Problems with a 'stem'

A snowHead

I posted a couple of vids of my skiing a few weeks back and received a lot of great advice, which I tried to put to use in my recent ski trip.

I'm happy to say it felt like a made some progress - however, of all the problems with my skiing (and there are plenty), it's my 'stem' that's really driving me nuts.

It seems to be mainly a problem going from a left to a right turn - but is constantly present, whatever the steepness of the slope and the snow conditions (probably becoming more exaggerated/obvious on the tougher slopes).

It's really starting to get frustrating ... especially as I really can't feel why it's happening.

I'm going to try to make it to MK Snowdome this weekend to practice, so anyone has any tips/suggestions that would be terrific.

[I think I have some vid of my most recent trip somewhere ... if I can find it I'll bung it on YouTube]

A snowHead

abj, can you explain it more?

Do you stem the uphill or downhill ski?

Where in the turn does this happen?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

little tiger, I'm a fairly inexperienced skier and find it very difficult to feel exactly what's going on (which no doubt why I'm having trouble fixing it) so here are couple of vids. They're not great quality - but hopefully give explain the problem better than I can!

http://uk.youtube.com/v/cK3RYuqL-SA&feature=channel_page (I'm the first one down)
&
http://uk.youtube.com/v/GRe0MWJBRls&feature=channel_page

Thanks in advance.

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abj, there's just a little stem in the first video, where you are skiing in a bit of powder on piste, but the second clip looks much cleaner although still a hint of the stem. Generally it looks very good for an inexperienced skier and I don't think you would need to do much to get your two skis working in sync when you start the new turn. A few suggestions:

1. In the first clip in particular you are a little bit back on your heels, especially when you start the turn. I think this exaggerates the little stem you have. Something to play with is to think of projecting your hips across your skis and down the hill when you start the turn. Project as far as you are brave enough to do (you'll know when you've gone too far, too quickly because you'll fall inside the turn).

2. Imagine you are starting the turn with your (new) inside knee. Get that leg working early (the reality is that it will probably happen at the same time as the outside leg, which is what you're aiming for).

3. In the second clip I think you can probably do with a bit of a wider stance. This will help when you ski a bit quicker and a bit steeper. A drill which I think it might be worth playing with is to ski without poles and as you start the turn place your inside hand on your inside knee and actively pull it towards the centre of your turn.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

abj, Pretty good for inexperienced...

Your upper body is not too bad.. not flailing much etc... Pretty tidy for a newbie...

Your stance is pretty good... but as rob@rar, says a bit back... Have a look at the angle your lower leg is at to the ski - ie the angle your ankle is making... Do you stand like this to receive for tennis? or goal keep at football? or etc etc... I'd bet you would bend that ankle more... It is tricky in a ski boot on a slippery surface - so you need to practise... A small change at your ankle will make a big change to where you feel your weight is...

Last time Graham N suggested you grab Fastman's DVDs... I'd second that... these really are perfect for you - they will tidy up all those little things that will make it easier for you... lateral balance(angulation), and particularly steering... your little stem is because you are struggling a bit to start that turn... working on your steering skills will help you a lot...

As one of my friends has just discovered once you have really good quality steered turns they flow just soooooo much better and it is all easier...

BTW hint for video... for movement analysis ski past the camera - then we can see you coming and going... also see if your photographer can manage a little zoom

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Oh I just realised nobody gave you the link to the site http://www.yourskicoach.com/YourSkiCoach/Your_Ski_Coach_Home.html

There are also a couple of pages in the online instruction bit on stance and steering... these include some dryland drills as well as on snow drills

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

abj, if that's inexperienced I think I'll change my signature!! I think it looks very good - I'd be pleased to do as well snowHead

After all it is free

Thanks rob@rar, little tiger.

I was definitely aware of being a a bit back on the first video ... with the fresh snow I felt like I had to be on heels to try and make the skis float a bit - which I guess wasn't the right way of going about things (?). I thought I was a bit better balanced on the second video, but sounds like there's a bit more work to be done there too.

