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redspotlight Take it to the next level reecekothe newseditor
There is always room for improvement. It’s a common misnomer that skiing fast means you have mastered skiing. Bombing straight down the mountain at 70 m.p.h. is fun, but after awhile it can get old even for the most pumped-up adrenaline junkies, me included. Learning the right techniques for the different disciplines of skiing can open up a whole new world of exhilaration. Without the right know-how to truly ski like a pro, a person’s skill will plateau. In order to master different types of terrain, it is always key to attack and trust the mountain. Whether it is on a rolling groomer or a 50-degree slope, speed and the ability to let go is key. Alpine skiing: is the classic form of the sport and one of the fastest. The fundamentals mastered on Alpine terrain such as the steep groomers and raceways are applied to all versions of skiing. To ski like a racer and cut sharp curves in the mountainside it is important to apply pressure on your boot tongues with your shins while bending your knees. By doing so, it gives you more control over your skis and balance. It is equally important to get yourself in an athletic stance so that you may be powerful with your movements. The steeper the terrain the more pressure you should apply on your boots while maintaining a tighter stance. Before you tackle steeper terrain, practice carving on easier inclines. Initiate the turns by applying pressure with your big toes. Lean up slope as you turn left and right. Practice a scissor motion almost like rollerblading. Keep your skis close together but as you advance to steeper terrain, the skis should drift farther apart to maintain a center of balance over the top of your skis. The faster you go, the easier it is to initiate turns. Transition from one turn to the next in an almost bouncy motion by taking the path of least resistance. Let your lower body do all the work while your upper body stays relaxed. Once you master the physics and flow of race style skiing take it to the rest of the mountain such as on the bumps and big mountain areas. On the bumps: maintain a clean technique but tighter and closer together. Use your legs to absorb the
impact. Choose a line and go with it. Use your poles to reach for bumps and turn around the pole plants you make. Use moguls as speed bumps to slow down if needed. Smear the back of your skies as you come out of turns. But most importantly, don’t be intimidated; own the bumps and you will be skiing them like a pro in no time. Once you progress to big mountain skiing, it is key to be confident in your ability. Big mountain terrain: is for experts and rightfully so. Not only are there cliffs and ultra steep declines but unforeseen obstacles as well in the untouched snow of the backcountry. Big mountain terrain quite often has nofall-zones which means if you fall you probably won’t live to tell about it. Still, if you use the proper technique mastered on the easier groomers, big mountain terrain is completely doable. On steeper terrain it is important to keep your hands and poles reaching downwards so that turns may follow easier. Shift your weight uphill to keep your balance and go hard. When hitting cliffs stay in the proper position and stay relaxed. Land with a slightly wider stance. Freestyle skiing: is one of my favorites and varies from the other disciplines of skiing. In this variation of skiing, it is crucial to be fearless and confident. This type of skiing is where intricate tricks come into play. Whatever trick you want to master, even if its a double back cork 1080, always go all the way. When you approach the jump, don’t speed check. In other words hit it with full speed and don’t slow down. Freestyle skiing is all about perfecting the approaches. As you near the knuckle of a jump, create a wider base with your skis so that you may create more torque to initiate a trick. The same goes for other features such as boxes and rails. As far as tricks go, practice them on smaller scale features before taking them to big air jumps. Start small and work your way up. Perfect 180s, 360s, front flips and back flips before adding grabs and other twists. Once you become comfortable in the air, bigger tricks will come with time. Never second guess yourself while jumping and always go 110 percent. So next time you’re out, try to do some of these techniques and gain the enjoyment that the pros rave about their entire lives.
December 20, 2013