![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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Does anyone know if it's possible to get snowpark lessons, specialising in jumping? My 17 yo son is a very good skiier and spends a lot of time in the snowparks. We're going to the Dolomites at New Year and thought it would be a nice extra Christmas present to book him a lesson to give him some hints and tips. is this even a thing or is it more a case of just practising? Thanks!
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Most ski schools are happy to arrange this, I have done it a few times for one of my kids. I would contact the local ski school, I’m sure they will have options with a private session being the best.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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?
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@massistar, by ski jumping do you mean park or the proper big ramp ski jumping/ski flying/tele landing stuff?
Getting tuition in going bigger in parks is available most places where they have terrain parks. Once you're getting into the big feature territory, you're probably going to be looking at one-to-one though.
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Thanks both. In his head it's the big air stuff but realistically we're talking park. Good to know that local ski schools are happy to do it, will contact them for a one 2 one.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I think the snowpark at Ortisei / Val Gardena has a big airbag for jump practicing (although it looks like it's also used for kids on rubber rings).
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll need to Register first of course.
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You need to be clear when booking - what I think you're talking about is usually called freestyle skiing, aka 'park', which includes aerials as well as halfpipe, rails, boxes, switch, etc. etc. Yes, most ski schools should have at least one instructor able to teach this to a high level, although there are probably many others like myself who wouldn't have a clue.
I recall in Engelberg that the local sports centre had a trampoline with a foam box used in the summer for practicing aerial manoeuvres, but I don't recall if it was also there in the winter season. But you may be able to find this in the UK as well.
Ski Jumping, as a term, is a different discipline altogether and only possible in a few places where they have proper ramps, and even there you would not be able to get lessons through an ordinary ski school. But I'm pretty sure that's not what you mean.
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Yes, you are quite right Chaletbeauroc.. I'm not talking Eddie the Eagle stylee. I'm talking about "park" fun. What he really wants to do is a backflip. He can do this on a trampoline and into water comfortably and with a boost from a mate and wants to do it on skis. I won't be watching... Have been in touch with the Ski School in Canazei and they can offer private lessons so all good!
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If he just wants to learn a backflip, best way is to build your own jump with a steepish landing off-piste somewhere on a powder day. Learning to backflip in a park would be difficult, as the landings are generally rock hard and the jumps don't give you much kick, namely to do a backflip you have to go really big. Front flips are relatively easy in the park though.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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.
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@massistar, definitely don’t watch is my advice! I have made that mistake once too often.
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Side note if you fancy a summer detour, our village has a huge aerial training pool/ trampolining set up. Called Jumpin- its next to the ourdoor pool so you can watch the cool kids go crazy learning their new tricks in the off season. They also do lessons and kids club!!
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Tignes used to have a ramp with dryslope matting next to the lake.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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.
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@rjs, similar but Swiss, so it has a pool with jets that cushion the landing!
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I’ve always wondered how people learn to ski jump - it doesn’t seem the sort of thing you can “work your way upto” - a bit like doing a back-flip on a motorbike; you either go the whole hog or it gets messy
I was disappointed to discover that this thread isn’t going to help me
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You know it makes sense.
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@Red Leon, I'm fairly sure that nordic ski jumping is something you "work your way upto". Practice getting the body position in the air right with a coach to catch you, then use a really small hill to start doing jumps for real. I think there is a small training area to one side of the Courchevel competition jump.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@massistar, check your ski insurance. Park is excluded on a lot of policies from what I've seen.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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Quote: |
Park is excluded on a lot of policies from what I've seen
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No shit Sherlock....
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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rjs wrote: |
@Red Leon, I'm fairly sure that nordic ski jumping is something you "work your way upto". Practice getting the body position in the air right with a coach to catch you, then use a really small hill to start doing jumps for real. I think there is a small training area to one side of the Courchevel competition jump. |
Thanks. I just always assumed the “lift” generated by the aerodynamic position wouldn’t work at low speeds so that, with insufficient speed, you’d just fall off the end of the slope.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) 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?
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pam w wrote: |
Quote: |
Park is excluded on a lot of policies from what I've seen
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No shit Sherlock.... |
And yet many people happily do a run through the park without realising.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I wonder if the school could sell supplementary insurance for that.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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massistar wrote: |
Does anyone know if it's possible to get snowpark lessons, specialising in jumping? My 17 yo son is a very good skiier and spends a lot of time in the snowparks. We're going to the Dolomites at New Year and thought it would be a nice extra Christmas present to book him a lesson to give him some hints and tips. is this even a thing or is it more a case of just practising? Thanks! |
Really you can get this in pretty much any resort that has a park, but to learn to backflip safely you really want one that has a bag jump (airbag to land on) too. Even better, go somewhere like Laax that has a dedicated indoor trampoline and freestyle centre inc. indoor ramp and airbag + the massive outdoor park set up. I doubt there's anywhere in the world quite as well set up as Laax to offer the safest progression through all levels of learning freestyle.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Warren Smith used to run summer camps doing precisely this, in Saas Fee. The jumps were enourmous!
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Don't some of our indoor centres have bags? Lots of British freestylers have got very good with remarkably little time on snow.
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Thanks all for the advice! An airbag would be ideal but given that he's asked for a retractable shovel for Christmas then I guess he's looking at building some jumps and getting some soft snow to land on. We have managed to get him a lesson so hopefully they'll at least manage to get him not landing on his noggin.
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