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abj, nicely balanced, nicely committed to the turn.

You might call yourself inexperienced but you are clearly an athletic sort of person.

As I see it, the reason you still have a bit of stem is that the old outside ski is still holding onto the previous turn as you pop off of it and onto the new outside ski.

This is a pretty athletic move. If you see a ski review that makes much of 'rebound' of the ski, chances are the reviewer skis like you.

Eventually, I think you will attempt to extend that moment, hold the previous turn all the way to 6 o'clock (you are finishing at 4:45 now), go to neutral glide (no edges!) through 6 o'clock, then slowly extend into the new turn. You will get more rebound in the belly of the turn, right around fall line. You won't need to rock back onto your heels so much as you finish a turn to trigger what I call 'finish rebound'. And you'll be happier on ice, I think.

A good instructor can do all that with you in about three days, you are easily athletic and balanced enough methinks.

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Megamum, very kind (I'll pay you later wink

)

rob@rar, yep, thought as much. It wasn't a conscious decision, but sitting back on my heels just seemed my automatic reaction to being greeted with 8-inches of fresh snow.

snow reports

Thanks [/b]comprex[/b].

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

abj, I've never really got my head around Harb's phantom move, so npt sure how it works. For me it's just a mental trigger which helps overcome a tendency for a lazy inside leg. Most of the time being committed to the turn and getting a good projection of the hips forwards and across the skis makes sure that I make a clean change of edges with both skis at the same time, but sometimes I need to make more of a conscious effort to get my inside ski engaged on it's edge early in the turn.

A snowHead

abj, HH lift and tilts the -old- inside knee uphill just before he tilts the -old- outside knee downhill. Do not lift the -new- inside ski.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

rob@rar, wanna hand ski? Hands straight in front, palms down.

For an HH transition to the right the sequence is:

START with pressure on right thumb
Down pressure left pinky nail
Tilt right hand to pressure right pinky
Tilt left hand to pressure left thumb.

For an HH transition to the left the sequence is:

START with pressure on left thumb
Down pressure right pinky nail
Tilt left hand to pressure left pinky
Tilt right hand to pressure right thumb.

Rather involved and dorky to explain, but it does get the weight forward and pressure off the old downhill ski. Likely to be confusing to abj as it doesn't explain the -sensation- he will get if its done properly.

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comprex, thanks. I'm pleased nobody is in my study with me as I'm not sure they'd understand the little hand dance I've just been doing Laughing

OK, the HH transition seems to be the opposite of a stem caused by holding on to the old outside ski for too long. Does it mean that the inner ski transitions onto the new edge before the outside ski, or in reality do they make the transition at the same time?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

rob@rar, HH was on the Canadian technical team... at a time when they were known for their speed skiers... I don't think ripping long fast turns is his thing... you will notice he is mostly doing short turns when you see him...

I would guess this partly explains his addiction to the "toilet seat" transition(cross under)... it is faster so good in slalom

After all it is free

abj, May I thankyou for posting 'my terrible skiing' a while ago. Apart from the title not being true, you encouraged me to brave it and put my clips on. All the snowHead

Have been very helpful.

If I ski as well as you do in the not too distant future I would be exstatic. Like you I have had no tuition since my first week. Budget problems rather than lack of interest, consider myself lucky just to go skiing let alone the luxury of lessons!

The only comment I can add to this thread is that you seem to be very hard on yourself, try to see some more positive things about your skiing and maybe you will be less irritated and have more FUN. It was pointed out to me by Flyingstantoni that even I have some positive elements to my skiing, very kind but also very encouraging.

keep Smile

ing and dont get too Evil or Very Mad

youngeratheart, I think you'll find that everyone else pointed out the good bits - I merely summarised them wink

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abj, you really are very hard on yourself. Both of those videos look good.

