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#1
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My Ski Experience
Ok, so I went skiing today. I went to Hidden Valley.
Got there around 8:30, got my tickets (beginner package) by 8:40. But didnt get my boots and skis until 9:15. Anyway, my gf and I went to the errr "T-Handle" thing. I just pushed off, seemed like it went ok. Then at 9:40, my gf got the "bright" idea to bring up "chicken run" we went up. The ski lift went HIGH!! Anyway, that thing is STEEP!! A quarter of the way down we got in an arguement, I think she should have made sure I was more prepared. She kept trying to teach me the wedge, but I couldnt get it right. Anyway, I didnt get down to the bottom until 10:15...took my 30 minutes! Anyway, I sat out, while she did the run a few more times, then she did a few blues. I did the 12pm group lesson. It went ok, he didnt teach us the 'wedge', just turning. Anyway, we took a lunch. So finally at 3 I did some turns for like 15 minutes, then went up the chicken run. 1st time (since the morning) fell a few times. 2nd thing was better. I ended up doing it like 5 times. I noticed a few things: 1. I am treating it like rollerblades...when I turn, Im almost doing a "hockey stop" in rollerblades. My gf said my turns were "too sharp" she said experienced skiers go down more vertically instead of sharp turns like me. 2. errrr yeah, I just kept doing that...Im not even sure how Im slowing down, but I did it ok. I do treat it like rollerblading, I do know Im sometimes pushing off to the side while skiing (like how you blade) It was fun, my right hip is bruised from falling on it though. But when I left I was doing the chicken hill run pretty well. BUT, I HATE THE LIFT!! I keep telling the operator "Hold the chair" but he doesnt, so it slams into me. Anyway, thats it. Thanks for all the help everyone |
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#2
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My Ski Experience
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#3
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My Ski Experience
Mike wrote:
Glad you had a good first time. When are you going again? BUT, I HATE THE LIFT!! I keep telling the operator "Hold the chair" but he doesnt, so it slams into me. Hold your poles in your inside hand. Look over your outside shoulder so you can grab the outside armrest of the chair with your outside hand. You will then (a) be able to keep the chair from slamming into your knees and (b) you will KNOW where the chair is so you won't be surprised. Some of the less-well-maintained lifts at a local resort didn't have enough room beneath the chair in the pickup zone so that the chair could really jam your lower leg into the ground before it actually takes off. (Mountain High. Telling three "mountain hosts" and the liftie resulted in no change at all. Maybe I should have talked to their lawyer or just grabbed the shovel myself.) To avoid considerable pain and possible damage, hold your knees together and quickly move your feet far enough apart to clear the ground as soon as you sit down. -- Cheers, Bev ************************************************* Never argue with a woman holding a torque wrench. |
#4
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My Ski Experience
"Mike" wrote in message om... She kept trying to teach me the wedge, but I couldnt get it right. Anyway, I didnt get down to the bottom until 10:15...took my 30 minutes! In my opinion, the wedge method is a bad teaching method and results in bad habits. If you need to go slower, just push your tails out and scrape some snow (slowing down), which as you have discovered, is like a hockey stop, most of the weight on the foot closest to the bottom of the slope. When you want to turn to the other side, IMMEDIATELY change weights from the downhill boot to the uphill boot and tilt your knee to the center of the turn. W/out this early weight change, the wedge will appear. Yes, turning is this simple. I have no idea why people teach the stupid wedge. If the reason for doing so is slowing down, then why don't they teach the pushing the tails out part? It is simple and is easier than thinking to "pivot", which is the same. When you're on the turning leg (downhill), simply apply pressure with the heel and you slow down. |
#5
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My Ski Experience
