So there's nothing decent on the box tonight so I thought I'd let you have a laugh on me.
Now the quality of this is not brilliant (verges on pretty bad in places), esp as at the top dh was on full zoom - it gets a wee bit better as I get down, but this is me after 2-3 hours of private lessons.
Am I doing anything right/wrong or am I just a lost cause?
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Happy holidays to all. We're definitely going in Feb, I booked the ferry yesterday - hurray
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Wow,pretty fantastic for only three hours on ski's !! Turns fairly even, I'm not qualified to comment on ways to improve, I'd probably only confuse you by misdescribing what I mean so I'll leave that to others but personally I think the best advice I can give you is to go and get another three hours from the same instructor. Merry Christmas
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?
Yes, excellent! Was that a little rat on skis, or just an exceptionally small child!?
skisimon, magnetic children, they're everywhere on ski pistes
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Magnetic children I think - I pretty certain is at least one was my Swiss friend's little one - I think she is only 4.
Wow, I certainly didn't expect fantastic/excellent, you are most kind. I am expecting 'wooden', unflexible - doubtless due to my advanced age c/o (Whitegold) and lacking in confidence. Luckily on video you can't hear the cogs going round in my brain - its very concentration intensive too!!
Megamum, I thought your basic position was very good, and that you very exceedingly brave ignoring all those small missiles hurtling at you. You could work on dropping your hands a little (bit tense in the arm department), and moving towards a small plough in the turn, but for 3 hours tuition I think it's marvellous. Happy christmas.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Megamum, .......... fabulous ......
....... with more practice & more time on the snow ....... Megskieramum, ........
After all it is free
After all it is free
W.r.t. the small missiles, I do try to be aware of where they are and try to judge my speed such that I miss them, but sometimes the odd one catches me unawares! Can I assume that once you reach a degree of competency that you can do it without the constant concentration?
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.
Megamum, Very nice position for one so inexperienced. With such a nice stance you should progress really quickly. Big Thumbs up.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Megamum, I reckon you would have no problem taking that technique a bit steeper if you have the emotional attitude to go for it
As easiski says, maybe you could loosen up and relax a bit more - you're supposed to be enjoying this (but then you are being videoed, which probably didn't help). At least you're arms aren't in the "electricity pylon" position adopted by lots of beginners
Great stuff.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Megamum, it's a brave soul who puts a video up of thier skiing on and then asks for comments, well done.
I think it was great, like Frosty, say if I say anything it maybe wrong so I'll just keep it to one small comment of it's easier to turn if your moving abit faster, the momentum will pull you around.
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.
Megamum, Excellent skiing, just a small observation, you missed both of the small moving obstacles by quite a wide margin . If you were to tuck in a bit more, add a bit of speed and get your shoulders down and elbows out, you could probably have taken them both out for a game-winning 20 points
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
How many would I get for a snowboarder?.....
Thanks both for your thoughts. I reasoned that posting the video was probably the easiest way of explaining the level I was at in my skiing and henceforth why I'm still at the stage of asking what might seem to the more experienced as somewhat 'daft' questions.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Quote:
How many would I get for a snowboarder?.....
INCOMING !!!!!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Quote:
I'm still at the stage of asking what might seem to the more experienced as somewhat 'daft' questions.
If you're about to take your instructor's exams, the sort of 'expert' u need is someone who has done their instructor's exams whereas if you're about to go away on your first trip, the sort of 'expert' u need is someone who just came back from their first trip.
Fortunately we have expertise right across the range at snowHeads
So, you'd be daft not to ask the question
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Megamum
There is no such thing as a 'daft' question. If you need to ask a question, you obviously do not know the answer, so the question is not 'daft' to you ( hope that sounds ok)
I encourage my clients to ask as many questions as they like, and also question what i tell them, so they fully understand what we are trying to achieve.
Ask the questions and some will come back with an answer. ( This will then lead to a great debate as not everybody will agree)
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Megamum, Once you've practised and become experienced you'll find that the small missiles are much better able to hit you than they currently are! don't forget - if they're coming from above it's their job to avoid you, not the other way around! Even if they're small.
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?
Megamum, if you are going to hit something.. hit something small.
