Hi You, The first thing I noticed is what you also notice about half way through. You seem to have developed this 'let's quickly widen the skis just before the turn' syndrome. I don't think (operative word is 'think') that I do that, but I'm skiing in a couple of weeks time and I shall deploy my droidcam just to check .
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
franzClammer, I'd not worry about pole plants and arm carriage and concentrate on getting your weight onto the new outside ski early. The stem, heel push, inside ski coming close are all a result of not creating a new platform and getting the weight onto it early IMHO.
Try doing snowplough turns and plough parallel and really concentrate on the weight on the outside ski. you won't be able to do a good plough parallel if the weight is wrong. You'll know very quickly if a plough parallel is right or not.
franzClammer, Just look at your whole body performance during your left and right turns and the pressure balance in your feet during the turn. Your can see almost a complete lack of angulation during your left turns, with inclination pressuring the outside ski and in some cases having to to step the the left leg (inside) to get into transition. Then look at the smooth angulation of your right turns. Whist you have an inkling of the difference between driving the ski with your hips and/or the front of your boot I have to say you need to back away from the minutia of technique and strive for a more even and balanced body movement left and right before you try to fine tune. From my POV you have yet to achieve a controlled response to the information coming through your feet and are still frequently trying to force or 'overdrive' your skis. A fridge is not the best environment to practice but you have a clear imbalance in body posture left and right.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Megamum, A couple of weeks!! I'll just have to wait for the footage
After all it is free
After all it is free
Masque, Yes I can see the lack of symmetry now. Cheers
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kitenski wrote:
Try doing snowplough turns and plough parallel and really concentrate on the weight on the outside ski. you won't be able to do a good plough parallel if the weight is wrong. You'll know very quickly if a plough parallel is right or not.
Good tip, thanks, I did a few today & found I was well back!
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
FC, for my twopeneth worth I thought your turns on just one ski - the outside ski by were by far and away your best, even though I suspect they did not feel like it as you were making changes. It's really difficult to do the default rushed heel push, hip pivot (?), shoulder roll bullying the skis round thing on one ski as these movements throw you out of balance. I would go for the whole turn on one ski and really try and wait before turning to allow yourself a moment to really get balanced on the outside ski before turning. Likewise agree plough parallel is great because it it really difficult balanced on the inside ski. I also find skiing in complete white outs are great training for making sure you really are on the outside ski and patient before turning. Fall over and I know I let myself get caught on the inside ski and rushed the turn. The swords/spears drill is another I find helpful to get myself set up as it always make me realise that I was not on my outside ski as much as I thought. I find some focused drills for half an hour after some warm up runs help to break the bad habits most of us have, then just focus on one thing and then try and think about other things, not think about technique and just let the sub-concious do its work and just be in tune with how it feels rather than thinking about it.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
TTT, Thanks for your comments.
I seem to be avin some difficulty in adapting to new stiffer boots with a 13deg cuff angle. I'm trying to open my knee more to get more upright & forward, but without overflexing my ankle, which despite Zipfits & boot fitting, is still causing heel lift, even with em cranked up & over-tightened. Am debating whether to revert to 15deg cuff angle to save my heal from developing a fluidy lump, which is appearing.
In this recent footage I seem to have regressed a bit to my eye. When I feel on form & more cuff neutral it doesn't bother me & can ski happily with the buckles loose, but that's not too often. I know a couple of weeks in the Alps is the remedy with some instruction halfway through.
Apologies for the quality. But it's all there is, and given that personal skiing video is rarer than rocking horse poo on here....enjoy
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
franzClammer, I would go back to CEM soon, you shouldn't be getting heel lift and it is easy to damage your feet.
I had to have an operation to remove a bone spur and a fluid lump from the outside of one foot, once it got started it just kept getting bigger even though I got the boot ground out at that spot.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
franzClammer, followed your voyage with some interest as it is a route I want to take. Well done!
PS: Sasha + London Grammar = tune of 2014!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
franzClammer, Errr..............isn't there a comment that knocks around somewhere regarding a workman and his tools..................?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Megamum, yep these boots are crap for hanging wallpaper too
No but seriously I have seen some pics n stories of horrendous chronic foot damage, even on ISTD L4's living in the Alps.
So another loooooong drive back to Bicester might be in order.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
rjs, crikey!!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Rishie, Bon chance Welcome along
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
FC get the boots checked by CEM but equally get on the slope forget about COM angulation canting etc etc etc etc etc etc and HAVE FUN !!
No matter what your level of skiing or level as an instructor you need to just play as well and have a break from thinking about every single tiny pixel of the entire picture.
So just get out there ditch the grey matter enjoy yourself relax. Video by all means but if you do don't try and over analyse it if analyse it at all that is for another session on the slopes.
