 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey all,
I had felt I was learning pretty quickly, but although I ski parallel on reds happily enough, I'm told that I tend to lean forward and use my upper body to muscle the skis around, ie instead of my body facing down the slope all the time my body moves with my skis.
Is anybody able to describe how to overcome this or what exactly I should be doing?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I think lessons with a good instructor would probably be the best advice. It's really not as simple as "body facing down the slope all the time".
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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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ski more, read more, drink more, dance
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Andythejock, you sound exactly like someone I ski with. He's fast and fearless and tackles red and black runs with relative ease. But his style (or lack of it) is something else! His whole body turns when he does and his downhill leg is always straight and rigid. We were trying to offer him some guidance, to no avail, but since none of us are instructors that's hardly surprising.
There are lots of instructors here who will be able to advise you but I would think actually taking lessons and then practising what you are being taught will be the only way to eradicate bad habits.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 1-04-10 21:57; edited 1 time in total
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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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Search on this forum under 'counter', there is a lot of really good material that you don't want to miss, and that would be very difficult to rewrite from scratch.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Is anybody able to describe how to overcome this or what exactly I should be doing?
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take some good lessons - loads of instructors recommendable by Snowheads, or who are Snowheads. Your body is not really supposed to be "facing down the slope all the time" so if you are aiming at that (except in some specific circumstances) you probably have the wrong sort of picture in your head.
Some excellent tuition (and, so they keep telling us, snow  ) available in the Caingorms.
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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| But his style (or lack of it) is something else |
tyle really shouldn't come in to it. It is skiing effectiveness that is important, not stylistic movements that people may or may not make.
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If you don't want to take lessons for some reason, you could do worse than invest in some of Rick Schnellman's DVDs. see http://www.yourskicoach.com/YourSkiCoach/Your_Ski_Coach_Home.html
they are really excellent for working on your own, with lots of step by step exercises. But you do need to begin at the beginning and work our way through them, as one stage builds upon the last.
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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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rob@rar, agreed but I'm not convinced the stiff wooden style is all that effective either. Maybe I chose the wrong word, it's not just a lack of style, he's a bit erratic too. But of course, he thinks he's amazing bless him! 
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queen bodecia, sounds like he has bad technique rather than a lack of style.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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queen bodecia, never too late to learn good habits. I'm living proof...
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There are a lot of things you can do but it helps to have a good lesson (or several) as its easy to think you are doing it right when your not. I found video analysis very useful for this as I really didnt believe how bad it was until i saw for myself. 
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You know it makes sense.
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RPF, hey Ross, just been talking about you (ask CSki). Have a good day tomorrow.
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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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Hi all - quite a response!
Yes, bad technique!(yes, bodecia, I'm probably like your pal in terms of chucking myself down hills, although I know my technique's not great!) My experienced pal taught me snowplough and I had a couple of lessons at Hillend then one at Cairngorm a couple of months ago with a delightful older chap called Mike, which got me to parallel.
So, if you're not simply supposed to have your body pointing down the hill all the time, what are you supposed to do? I was told this at hillend by a another pal who is an instructor (not working at the time). Also, anybody spotted any free videos on line? Another friend has suggested videoing me, which sounds like a plan.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Andythejock wrote: |
| So, if you're not simply supposed to have your body pointing down the hill all the time, what are you supposed to do? I was told this at hillend by a another pal who is an instructor |
It varies depending on the size and shape turn you are making. Your mate was either simplifying the concept past the point of being correct or didn't know what he was talking about.
Video is a good idea so at least you have a reasonably idea of what you are actually doing. Not sure about online resources but that's always going to be a poor second best to having a good instructor working with you.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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your mate might have started skiing - like I did - many years ago in Austria when that very exaggerated "face ze walley" position was taught. Various ski instructors more recently have worked hard to try to stop me doing that over-countered sort of style.
Also - not to be rude - but some dry slope instructors only have fairly lowly levels of qualification. I've been fortunate in recent years to have lessons with some extremely good ones - including rob@rar who has given you advice above - but it does take ages to eradicate bad habits picked up over the years. Much better not to pick them up in the first place!
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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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Hey Rob, Pam, horizon, queenie, easyski - thanks for all the responses. Much appeciated.
Will have a look at the videos and get lessons - unfortunately they'll be on the dry slope as I don't see myself getting the chance to ski oop north this year again unless there's still snow late April!