But be prepared for the fact that if a small child comes hurtling down a slope at 90 degrees to you, hits you and goes sprawling, (this is where all the slopes end and you catch the lifts), an ESF bitch from hell will shout at you in both French and English that it's all your fault. Even though you are poling at the time!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
easiski wrote:
Megamum, I thought your basic position was very good,
Yep. There are "advanced-intermediates" who aren't that well balanced.
Quote:
You could work on dropping your hands a little (bit tense in the arm department),
Is this the root cause or is it related to the slight shoulder roll and chin down (looking at close-in snow <- perfectly appropriate in this instance)
Quote:
and moving towards a small plough in the turn,
ah, this comes under "avoiding the braking snowplough", then?
Megamum, if you are going to hit something.. hit something small.
I don't really agree with this. I find it more comfortable hitting something well padded.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Hitting something tall, padded and Handsome would do for me!
Thanks for the comments on a balanced position. I wonder if years spent riding horses in childhood and adolescence has helped with an even balance - Riding involves a toes up heels down postion, toes just disappearing behind the knees as you look down at your legs from an upright position and hands held forward holding the reins doesn't seem to me to be that far removed from what I see discussed as being good skiing position here. Also, I know I have to get fit and I have a resistance rowing/leg push machine which works both sides of the body evenly and this must also help.
I think arms tense is a legitimate observation - I think they were - probably in common with the rest of the me (which I'm surprised doesn't show through). I really tried to listen to what I had been told and then to apply it, at the same time I was conquering a whole lot of fear tat week to even launch down the slope at all. The way I saw it I stood more chance of staying upright and getting down if I did things exactly as I been told. Technique first - bravado second. Also, I'm not content with just doing something - if I do something I generally try to do it well and I guess there is no point paying £21 per hour for private lessons if I ignore what I have been told to do.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Megamum wrote:
toes up heels down postion, toes just disappearing behind the knees as you look down at your legs from an upright position and hands held forward .
Should work pretty well for skating as well.
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.
Well I can skate reasonably OK as well!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
And here I was believing this novice business.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
comprex, Braking snowplough in fine in it's place, but it's place isn't in the middle of a turn!
Megamum, riding and skiing have a lot in common as you've observed, however the biggest difference is in the lower back. In riding you need to keep your lower back straight in order to drive the horse under you, but in skiing you want the lower back to be somewhat like a sack of potatos, or a rag doll. In every other respect the positions are very similar, and riding helps you not to rotate round the corner etc. (I used to ride a lot).
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.
easiski wrote:
comprex, Braking snowplough in fine in it's place, but it's place isn't in the middle of a turn!
I was merely wondering whether the comment was directed to
removing braking moves in turns or
making weight transfer easier.
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
comprex, Both, but in Megamum,'s case I just thought she overdid it. OTOH she's very new to skiing so doing brill.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
comprex, You're teasing me.
To qualify that statement - I skate OK, I am confident enough to hold small kids up and not let them drag me over, I can do cross overs going forwards and turn whilst proceeding forwards to go backwards, but can only manage backwards by making 'lemon' shaped movements with the skates I can also turn around again to go forwards. What I can't do (no matter how much I try) is one of those fancy hockey stops, I also don't think I am consciously aware of the edges of the skates - I just go along. From your comments I assume that skating is useful to skiing?
easiski, Yes, I do make a pigs ear of one of those turns don't I, I think the brakes unintentionally went on. Although it still takes a lot of concentration once or twice I almost got to the point where I realised that I almost haven't been thinking, then I realised this and started concentrating again and it all goes to pot
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Megamum wrote:
From your comments I assume that skating is useful to skiing?
For body awareness and front-to-back balance, yes, i.e. to achieve what you already mostly have.
Looking to it for more than that is probably more trouble than it's worth, for example I've noticed that skaters who haven't done lot of one-footed drills (in both sports) tend to weight the inside ski a bit too much and too soon, and to push the outside ski out instead of tipping it.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
easiski wrote:
Megamum, Once you've practised and become experienced you'll find that the small missiles are much better able to hit you than they currently are!
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Merry Christmas
(but then you are being videoed, which probably didn't help). At least you're arms aren't in the "electricity pylon" position adopted by lots of beginners 
. If you were to tuck in a bit more, add a bit of speed and get your shoulders down and elbows out, you could probably have taken them both out for a game-winning 20 points 
don't forget - if they're coming from above it's their job to avoid you, not the other way around! Even if they're small. 