One thing I always found from spending so many hours on a dry slope, and a fridge is no different is that due to the size of the slope and unchanging terrain you end up thinking about what you are doing ( over analysing ). You do not do this the same on holiday your brain would not cope with analysing in such detail kilometre after kilometre of changing terrain and conditions every single day.
You have made fantastic progress FC and I see you progressing a long way still, but your first for knowledge may get to a point of holding you back if you bow to it's incessant demand for more. If you never allow your brain to relax how can you hope to allow your body to relax ?
franzClammer, as well as your boots and your feet, might it be a notion to take a recent video to Colin as well?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
franzClammer, as others have said, your dedication and your progress is remarkable.
As bit of a variation on what speed098 says, does seem to be a lot of thinking going on, if not in real time then post-match analysis...
...for me, given the aspirations you have, you are spending much time skiing either solo or with video-droid and despite all this thinking you may be embedding faults that are gonna be stubborn to shift if not addressed soon.
Maybe a bit less time on the slope solo, and throw in more lessons eg the Inside Out sessions? They tend to focus on just one or two core and uncluttered ideas and its fun!
After all it is free
After all it is free
Quote:
Maybe a bit less time on the slope solo, and throw in more lessons eg the Inside Out sessions? They tend to focus on just one or two core and uncluttered ideas and its fun!
Agreed, if funds allow. I have noticed that, every time I go for a session with Inside Out, my proficiency in their various drills is shaky/needs work. There's always improvement during the session, it's never faultless to start with. I'm pretty sure that if I went to Hemel as often as you do, and practised drills otherwise than under Scott's or Rob's supervision, I would do them incorrectly and simply reinforce my bad habits.
There again, perhaps I'm just making excuses for not practising enough.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Thank you all very much for taking the time to reply.
A lot of wisdom, truth & some good ideas in the replies.
Ineed the season approacheth & the fun skiing will indeed commence. Although my seasons plans are a bit awry, I have been invited to join the team at Hemel instructing. So hopefully it will allow me loads of time focusing on the fundamentals and learning how to teach. I'm hoping that one of the perks is being surrounded by Instructors when I am on the slope, and so wont go too far wrong as far as the bad habits are concerned.
I appreciate the "not overthinking thing" but this is blimming hurting.
scooby_simon, You are correct... I think that fundamentally it is my technique that's at fault. However as you know I have increased in flex rating + Zipfits and I've lessened the angle of the cuff. That being said I am very conscious of my overflexing my knees. I thought the boot setup would encourage me to open my knee and stand up but I do seem to be still trying to use the ankle to compensate, which is levering my heel off of the footbed. Is that what you mean by "rocking onto my shins"? cos that's what it feels like.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Quote:
levering my heel off of the footbed
I could always do that in my colin-fitted boots but I'm sure the fit was fine - it didn't happen when I was skiing, but I could "make it happen" by levering.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
franzClammer, it's just an idea, why not try skiing in your old boots for a session and see if your stance improves. It might then show if it's your boots or not?
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
franzClammer, I think you're doing OK.
Of course it will take time n effort to attain the precision required for instructor skiing and as you get older, it becomes harder to make your body follow instructions ... so be patient young padowan and follow the advice of the jedis (or risk turning to the dark side).
The more you can feel and control what your skis are doing, the more subtle your inputs. A good skier can ski well regardless of kit (almost) ...
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
pam w, Yeh, it's definitely me, and not the fit, because as I say when I feel "in the zone" they perform fine.
Megamum, Good idea, I have me old boots in the car usually anyway. I do believe that the new boots being stiffer and more upright have just highlight /magnified a problem that ScoobySimon has hit upon.
I think that symptoms in skiing when examined can often cascade like dominos all the way back to something wrong with the fundametals/basics of one's technique. In this case my posture and use of my 3 joints appropriately. That's ok though because as or expertise improves we need to revisit these skills to polish & hone them.
For fear of labouring a point: I have a (bad) habit of overflexing at the knee & squatting. In order to remain over the pivot points of my (old) boots I've been overflexing my ankles, the boots were too soft for me, the stiffer boots wont allow me to overflex my ankles and by unconsciously trying (instead of the intended opening of the knee & skiing taller) I am levering my heel off of the footbed causing the irritation & swelling. Much like Megamum I like to try to understand the mechanics of what's appenin I can't say I bring to many issues to the table to be debated, I know I messed with the cuff angle (that I think I'll put back), but bootfitting was quite an outlay in time and denari, so I'd like it to have improved my skiing somewhat at least.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
ALQ, Thank you, wise words. Roll on winter, I do just want to ski for skiing sake. It has all gotten a bit techy. I've learnt all these steps n rhythms & now I just wanna dance.
I'm sure a lot of folk relate to this feeling come Sept-Oct.
As you say, despite being long in the tooth, I am still quite new to all this, and am yet to fall in tune with the cycle of things.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
ansta1 wrote:
franzClammer, that man speed098, he speakers the truth. Have some fun.
