Ski turn initiation, Sliding or carving

I have been told repeatedly here I should have lessons. I am sure that is right. I have nothing against lessons, provided the teacher is good. On the contrary I would very much like lessons & will take lessons when I can.

Having said that, if it was lessons or nothing I would not be skiing. And if it was up-to-date skis or nothing I would not be skiing. And it if were not for constant supervision from a partner from the Alps, who, though not a qualified teacher, is properly trained and has gained more experience and track record in over 40 years skiing of staying safe, on piste, off piste, and in deep powder, than almost any 20-year-old teacher could have accumulated, I would not be skiing. The funds were not there.

Speaking for myself, I will take lessons when I can. But neither am I an out of control idiot. I have never caused a collision (though I have fallen a lot when moving slowly as a beginner, and more recently as a near beginner, fallen at speed owing to pushing myself ONLY when the piste is empty). I can now, in my third season (so still a beginner really), get down an icy black run safely if slowly when some of the faster skiers (who knows, maybe they have taken lessons) are flailing around like Disney characters on a tightrope, and falling around me.

I find out of control idiots as annoying as anyone, and I can see why some members here would consider it irresponsible not to take lessons. Lessons would no doubt have improved my progress, and probably also help cut the number of idiots on piste, but probably do not cure the problem, which also relates to temperament, common sense, level of alcohol consumption and other factors.

Hmmmmmm I think people are starting to get their knickers in a twist over this thread.... :oops:

This place is a forum for everyone to express their opinions rightly or wrongly. As Trencher rightly says everyone has a right to their opinion and everyone has different ways of learning. There is no right or wrong way to learn and lessons aren't always the answer but I think everyone will agree that it is always a good start. As any instructor (skiing or otherwise) will always tell you that everyone learns in a different way and it is tapping into the best way you learn that works. For some people it can be visual and others by way of explanation.

No-one has actually accused anyone specifically on here of being out of control its was just a generalisation rightly or wrongly. I think what is safe to say is that everyone hates out of control skiiers and wishes they could be banned from the slopes however that is unlikely to happen (unfortunately!)

Anyway that is may peace keeping mission over..... lets all play nice and friendly now and not take comments to heart :lol:

Andi282 wrote:Hi Again chaps, I have been looking at the list of ski schools in Austria, and I'm going to get a few next week, I will let you know how I get on!

One thing I have been thinking about is why my quads hurt so much ?? so the other day I simply looked into a mirror side on and moved up and down as I would when skiing and aha!! I noticed that I was bending at the knee joint instead of flexing forward at the ankle joint!

Basically I was squatting all day while skiing! no wonder my legs where hanging off!! a simple mistake that would have been spotted straight away by an instructor, but hey self discovery and teaching myself is something I have done and now I understand so much more.

I also think with all this self study on Techniques and body positions balance etc, i may find I will pick things up a little sooner because I have done the theory stuff, and the help from people on this site has been very valuable to me so cheers for all the tips!

Andy :)

Good Man :thumbup:

PS Lots of experienced skiers also ski in the backseat )

Some of them even win gold medals :lol:

Pablo Escobar wrote:Some of them even win gold medals :lol:

it's interesting to watch skiers in the park. It's pretty standard for them, if they need speed for a jump, to squat down in the back seat (ski tips bouncing just off the snow). None of them will tuck for speed. My guess is that this technique was not taught to them in ski lessons. They figured it out for themselves (at least originally).


Trencher

Is it actually faster? If it was surely WC racers would be doing it to the line. Maybe it is a style thing.

Trencher wrote:I was just saying, that opinion had been said several times over, and the point had been made. As I said, if the only way you learn is by lessons, that's great, but don't assume that everyone learns the same way that you do. A lot of us (esp. the thinker learning style types) find it useful to discuss ideas. The OP had already talked about the need for lessons, why keep on about lessons ? Anyway, that's just my opinion :wink:

I think if someone post a technique question, it is quite reasonable for someone to post that lessons are a good idea. Maybe someone else might post the benefit of lessons. but to keep on, and on that lessons are the only way to learn, is failing to understand how some people learn.


Trencher

If you have followed my postings over the last couple of years you would have seen that I to in my early days used to re watch an old channel 4 vid to refresh the mind, I to read many books on the topic of skiing, so I am not against any other type of learning in conjunction with lessons, but I also feel strongly about people hitting the slopes without correct instruction.
Only this last holiday my wife could have been killed by an out of control snowboarder, this type of incident tends to focus the mind some what, so I make no apology, read as may books as you like watch as many DvD's as you like but to learn to ski you need to take lessons.

As discussion boards go, I find this one pretty friendly snd supportive.