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#1
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Controlling Speed Down the Fall Line
I'm an intermediate skier. I need more lessons. These things I know
are true. And one other truth I know is that I frequently feel out of control when I try to ski the fall line. When I ski the fall line I feel like I'm just going faster and faster and beyond my comfort zone. As I approach that discomfort zone, I stop or I begin wide slow traverses of the run. I'm not so worried about speed as I am about control; I can't afford time off from work due to injuries. What's involved, technically, in maintaining a controlled speed when skiing the fall line (I'm tired of imitating the ball rolling down the hill at the mercy of gravity)? JS |
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#2
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John Smith wrote:
I'm an intermediate skier. I need more lessons. These things I know are true. And one other truth I know is that I frequently feel out of control when I try to ski the fall line. When I ski the fall line I feel like I'm just going faster and faster and beyond my comfort zone. As I approach that discomfort zone, I stop or I begin wide slow traverses of the run. I'm not so worried about speed as I am about control; I can't afford time off from work due to injuries. What's involved, technically, in maintaining a controlled speed when skiing the fall line (I'm tired of imitating the ball rolling down the hill at the mercy of gravity)? JS Lots of turns. Hard edging (if it's firm). Maybe yours turns (assuming you are making some) don't have enough "bite" and you're really just sliding back and forth. If that sounds like what you are doing try using more angulation (going farther onto your edge by driving your hip and knee inward). Like you mentioned, more instruction would probably help as we can't see what's going on. Sometimes a lesson with video so you can see yourself is a big help. Hope that helps! Matt |
#3
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On 2004-01-12, John Smith penned:
I'm an intermediate skier. I need more lessons. These things I know are true. And one other truth I know is that I frequently feel out of control when I try to ski the fall line. When I ski the fall line I feel like I'm just going faster and faster and beyond my comfort zone. As I approach that discomfort zone, I stop or I begin wide slow traverses of the run. I'm not so worried about speed as I am about control; I can't afford time off from work due to injuries. What's involved, technically, in maintaining a controlled speed when skiing the fall line (I'm tired of imitating the ball rolling down the hill at the mercy of gravity)? JS I have the same problem. I had a lesson recently that really opened my eyes. So that's the first thing: if you're having trouble, take a lesson. An expert instructor who can actually see you ski can do wonders. Lessons are *not* just for beginners (most ski instructors will take as many opportunities to learn as they can get their gloves on), and toward the upper end of the ski school ratings system, there will be very few people in your class, because far too many people think they're "beyond" lessons. If I could afford it, I'd take a lesson every ski day. Anyway, historically, I've been bad at making short, tight turns. This means that on smooth runs, I'd make long, slolomy turns that did nothing to slow me down. On runs with any kind of, um, texture, I would freak out because I didn't have confidence in my ability to make tight turns, so I'd end up doing a lot of horizontal movement, and of course, once you're horizontal, it's a lot harder to get a nice turn going again ... A lesson really helped me in this regard. Both a matter of identifying my bad habits and a matter of being coached through my turns, following the instructor's tracks, etc. For me, and I think most people of roughly my ability level, the big mistake is not leaning forward down the mountain enough. I tend to lean back when I'm worried about speed, which just reduces my control. If you do that too, one thing to work on would be making sure that you really reach out for a pole plant before your turn, and bring your body forward with your arm. One way to figure out which way you're leaning is to stand with your skis completely horizontal and angle them so that you're slipping down the slope sideways. If you tend to slip towards your back, you're leaning too far back. I still have trouble linking turns on black mogul runs because of the speed fear factor, but on blue moguls I'm getting pretty comfy. I went from picking my way through blue moguls to connecting turns till my thighs gave out in one day, all thanks to a breakthrough lesson. I now feel prety comfortable even near trees, because I have confidence in my ability to turn just about anywhere. Lessons are awesome. Good luck! And please bear in mind that I've never seen you ski, I may be explaining things poorly, and I'm no ski instructor, so proceed with caution in taking my advice. And did I mention you should take a lesson? -- monique |
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Monique Y. Herman wrote:
Anyway, historically, I've been bad at making short, tight turns. This means that on smooth runs, I'd make long, slolomy turns that did nothing to slow me down. Presumably you meant "Giant Slalomy" turns? "Slolomy" (sic) turns ARE short, tight turns. (The order is: Slalom - tight, quick turns Giant Slalom - moderate turns, at speed Super G - very high speed, very broad turns Downhill - no turns, just guide gates to go from this near cliff to the next near cliff; repeat.) In any case, Giant Slalom turns can slow you down just as much as any turn, IF there's sufficient room on the slope - just hold the carve until you've lost sufficient speed, even to the point of carving uphill a bit. |