Have a read at what I posted for youngeratheart over here because it also applies to you. Whilst you're not making Z shaped turns you are certainly turning asymmetrically. You have a distinct lack of body movement - which isn't going to be helping the skis.

Your body position and balance are are bit of a chicken and egg situation with regard to your turn shape. If you rush the front end of your turn then it's very difficult to be in balance. If you're not in balance then you'll probably end up in the back seat a little and stemming.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

youngeratheart, I'm glad my other post helped. To be honest I was hesitant (to say the least) to put video of myself up for public viewing - but I'm glad I did because I (like you) have received some really useful feedback.

To be honest the hardest bit was actually watching the videos myself for the first time!

As for being too hard on myself - you might be right. I guess it's a bit of frustration in hitting a plateau ... at the moment making any noticable improvements in my skiing seems like pulling teeth. But, believe it or not, I really do love my skiing - I just know that if I can improve my technique I'll love it even more Very Happy

FlyingStantoni, I'm definitely aware of my lack of body movement (this was picked up on in a previous thread). I'll also be more attentive to my fore/aft balance. In the first video I think it was partly down to the fresh snow (that's my excuse anyway!) - but I've got no excuse in the second one beacuse the piste was nicely groomed.

As I said, I'm probably going to brave the Milton Keynes snowdome this weekend. I'm not mad about the place, but hopefully I can work on some of the points made so far.

snow reports

comprex, yep, makes sense (now I think about it).

In the past people have commented that I don't have much 'up and down' movement in my skiing - so I have been trying to 'pop'-up between turns in order un-weight the skis - so maybe this is where this movement has come from?

You know it makes sense.

abj, maybe so.

I think, however, that the comments themselves were more related to your static body in between 2'o'clock and 5'o'clock and not so much meant to encourage a more vigorous exertion between 5'o'clock and the next 2.

Anyhow, you've plenty enough to think about without my further blather. I reckon you can handle what's here already; good job so far.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

abj, at the dome try skiing directly down the fall line briefly and then rotate both feet simulataneously quckly across the hill and skid to a stop. do this slowly at first and try to speed up once you can do with both feet on teh deck. these hockey stops will cure your stem quickly.

A snowHead

abj,

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I totally agree with posted above, its really quite good! Not much of things we don't want to see.

If you could manage to bend your ancles more, it'll get the balance centered over your skis better.

I think you'll indeed have to work on the un-weighting of the skis as you tried, but you'll need to do this from the centered stance (per above).
This up-down movement is supposed to be ancle-knee, and a decent excersize to get the feel of it is to get in your boots, stand against a wall with boots & bottoms and try (keeping upper body fixed!). That way you cannot throw yourself backwards. Another nice way is to try this together with someone who does it right & equal height on a t-bar Wink

The unweighted moment makes it easier to guide the skis in the new direction, making you less inclined to stem just that tiny bit.

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks for the comments/advice everyone. I'm going to have a play/practice and see what happens.

I shall let you know how I get on!

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After all it is free

Ronald, FlyingStantoni, Fair enough, just pointing out that emphasis on bobbing up and down to make the transition easier is not something you need to do with modern skis. I just happen to like the Warren Smith approach to this, with emphasis on keeping a more consistent mid/low stance throughout the turn. I'm talking about smooth carved turns on piste here, not short turns in tricky snow etc.

uktrailmonster, In carving I tend to agree with you. The Austrian teaching does like to see some fore-inward motion in the transition phase, less unweighting, but the OP is not exactly carving yet. (Though she'll likely get there quickly enough)

I haven't seen Warren Smit material to be honest, but from what I see on the website they are very much focused on a higher level skiing then the OP is currently at, and then slightly different techniques apply Smile

The skiing and the type of turn she is at (and I repeat she is doing very well), she will benefit from unweighting the skis (using legs, not upper body, like i seen an ESF instructor do Sad

!) to help initiate the new turn.

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dont forget the hip joint.... it is not just ankles and knees...

Help!!

Problems with a 'stem'

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