 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
GrahamN,
just a supid idea, but what height are you and what size of pole do you use, ie I am 5'10 and now use a 130cm pole, used to use 125, but it was suggested by a mate (basi trainer) that a short pole on steep terrain can, when you go to pole plant cause your shoulder to drop and your upper body to rotate, seems to work for me,
not sure if this will help with the overall position but it may keep you looking good on the steep stuff
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
CEM, interesting idea. I'm a shade under 6' and use 125cm poles, which are about right for me on the usual "hold an upended pole under the basket" test. I may well try that some time, although I suspect that's not the real answer - as I've noticed I also tend to drag the left pole tip along the snow when I'm not paying attention.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
GrahamN,
| Quote: |
interesting idea. I'm a shade under 6' and use 125cm poles, which are about right for me on the usual "hold an upended pole under the basket" test.
|
same with me but the 130 works so much better when on the hill, go on rent a pair for a day
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
GrahamN, 'ANTI-SHOULDER DROPPER' Yet to be patented, but a 'Mercury' switch, wrist attachment type device, wired in conjunction with controller worn upon the body,which upon detecting a lowering of the designated arm, delivers an electric shock of varying & increasing intensity to the aforementioned body, thus killing, or curing the shoulder-dropping miscreant. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Bernard Condon,
| Quote: |
'ANTI-SHOULDER DROPPER' Yet to be patented, but a 'Mercury' switch, wrist attachment type device, wired in conjunction with controller worn upon the body,which upon detecting a lowering of the designated arm, delivers an electric shock of varying & increasing intensity to the aforementioned body,
|
And the delivery mechanism is attached where exactly, for best effect 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bernard Condon, sounds just what I need. I take it you're selling them on a "buy two, get the third free" deal! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GrahamN, Very good exercise is to ski with your poles lying over the top of your wrists. If you drop hand/shoulder/whatever, you drop the pole and have to hike back for it - works better on snow than plastic though. Can be used in conjunction with the "tray" exercise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
snowbunny, If it is a particularily serious case of 'Shoulder Dropping', then great sacrifices need to be made when deciding the optimum attachment location..........
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
easiski, yep, was doing that a lot of last week (including GSy type stuff through the lumpy stuff at the top of the Epaule de Charvet - the bottom section was pretty much unskiable) - didn't drop them once, although did have to bank them into the wind a few times to stop them blowing off. I also added it to my Aldershot exercise repertoire on Weds. It seems as if I'm fine in most cases - except when I'm holding them properly 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
GrahamN, Start bell ringing left handed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GrahamN, You could alsways pick up a third pole and put that across your wrists while holding your poles normally - that should help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Do everything left-handed... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
GrahamN,
You said it.....face more downhill rather than the traverse position, or maybe link the turns a bit quicker to stop the comfort zone and hence the arm drop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
GrahamN
Your problem isn't as uncommon as you might think and it is nothing to do with bell ringing etc. Many skiers turn better one way than another and it is to do with which way they are "handed". In addition, it tends to be a problem with the whole turn, not just the hands, shoulders etc.
However, don't despair. There is a cure. Firstly, it might sound obvious, but you are aiming to do exactly the same thing turning either way, except mirrored. The reason I say this is because I am going to first describe a turn to the right, because the image I want to describe works best that way.
The turn is initiated through 2 actions, the pole plant and a weight transfer. Although not part of the topic of the thread, it is worth noting I say "transfer" rather than "weighting and unweighting" (more in a second!).
Start by planting the pole. This is done with your elbow still bent and almost only by a flick of the wrist (oh, er misses!) The turn is initiated by pushing your hand down the fall line (and weight transfer described below). The image you you want is that you are changing gear from second to third. What happens is that your arm straightens and is pushed oput over the tip of the pole. In this way your arm cannot get left behind.
Now the clever bit! This gets your weight headingdown the fall line. If at the same time as you "change gear" you transfer your weight onto the old uphill ski (and soon to be downhill ski) your trn carves nicely and your body is in a great position. Now, when I say weight transfer forget the "stand up on the ski" idea. You want to maintain the knee bend and softness so as to absorb bumps. Instead, think about pushing down through the instep of your foot. Don't worry about conciously changing the angle of the ski to get onto the new edge. Your new pole plant has looked after that. By "changing gear", you have alreadyy flattened out the skis and moved onto the new edge.
Now, because you arm has been pushed forward and straightened, with the pole tip now behind you, your arm will stay there and as soon as you have completed your turn, your new downhill arm should be ready to plant!
To repeat, the key image is the "gear change". On the left turn it is second to third, on a left hand turn it is third to first (don't try it in your car!!). This really does work. Practice it standing in your living room and notice how the gear change "pulls" you onto the new edge.
I hope this helps.
(with acknowledgement to the late, great Giles Green)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SimonN, thaks for that. I'm afraid to confess though I completely forgot all about it when I was out a few weeks ago. I do try to do pretty much what you suggest, although the gear change that happens with my left hand is normally 4th to 1st (which is what I think you meant), followed by a quick shift up into 2nd as I go round the corner - which causes the rotation. I'll try and remember it when I'm out again next week.
It'll probably give the purists heart failure, but I did find a solution, although I hope it's only a temporary one - double pole planting! This stopped all rotation, kept the body flowing nicely down the hill and and kept the miscreant arm/shoulder pretty much where it should be most of the time. No good for any attempts at zipper-line stuff, but works well on pitches with a moderate rhythm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GrahamN, the other thing to do is free weight arm/shoulder exerices in front of a mirror. Stare hard at your reflection and force your body to hold as perfect symmetrical form on each side during each movement. This will teach you to know how your body feels when it IS in balance, and to recognise the feeling when it's not.
NB when you start using good form in your arms & shoulders & chest, you'll probably also find other supporting muscles (especially the core) working more heavily on one side or t'other, to re-stabilise the previously out-of-kilter upper muscles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Manda, he's in La Grave this week!!! It sound like good advice to me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
!
! Particularly as I normally have a third pole in my ski-bag....I used to go through poles rather frequently 
. The only problem is what to do with it when I'm done with the exercise and doing something that requires full concentration just to get down it. Maybe I need to invest in a telescopic pole just for this exercise. I suppose I could use my ice-axe, but that's incredibly heavy! Ah...I've got it; at long last, a use for my avalanche probe 
, then,may I suggest.....Find yourself a spacious red run for a whole morning, leave your poles someplace safe....take off your gloves, place them on the backs of your hands....go skiing. It works, the learning curve is steep 
!
