I wouldn't even bother with your old stuff. Just rent current stuff from the area rental shop! (The odds are that your bindings are out of 'indemnification' anyway, meaning that no shop will work on them without incurring serious legal risks)

Once upon a time, rental shops carried the worst maintained equipment known to man, these days they carry the most current gear, and well maintained. There is so much competition for business in the rental industry, they have had to raise the standards to stay in business.

Enjoy your slide time!

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I haven't been skiing in a bunch of years, but tomorrow a friend -- new in the area -- wants to go to Shawnee Peak, Bridgton, Maine. So I'm going.

PROBLEM: I have this Ski-Tote carrier which has a combination lock on its cable. It's been so long since I've used it I don't remember the combination. Is there a "cheat" method(certain combination of the numbers) that will release the lock mechanism; and then I would reset a new combination? The boots haven't been on my feet for so long I figured I'd better see if they fit. (It took a while). After an hour or so they began to feel somewhat normal. ) HELP!
(They may be old but they're as good as new)

HR

I think the "S" stands for seeds because that's what I found - ½ seeds - in one of the boots, along with a golf ball sized cottony substance -- damned mouse, but no damage.

To answer the question...how many numbers ned to match to open it? How many digits are used for each number (0-9, for example)?

Some locks are pretty easily opened with a brute-force approach (start at 0000 and work to 9999). A few movies that you watch while testing each combination will eventually open the lock.

The Masterlocks typically used on lockers...is harder to brute-force this way. Although only 3 digits, each digit ranges from 1 through "32" and there's the "left-right-left" procedure to open it.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Whats with rental shops and the short skiis these days. I always get a 'look at this old guy' face when I ask if they have anything longer than 210.

 

[Obi Heed Kenobi]

Whats with rental shops and the short skiis these days. I always get a 'look at this old guy' face when I ask if they have anything longer than 210.

If it makes you feel any better, I judge peoples' skiing ability by the length of their skis.

Mainly because of this guy:

 

[Troska]

Hah! I wore out my VHS copy of "Blizzard of Aaahs".

Tim

If it makes you feel any better, I judge peoples' skiing ability by the length of their skis.

Mainly because of this guy:

 

[Obi Heed Kenobi]

Hah! I wore out my VHS copy of "Blizzard of Aaahs".

Tim

First, the fact that you're familiar with such filmography makes me happy.

Second, a lot of those movies are out on DVD now. There's at least a three pack, I believe of Blizzard of Aaahs, A Fistful of Moguls, and one other whose name escapes me right now, but is equally witty.

 

[Lawreston]

To answer the question...how many numbers ned to match to open it? How many digits are used for each number (0-9, for example)?

Some locks are pretty easily opened with a brute-force approach (start at 0000 and work to 9999). A few movies that you watch while testing each combination will eventually open the lock.

The Masterlocks typically used on lockers...is harder to brute-force this way. Although only 3 digits, each digit ranges from 1 through "32" and there's the "left-right-left" procedure to open it.

This one has 4 across, from 1 to 9. I think I'll telephone Ski-Tote and see if there's a simple "escape" route.

Additionally, y'all may be surprised that I have no broken legs or other injuries, the equipment having performed well. The pro shop checked the bindings carefully and pronounced them fit; however, accepting no liability having told me that, should something happen.

I couldn't find my ski poles which must be somewhere in the "unassigned"categories of my 2007 residential change. The rental shop said, "Here, use these -- on us." Good customer service. I only took pictures after Frances and I packed it in. I wasn't about to, while being well out of shape, carry $4500 in body and lens around my neck while on the slopes. It was a great day for it. Thanks for all your good pieces of advice which I'm taking into account.

HR

 

[gkainz]

4 tumblers would yield a permutation of 4^9, right? or 262,414 different combinations? That'll take more than a movie or two to work thru!

 

[coach]

If it makes you feel any better, I judge peoples' skiing ability by the length of their skis.

Mainly because of this guy:

Length of skis-- That was the old days, I don't see many over 200 any more. Nice picture of Glen, every few years I see him on the slopes.

PS: almost 30 years Glen and my wife became new ski instructors out of the same hiring clinic.

 

[Obi Heed Kenobi]

Length of skis-- That was the old days, I don't see many over 200 any more. Nice picture of Glen, every few years I see him on the slopes.

