I am a not very good skier (ESF 2A, skid parallels, not carving, not very fast), but love it loads and want to get better.
The family is going skiing in February. Mrs Dobby is a far better skier than me (balance, technique and all sorts of unfair advantages). Dobby-ette 1 is 11 years old, paralleling, fitter than a pack of butchers' dogs and after a few more days on planks will be caning down most things, I expect. Dobby-ette 2 is a 9 year old nut case who would like to cane down most things (irrespective of style and sometimes ability to stop). At this rate, I'll be at the back of the pack by the middle of the holiday.
I cycle to work (about 50-80 miles per week) and so the fitness is OK, but I want to prepare properly for this holiday and arrive on the slopes knowing which end of the ski to point downhill and being a bit better than I am now.
My main problem is a lack of confidence in my ability to travel at more than 10mph without fear of falling (which I don't do v often...any more).
I have two dry slopes nearby - Cardiff and Pontypool. I find that Cardiff is OK, but v short (just like me). Never tried Ponty.
Was considering some group intermediate lessons or even some one-on-ones at the dry slope intermixed with some practice.
Could make it to a snowdome for a day or so, if it would be worth it.
Hope that some of you can help me ski proper like.
Cheers
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
dobby, Good plan, artificial at least once a week, perhaps have a go at slalom racing, it teaches great turning skills and speed increase and control, most slopes have a race club which usually has a routine of training skills, followed by stumpy poles, followed by gates each evening, the first two would be beneficial for a few weeks and gradually get into gates. Crashing is a minimum until you get over confident or risk going faster but it can be addictive and the start of if hooked an expensive journey, a little like golf I'm told, reducing your handicap. All the great Brits started on plastic.
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?
dobby, sounds to me like you are skiing from the back seat, skis jetting from underneath you, no feeling of control, getting tense, burning thighs. Just a guess but that about right? Think it best to find yourself an experienced instructor who will take you back to basics, work a lot on your skiing posture and get you to use the whole ski the way its designed. You'll be in more control and you'll go faster, use less energy, blow the family away. I really don't think slalom training will cure you.
Learning is more than half the fun!
I recommend to take four days worth lessons in February with a group.
If you're fit and ride your bike you can carve.
You can carve on your bike its the same feeling.
I really don't think slalom training will cure you.
Agree. If you are timid about speed I'd say that throwing yourself through some slalom gates will be a step backwards not a step forwards. IME confidence and control need to increase at the same time, so you need to make sure that your core technique is giving your the level of control you need to feel confident about your skiing. Don't know anyone who teaches at Cardiff or Ponty, but try to find a recommendation for a good instructor who can look at your core technique and advise on your strengths and weaknesses. Once you have an idea of the things to work on a bit of focused practice time with occasional input from an instructor should make a big difference.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
dobby, Pontypool is one of the longest dry slopes in the country.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Bode Swiller, you are right about the tenseness...I certainly need to relax more. I am getting far more forward than I used to (but I suspect I am sitting back sometime). And when I do relax, skiing is a lot easier (less thigh burn), turns are better and looks tidy (as they say in Cardiff). I'll hunt down a local instructor and report back.
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.
dobby - fear is often the main problem ..... a guide once said to me speed is your friend when in tricky off piste. He was right, but it takes practise and confidence to overcome the fear and get to a nice comfortable speed which allows a fluid style of skiing.
The ski school apps are good - met them last year in Serre Chevalier on the Steep Off Piste Bash - excellent product and much cheaper than an instructor - but probably complement a few lessons rather than replace.
I like the carving practice part of the video - many years ago I decided to spend as much time as possible off piste and to start with you need to force yourself to take the tricky routes for practise in all conditions rather than the easy blue piste which you can cane down. It's well worth it. So work out what you want to learn to do and go and do it on as many varied slopes as you can. You will also learn to fall well, and how to recover when you think you are going over !
Worth reading a bit too - I started with a book called the All Mountain Skier ..... gave me an excellent grounding.
Good luck.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I got a BASI 1996 manual for sale................ £25 posted!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
skimastaaah wrote:
I got a BASI 1996 manual for sale................ £25 posted!
Did they "do" carving in 96?
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.
I've got a Haynes manual for a Peugeot 205 from about 1996.
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
DrLawn wrote:
skimastaaah wrote:
I got a BASI 1996 manual for sale................ £25 posted!
Did they "do" carving in 96?
Carving???? 1996????????? .............. Nope!!
Skiers were real skiers back in the day, and BASI training was done on 210cms Sallys!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
moffatross, That's prolly more use than a BASI manual.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Give pontypool a go... They run a Sunday ski school which due to poor numbers is more like one on one tuition. The ski coaches all seemed to know their stuff and are all very friendly. Pontypool slope it's self is also far better, it's much steeper and longer than Cardiff and they have a fair sprinkler system which keeps slope more skiable than cardiff's!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Quickest way to appear to ski less rubbish is to ski with "more rubbish" skiers!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
PBJ wrote:
dobby - fear is often the main problem ..... a guide once said to me speed is your friend when in tricky off piste..
funnily enough, a snowboarder we chaleted with in zermatt in march told me that same thing for on piste skiing, I suspect he is on here, it bought my skiing on immediately
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?
