 Poster: A snowHead
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When I was a boarder the worse possible case scenario for me would be a fast, narrow section of piste requiring me to go fast and to go straight. Any boarder will testify that also coincided with the distinct possibility of catching an edge and slamming ones bod down. It usually occurs quickly and without rhyme or reason and really hurts with the added potential for injury. This would invariably occur at least once every few days and I sustained various bumps and bruises as a consequence (the best being a faceplant on a closed black run on a white out day in Tignes when I face planted on a mogul and got a nasty cut and black eye). I was lucky that was the worst.
Now I am a sensible, mature skier with less inclination for anythng remotely black, whited out etc I have certain hangover problems which are very difficult to shift. One of them (which a lot of never-boarded skiers have anyway) is an inclination to leaning up the hill rather than down the fall line. I am working on that one, and will raise that another day.
The problem that really spooks me is going real fast and real straight on skis. I am happy going fast to a point but a little voice always ends up tellig me to do a couple of speed killing turns so i dont catch an edge and bust myself in half.
Is it possible to catch an edge like this on ski's?
What do I do to overcome this?
I am tired of really crap skiers zooming passed me just because they don't have the terrible scars of being a former boarder.....and don't know how to turn (Kramer ;-) )
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
I have certain hangover problems
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Don't we all...
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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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martski, 
Bacon butties don't help...I've tried
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Get to a flying K run and do it on hired long skis.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Peter Leuzzi, maybe practice on a wide steep slope with a good run out. Start straight-lining slightly higher up each time as you gain confidence.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Peter Leuzzi, well put. Your words make me shiver with my own memories (board and ski) but can I suggest the following, which has worked for me this year.
Forget all your better mates saying ski the fall line and just put in steady regular turns. As this becomes more comfortable (i.e. you feel less like you're going to get slammed on an outside edge), begin entering the next turn before you exit the last, chest always facing forward.
This causes your skis or board to stay pointing down the slope and the constant turning keeps lateral pressure on your edges, so maintaining a braking effect and stopping you hairing out of control!
Eventually, this becomes the flicky turning on piste or bouncy turns off piste that you jealously watch the good guys doing.
I guess I am at the incompetent but aware stage and a bit gutted because my skiing is finished until next season!
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Scarpa, 
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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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Peter Leuzzi, Scarpais referring to the flying kilometre downhill done by the speed skiers. I believe the record stands at a bit short of 150mph  These guys use 240cm long skis, special aerodynamic helmets and polyurethane coated suits again for aerodyamics. Their suits have to have thermal insulation in them 'coz of the heat build up and possibility of skin buns if they take a fall at those kind of speeds. Oh,and the slope is about a 45 degree downhill - seriously steep.
Anyone got a video clipof these Flying K loonies?
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What about those annoying (generally French) kids that sit back on their haunches and flat line. Oh for a barbed trip wire....
sproggski, are you boarder cum skier or vice versa/ How many weeks of each have you done. Hoping for a kindred spirit 
abc, I hear what you are saying but why is it that some people seem to easily and speedily tuck without obvious edge usage?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Peter Leuzzi, At les arcs you can do the first half (bottom hehehe) of the 150+mph (240+kph) Flying Kilometre. Most people reach 100kph, quite a few 150kph.
Failing that - as said above - find a steepish slope and bomb down the bottom 200m of it with a long flat section beneath. As you get more confident at tucking down you find that you can still turn using edges. It's great fun... honest. I recently did this off piste and hit a load of powder though... my mate said that all he saw was a giant moving cloud of snow with the odd ski flying through the air 
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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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Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Tue 6-03-07 23:10; edited 3 times in total
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You know it makes sense.
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Those two vids were shot in Les Arcs last April just prior to the EOSB.
You have to let them run through once before the sound comes into synch - the last one is hilarious
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Tue 6-03-07 23:11; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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251.40kph in 2006.
I also remember watching the one legged bloke doing it - amazing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Best way to avoid catching an edge on skis is to keep on your edges. Whenever I run on a flat schuss I'll always be skiing from one edge to the other, never keeping the skis totally flat as that does run the danger of suddenly catching an edge and veering off.
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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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Scarpa, martski, don't you want me to sleep tonight?
I reckon Philippe looked apprehensive 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Peter Leuzzi, I have come a cropper going fast on flat slopes and not paying attention; but when you are tucking in and keeping your weight forwards the worst that happens is your skis wallowing about a bit - disconcerting but it should not make you crash. The time people fall over is when they attempt to slow whilst still on the steep part of the slope... if you have confidence and hold out then you will be ok. Start small and build up slowly.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Peter Leuzzi, from my first week of skiing until now (week 5) although it can be scary going fast in a straight line I've never caught an edge or fallen. The only time I did fall was when I straight lined it to catch up with my mate, and then decided I needed to slow down so tried to do a gentle turn to scrub off some speed, but instead flew down the piste head first! But I am coming round to the idea that you don't learn much from going fast in a straight line and that continual gentle turns from one edge to the other is a better idea.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| Best way to avoid catching an edge on skis is to keep on your edges. Whenever I run on a flat schuss I'll always be skiing from one edge to the other, never keeping the skis totally flat as that does run the danger of suddenly catching an edge and veering off. |
Yup same for me. Dont worry Peter as you are not alone in your fear.