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Andythejock, well all the Snowheads who know about Cairngorm seem to think there'll be snow up there intoMay, so you never know! If you get the chance, ask on here about a good instructor to use.
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cheers Pam.
Studying till April 20th exam (economics and accounts -dull!). I do know of a good intructor - Mike. don't know if you can select one if you're in a class?
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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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rob@rar,  extreme braquage required.
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RPF, I have just the drill for you!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rob@rar, Can I have it now or do I have to wait until May? 
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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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think turning with your lower body (ie turning hip in socket) rather than worrying about where your upper body is facing. You're worrying about the tactic, not the outcome right now - but yeah, take a lesson.
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Yup, another pal of mine, skiing for 20 yrs, said I should be moving my knees n hips more as I turn.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
unless there's still snow late April!
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My guess is that you will be back skiing at the end of April 
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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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| RPF wrote: |
| rob@rar, Can I have it now or do I have to wait until May? |
Picture frame drill, or ski without poles and spot something down the hill/other side of the valley and point at it as if you were holding a pistol with two hands. Make turns of different size radius while keeping the picture frame steady/pointing 'the gun' at your fixed point. It will force you to use more separation and to keep upper body stable. Do this until you can picture frame/point the gun with great precision regardless of the turn shape you are making. You'll then have a much greater range of separation movement and will have much better control of how you use that movement.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Where should the poles be as you turn using the picture frame drill?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The poles form the sides of the picture frame. You hold this "frame" facing downhill.
There are more drills to try and stabilise the upper body, hard to explain in words, only 2 seconds visibly
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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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Put you arms out straight with your ski poles resting on the back of wrists, the centre of poles should face down the hill 95% of the time
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Andythejock, You should stop listening to your friends who've been skiing for a while. they are not trained, are probably regurgitating techniques they misunderstood 20 years ago and which are not longer relevant. A number of snowheads are proposing to go to Cairngorm on May bank holiday weekend (assuming snow), there's a thread on the Snow Events forum about it. At least one is a snowhead who regularly teaches up there and is certainly up to date. Pity you didn't get Mike's surname. You are trying to run before you can walk I think.
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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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I must say that the last couple of times I've skiied I've been tempted by "the need for speed" and taking on the next slope I haven't yet done - it's fun skiing with friends even if they can get down the slope in half the time!
Will certainly get lessons when I can. Shame we are coming to the end of the season. Any reason why this sort of thing couldn't be resolved at Hillend? Otherwise it will be on my first ski holiday abroad France next yr, at least a dozen of us, 3 very experienced skiiers and the rest more like me. Is instruction on the resorts in the French Alps pretty reliable?
Mike at Cairngorm was late 50's, I'm sure Cairngorm Ski School could trace him as you say. However don't know whether you can choose an instructor unless you pay for individual lessons? Looks a bit like they decide who does what about 5 mins before they get on the tow!
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| Andythejock wrote: |
| Any reason why this sort of thing couldn't be resolved at Hillend? |
No, with a decent instructor you can learn fundamental skills to a high level on plastic/indoor slopes.
| Andythejock wrote: |
| Is instruction on the resorts in the French Alps pretty reliable? |
You can get good or bad instructors in any large ski school. Taking group lessons can be luck of the draw, but you can improve your chances of getting a good instructor by choosing a ski school with a strong reputation. When you know what resort you plan to visit next season post here and ask for recommendations.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 5-04-10 15:22; edited 1 time in total
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Cheers Rob.
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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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Andythejock, If you are twisting your upper body (hips or shoulders or both) you are transferring your body weight on the ski into the turn. That's the main problem. Then it's impossible to keep balance on your downhill ski, impossible to carve, very hard to ski off piste and moguls.
Ski again on gentle slopes, be concentrate on your feet pivoting, put your hands on your outside hip before starting to turn, lots of drills could help you.
The most important is drive my skis with my feet and only with your feet. Best wishes
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| snowarea wrote: |
Andythejock, If you are twisting your upper body (hips or shoulders or both) you are transferring your body weight on the ski into the turn. That's the main problem. Then it's impossible to keep balance on your downhill ski, impossible to carve, very hard to ski off piste and moguls.
Ski again on gentle slopes, be concentrate on your feet pivoting, put your hands on your outside hip before starting to turn, lots of drills could help you.
The most important is drive my skis with my feet and only with your feet. Best wishes |
Merci mon ami!
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