fear of speed when learning parallel sking

Thanks again. I am going back to UK today, will try to get back to piste and try it in a couple of weeks.

Having read the thread - my understanding is that you are afraid of the speed you experience when you make the turn. Specifically, the section of the turn where you are in the fall line, before the final third of the turn takes you across the slope at a more manageable angle (the first 3rd being the turn entry and the second 3rd being when when you are facing the fall line).

I was reading an article yesterday that seemed to apply to you - about ski lengths. Longer skis generally have a larger turning radius and therefore make the skiier spend a longer time on the fall line section of the turn - hence (genrally) longer skis make you ski faster.

My take on your problem is that you need to get through the second 3rd of the turn quicker and so avoid prolonged downhill skiing and hence reduce your speed. The easiest solution would be to get skis with a shorter turn radius or to work on your turn. The turn you describe (lifting your inside foot) sounds like a stem turn - halfway between parallel and snowplough. You can use this (I still do on very steep inclines) to turn more tightly and avoid spending too much time on the fall line.

Hope this helps
Tony

snowb4ndit wrote:

Innsbrucker wrote: she just says 'face down the mountain'

That's what I told my oh when he was learning...He did and broke his collar bone! :shock: But I know what she means. :D

I don't think you're really supposed to face down the mountain - more like face in the true direction in which you are travelling.

So that if you are doing wide shallow S shaped turns you'd probably face about 45 degrees (if you see what I mean), apart from the bit when you face down the fall line as you turn, and if you are traversing you'd be facing nearly 90 degrees from the fall line (i.e. facing across the slope) and if you're ski-ing in a very professional looking way (not me unfortunately) so that you're really ski-ing in a straight line downhill but your legs are just going from side to side, you'd face straight down the mountain.

Snowbandit,
I hope your OH forgave you for the effect your 'tip' had on him :D
Or do you think him losing your ski luggage was a delayed retaliatory strike? :D :D :D

Ally

I bought a copy of the Sofa Ski School DVD by Klaus Mair this winter which I found very helpful. My 11 year old told me I skied better this year :roll: . I'd still recommend lessons, but this DVD gives you some really useful key points to think about. Some of the lessons are on YouTube & would be worth looking at.

Check it out at www.sofaskischool.com - it could be money well spent!

Thanks for that Innsbrucker and to everyone who replied, this is my fear as well. I will try to remember all the advice given. Inbetween watching dancing on ice i have been jumping up and practising positions and weight bearing, and pretending to ski down (slightly inclined) slope.

as tonyr says turn quickly to minimise the time spent pointing straight down the mountain ...learning to "hockey stop" will help you turn quickly as well as stop quickly...if snowb4ndit had taught me that ...I might not of left her luggage on the coach!!!!

ir12daveor wrote:This may sound silly, but practicing braking (stopping) may actually help with confidence at speed.

So true, I'm training to be an instructor and this is dead on. Good luck

AllyG wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:

Innsbrucker wrote: she just says 'face down the mountain'

That's what I told my oh when he was learning...He did and broke his collar bone! :shock: But I know what she means. :D

I don't think you're really supposed to face down the mountain - more like face in the true direction in which you are travelling.......
Ally

I think what they mean by face down the mountain is when you turn the top and bottom halves of your body should face slightly different directions.
Clearly the bottom half needs to be facing in the direction you are travelling, but the top half should be facing 'down the mountain' with your top shoulder leading your lower shoulder. This will stop you over-rotating in a turn.

Not really sure what this has to do with helping you to cope with speed in a turn, other than it will help you turn more efficiently.

Cheers
Tony