 Poster: A snowHead
|
It's a shame some of you cannot see the video. It was uploaded from a Mac in Quicktime format, so not surprising that the Mac users here can see it . In theory it should work on any PC with the latest version of Quicktime installed. I'll upload it again tonight in another format eg windows media.
cathy, no, she has no idea! I thought I'd wait for the responses first  I've got loads of footage from Big White, which I'm in the process of editing down. I'll post it in another thread for you to see.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
uktrailmonster, unless you've used an obscure codec then the standard version of Quicktime for Windows should display your file without any problem. The lastest version can be downloaded here http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Just checked and it works fine on my pc at work, so the format must be ok. But I did have to click on refresh page to kick it into action.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Works OK on my PC. Good videoing by the way! What I can see is that her weaker, more wedged turn is to her right. She has quite a noticeable A-Frame on this turn where her knees stay close together but her feet stray apart. As all  WS devotees will be aware this is a very common problem. The way that Warren tries to cure this is to work on the braquage turn, as this encourages both legs and skis to remain parallel but in contact with the snow, and also to 'thigh steer', which essentially means to use the thigh muscles to rotate and drive the inside ski around early in the turn to keep both skis parallel and working together. This also has a tendency to keep the knees apart and develop an O-Frame rather than an A-Frame. Best advice I could give is to book on a WS course as I've seen loads of people start the week skiing like that but by the end skiing proper parallel turns
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Works for me too, but I've only had a quick look, as I'm at "work"
| BGA wrote: |
| What I can see is that her weaker, more wedged turn is to her right. She has quite a noticeable A-Frame on this turn where her knees stay close together but her feet stray apart. |
That to me would make me consider alignment - having someone (in a zoo, or in Bicester) take a look at her boots may help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hurtle, Probably the security or admin settings on your pc not allowing the Quicktime update. Perhaps try the link rob@rar posted and see if it allows you to download. I'll upload it again tonight in an alternative format. And no, she didn't have a choice!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hurtle, do you have the latest version of Quicktime installed? It's a free download.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
...another one that might be worth trying...
"Cowboy turns"/"leading with the inside knee" (also quite similar to Harb's "phantom move").
This may help solve the problem by approaching it differently.
There are a few ways to do this, but let's try the poleless one first...
1. Leave your poles behind.
2. Put your hands between YOUR knees, so that your left palm is pressed against your left knee, and your right palm is against your right knee.
3. From a traverse, to start a turn to the left, push your left knee with your left hand, so that it moves away from your right knee. Because you've pushed your knee out, the ski should now be slightly on its outside edge.
4. With your left knee out of the way, the right knee will "collapse" (bad word, I know, but it's the best I can think of for now) into the turn.
Looking from behind:
2.
|..|
|..|
3.
/..|
\..|
4.
/../
\..\
In this illustration, it's a turn to the left, so the right leg is the outside one.
The reason I think it might work is because when you move the knee in to the turn, you are taking the weight off that leg, so you can't pick up your outside ski to stem it outwards.
It's called a "cowboy turn" because to make it, you end up going bow-legged, as if you've been riding a horse too long. It's also called "leading with the inside knee", not because that knee is ahead, but because you are starting the turn with it - you lead with that knee, and the other one follows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BGA, many thanks for the observations. I'll certainly take a look at the WS techniques and courses.
Wear The Fox Hat, I was thinking about possible alignment issues, but I think it's primarily technique related in her case. I think most people would have a natural favoured turning direction regardless of alignment. However Bicester is very close to us, so it wouldn't do any harm at all to check her boots out. That's a good idea and may prevent other problems down the line.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
rob@rar, uktrailmonster,
- BINGO! Thanks very much. As I suspected, Mrs T does exactly what I know I do, including the problem being more pronounced on one side. Usually manage to cure it on a not-too-steep piste, by concentrating on forcing my knees apart - inevitably using thigh muscles to do that - but on steeper, unpisted runs, I revert, as rob@rar, does to full-blown stem turns! That's a head problem more than a technique problem, I guess! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Wear The Fox Hat, I like the cowboy turn idea. Think I'd better try it myself first though!
Hurtle, It sounds like the stem turn is still your unconscious method of turning (as it is with Mrs T). On steeper slopes Mrs T reverts to full blown stem turns too. It's a method she has practiced often enough to turn into an unconscious sequence of movements. Once you find that you don't need to consciously force your knees apart on the easier slopes, it should become natural on the steeper stuff too. I did have some success "curing" Mrs T on easier slopes later in the holiday (I'll post a video taken later on) but its still very much a conscious effort for her NOT to make stem turns. Interestingly, in the video posted I have not yet attempted to explain any of this, so she's skiing completely unconsciously ie. not attempting to do something different.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
uktrailmonster, Indeed. And when skiing becomes 'unconscious' it's a lot more fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Yoda, thanks for taking the trouble to analyse the video. Those are very useful observations, hopefully I can get some of these ideas across to her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Yoda, thanks from me too. I'm going to try and "get some of these ideas across to" myself! I'm almost certain that my problems are very similar to Mrs T's. They're probably quite common problems, aren't they?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Hurtle, well, I have the same problems myself!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Thanks uktrailmonster - can see it now!