"Jiyang Chen" wrote in message ... "Mike" wrote in message om... She kept trying to teach me the wedge, but I couldnt get it right. Anyway, I didnt get down to the bottom until 10:15...took my 30 minutes! In my opinion, the wedge method is a bad teaching method and results in bad habits. If you need to go slower, just push your tails out and scrape some snow (slowing down), which as you have discovered, is like a hockey stop, most of the weight on the foot closest to the bottom of the slope. When you want to turn to the other side, IMMEDIATELY change weights from the downhill boot to the uphill boot and tilt your knee to the center of the turn. W/out this early weight change, the wedge will appear. Yes, turning is this simple. I have no idea why people teach the stupid wedge. If the reason for doing so is slowing down, then why don't they teach the pushing the tails out part? It is simple and is easier than thinking to "pivot", which is the same. When you're on the turning leg (downhill), simply apply pressure with the heel and you slow down. Have you ever taught people that have never stood on snow before? Have you ever disected extreme or racing and seen the wedge magically reappear? The wedge is a good tool to give people control as they move up. It sounds to me like he went to terrain that was too tough for a beginner. I take them to a place that looks flat and only gives them about 20' before they stop automatically. pigo |
#6
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My Ski Experience
Jiyang Chen wrote:
"Mike" wrote in message om... She kept trying to teach me the wedge, but I couldnt get it right. Anyway, I didnt get down to the bottom until 10:15...took my 30 minutes! In my opinion, the wedge method is a bad teaching method and results in bad habits. If you need to go slower, just push your tails out and scrape some snow (slowing down), which as you have discovered, is like a hockey stop, most of the weight on the foot closest to the bottom of the slope. When you want to turn to the other side, IMMEDIATELY change weights from the downhill boot to the uphill boot and tilt your knee to the center of the turn. W/out this early weight change, the wedge will appear. Yes, turning is this simple. I have no idea why people teach the stupid wedge. If the reason for doing so is slowing down, then why don't they teach the pushing the tails out part? My guess would be that it's way easier to use a wedge at ultra-low speed, when a beginner-level (or maybe even higher) hockey stop just doesn't work. It also works when you are so exhausted that fine control is completely gone and the only other stopping option is hitting the fat lady and hoping you both bounce. It is simple and is easier than thinking to "pivot", which is the same. When you're on the turning leg (downhill), simply apply pressure with the heel and you slow down. -- Cheers, Bev ----------------------------------------- There's something wrong with my keyboard. Whenever I type x I get x. |
#7
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My Ski Experience
In article ,
"Jiyang Chen" writes: In my opinion, the wedge method is a bad teaching method and results in bad habits. I won't argue the role of the wedge for a beginner, but for an advanced skier the wedge has an interesting property: If you get in a wedge stance and put pressure on one ski you basically have the perfect form and body alignment for the kind of short radius turn used in the bumps. It is a great way to build muscle memory in a short time: Face straight down an easy slope, start alternating weight shifts from one ski to the next while keeping your upper body facing straight down. Toward the end of the slope, start doing parallel turns. The only difference is what do with your inside leg. Everything else is the same. bruno. |
#8
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My Ski Experience
(downhill), simply apply pressure with the heel and you slow down. oops... I meant push your heel out. |
#9
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My Ski Experience
"Jiyang Chen" wrote in message ... (downhill), simply apply pressure with the heel and you slow down. oops... I meant push your heel out. Do you mean......to a wedge? |
#10
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My Ski Experience
The ski lift went HIGH!!
Anyway, that thing is STEEP!! Just wait until you've been a few times. You'll wonder how you ever thought that was steep :-) I dont know...that beginner hill at Hidden Valley seemed tough...well there is one stretch that is pretty bad. My gf said my turns were "too sharp" she said experienced skiers go down more vertically instead of sharp turns like me. She's right. But then you aren't an experienced skier, and she should not be expecting you to ski like one. I thought that sharp turns were better? Like in hockey, I cant ice skate well, so my turns are wide, while Pros are turning at like 90 degrees. You are slowing because you are making those sharp turns. the higher upwards you end up pointing, the more you will slow, in general. I noticed that when Im turning, half the time, Im still sliding down the hill sideways. But it was fun |
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