#5
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On 2004-01-12, lal_truckee penned:
Monique Y. Herman wrote: Anyway, historically, I've been bad at making short, tight turns. This means that on smooth runs, I'd make long, slolomy turns that did nothing to slow me down. Presumably you meant "Giant Slalomy" turns? "Slolomy" (sic) turns ARE short, tight turns. (The order is: Slalom - tight, quick turns Giant Slalom - moderate turns, at speed Super G - very high speed, very broad turns Downhill - no turns, just guide gates to go from this near cliff to the next near cliff; repeat.) I've always had trouble distinguishing all of these. Yes, looks like I mean "giant slolomy." Except without the associated skill level. In any case, Giant Slalom turns can slow you down just as much as any turn, IF there's sufficient room on the slope - just hold the carve until you've lost sufficient speed, even to the point of carving uphill a bit. True enough. Not that I generally *want* to slow down too much on groomers, except of course for the designated "slow" areas (which always seem to be strategically placed right where I'd rather be picking up speed to make it through some catwalk). I was more trying to convey my relative lack of skill at tight, quick turns than the proper way to do GS turns, but thank you for the clarification. -- monique |
#6
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John Smith wrote in message om...
I'm an intermediate skier. I need more lessons. These things I know are true. And one other truth I know is that I frequently feel out of control when I try to ski the fall line. When I ski the fall line I feel like I'm just going faster and faster and beyond my comfort zone. As I approach that discomfort zone, I stop or I begin wide slow traverses of the run. I'm not so worried about speed as I am about control; I can't afford time off from work due to injuries. What's involved, technically, in maintaining a controlled speed when skiing the fall line (I'm tired of imitating the ball rolling down the hill at the mercy of gravity)? JS The "secret" is to not get going too fast in the first place. The technique is to let each turn continue (even back up the hill if necessary) until you've reached a comfortable speed. Realize that the beginning of each turn is going to make your skis accelerate because they point downhill to start the turn. Then let that turn continue until your pace is comfortable. If you try to make several turns that end with the skis still pointing somewhat downhill, you will be gaining speed with each turn. Finally, you will have to really "brake" to get your speed back into the comfort zone. The most effective way to turn as I've described is to think about turning the right ski to the right when you want to go that direction and the left ski to the left for that direction. If you think in terms of turning right by pushing out the left ski, you end up skidding the tail of that ski and cannot turn sufficiently uphill to really get slowing out of the turns. Find an instructor who will talk about turning the right ski to turn right and the left to turn left and then sign up for a lesson. |
#7
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I posted this message over a week ago! And it finally shows up today.
Go figure. Thanks all for the answers. I guess, one of the things I'm trying to understand is, what is it that a good skiier is doing as they seem to be moving straight down the hill (the fall line as they see it) and they are smoothly making tight rapid turns (or are they just moving skis from side to side). Maybe they aren't trying to slow down; maybe they're going as fast as they can but aren't dealing with the fear factor of falling and being unable to meet the mortgage while they're laid up. Anyway, they look great doing what they're doing; which to me is moving down the fall line at their chosen speed (that is, obviously under control). My kids are switching to snowboards, so while they're taking board lessons, I'll be taking my own. Enjoy the snow! JS MattB wrote: John Smith wrote: I'm an intermediate skier. I need more lessons. These things I know are true. And one other truth I know is that I frequently feel out of control when I try to ski the fall line. When I ski the fall line I feel like I'm just going faster and faster and beyond my comfort zone. As I approach that discomfort zone, I stop or I begin wide slow traverses of the run. I'm not so worried about speed as I am about control; I can't afford time off from work due to injuries. What's involved, technically, in maintaining a controlled speed when skiing the fall line (I'm tired of imitating the ball rolling down the hill at the mercy of gravity)? JS Lots of turns. Hard edging (if it's firm). Maybe yours turns (assuming you are making some) don't have enough "bite" and you're really just sliding back and forth. If that sounds like what you are doing try using more angulation (going farther onto your edge by driving your hip and knee inward). Like you mentioned, more instruction would probably help as we can't see what's going on. Sometimes a lesson with video so you can see yourself is a big help. Hope that helps! Matt |
#8
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John Smith wrote:
I posted this message over a week ago! And it finally shows up today. Go figure. Thanks all for the answers. I guess, one of the things I'm trying to understand is, what is it that a good skiier is doing as they seem to be moving straight down the hill (the fall line as they see it) and they are smoothly making tight rapid turns (or are they just moving skis from side to side). Maybe they aren't trying to slow down; maybe they're going as fast as they can but aren't dealing with the fear factor of falling and being unable to meet the mortgage while they're laid up. Anyway, they look great doing what they're doing; which to me is moving down the fall line at their chosen speed (that is, obviously under control). You know, you've just re-stated Lito's premise from his justifiably famous (and the best) book on how to ski, "Breakthrough on Skis" (or the new edition "Breakthrough on the New Skis") where he points out that good skiers are "always turning" and proceeds to build a discipline around that observation. Good skiers are always turning - there's no moment of hesitation between one turn and the next; IMO it's that moment of hesitation when unwanted speed builds up and nerves cringe. If you're always turning and a nerve twitches, you can just hold the turn a moment more and reduce speed slightly (but you won't need too, really but if you hesitate betweeen turns, speed builds and you have to *Do Something* to regain control. That's a bad thing - it means action must be taken, instead of action merely postponed. Leads to panic. Good skiers are always turning. My kids are switching to snowboards, so while they're taking board lessons, I'll be taking my own. Good idea. Then get and read Lito Tejeda-Flores' book. Enjoy the snow! JS MattB wrote: John Smith wrote: I'm an intermediate skier. I need more lessons. These things I know are true. And one other truth I know is that I frequently feel out of control when I try to ski the fall line. When I ski the fall line I feel like I'm just going faster and faster and beyond my comfort zone. As I approach that discomfort zone, I stop or I begin wide slow traverses of the run. I'm not so worried about speed as I am about control; I can't afford time off from work due to injuries. What's involved, technically, in maintaining a controlled speed when skiing the fall line (I'm tired of imitating the ball rolling down the hill at the mercy of gravity)? JS Lots of turns. Hard edging (if it's firm). Maybe yours turns (assuming you are making some) don't have enough "bite" and you're really just sliding back and forth. If that sounds like what you are doing try using more angulation (going farther onto your edge by driving your hip and knee inward). Like you mentioned, more instruction would probably help as we can't see what's going on. Sometimes a lesson with video so you can see yourself is a big help. Hope that helps! Matt |
#9
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On 2004-01-13, John Smith penned:
I posted this message over a week ago! And it finally shows up today. Go figure. Thanks all for the answers. I guess, one of the things I'm trying to understand is, what is it that a good skiier is doing as they seem to be moving straight down the hill (the fall line as they see it) and they are smoothly making tight rapid turns (or are they just moving skis from side to side). Maybe they aren't trying to slow down; maybe they're going as fast as they can but aren't dealing with the fear factor of falling and being unable to meet the mortgage while they're laid up. Anyway, they look great doing what they're doing; which to me is moving down the fall line at their chosen speed (that is, obviously under control). Fear is the great destroyer. If you're thinking about your mortgage while you're skiing, I'm amazed you're not in a full body cast already! What kinds of runs are you skiing when you feel this sort of fear? Maybe you could work on your turns on a slightly less steep slope, then gradually work your way up to steeper stuff. My kids are switching to snowboards, so while they're taking board lessons, I'll be taking my own. Good plan! -- monique |
#10
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"Monique Y. Herman" wrote in
: On 2004-01-13, John Smith penned: I posted this message over a week ago! And it finally shows up today. Go figure. Thanks all for the answers. I guess, one of the things I'm trying to understand is, what is it that a good skiier is doing as they seem to be moving straight down the hill (the fall line as they see it) and they are smoothly making tight rapid turns (or are they just moving skis from side to side). Maybe they aren't trying to slow down; maybe they're going as fast as they can but aren't dealing with the fear factor of falling and being unable to meet the mortgage while they're laid up. Anyway, they look great doing what they're doing; which to me is moving down the fall line at their chosen speed (that is, obviously under control). Fear is the great destroyer. If you're thinking about your mortgage while you're skiing, I'm amazed you're not in a full body cast already! What kinds of runs are you skiing when you feel this sort of fear? Maybe you could work on your turns on a slightly less steep slope, then gradually work your way up to steeper stuff. My kids are switching to snowboards, so while they're taking board lessons, I'll be taking my own. Good plan! "Fear is the mind-killer..." Frank Herbert, *Dune* What Monique said... What LAL said... AND, books are good, real live teachers are great, but the best teacher of all is mileage. Mileage build confidence like nothing else. All good skiers have lots of mile on their skis (boots, bodies and all that's attached). |
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