Hi guys, just wondering if any of you are acclaimed, or even not, dry slope racers. Or have any experience. I have just taken it up, something to do before the season starts, and am finding it a very...weird experience. I'm cheating quite a lot, as you can't edge so much I am doing rapid edge changes incorporating a little hop/jump. It's not proper, but I have no idea if there is a specific technique for it.
Any pointers?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I used to do a lot of dry slope racing when I was at Uni and although the on snow is a lot faster it's basically the same. Just pay a lot of attention to your trainer as getting all the little techniques and movements right make it so much easier, but if you keep at it you will find your skiing hugely improved when you get back on snow.
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?
northy014, Over the time at various races I have seen some of the top times been set by guys that sit on their tales and kick gates out of the way
Even if you look at the WC slalom racing depending on the gate set you will see racers jumps from edge to edge to get around gates.
To truly succeed you must master the art of stamping. You will know you are there when you start loosing buckles from your boots.
ski wrote:
But I don't think you could describe it as
Quote:
cheating
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Fattes13 wrote:
northy014, Over the time at various races I have seen some of the top times been set by guys that sit on their tales and kick gates out of the way
Even if you look at the WC slalom racing depending on the gate set you will see racers jumps from edge to edge to get around gates.
A number of gates are set deliberately too close to carve around with regulation skis hence racers pivoting their skis before engaging them in a carve. On a dry slope due to the short length I imagine the courses are set very tightly too.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Tue 26-10-10 20:42; edited 1 time in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
Dryslope is great for the basics; balance, timing, body position and general muscle memory etc... thought here are some big differences, just treat it as a seperate sport that has a lot of similarities.
Snow racing requires a lot more power especially on the outside ski and pulling your weight forward, dryslope tends far more toward reactions and agility (obviously also present in snow racing) as well as having weight more on both skis as you are constantly fighting for grip and unlike ice you can't get that from minimising edging area.
unless you have a snowdome nearby and a spare few thousand to invest its the best we have and it will improve your skiing greatly.
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.
Slalom racing on the most extreme dryslope in the UK, Hillend Edinburgh. From the top it's called the wall , i.e you cant see the first pitch below you, its too steep. Lots of styles on show , worth looking from around 6:00 minutes , get an idea of all styles , at 8:25 is a great example of jumping gate to gate . you get an idea of speed from the crash at 7:05.
Some great skiers on show , including some current and past skiers who have represented GB at Children and Junior
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
dulcamara wrote:
unless you have a snowdome nearby and a spare few thousand to invest its the best we have
P.S. I mostly train on dry BUT I know which is BETTER!!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
roga, Your second link down , I was part of the course crew for the Hiton Race at Cairngorm and even this video does not show how good Cairngorm was that day. It was a treat to ski a full length pisted White Lady, we had it to ourselves for about an hour as we skied up and down to bring the poles , netting , banners etc up. Could have been anywhere!!!.
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.
Scot_Ski, I was there that day too (not racing was instructing) and totally agree - the inversion first thing in the morning was beautiful
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
roga, I raced that day and it was the best conditions I had all winter, but you have to admit that a lot of Scottish races have been cancelled in recent years.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
rjs, yes I ski with people who've been affected by the cancellations but to suggest that domes and dry slopes are the best the UK has to offer (which was the comment I was responding to) is complete tosh!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I meant for example, me, i lived near london, Scotland is just not feasible for weekly training sessions, especially in the summer... what happens if my private jet is broken? the same goes for our young question asker who is in herefordshire.
so for weekly training YES IT IS
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
dulcamara, apologies if I didn't understand your post as you meant it to be understood but I'd suggest that's not what you said ... anyway not to dwell on that!
I'm aware it's a bit far to travel for weekly session, that's why I spend most of my training time on dry myself. However, although it's patently obvious that dry slopes (or the snowdomes) are not the best that's on offer in the UK. Most of us, even those of us who work on snow some of the year, have to take the second best option sometimes but hey it's better than nothing innit!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
northy014, welcome to the crazy world of plastic racing as others have said you can get on edge and carve (most places.....some of the dryslopes are lost causes for any sort of edge grip ) it just seems harder than on snow but once you get the hang of it it's not so bad.
Officials seem to have been having a bit of a crackdown on stamping this summer, lots of DSQs!
Hope you enjoy it, I reckon you'll soon be addicted and we'll see you on the circuit next summer Hopefully I'll be skiing again by then
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?
Quote:
A number of gates are set deliberatly too close to carve around with relulation skis hence racers pivoting their skis before engaging them in a carve. On a dry slope due to the short length I imagine the courses are set very tightly too.
Dont I know I have set and been victim to some of the tightest last two gate you could imagine.!!!
Was more a comment on the techniques employed by some of the guys with the quickets times.
northy014, Buy yourself an Industrial Tub of KY Jelly!!!! Great as a substitute was
Slalom racing on the most extreme dryslope in the UK, Hillend Edinburgh. From the top it's called the wall , i.e you cant see the first pitch below you, its too steep. Lots of styles on show , worth looking from around 6:00 minutes , get an idea of all styles , at 8:25 is a great example of jumping gate to gate . you get an idea of speed from the crash at 7:05.
Some great skiers on show , including some current and past skiers who have represented GB at Children and Junior
From that vid it looks much harder to get any kind of edge hold to carve strongly on plastic
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
maybe the GS Race on the Sunday will show more carving , although not easy on a steep bumpy slope.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Wed 27-10-10 11:57; edited 1 time in total
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
narc, Hillend is one of the ones where carving is really difficult - until it gets relatively flat near the bottom Personally I always think the top is just a survival effort
After all it is free
After all it is free
anyone who races on hillend must have b*lls of steel , yikes that GS look positively frightening...
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.
northy014, Here is the video of this years All England Champs from Norfolk. Not too much "Hacking" going on. Looks like plenty of carving to me.
Mind you the matting at Norfolk is probably the best of any dry slope around. Great facilities there for one of the flattest counties. Home of TJ baldwin too.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
) it just seems harder than on snow but once you get the hang of it it's not so bad.