I haven't seen anything over 200 in a long time. The ones I use now are 193's; the biggest any of my friends have are 195's. I've forgotten the science behind it, but the shaped skis are drastically shorter.

I've actually got a pair of old slalom skis that are either 204's or 210's, but they don't get used anymore. They'll probably get turned in a chair at some point.

PS: almost 30 years Glen and my wife became new ski instructors out of the same hiring clinic.

Neat! Aside from being an amazing skier, he seems like he'd be a real hoot to hang around with.

 

[murphey]

Whats with rental shops and the short skiis these days. I always get a 'look at this old guy' face when I ask if they have anything longer than 210.

When I moved to Colorado (to ski, the work was secondary) I bought 185 cm skis. Why? Because at the time, there was a sign at Mary Jane stating that 180 was the minimum length (they didn't want novices on the dark blue/black runs). There were days I spent skiing at Loveland and still made it back for my 5:30 pm classes and taught in my ski clothes. Students hated me for that.

Ah, those were the days...

Gave up skiing for flying. Much easier on the knees and the mental health not having to drive I-70.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

4 tumblers would yield a permutation of 4^9, right? or 262,414 different combinations? That'll take more than a movie or two to work thru!

Uh...No. He has 4 tumblers with digits from 1-9. The number of combinations is (much) less than 10,000.

I've opened locks of the same type with digits from 0-9. That means the range is from 0000 through 9999, or 10,000 different combinations. Trying one per second will worst case it at 2.8 hours (rounded). Formally, each digit has 10 choices, 4 digits (0-9), the number of combinations is 10*10*10*10=10,000 (the same as what I described).

The actual situation is 4 digits, 1-9. The number of combinations is 9*9*9*9=6,561. Doing 1 per second starting at 1111 opens the lock in ~1.82 hours, worst case (where the combination is 9999).

 

[gkainz]

right you are - I had it backwards (too long ago since stats class) ... not 4^9, but 9^4 ... 6561 permutations...

 

[murphey]

Easier solution? Bolt cutters and a new lock.

 

[mdreger]

If you haven't given up and cut it, I experimented with one that I have. I was successful sliding a piece of thin wire (.032 safety wire worked for me, a small paper clip didn't work so well) in the slot where the cable goes in. Keep pressure on it at the top of the teeth on the cable and turn the tumblers. The wire should jump in the width of each tumbler as you arrive at the correct number.

 

[Lawreston]

Hey, thanks. I took the skis to get tuned and asked the technician about it. He showed me how to put the lock into a vice, pull on the cable, and slowly tweak each tumbler until I
feel a slight notch. He claims to have been successful with 3 and 3 but left the completion to my trial and error(and it's been "error" thus far). I'll try your method.

I went skiing again today but at a closer area, Lost Valley(Auburn, ME -- not far from KLEW. Otto Wallingford(Google his name) died in 2000. He was one of the founders of Lost Valley which was the first area in Maine to create artificial snow. He also invented, produced the first snow Groomer. When he owned Valley Engineering he came up with the idea, built it, and loaned it to Sugarloaf USA(Carrabasset Valley - Kingfield). Sugarloaf liked it so much he built more and he got orders from ski areas all over the world. He eventually sold his company to his employees. It's now known as Wallingford Machinery, not too far from Lost Valley. It specializes in selling/renting construction/excavation equipment such as KUBOTA and other manufacturers. Otto was quite the character.

Thanks for the tip.

HR

 

[Lawreston]

UPDATED!

USED, but very good condition. And they feel(work) just fine.
(Correction: Skis and boots are used; the Head bindings are new)

HR

 

[nddons]

Sounds like fun!

My brother is 8 years younger than me, so when he went away to college at CU in Boulder, I gave him my skis that I used in high school (i.e. circa 1978).

When he broke out those Atomic 180s with his friends, they stopped him and said "Dave, remember when ties were wide?"

 

[Ghery]

Well, I'll have to go out in the garage to see what my "new" skis are. They're about 15 years old and I haven't skied in about that long. The other pair are my 210 cm Fisher Combis. Alu steel. Marker bindings. You won't find a shop that will go near those, not with the notches in the toe of the boot. They don't turn fast, but as I recall they really cut through the crud, being so heavy and all.

 

[Lawreston]

) Well, I took others' advice and rented equipment during a recent occasion. Yup; there was quite a difference from my older Rossignols which had skied all over the world(but not by me). So I updated, as noted.

HR