Iskimastaaah, Hmmm, I am getting the feeling you are a young whipper snapper.
I would assert that I have been carving since around 1983.
I have definitely been consistently carving since 1989.
Just not quite the same way it's thought of these days. I.e., the skier had to carve the ski rather than the other way round...
Dobby - I realise there are time constraints and financial restraints but if you could manage to get away for a week of instruction on your own that would make a massive difference. A chance just to focus on your own skiing - not worrying if wee Johnny has his helmet etc. There are many schools you could go on - plenty people will recommend someone.
FWIW I have done the Warren Smith course a couple of times. Based in Verbier in the Winter, you go for a week. There are maybe 60-70 people doing it - you get split into groups of roughly 6 - dependant on ability and you get 5 days of lessons. You would probably be in the bottom group, but there will definitely be people at exactly the same level. It's not perfect but in my experience it's pretty blooming good. They'll have you out of the backseat and give you a reasonable idea of carving, you'll be skiing much faster than previously and generally be more confident. There is a bit of video analysis on 2 of the evenings.
There is a wee bit of socialising at night - nothing crazy - everybody is on their own - all talking about their skiing.
It's an investment that could change your skiing over the next 10 years as you all develop together.
At the age your kids are in the next 2-5 years they will be over the hill and far away.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Another training option is to look at what Snoworks offer. We've been on two courses with them and have booked a Back Country course for March. Great coaching from Phil and his team will have you progressing and having great fun. Emphasis is on being equipped to ski in all terrain.
Fifespud, How much is a warren smith course, and does it includes flights / accommodation or do you sort them out yourself? I'm tempted to shoot off for a week by myself In mid December, I'm similar to dobby, but don't mind the speed, can't seem to carve a turn and need to separate my shoulders from my hips (if you see what I mean), so wouldn't mind sneaking in a week of tuition.
Is warren smith the best or would one on one with an independent instructor for an hour each morning ( with practice / fun the rest of the day) be as good / better?
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Wed 5-09-12 10:20; 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...
dobby, wot Cynic, says
After all it is free
After all it is free
ski, you gotta be joking right? Turning around a few obstacles is one thing but slalom training is quite another. The basics have to be dead right first.
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.
Bode Swiller, Two reasons..
The best way to improve performance in any sport is to have repeated practise.
The only way I've found to make plastic slopes have enough variety is by the use of obstacles.
I am not suggesting that the OP rocks up at the next SnowsportGB training..but attending a club, using the gates as way of keeping interest - together with lot's of time outside the gates of course with coaching input - is an available, affordable, and fun way to improve.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
under a new name wrote:
Iskimastaaah, Hmmm, I am getting the feeling you are a young whipper snapper.
I would assert that I have been carving since around 1983....
I still am a "young whipper snapper"" who asserts that I have been carving since 1972. And having spent some not inconsiderable time teaching on snow I still assert that the best way to improve is to spend time on snow. Simples.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
dobby, Warren Smith DVD's 1-4 may be a big help, but like skimastaaah, says there's no substitute for just doing it and practicing, coupled with some good tuition. I personally dont get too hung up on technique but ski with some good ski pals and we all offer "friendly advice" to each other and dont get too hurt by constructive criticism - with 60/70 weeks under my belt I decided and got stripped back to basics for 2 all day WS sessions at Chill Factore last Sept/ October in Manchester and these helped me immensely and corrected some inbuilt mistakes, my skiing was 10x better last season, but this was fine tuning and it made a big difference. So if theres time I suggest these coupled with just doing it and bashing out the km, its the best way IMO.
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.
ski wrote:
Bode SwillerThe best way to improve performance in any sport is to have repeated practise
What you are suggesting is that he goes and practices poor technique, adding to the problems, rather than reconstruct his technique from the ground up first.
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
Hi
sorry for butting in on this, just watched the video some posted earlier. Thought it was brilliant, it took me right back to January with Fiore trying to teach me carving, I don't think he managed it but he did his best.
Does anyone know who the guy in the video is and are there any other video lessons from him out there?
Thanks
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Darren Turner
Quote:
Darren has been teaching skiing for 22 years, in four countries and two continents and was a member of the England Ski Team. For the last eleven years he has been instructing in Serre Chevalier, France.
He holds the highest B.A.S.I qualification - the international ski teaching diploma and believes enjoyment and learning are strongly interlinked.
I watched all 45 videos on youtube this morning. Some very good information on them. Many things very different from what I teach but great delivery.