Indeed I can see the value of this advice. It obviously comes from true experience & that's priceless in my book.
Thanks Speed098
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
franzClammer, Exactly! You've learned a heck of a lot this season and it will come together once you get to the mountains. If you can get 2 consecutive weeks of solid skiing (1st week instruction, 2nd week caning the mountain) and practice the theory you know, I'm sure you'll improve beyond your own expectations - your 'lightbulb' moment awaits
Just be sure to cure that stem before you go!!!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
ALQ, Stem....what stem
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
franzClammer, when you say that
Quote:
I have a (bad) habit of overflexing at the knee & squatting. In order to remain over the pivot points of my (old) boots I've been overflexing my ankles, the boots were too soft for me, the stiffer boots wont allow me to overflex my ankles
It sounds a bit like you are blaming the boots on an over-flex of the ankles and that you are looking for the new boots to stop this. Maybe I am wrong, but surely it isn't correct to rely on your kit to cause or correct something that is happening for, what could be, a different reason? When I've skied with Inside Out skiing it has seemed as though if I have had a problem it has often been fixed by actually working on something that seems unrelated to the actual problem in the first place. i.e. working on something that isn't directly linked to the ankles, may by default, fix the ankles because you are then handling your entire body in a different way on the slope. i.e. your ankle problem may not be directly linked to your boots and chasing your boots and ankles may actually miss the problem that needs fixing.
Sorry, if that doesn't quite read correctly, but hopefully you will see what I am getting at.
NB. You know 'which stem! ' NNB. Less of the 'Long in the tooth', there is not so much between us and if I can get it I'm sure you can - at least you have the advantage of fitness over me.
I reckon if you stopped try to fix the minutiae and concentrated on fixing the big issues first that a lot of the little things would fix themselves along the way - at least that's what I've found. For example, I was helped to stop focussing on my stem and encouraged to 'fix'/work on a different issue and the stem fixed itself.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Mon 22-09-14 9:00; edited 2 times in total
What she says. I suspect the solution to 'overflexing at the knees and squatting' is rarely a move to stiffer boots as it's far more likely to be a skier related issue than equipment. Just think about it for a second, if you put a good skier in some softish boots do you think their balance will fall apart? I suspect not.
I also suspect that softer boots will make it easier to keep your balance more upright and forward rather than harder.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Quote:
Megamum, Good idea, I have me old boots in the car usually anyway. I do believe that the new boots being stiffer and more upright have just highlight /magnified a problem that ScoobySimon has hit upon.
If they are capable of doing that are the boots right for you at this stage in your skiing career? If you skied better/just as well in your old boots or if the new boots have created as many problems as they have soved, perhaps your skiing is not yet ready for fancy stiff boots and zipfit liners? New shiny boots are nice, but I agree with olderscot, a good skier should be able to ski quite OK in any kit shouldn't they? I would think if your fundamentals are still not honed that stiffer fancy boots might conceivably just make things harder for you. I reckon trying the old boots again wouldn't do any harm.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Mon 22-09-14 9:27; edited 1 time in total
Have you ever tried improving your balance using a balance board (e.g. BOSU) with your ski boots on?
I find balancing on a step and dropping the heels (without holding onto a banister but with slightly bent knees) is another good way to keep out of the back seat or help recover from dropping into the back seat. Similar to this http://www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Heel-Drop-Using-Stairs
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Maybe just trying to stand up a bit more?
FC has excellent range of movement available to him, but it should only be used in proportion to the forces that are generated by whatever turns you are doing at the time. This will cure the over-flexing. IMO it's nothing to do with kit, and everything to do with developed movement patterns.
After all it is free
After all it is free
rob@rar, Simples aye
Megamum, I really AINT blaming the boots!!...The boots are fine.....I stated clearly to begin with, when I'm good, theyre good.... .It's my technique at fault
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
rob@rar wrote:
IMO it's nothing to do with kit, and everything to do with developed movement patterns.
Maybe if the bindings were different (giving a different ramp/delta angle) it could be equipment related - but I assume this isn't the case.
Friends used to call me "Danish" (lean back) as I was often in the back seat. I realised that when I squated I would automatically put my weight on my heels. Doing controlled sqauts (with and without ski boots) on a BOSU helped both with strength and getting the right movement pattern ingrained.
Yes Franz appears to be going through the motions rather than reacting to the terrain and the forces created. There's a drill whereby the skier uses the ridge at the side of the piste to improve flexation and holding a quiet upper body - do people think this would be a good exercise for Franz?
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
franzClammer, your heel will move regardless of what boots you are in. Try pressing the bottom of your foot around the heel area, you will notice there is some give, you can squish that down with your hand and also stretch it a bit, could it be that you are "feeling" the natural movements of your heel and thinking it's lifting rather than "squishing".
I'd second the stop the analysis paralysis and chill out a bit