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#21
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"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote in message
... On 2005-01-10, The Real Bev penned: VtSkier wrote: I've been dragging my poles for 50 years, don't worry about it. Glad to hear you say that. Theory has it that you plant to provide some sort of timing for the turn, but that sounds sort of like saying "oink" before you take each step just to keep your walking, uhhh, something... Why do I need to signal my brain before making a turn? I've been told to plant in order to give myself a point around which to turn. I tend to "shop around" in moguls, seeking that one perfect bump around which to turn. one of my bad habits I've been hammering at...now I only do it if I get nervous, or lose concentration. Follow the water flowing down those moguls, and turn turn turn. The assertive plant is supposed to cue me to assertively turn around that spot. Amazingly enough, it does work when I do it. Actually, that hard pole plant is a "blocking" pole plant, setting up a point of resistance. This is how we used to ski in the old days, and there is still a role for the blocking plant, but it's best not to make them your "norm". A timing touch is better. I tend to drag as a feeler, kind of like vtskier is describing. It gives me a sensation of "Oh, there's the mountain." I'm sure it doesn't look all that dignified or cool, though. And does tend to bring your body slightly backwards. Have you tried a few runs without stocks? technically, these days we don't even need them, except for aggressive skiing when you want those pole plants. They are definitely NOT for balance...although putting the tips in the snow beside your feet in white-outs is a great trick. ant |
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#22
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"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote in message
When instructors, friends, etc, try to get me to feel the point where my boots are providing all of my support, I never seem to find it, whether on my old boots (salomon evolution) or my new (salomon women's xwave 8). It *always* seems like my quads are involved. You should not try to use your boots to "hold you up". A terrible habit, we see a lot of it in the US. I have been skiing with my top buckle undone this last week, just to fine-tune my balance a bit more and to prevent me using any kind of fore-aft leverage in my boots. Sore quads are invariably caused by the hips being back (just half an inch is all it takes), which is a common skiing position of many. ant |
#23
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"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote
After (half) a day of skiing, my quads are always burning and they're weak enough that I worry about being able to make turns well. A very common problem. Get a recommendation for whatever area you ski at, and get a lesson with the person recommended. You are using your quads to support you, rather than using bones and efficient balance. Your muscles can only do this for so long, then they clag out on you. Correct dynamic balance is the fundamental, foundation skill in skiing. Without it, you are always fighting a battle that is un-necessary. Most skiiers I see are either too much in the backseat, or crouched down too much. Both are murder on the quadriceps. Get a lesson (from somone who is recommended). ant |
#24
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On 2005-01-10, ant penned:
A good cheat for the first week of the season, when DOMS always hits, is compression tights. I have not found them in the US yet, although they are in every ski shop in Oz, and the footballers wear them too for training. I'd love to know where they are available in the US, as they'd be perfect for people whose ski holiday is often ruined by sore legs. www.skins.com.au is the mob who supplies them in Australia. They are truly magic. I wear them for my first week of skiing twice a year; I used to spend about a week in agony, unable to sit or stand without sighing gustily, and they'd flicker at night. That's the whole legs, not just bits of them. Now, nothing. What's DOMS? I do wear cycling over-tights while skiing. I've been thinking about wearing hockey compression shorts, but was concerned about what the constriction would do to my circulation. Full-length would be cool, but I try not to stick anything but my sock into my boot, to avoid chafing. -- monique Longmont, CO |
#25
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On 2005-01-10, ant penned:
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote After (half) a day of skiing, my quads are always burning and they're weak enough that I worry about being able to make turns well. A very common problem. Get a recommendation for whatever area you ski at, and get a lesson with the person recommended. You are using your quads to support you, rather than using bones and efficient balance. Your muscles can only do this for so long, then they clag out on you. Correct dynamic balance is the fundamental, foundation skill in skiing. Without it, you are always fighting a battle that is un-necessary. Most skiiers I see are either too much in the backseat, or crouched down too much. Both are murder on the quadriceps. Get a lesson (from somone who is recommended). I have a friend who was a ski instructor and, before that, on the developmental ski team. She's had some knee troubles and can't ski the "good stuff" anymore, but she can ski blue groomers. I wonder if I could ask her to spend a day with me on a blue, working on this kind of stuff. Private lessons are rather expensive; group lessons often end up being only partially useful, and of course I get less direct attention. -- monique Longmont, CO |
#26
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On 2005-01-10, bdubya penned:
It's a recurring bugaboo for me, too. One approach I use (in addition to all the above good advice about hand position) is to start each turn by trying to dive forward over the tips and slightly downhill. That's an exaggerated description, but basically that's how it feels if you're use to being in the back seat. Like trying to dive into a pool, except your feet are locked to the ground. Then start the next dive (to the other side) before it feels like you've finished the prior one. Not exactly orthodox terminology, but if you've gotten comfy with sitting back, getting forward really does feel that different. That's pretty much exactly how one of my instructors described it. I'd kind of set aside that drill in favor of other ones I. So much to remember! And I'm not quite sure I ever got the hang of how to do this. -- monique Longmont, CO |
#27
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On 2005-01-10, ant penned:
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote in message When instructors, friends, etc, try to get me to feel the point where my boots are providing all of my support, I never seem to find it, whether on my old boots (salomon evolution) or my new (salomon women's xwave 8). It *always* seems like my quads are involved. You should not try to use your boots to "hold you up". A terrible habit, we see a lot of it in the US. I have been skiing with my top buckle undone this last week, just to fine-tune my balance a bit more and to prevent me using any kind of fore-aft leverage in my boots. Sore quads are invariably caused by the hips being back (just half an inch is all it takes), which is a common skiing position of many. Sorry to be a pain, but can you find an online picture that demonstrates the proper body position? I've heard that I should be forward, and I've heard that (with modern skis) I shouldn't have to bend my knees excessively. I've also heard that I should imagine a line through my feet, knees, and (hands? head?), which seems like I'd *have* to bend my knees a lot. So confused =/ -- monique Longmont, CO |
#28
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On 2005-01-10, VtSkier penned:
I have actually thought about dragging my poles a bit. It's always the inside pole (see another thread in another location to see what I mean by "inside", it's relative to the turn). I can't imagine how it would be the outside pole, unless you were doing something really weird. I've said a lot about hands. Putting them and keeping them where they belong and actually using them very little will cure many of the "problems" you are describing. So, which is better, reaching forward to pole plant or just flicking the pole with your wrist? -- monique Longmont, CO |
#29
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On 2005-01-10, ant penned:
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote in message ... I've been told to plant in order to give myself a point around which to turn. I tend to "shop around" in moguls, seeking that one perfect bump around which to turn. one of my bad habits I've been hammering at...now I only do it if I get nervous, or lose concentration. Follow the water flowing down those moguls, and turn turn turn. It's a confidence issue, as your statement also suggests. There are (many) places where I either lack confidence because I don't think I can turn where I would need to, or I am afraid of my reaction time relative to the speed I think I'll build up if I just go. What I think I need to do is find a nice, *short* bump run and slowly get used to going more and more down the fall line, rather than across it, to convince myself that some speed isn't a bad thing. Anyone have any summit co. suggestions for that? Actually, I guess the bottom portion of any run would do, and in fact, I always ski the last few turns much better than I do the rest of the run, because I know I can handle the part after the run. The assertive plant is supposed to cue me to assertively turn around that spot. Amazingly enough, it does work when I do it. Actually, that hard pole plant is a "blocking" pole plant, setting up a point of resistance. This is how we used to ski in the old days, and there is still a role for the blocking plant, but it's best not to make them your "norm". A timing touch is better. Maybe I was supposed to be assertively choosing the pole spot, not plonking the pole down. It's hard to separate all these fine details, and I always find I have questions a day or so after the lesson =/ I tend to drag as a feeler, kind of like vtskier is describing. It gives me a sensation of "Oh, there's the mountain." I'm sure it doesn't look all that dignified or cool, though. And does tend to bring your body slightly backwards. Have you tried a few runs without stocks? technically, these days we don't even need them, except for aggressive skiing when you want those pole plants. They are definitely NOT for balance...although putting the tips in the snow beside your feet in white-outs is a great trick. Stocks are poles? No, I haven't. I should probably try that. I don't understand your comment about tips and white-outs ..? -- monique Longmont, CO |
#30
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Monique Y. Mudama wrote:
On 2005-01-10, ant penned: "Monique Y. Mudama" wrote in message When instructors, friends, etc, try to get me to feel the point where my boots are providing all of my support, I never seem to find it, whether on my old boots (salomon evolution) or my new (salomon women's xwave 8). It *always* seems like my quads are involved. You should not try to use your boots to "hold you up". A terrible habit, we see a lot of it in the US. I have been skiing with my top buckle undone this last week, just to fine-tune my balance a bit more and to prevent me using any kind of fore-aft leverage in my boots. Sore quads are invariably caused by the hips being back (just half an inch is all it takes), which is a common skiing position of many. Sorry to be a pain, but can you find an online picture that demonstrates the proper body position? I've heard that I should be forward, and I've heard that (with modern skis) I shouldn't have to bend my knees excessively. I've also heard that I should imagine a line through my feet, knees, and (hands? head?), which seems like I'd *have* to bend my knees a lot. So confused =/ Take a look at Ron LeMaster's "The Skier's Edge". It's an excellent reference using photos, drawings, diagrams, and pithy, non-obfuscatory text, and it addresses issues such as body position, timing, etc. LeMaster, BTW, does video analysis for the US Ski Team, and he knows whereof he speaks. -- Mary Malmros Some days you're the windshield, other days you're the bug. |
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