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

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

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

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

I found the Breakthrough on Ski's video on Amazon, but no book.
Pray for good weather this Thursday. I'll watch a video and head up for
a lesson. Maybe a couple of fresh feet of snow late Wednesday
afternoon (cleared from the road by morning). Am I asking too much!

Thanks Everybody,

JS

lal_truckee wrote:
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

lal_truckee wrote in
:

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.

I bought that book last year, started to read it, and got distracted with
other stuff to the point that I completely forgot about it. Thanks for
reminding me. It's time to break it back out and start over.
--
Chuck
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lal_truckee wrote:

Good skiers are always turning.

To turn is to admit defeat.
-Hugh Grierson

-klaus

klaus wrote:
lal_truckee wrote:


Good skiers are always turning.


To turn is to admit defeat.
-Hugh Grierson

-klaus

I didn't know you had some real 225 DH skis to suppliment your leetle
cable rig. Good for you.

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

"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).