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Skiing |
| Questions |
Reply |
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Sam, when I saw a picture of myself skiing I thought of the
broomstick analogy. I’m tilted pretty far out. Shouldn’t I be
more over my skis, with just my ankles tilting? If so, it’s
easier said than done; I’ve been trying!
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As long as you are counter balancing, you want your hip to go
toward the center of the circle you are going around. Therefore,
from an appearance point of view you are not over the skis but if
you were to measure the force pressure on your skis you will find
that they are directly over both the edges. This is due to your
counter balance and centrifugal force that is created as you carve
your turn. What I saw in the photo was pretty good in your attempt
to counter balance. Sure it could of been more angulation at the
ankle, knees and waist, but then maybe you would need to be going
faster as well. You were also performing a counter movement where
you were beginning to face down the hill as well which adds to
edge lift. You looked pretty relaxed (not stiff) and I was
impressed with your good edge bite and good lift on the skis. I
could read the bottom of your skis. If you studied the markings
left on the snow by your skis I bet you would of seen very sharp
defined cuts in the snow indicating that you were on edge and
carving your turn. Continue to practice your counter balance
move. To help a little more keep your right hand a bit higher up,
out and in front as you make the right turn and it will help
provide a stronger counter balance and more pressure on the edge.
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Sam, I still fall apart on the steep and revert to angling the
front ski across the fall line for speed control. I should be
able to do that with more effective edging, which I think I can
accomplish with better balance.
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A lot of the steep stuff is mental and one is scared of going over
to balance onto the new downhill ski. Fear of not having edge
control causes people to whip the skis around too fast resulting
in a rushed slide around or going into a wedge position.
Therefore, you have to get use to the feel of falling straight
down for a brief second and try to relax and keep the ankles
flexed and your weight on the ball of your feet then you can
properly transfer your weight and then roll onto the skis edge
regaining a controlled turn. Then releasing the edge to go into a
fall again then transferring the weight and rolling onto the edge
regaining the turn. This is easier said than done since we do not
feel relaxed falling.
To prepare your self you should first side slip down a steep run
to get use to the slope. Do this on both sides alternating as you
go down.
Then once you are use to the slope then point your self down at
the bottom of the slope so as to pick up speed and as it levels
onto the flat transfer your weight and engage the edge and you
will turn in a nice arc. Next time go up a bit higher on the
slope and repeat. Repeat this each time starting a bit higher on
the slope until you start making the turn while still on the
slope. Do this on both sides and then try linking them.
You will find that you are getting use to the falling feeling and
are relaxed transferring and engaging the edge |
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How can I bring my skis closer
together for tighter parallel skiing? I am a little bow legged and
my skis feel they are far apart.
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It is important to relax your toes, ankles and
knees as you ski. This will allow you to ride more over
the skis. You will begin to feel the edges of your skis and how
they can be used to bring the skis in closer together. To
develop the feel of the skis edges perform the following exercise
on a gentle slope:
A lot has to do with relaxing and using your
edges to bring the skis in. Try this on a very gentle slope. In
a parallel stance, first relax your feet and ankles so that your
shins of your legs are resting on the tongue of the boots. Then
roll both your feet toward your big toe side of each foot. You
can bring your knees closer together to accentuate this movement.
As you slide down slowly on the gentle slope the skis should come
closer together. Now roll both your feet toward the little toe
side of each foot. You can bow leg your knees out a bit for this
to get on the outside edges of your skis. The skis should ski
apart. Practice this until you can form hour glass shape
tracks in the snow. As you get better at this your feet begin to
develop control of the skis width apart but most of all you begin
to ride over your skis more.
What is important is to be relaxed at your toes,
ankles and knees. While relaxed you naturally push forward your
knees and your feet are more likely to pronate (place more
pressure on the big toe side of each feet. By stiffing your
joints you stand up straighter and you roll toward your little toe
side of the feet (supinate). So do not stiffen up but relax and
let your ski boot do some of the work of holding you up. This is
why you paid so much for good ski boots, right!
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How do I ski moguls? Ice? Powder? |
Skiing different terrains see "Ski
Article SK4" |
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What exercises do I do to be ready for this
season? |
Ski
exercises see "
Ski / Snowboard General Article SG2" |
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What is the correct way to pole plant? |
Using the ski poles see "Ski
Article SK3" |
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How can I improve my skiing? |
Ski
Fundamentals see "Fundamentals
Key to Skiing and Snowboarding" |
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Snowboarding |
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Sam,
in the morning Dillion had
difficulty so I adjusted the bindings and he still had trouble
getting on his toe side. So, I had him get off the hill and I was
scratching my head as to what could be the problem. Then it
dawns on me, that the board Dillon and Taylor were using on your
deck had it's binding so close together they had a hard time
putting a foot between the bindings. So I moved the bindings
together, despite the boards length, and he snapped to the toe
side just like he was on the deck. We had a great time at Donner
Ski Ranch, Dillon was making turns on blue runs, finding jumps
everywhere and we were the last ones that were on the hill. As
you will see in the attached video some of the stills were taken
on the Face, a black diamond run that Dillon insisted on going
down, I wasn't more than eight feet below him the whole time. I
almost called you from the lodge just to let you know how
everything went. We owe it all to you, thanks. See you on the hill
sometime soon.
