Post by gary on Nov 10, 2013 9:49:31 GMT -7
I was pondering my own technique and knowledge of what I find works for me as I reflected on a couple of drills we did with 2 great instructors. At the time I thought they were silly but the years gone by with more time on snow...I know better.
Falling Leaf exercise...done on green or blue green groomer....start with skis across the fall, release the edges allowing the shovels to travel 45 degrees across the fall line then release the edges and do the same with the tail...do both right and left sides. Pressue should be equal fore/aft. This drill is also referred to the Windshield Wiper.
Park the car in the wrong garage...done on green or blue green groomer....start with skis across fall, release shovels into fall line, flaten skis, bring tails around pointed down hill then pressure accross the fall...that's parking the car in the wrong garage. Now get the shovels pointed downhill again on going to the other side. Do both right and left movements and see if you can do with equal fore/aft pressure Link a series of these.
Both of these drills require the skier to be able to use the ski tip to tail with the ability to flaten the ski, sensitve edge control and equal forward and rear pressure.
What I've learned is that no matter what ski you're on, these drills will provide immediate feedback of where you are on your ski. To explain, if you're too far forward it will be easy to initiate the tips but difficult to get the tail to co-operate. This means with equal pressure both fore and aft. If you're mounted to far back, the tails are your slaves but your getting your tips to co-operate require way more effort.
I believe these exercises make an incredibe difference on why some people can handle 3 dimensional snow, crud, bumps, etc..much easier than others.
Try the drills and see if you can move fore and aft with equal pressure. I believe it's a good way to make sure the building blocks of good turns are in place at the beginning of ski season. G
Best,
G
Falling Leaf exercise...done on green or blue green groomer....start with skis across the fall, release the edges allowing the shovels to travel 45 degrees across the fall line then release the edges and do the same with the tail...do both right and left sides. Pressue should be equal fore/aft. This drill is also referred to the Windshield Wiper.
Park the car in the wrong garage...done on green or blue green groomer....start with skis across fall, release shovels into fall line, flaten skis, bring tails around pointed down hill then pressure accross the fall...that's parking the car in the wrong garage. Now get the shovels pointed downhill again on going to the other side. Do both right and left movements and see if you can do with equal fore/aft pressure Link a series of these.
Both of these drills require the skier to be able to use the ski tip to tail with the ability to flaten the ski, sensitve edge control and equal forward and rear pressure.
What I've learned is that no matter what ski you're on, these drills will provide immediate feedback of where you are on your ski. To explain, if you're too far forward it will be easy to initiate the tips but difficult to get the tail to co-operate. This means with equal pressure both fore and aft. If you're mounted to far back, the tails are your slaves but your getting your tips to co-operate require way more effort.
I believe these exercises make an incredibe difference on why some people can handle 3 dimensional snow, crud, bumps, etc..much easier than others.
Try the drills and see if you can move fore and aft with equal pressure. I believe it's a good way to make sure the building blocks of good turns are in place at the beginning of ski season. G
Best,
G