Was trying to guess which run it was & I'm plumping for Whisky Jack? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cathy, Yeah, it's a good blast when there's fresh powder around and plenty of fun tree lines off to the right  A great place to go first thing in the morning after a decent snowfall. I agree it's an easy run, but the video totally flattens it. That first lead into the run is actually fairly steep, then it flattens out considerably, before dropping again into the main run, which as you say is easy CA blue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
uktrailmonster, you can get away with "banking" to a fair degree on soft snow because there is lots of grip to play with (although Mrs T's skis are not edging very much in that video anyway imho ) However because it's taking pressure off the outside ski and putting it more on the inside you will run into difficulties on harder/steeper surfaces. Much better to achieve edge by angulating ie upper and lower body separation - which allows you to control the pressure on the outside ski and lightens the inside ski so you can steer it - the inside ski does the "directing" in the turn and the outside ski "follows it" whilst carrying you round.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Fri 13-04-07 14:01; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
uktrailmonster, sadly, as soon as the "pucker factor" reaches "gibber" I also revert to a similar style.
I know I do it, I try not to, but it's a bug to shift.
The cowboy style is similar to the "O" frame preached by Warren Smith and essentially carries Yodas' message; you keep using the old outside/turning ski for too long because it feels safe.
I know I need the confidence to fully commit to the new turn asap, but knowing and doing are two different things. Does Mrs UKTM know she does this?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Yoda, she's only just starting to understand the concept of turning with ski edges As you pointed out earlier, her legs are still very static. Video is great for analysis and she could identify most of these issues herself after talking them through. I think understanding her own weaknesses will be a big help next time out. It's hard to improve when you don't really know what your problems are! Your advice has really confirmed what I was thinking too, no real surprises. The tips on here will give her something positive to work on next time we go to the snowdome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
uktrailmonster, for a 6 week skier she's doing well - many folk have unrealistic expectations I feel, especially since the introduction of "carving" skis. The "basic swing" is or was a part of the BASI central theme I believe and is a useful stage to build on. Maybe if she could focus on steering the tip of the inside ski away from the outside ski in order to get them to match, rather than "pulling" the heel of it across as she appears to be doing now, it might help things click into place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yoda, yes, I think she's doing fine too and the most important thing is that she loves skiing now
She's had plenty of professional teaching during her 6 weeks, which has given her a good start. 4 of her 6 weeks have been this season too, so she can't complain! She's just a little stuck on this plateau at the moment and wants to make progress. Especially since most of the people we ski with are very experienced.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
uktrailmonster,
1000 steps exercise actually involves diverging inside ski stepping from the edge of ski you are standing on ..... it is good exercise ....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
uktrailmonster, It's clear from the sequence of photos that Mrs UKT is leaning into the turn the whole way round it. therefore you need to get her weight on the ouside ski (I think I said something similar quite early in this thread). She should try airplane turns and swordsticks to help. she needs to feel how much more secure she is when she does actually commit to the turning ski. Her subconscious is clearly preventing her 100% committment. this is very common.
Airplane turns are arms held directly out from the shoulders and keeping the straight line in the arms banking to the outside of the turn. It's very important to hold the arms straight out from the shoulders and to keep them like that. It's hard on the deltoids, so don't go too long before resting with this one.
Swordsticks is when you hold your sticks like swords, you then raise up the inside one (slightly ahead of the shoulder), and drag the outside tip in the snow as far down the hill as you can reach.
Both these exercises are commonly done for this problem, and the problem itself is extremely common.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
easiski, thanks for the advice, they seem like good ideas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Living in the sticks and using low-speed dial-up, I have only looked at the first turn so far, but did anyone else notice the tip of the inside ski lifting? So we know that she is in the backseat and a little reluctant to move down the hill. I think WTFH is on the right track with 1000 steps. What he didn't mention is the orientation of the skis as she steps through the turns. They should always be in a V-shape from her view point. Tips farther apart than tails. It's best to start doing this exercise on a very flat trail. Otherwise the temptation will be too high to wedge. When she does do these turns she will notice one step is harder than all the rest. It's the step at transition where she needs to switch onto the new set of edges. Get that one right, and she will now be moving diagonally across her skis at transition.
Also, don't worry so much about the end resilt of "parallel". Work on strong movements right from the beginning. If done well, a wedge turn and a parallel turn are pretty much the same thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| little tiger wrote: |
uktrailmonster,
1000 steps exercise actually involves diverging inside ski stepping from the edge of ski you are standing on ..... it is good exercise .... |
epic - i think i said that....
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Can't hurt to say it two or even three times. That exericse is useless otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| epic wrote: |
| Can't hurt to say it two or even three times. That exericse is useless otherwise. |
true
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
epic, thanks for clarifying my point earlier. (oh and welcome here!)
Hope to see you in December!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| epic wrote: |
| Living in the sticks and using low-speed dial-up, I have only looked at the first turn so far, but did anyone else notice the tip of the inside ski lifting? So we know that she is in the backseat and a little reluctant to move down the hill. |
You've seen 1 turn, you've seen them all!!
Spot on, she does often lift the tip of the inside ski. That was one of the reasons I liked the idea of the "wedge blocker" in the first place, because it involves lifting the tail of the inside ski instead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
It would be really great if you could upload it in another form, thanks so much. 
)