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You were wise
to move the binding stance closer together. The wider the stance
the more stable the straight ride is but you run the risk of
sacrificing turning capability. The closer the bindings are the
better control you have for turning. The stance distance is a
compromise between turning and stability. I recommend for
beginners to have a narrower stance such as a width just a little
more than their hip or shoulder width. As they gain control of
their turning (especially the toe side turn) then to widen the
stance until comfortable with both turning and stability |
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I am a new to the sport and I know very little on setting up my new
bindings to my snowboards, can you help me?
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These are basic
rules to get you started in binding set ups:
1. Decide if you
want the following basic angles for the bindings: A;+15 & 0, or
B;+15 "& -15, or C;0 & 0. (note: the first number is the degree
of the front foot binding) Position A is typical of what
you find when you rent a board and you favor riding in one
direction only, Position B is one that allows you to ride switch
easily and Position C is one that some people find
comfortable with their feet position.
2. Now we
want to determine which holes to use on the board for the screws
to go into for attaching the binding. Start with the holes 4
closest to the tip and the 4 holes closest to the tail of the
board and place the bindings on them with the angles you decide in
step 1 and loosely attach the screws. Now put your feet in them
and see if you are comforatable with the spread. Most likely it
will feel too wide. Now move both bindings closer together by one
hole distance at a time. Then try it by putting your feet in the
bindings. Keep moving them closer together evenly bringing both
bindings together until your feet are close to shoulders width
apart. I suggest this width of your shoulder width for your
beginning stage riding as it gives you the most control on the
board. Now tighten the screws down.
3. You are
not finished yet as you have to adjust the boot on the binding so
that it has even boot toe to toe edge distance as the boot heel to
heel edge distance. We are trying to make sure that the boot is
centered across the board so that doing a toe edge has the same
leverage as doing the heel edge.
If it is
not centered you need to adjust the back plate that hinges up to
move either it in or out by loosening the side screws and nuts
that position the back plate out or in to the binding frame.
(note: this is not the back plate angle adjustment that is found
on the back of the back plate, we will discuss this adjustment
later)
Once both
boots are centered move onto 4
4. Next, Adjust both the angle straps and toe straps so that
they are able to easily and snuggly bind your boots (with your
feet in them) to the binding. You may need to remove the screw on
the strap and reset them in a different hole position shortening
or lengthening the strap. If strap is way too long may need to
shorten the strap by cutting it properly so as to screw the
strap in a shorter hole position.
5. The last thing is to adjust the back plate angle with the
adjustment on the back of the Back Plate. By loosing the hold
down screw the adjustment piece will freely move up or down.
Moving it down puts the back plate in a more forward angle
position and causes the back plate to contact the back of your
lower leg sooner causing you to engage a heel edge quicker. Too
much of a forward lean angle makes your leg more tired as you have
to keep the leg bending so as not to engage the heel edge. On the
other hand if you have it adjusted so that the back plate is
straight up then it causes you to not make a strong heel edge or
cause it to engage it late. My suggestion is to start off having
it straight up (adjustment as high up as possible). Ride it
awhile then lower it and try it again until you find it to your
responsive satisfaction.
6. Get use
too riding the board and then as you get familiar with it
re-adjust the stance, the width, how far back the back foot
binding should be from the tail vs. the front foot binding to the
tip (this will optimize the type of riding and terrain you ride
with this board i.e. in powder may want greater distance from tip
to front foot binding to keep the front of the board from diving
into the snow) and the back plate lean angle optimizing your
riding.
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I am just starting out and want to buy a
snowboard. How do I choose a snowboard for myself?
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Beginners Guide to choosing a snowboard
click here |
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Help! I am a beginner and I keep face planting
when I attempt a toe edge. |
Avoiding face plants see "
Snowboard Article SB1" |
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Snowboard Resources |
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=548282 |
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General Snow Tips |
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I am trying to save my money but want to buy a
pair of skis. How do I choose a used ski?
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Guide to ski and snowboard swaps
click here |
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How do I choose a pair of gloves or goggles, or
socks?
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Guide to ski & snowboard accessories
click here |
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What resort is the closest?
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Guide to ski, snowboard, x-country resorts, snow parks
click here |
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I would like to join a ski club. Which one
has a bus that goes to Tahoe?
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Guide to snow clubs
click here |
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How should I dress for skiing?
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Guide to dressing for the snow
click here |
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How should I prepare for my ski trip?
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Article on preparing a fun first day
click here |
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What should I take on a ski trip? |
Skier's Check list
click here |
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What should I take on a snowboard trip? |
Snowboarder's Check List
click here |
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Surfing
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What are some surfing tips for a beginner?
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Beginners guide to surfing
click here |
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How do I pick a surfboard?
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Beginners guide to surfboards
click here |
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How do I pick a wet suit?
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Beginners guide to wet suits
click here |
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Others |
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I have lousy balance. how can I improve my
balance so I am more comfortable on skis or snowboard or
surfboard?
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1.
Improving your balance see "
Ski / Snowboard Article SG7 Keeping our balance
2.
Improving Balance through hand position
Ski / Snowboard Article SG5 Get a grip! e3 puts power in the palm
of your hands" |
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I want to thank all
who have and will contribute to this section.
This is a section where you can
contribute to make skiing, snowboarding,
surfing and other extreme sports fun
and safe for others.
If you have any tip,
advise or word of wisdoms regarding any extreme sports,
may it be regarding riding, dressing,
equipment, keeping safe and comfortable,
or just some interesting fact that
would be helpful to others please email them to
skimore@endlesslope.com
Warning! Opinions expressed
are those of the contributors and are not the sole responsibility
of this website |