Carving mindset for Mike

thanks trencher, absolutely, dax's outside ski weighting is so good and so natural and he is on his edge that he has no problem lifting his inside ski..dad is a ways from that..my right leg really seemed to lag on the right turn, my weaker turn, left leg as downhill ski did not feel as solid as right leg, but it began to change in lech-zurs...that is what klaus got rid of with the up and forward..and strong focus on timing also so i wait longer as skis turn into the fall-line, before bringing skis together ..by the way, those gentle training slopes are almost non-existent in lech!
thanks for links to bill thistle's videos - watching the ones he focuses on the boots

here is dax..again...
http://www.vimeo.com/4335854

thanks - now all preparation is mental

dustyfog wrote:

thanks - now all preparation is mental

Unless you get some inline skates. I think inline skating is the best way to improve carving skills in the off season. Once you have the basics of skating down, it's just a matter of finding a car park with a gentle slope and then carving a lot of turns. Not only does it improves balance, but as you can't skid the turns, the sensation is just like a locked in carve on skis. Take that feeling back to the skis next winter and I'm sure you will notice the difference.

Trencher

historically inline-skates killed my shins, same thing happened when i started skiing last year. Dax is a bomber on his roller-blades and right now is rip-stik-ing away. I should get a new pair and start roller-blading, i.e. inline skating but right now incapacitated - just had rotator cuff/bicep tendon repair surgery...right arm not exactly functional and extremely painful..

thanks for the counsel
best
dustyfog

ps: here is dax and dad last year, april 08 at sunshine village alberta, with pal adrian,..come a long way, he sure has, dad too i think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_uoROUiYMQ

Here we are on May 16th, -- the flies and weeds now realize it's their time of the year --- and we are still "wishfully" on the snow.

I really enjoyed your 10m27sec clip dustyfog. I wish I was there too! What a great slope. It is easy to see you were enjoying every second

Trencher,

Are the actions for carving the same on roller blades as on the skis? I've heard before that it is one of the best cross training means for the skiing off season. I have the blades but haven't yet acquired confidence to relax enough. Maybe when I get some elbow pads that will come too. I suppose using the ski poles with the roller blades may help with the confidence a bit too.

Mike

the video of my son skiing is just an ode from father to son for teaching dad that skiing is good for his soul.

the video of me, is a training video, sorry, its long but really its my cut before klaus sends me his analysis, so i can watch it over and over and burn into memory all the things i learnt...i do provide a warning that it's long..dont mean to bore anyone else..
it was posted to get some counsel from trencher and also for ross to "meet" someone who had skiied under the wing of the class act, mr mair.

trencher's advice was helpful and his discussion on this thread has been very useful.

for instance just by watching my own baby-steps (its just one year of skiing, two seasons) and its not like i ski all the time, got to hoof it to get to a slope, nothing in "manhattan" after all! I figured out, after referring back to klaus' video, watching trencher's gif's that (a) while i have the up move down, i need to get more forward still, and be even more patient; (b) remind myself what i did to get down the steeps in ontrol so when i re-engage, it should be second-nature this coming winter or earlier (thats just hoping, since right arm is out of commission!)

now mike from NS - is that Nova Scotia! just curious..

dustyfog wrote:
now mike from NS - is that Nova Scotia! just curious..

Yes dustyfog, NS = Nova Scotia -- the land of the Bluenose and Peggy's Cove. Have you ever visited here?

I think you're ready for White Face at Lake Placid. That's relatively close for you. Some really steep trails there A friend sent me a DVD recently of a really great time he had there this spring. Perfectly clear skies and great skiing conditions!!
Mike

Mike from NS wrote:Here we are on May 16th, -- the flies and weeds now realize it's their time of the year --- and we are still "wishfully" on the snow.

Not to mention the mosquitos. Minnesota's state bird btw, along with the wood tick, our state animal.

Mike from NS wrote:
Are the actions for carving the same on roller blades as on the skis? I've heard before that it is one of the best cross training means for the skiing off season. I have the blades but haven't yet acquired confidence to relax enough. Maybe when I get some elbow pads that will come too. I suppose using the ski poles with the roller blades may help with the confidence a bit too.

There are many sports that share concepts. The concept theme of this thread is used in mountain biking, skate boarding, and other sports. Just about anything where you can use vertical motion to gain extra traction, whether it's a wheel, a shoe or an edge.

Inline skating obviously has some similarities with skiing and there are ski carving concepts that can be discovered and practiced using inline skates.

Aside from the vertical motion, angulation and the effect of various rotation movements can be explored. The effect of any rotational movement is very pronounced on skates, so it's a good way to practice keeping a quiet body. The basic skating stroke for propulsion is what in many sports is called a pumping movement. Pumping turns on line skates (with the legs parallel) is a great work out. It's possible to slalom uphill on skates using this pumping effect. Incorporating this into the first half of carved ski turns, can increase speed.

Spending time slaloming on skates seems to loosen up your movements and make them more flowing.

Pads, wrist guards, and a helmet are essential. If you are frightened to fall, you won't learn much. Like carving on skis, carving on skates takes a little commitment. In your part of the world Mike (where it won't look so strange), a pair of hockey shorts can make the odd fall easier on your butt.

Once you start getting the skates on edge further, you have to watch out for the brake. Being wider than the wheels, it can lift the wheels up mid turn. rather like boot out on skis. I like to have a brake on skates, because it saves a lot of wear on the wheels, but I trim the rubber block a bit narrower.

Trencher

Trencher wrote:
Not to mention the mosquitoes. Minnesota's state bird btw, along with the wood tick, our state animal.

Yes, let's not mention the mosquitoes ... we might get them buzzing And the ticks are well established here as well. You would think more people would appreciate winter at which time these critters are scarce!

Good gloves are good to have along with the wrist guards and knee pads, and helmet. The "law" here will ticket you if not wearing a helmet while on in-line skates, skate boards or bicycles. I must pick up some good elbow pads and the hockey shorts are a good idea too.

There is a school parking lot nearby with a perfect incline -- slight --- to try what you have mentioned Trencher.

I have tried playing with turning feet and angulation of the ankles as much as possible on the ice skates. I skate on figure skates so I have to watch getting the picks too close to the ice. My roller blades have LED toe and heel lights -- so I'm set for night time skating.

Thanks for your pointers Trencher -- muchly appreciated,

Mike