foot2foot wrote:

"Jon C" wrote in message

I'm a relatively new skier, but I never did the wedge thing. Still not
sure how it works really.


I would say that, after a while, when you're fairly confident
and able with your parallel skiing, you might want to learn to
wedge as well. Just about anyone can show it to you, or you
could get an idea about how it works by watching a class of
toddlers learn to ski. Put your skis in a 'V" shape, put more
weight on the outside ski. Use both big toe edges instead of
the big toe edge of the outside ski, and little toe edge of the
inside ski. You won't use it very often, but even the most
fearless extreme skier uses his or her wedge once in a while,
for example, to approach a dangerous drop and get into the
position they want to start the run from. Or, to control speed
in an extremely narrow but not too steep place where there's
really no room to turn.

But I wouldn't fool around with a wedge right away, since
you're doing so well straight to parallel. It might cause you
to lose progress for a while. I wouldn't even worry about
picking up the tail and leaving the tip on the snow anymore.
Of course, you never did.


I went from going straight and falling to hockey style stops, then
turned that into carving.


The hockey stop is often a key to learning parallel. The whole
secret to a skidded parallel turn is the same sideslip that you
learn via the hockey stop. It takes most people a while to
get this down. Most people can only stop at first my making
a turn all the way across and up the hill to a stop.

Basically, the skidded parallel turn involves getting all over
the tips, and skidding the tails around the tips to tighten up
the radius of your turn. It takes fairly fine edge control,
which you apparently already have.


I managed to turn just well enough to get by by hopping up a little bit
and just tossing the tails off to one side. Repeat on the other side.


This would be an up unweight. Give a little hop, change the
edges, and steer the skis as you wish. Advanced stuff really. I
personally still do not do it all that well. Great!


As I got a feel for the skis I'd "throw" the backs of the skis less and
let them curve a little bit.


The good, and rare thing about this is, you're talking about the
*tails* of the skis as the part of the ski that moves the most,
which means your pivot point is well forward on the skis. Most
want to stay in the backseat, which is ineffective and dangerous.
The best thing a new skier can do is to start, and stay well
forward on the skis. It's the job of the instructor to make sure
this happens.


Eventually I learned to just lean into the
ski the right way instead of actually trying to move it.


Now you're speaking of a "just crossover and edge" type of
turn. A *whole* lot of advanced for a new skier.

Absolutely great. Getting way forward on the ski is what
makes it easy for a new skier to turn, or any skier for that
matter.

You're an exceptional student, and obviously a very talented
skier. Go with exactly what you've been doing would be my
suggestion. You've gotten way past all the stuff like initiation
with a wedge and picking up the tail while leaving the tip
on the snow, and done it in no time at all.

There are some other simple things a more advance skier
can work on, once you get hungry again, perhaps they'd
be of interest to you.

There is one thing I might suggest you consider and play around
with as you ski. To turn right, your body must be on the right
side of the skis. To turn left, your body must be on the left side
of the skis. Maybe just a tiny bit, maybe a little more, depending
on the speed and radius of the turn. You're looking to move the
body ahead and down the hill toward the center of the next turn.
The typical term is a "diagonal" move of the body across the skis
and down the hill toward the center point of the next turn.

There's some flexion and extension most people like to put
in there, but you don't really *need* to do this at first. You
can always work it in if you wish.

And, one more thing, your hands must always be out in front
of you where you can see them. This is more important than
anything else.

Keep up the incredible progress!!



Er, I'm pretty confident in my skiing ability.. there are very few runs
in the east I won't bomb down, and all of those are steep glades or very
steep moguls/rocks. I've only been doing it a few years, but IMHO, I'm a
very good skier

I've seen the wedge a few times, mostly on people just learning, but
never been motivated to try it out. I'm still not