Spinning on the skis

Now as you can see from the avatar, some may consider me an "old dog". So then I would like some of you more skilled skiers to teach me a new trick.

Specifically: spinning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFihpicUZBI

As in this U-Tube video: how is it done? Where are the pressures? Are twin tip skis a must for this trick?

I can easily get turned around backwards but can't seem to continue the motion. And if this has been discussed before - please direct me towards the thread.

Thanks,

Mike

Hi Mike,

Me toooo!
I can spin around through 180 degrees and ski backwards but cant seem to manage to spin back the other way.I keep telling myself that you need twin tips for this but I'm not sure.

Help.

lol, i've been trying it since our rep in fernie showed me the trick couple of years ago! still no joy. Spent half my time trying it in Andorra last week but it's that 2nd 180 again. I was actually contemplating posting the same thread.

Please help us!!

Ok,

So now we are really talking about my sphere of influence

The reason you can make 180 and not 360 is simple!

The action to make 180 is a standard ski technique; you just ski up the hill, but quicker. You probably think of it as a “Hockey Stop” only done slightly more actively ...

The reason you will stop there is because you are leaning very slightly forward and possibly looking at your skis

You MUST stand upright.

As you get to about the 160 mark, stand bolt upright and keep your ankles, knees and hips fully extended. Now use the leading hand and shoulder to “look” for the remainder of the turn.

As for the skis, you must be able to sense a non-edging ski and allow it to be absolutely flat. Any edge will reduce your rotation and stop you half way. (As you have found)

Once you have got this sorted you will discover that you can edge very aggressively into the first 2/3rds of the rotation but then you must totally release the edge and allow the skis to be completely flat.

I once read a post by Pavel who said that skis are very shy and if you look at them they get silly and behave in a random way. This is very true for spinning. Look UP, look ROUND and NEVER look at your skis!

Perhaps tomorrow I will post some video of the various stages of spinning

What ever you manage or don’t, make sure you do it with hope in your heart and Elan in your soul!

I am happy to answer questions like this all night long

Jan

Hi Gareth & souldrive,

It looks like Jan is going to take us on in his "school of spinning"

Thanks Jan

Spinning is something that looks so easy until you try it. It looks like a person who can spin has a superb sense of balance and where to apply pressure - and when to apply it.

Your analysis of why I can't get any farther than the first 180 is about 100% accurate. I speak for all interested in acquiring the technique, I'm sure, when I say I'm looking forward to step by step video you suggested posting.

What I do now is hockey stop (left foot downhill) and drift around to travelling backwarks in a slight wedge. Like the others said, I can't keep the revolution going - and just glide to a hault. I tried this morning pressuring the heels as the wedge began but it didn't make any difference. I'll bet I'm looking down too.

So next time out I'll be working with your instructions and memory of the pending video.

I always have hope in my heart and if it helps, I'll put Elan in my soul but it'll be Atomics (SX9) on my feet

I have a good handle on side slipping so I expect from what you say of watching the edges spinning will be helped by this side slip edging "confidence".

I appreciate your reply Jan and look forward to spinning not only on figure skates - and hopefully better on the skis.

So like Gaerth, I feel we need twin tips to execute this correctly. Say it's not so !!!

He's got us under his wing Gaerth and souldrive

Thanks Jan,
Mike

Hi All,

Here’s a link to some fairly dire video …

www.auhof.co.uk/spinning.asp

I promises to try harder with the presentational quality next time !

Happy spinning,

Jan

Thanks for the video Jan

As you say, it looks like the pole had some action in the spin but I understand otherwise from your directions. It looks as though you are leading with your shoulder. Is this so? Also I can understand, now, how any edging will kill the motion. My wife and I have been closely studying your video and she too hopes to learn the spinning. A couple of more revolutions at the slower your speed might help give a clearer understanding.

You don't need a great slope to get this working it seems.

We're off to our local hill to learn this spinning "trick" next weekend.

Thanks to you and your cameraman,

Mike

I gave spinning a feeble try yesterday - time was against me and the snow was too good not to just keep moving. I did have some success by the third try and with a bit more practice I can see it working.

Jan, I'm still looking at the skis and didn't stand straight enough Hard to break some bad habits. But I did manage about 3 revolutions without stopping (completely). I tended to get around to 270 with the aid of leading with the shoulder and at that point it helped to lift the uphill ski off the snow to continue the revolution. Before utilizing the shoulder lead, 180 was the maximum normal distance of the "revolution". With more practice I can see this happening. Thanks for your help.

Mike