Post by livingproof on Feb 4, 2015 17:55:53 GMT -7
On past Sunday, Helluva invited me to ski with him for an boot alignment test and to check out my skiing to determine an improvement path. We headed to Hollimount learning area, along, with Kathleen and a Helluva female friend who raced with him in college. Time to check the ego and find out how ugly my skiing is, which, I really needed because I was skidding the Fishcer Sl's all over the place, not doing any justice to that (or any other ski).
First the alignment. I am knock-knee'd and the day before felt my knees banging together. Gary lent me some shims to place under the boot and I had a 1.5 degree on my left ski canting to the outside. Right ski was not canted. Greg had me ski on one foot straight down a shallow pitch with one foot lifted, and, then do some simple traverses first on the uphill edge of one ski, then the other. Finished up doing a simple garland traverse to see if two clear lines were left in my tracks ....they were not nice and clean. We added a .5 degree shim to cant out my right ski, and, Greg thinks that the alignment was pretty good. That night I had my boots canted in a local shop where Greg has high opinion of the boot fitter. The following 2 days, my left footed turns were much more stable, and, I could get to my little toe edge much better.
My ski lesson was, how can I say this adequately, a tough reality check... which I needed to get to a higher level that I seek. The first feedback was that counteracting skills were totally lost somewhere between Philadelphia and Buffalo, if they were ever present. Without Counteracting, I rotate as the turn progresses, push off the downhill ski and SKID. I got coached up on actively advancing one hip while actively pulling back the other. It's not easy, takes a fair amount of effort, gets the heart rate up. Does it get immediate results and high praise from coach Helluva? Hell no, but, you knew that was coming. Got a mini-lesson in HH's Angry Mother counteracting drill, will buy the video and work on that skill this week. Greg also directed me to continue to perform simple garlands across the hill until my tracks were very clean, then, continue to work that drill on more difficult terrain. Note to self, keep doing stretching exercises that permit the body to bend sideways at the waist. I'm far to stiff to get much counterbalance. Time to get out "Essentials" and review.
As a future point of improvement, Greg states I need to get lower and flex a LOT more during release. Gary gave me some photos he took and my legs are always just about straight. Very unflattering given my self image of what I look like. Feel and Real are very different. Unless I can flex and extend, my tipping angles will remain minimal.
Helluva takes his instruction comments right from Star Wars....."Trust The Skis Mike" (shaking his head). Someplace in cyber space, Helluva will post the video he took. Am I man enough to look at it? Tune in at a later day.
So, I owe a big thank you to Helluva....I tried to pay up with a few bottles of Philly IPA, I have a feeling he liked the beer better than my skiing. BTW, Helluva is one ripped, skinny, little pedal biker, he takes work in the gym on equal levels with his skiing.
First the alignment. I am knock-knee'd and the day before felt my knees banging together. Gary lent me some shims to place under the boot and I had a 1.5 degree on my left ski canting to the outside. Right ski was not canted. Greg had me ski on one foot straight down a shallow pitch with one foot lifted, and, then do some simple traverses first on the uphill edge of one ski, then the other. Finished up doing a simple garland traverse to see if two clear lines were left in my tracks ....they were not nice and clean. We added a .5 degree shim to cant out my right ski, and, Greg thinks that the alignment was pretty good. That night I had my boots canted in a local shop where Greg has high opinion of the boot fitter. The following 2 days, my left footed turns were much more stable, and, I could get to my little toe edge much better.
My ski lesson was, how can I say this adequately, a tough reality check... which I needed to get to a higher level that I seek. The first feedback was that counteracting skills were totally lost somewhere between Philadelphia and Buffalo, if they were ever present. Without Counteracting, I rotate as the turn progresses, push off the downhill ski and SKID. I got coached up on actively advancing one hip while actively pulling back the other. It's not easy, takes a fair amount of effort, gets the heart rate up. Does it get immediate results and high praise from coach Helluva? Hell no, but, you knew that was coming. Got a mini-lesson in HH's Angry Mother counteracting drill, will buy the video and work on that skill this week. Greg also directed me to continue to perform simple garlands across the hill until my tracks were very clean, then, continue to work that drill on more difficult terrain. Note to self, keep doing stretching exercises that permit the body to bend sideways at the waist. I'm far to stiff to get much counterbalance. Time to get out "Essentials" and review.
As a future point of improvement, Greg states I need to get lower and flex a LOT more during release. Gary gave me some photos he took and my legs are always just about straight. Very unflattering given my self image of what I look like. Feel and Real are very different. Unless I can flex and extend, my tipping angles will remain minimal.
Helluva takes his instruction comments right from Star Wars....."Trust The Skis Mike" (shaking his head). Someplace in cyber space, Helluva will post the video he took. Am I man enough to look at it? Tune in at a later day.
So, I owe a big thank you to Helluva....I tried to pay up with a few bottles of Philly IPA, I have a feeling he liked the beer better than my skiing. BTW, Helluva is one ripped, skinny, little pedal biker, he takes work in the gym on equal levels with his skiing.