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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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zebedee, With you there - turns are where the fun is. I remember on my 3rd day sking, went up to some top in Sunshine village and halfway down myself and my mate just went hell for leather in a straight line towards the lower lifts. On the crappy straight skis we had some bad chatter but we were too scared/didn't know how to turn hehehe
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Frosty the Snowman, I think we all share that. The best way to overcome your fear is to have a mate point a video camera at you. I've found it stops me from staying put and gibbering
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
abc, I hear what you are saying but why is it that some people seem to easily and speedily tuck without obvious edge usage?
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I see what you mean now.
I've never caught an edge when I'm actually paying attention . Every time it happened it's because I was distracted by scenery or just casually fooling around. So my guess is if you're properly balanced on your two planks, you might get jerk a bit side ways but shouldn't get body slammed.
When you're in a tuck, you have a shorter distance to the ground.
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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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It also seems to occur (but looking at scenery is a fav of mine too) when you are not pressuring the front of your boots; if you are at all on the backs of the skis then even a slight knock seems to throw you rapidly out of kilter. At least that is what it feels like to me.
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One thing I learned from my instructor last year was that in a tuck postion to have your elbows forward of your knees, not resting on them on them as I used to do. This helps keep your weight forward.
Also, have your poles horizontal, not stuck in your armpits pointing up in the air. I'm not sure what effect that has but you probably look a little bit more like you know what you're doing.
Scarpa, that advise is not directed at you, as I'm sure you don't need it
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You know it makes sense.
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| zebedee wrote: |
One thing I learned from my instructor last year was that in a tuck postion to have your elbows forward of your knees, not resting on them on them as I used to do. This helps keep your weight forward.
Also, have your poles horizontal, not stuck in your armpits pointing up in the air. I'm not sure what effect that has but you probably look a little bit more like you know what you're doing.
Scarpa, that advise is not directed at you, as I'm sure you don't need it |
1) I need all the advice I can get.
2) If your poles are pointing upwards you a) look like a dodgem car... and b) it's more aerodynamic to lower them.
3) If you see anyone passing by with their poles in the airborne position then deftly hook a pair of Nora Batty style bloomers onto one of them.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Thu 8-03-07 1:10; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| zebedee wrote: |
| Also, have your poles horizontal, not stuck in your armpits pointing up in the air. I'm not sure what effect that has but you probably look a little bit more like you know what you're doing. |
You see a lot of "Earth calling Mars" tuckers. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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What skis are you on?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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One could reasonably ask what a bunch of recreational weekend skiers are doing in a 'tuck position'. Apart from posing a danger to everyone else on the piste.
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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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laundryman, I call them TV sets "receiving channel 5"!
Peter Leuzzi, It is possible to catch an edge on skis, but it's relatively unusual. The most important thing on fast narrow paths is to push your shins well forward into the tongues of your boots. This keeps the shovels of the skis well loaded and thus more secure.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Ghost wrote: |
| What skis are you on? |
I suspect you're thinking the same thing I'm thinking: get him on something longer & more stable on a shallow-set edge, some nice Stormriders perhaps.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Lizzard wrote: |
| One could reasonably ask what a bunch of recreational weekend skiers are doing in a 'tuck position'. Apart from posing a danger to everyone else on the piste. |
Quite often looking down the last steep bit towards 500m of damn flat snow with someone desperately poling at the end of it.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Scarpa, you'll get more speed and better control from staying on your edges than you will from stuffing your head between your knees and hoping for the best.
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Lizzard, good point and noted. But I'm with Scarpa, in that its not about how fast I can go but about whats coming up.
easiski, thanks for that. Will concentrate on that over Easter.
In terms of skis - I am 178cm in height (5'10-11" ish) and weigh just over 90kgs (14 stone 2 or 3) and was quite happy on 165's after a particulalrly bad weekend on 170's last season. I recently went on to 160's for a weekend at the advice of my companions on the basis of not worrying about speed too much but getting my turning right.
What do you think?
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Lizzard, when schussing to avoid a walk? Shirley not  Velocity difference for standing vs. tuck is very noticeable ne c'est pas?
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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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| Lizzard wrote: |
| Yoda, so is the increased likelihood of a) hitting someone and b) looking ridiculous. The sight of porky middle-aged Dads whizzing blindly down slopes with bums in the air and love-handles bulging is thoroughly wince-worthy. |
Complete rubbish! I enjoy going quick when the piste is clear of dangers to myself or others, and getting down into a good tuck and putting in some nice carved turns is one of the great on-piste moments for me. As Yoda wisely pointed out, there is a huge difference in speed and acceleration when you cut your wind resistance, so why not enjoy tucking when the conditions allow?
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FAQ
If only I could do it on powder without the six million dollar man impressions 