The technology for analysis looks fantastic. Similar to the Tiger Woods app.
Unfortunately only on apple IOS at the moment.
Thanks for the initial post DrLawn
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Wed 5-09-12 14:26; edited 1 time in total
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Thanks Mike,
I'm just about to buy his app, he has 3 apps out - beginner, intermediate & advanced. Now I'm just deliberating whether to buy beginner or intermediate or both (I'm definitely not advanced) but for £2.99 just go for both.
Yes i did like the way he put things across, also filming myself/girlfriend will be invaluable. You can be told all day long "your turning with your shoulders/not bending enough/not standing through the turn" etc etc but to actually see this would make a lot of difference.
Many thanks again
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
howster, buy all three, they're very good and well presented.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
[b]Bo
Quote:
What you are suggesting is that he goes and practices poor technique, adding to the problems, rather than reconstruct his technique from the ground up first.
Nope. Not at all. I'm suggesting that race training on a dry slope - which does not mean simply running gates for hour after hour, rather a balance of drills outside the gates (to sort core technique, as you say) - together with some time in the gates - both for entertainment and variety of practise is an affordable, accesable and entertaining way of improving your skiing level.
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?
Rob
thanks for that, i will buy them all i think - the beginners will help my girlfriend as she has serious confidence issues.
just took a quick look at your inside out skiing website, very good, but finally i know what level i am - so thanks at the very least for that!!! Intermediate by the way......actually just read it again, early intermediate
I've got a Haynes manual for a Peugeot 205 from about 1996.
skimastaaah wrote:
moffatross, That's prolly more use than a BASI manual.
That's not much use to me now either but it's a nice keepsake because I was fond of that car.
As it goes, although I have had a few Alps & US weeks in lessons (USA's instructors were great) and had some private sessions, I've been in the 'kinesthetic' camp of learning for my last 150 or so skiing days and and granted, kinesthetic learners may not end up looking as pretty as those who take notice of instructors, I still reckon we keep adapting and improving without their help. I think that being in the privileged position to tour and ski off piste regularly in-season, often with some great skiers that I can watch and learn from, just hasn't disadvantaged me too much. I get a wagging from my oldest boy from time to time who hates that big gap I've developed between my feet but so long as I'm enjoying myself and finding new challenges every season, I don't really care too much.
There's a lot of opinions flying about snowheads about the importance of lessons and for those that enjoy tuition, I'm sure it's great but I just don't. I just enjoy the mountains.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
howster, did you look at the video levels as well as the text ?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
skimastaaah, Apart from laughing out loud, thank you, I don't think I could possibly argue that time spent on snow is the most important thing, but isn't that a given?
Surely if you have been teaching(? Coaching) for so long, you wouldn't continue to do so if you thought you weren't providing good value?
Simple, un-guided practice will often end in tears.
That said, I do know a former ESF Monsieur Le Directeur de l'Ecole, who was entirely self taught. And a right agricultural dog's breakfast it was too...
After all it is free
After all it is free
Sack the Juggler wrote:
Fifespud, How much is a warren smith course, and does it includes flights / accommodation or do you sort them out yourself? I'm tempted to shoot off for a week by myself In mid December, I'm similar to dobby, but don't mind the speed, can't seem to carve a turn and need to separate my shoulders from my hips (if you see what I mean), so wouldn't mind sneaking in a week of tuition.
Is warren smith the best or would one on one with an independent instructor for an hour each morning ( with practice / fun the rest of the day) be as good / better?
The lessons are about £400 - they have accommodation they reccomend and nearly everybody stays there - chalet type - fully catered. You get your own flights, lift pass etc. Probably over a grand when all said and done.
I like the idea of basically a 10 minute lesson every hour with the instructors watching you the rest of the time. The instructors I have had have been really decent guys. The all teach in exactly the same 'Warren' method.
You really couldn't help but improve - everybody did.
I've downloaded the video lessons as shown above a couple of years ago. They are well made and offer a wee shot of skiing at this time of year but you aren't actually going to learn to - say - carve anywhere other than on skis.
IMO doing gates on plastic - even a very short run like we have nearby at Arbroath - can turn a confident, high end intermediate into a very good skier but hesitant skiers just getting beyond the beginner stage could end up doing more harm than good.
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.
There are lots of Warren Smith clips on YouTube. I think this figure of 8 stuff is quite enlightening.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
under a new name, Yup, it's obvious I know
Markymark29, got it bang on with
Quote:
says there's no substitute for just doing it and practicing, coupled with some good tuition. I personally dont get too hung up on technique but ski with some good ski pals and we all offer "friendly advice" to each other and dont get too hurt by constructive criticism
Most ski school instructors are way too didactic to appreciate that any ski lesson is a two way conversation. And many ski schools and their instructors are just there for the money. A sad fact, and sadly missed.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
can help me ski proper like.
