 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I have enjoyed reading this thread, some interesting points and some great videos posted! I Telemarked for the first time at the end of the season with Joe Beer for a BASI course. It took me a day or two to get used to the balance and the different style of skiing but then really started to love it. I found at first i fell forward over my tips because coming from a racing background i tend to lead with my hip and dive down the hill which gave me a few scary moments on the telemark skis.
I think telemarking is great for your alpine skiing and works well as a cross training exercise. The Alpine team spend a day or two early summer on the old style leather boots and skis, unfortunately i never had a chance to do this as i was recovering from knee operations.
here are two drills i found worked really well for me,
Teleworms A reverse funnel that starts as sliding in a straight line and slowly becomes wider and wider and develops through to basic tele turns with or without pole plant. I.E. 4 straight, 4 slight deviation, 4 slightly more etc, etc. great for lead change and can be used to isolate all the steering elements, i.e. only use edging to achieve change of direction.
Snurfing No lead change but changes of direction, great to use to isolate rotation, pressure and edging. Also good for muscle memory as not changing much but remember there is still movement to be had.
L1. Skidded direction changes with emphasis on trying to locate edges with ankles, knees and hips or full body tilt. Great to play with Braquage too and movements.
L2. On steeper terrain developing more steering skills, lead changing after 5 turns one way then the other. (Or any other odd number)
These exercise helped me to get to a stage where i could edge change before lead changing and also blend both of these skills. This really boosted the enjoyment factor and the performance i could get from the skis.
Both Jas and James also part of JJC recently passed their ISIA telemark qualification and i am now determined to get to their standard!
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 5-07-10 19:53; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Ronald, Was that your first visit to Cairngorm? Hope you had a good time in Scotland - you see it is possible to ski in the UK! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
As soon as I pass my BASI level 4 Technical I'll be joining you all in the "free the heel" possy!!!! Never done it but looks like great exercise and fun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Ronald, What I have noticed is that in my lessons a big split was recommended as in some cases on here. However we have 2 of the top ESF guys in France here and neither of them have much of a split. When running GS gates their knees stay very close. The graceful guys seem to have lots of inclination ....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
easiski, There are different styles; Bigger split, smaller split, lower stance, higher stance...
What I learned so far there is not a real "incorrect"... Tele seems to be much less formal then (especially Austrian) Alpine.
When your skills develop, I'm fairly sure you don't need/gain as much advantage from the stability of the longer split as much anymore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
When racing they have less of a split because it creates a more stable platform, racers tend to drive the outside ski in a similar way to alpine and use just enough pressure to control the inside ski. I know they have a few strict rules and they receive penalties if they are not deemed to be telemarking at a gate. I believe they just need to have a one boot length gap in their split so it’s possible to have almost alpine level knees. For freeskiing i really enjoy seeing the Norwegian style but this wouldn’t be practical for racing. I think it's good to be able to play around with all styles to increase versatility.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Ronald, Yes - it's confusing isn't it? It's challenging my natural tendency to want to do it 'right'! I don't find more stability with a bigger split though - rather the opposite.
jjc, yeah - I naturally want to drive the outside ski (far too many years alpine!). I find that the stability is greatly increased in the turn by pressing with the outside shin on the tongue of the boot. Not as much pressure as alpine, but still some. I am unable to make a very long split as it hurts my back, but am working on increasing it a bit. (I should explain that I am old!) 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
I think sometimes people confuse "long" with "low" when discussing stance - you can be both, but you can be just one or the other, and it does make a difference.
My own experience of the longer/shorter stance is that if you have too long a split, you cannot get enough weight on your back foot (it is out behind you, so you can't press down on it) and therefore it is unstable. However, if you are "low" but without too big a split front to back, and have plenty of weight on the back foot, then you are very stable in terms of fore-aft stability (although it is tiring on the legs and I prefer a higher stance).
Just my 2 penneth. 
BTW, any takers for joining those of us who tele on Sundays at Hemel Hemsptead (or this Saturday evening, for the Snowheads bash)?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I guess we don't want to get too hung up on one stance - need to continually make adjustments depending on type of skiing, conditions, terrain etc...
jjc said...
| Quote: |
| When racing they have less of a split because it creates a more stable platform |
....also 'cause it takes far less time between lead-changes in a short-stance: try doing a quick series of short-swings - you won't be getting a long stance here.
I generally try to stay short with my back foot under me, however on gnarlier, steeper terrain I find I do get into a much lower/longer stance as I guess it's much more stable on a wider platform with your C of G being lower too ..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
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.
|
easiski,
| Quote: |
I was also working on more inclination (sorry whoever thought I should have more angulation). this allows more weight and edge on the inside ski and generally 'feels' better.
|
But there is no real need for inclination on teles unless traveling at very very high speeds. A combination of angulation and rotary separation provides enough pressure to drive the ski through the turn. I don't see how you can work the skis more by inclining?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
BritishTelemark, Interesting, and thank you for your input. I should explain that I've spent 55 years skiing on the outside ski, so it's no problem to do that, but even on alpines when I get pressure on the inside ski it feels to me as though I'm leaning in. If the snow comes back I'll go up again and try to get someone to video me. Also, the most graceful telemarker I've seen lately was a french ESF instructor from a little place near Grenoble. He inclined a lot (it's a french thing isn't it?)
I suspect I wasn't inclining as much as I felt I was (is one ever?) but I'll take what you say on board for next time, but I will never go to the 'old school' separation that you and Ronald seem to manage!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quote by a BASI trainer, always sticks in my mind:
There is no right or wrong, only differences
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
- shows I favour the monomark exercise 
When I am in the UK I think it would be hard to go to Hemel for an evening - too far from Bath, but maybe a day?? We'll see what happens in the autumn. 