Help - shaking legs and speed control issues on steep reds

cstodd wrote:Can you recommend any good instructors in Chamonix?

Yes, Chris Fecher at Tinderbox Ski School. He's very good at working 1:1 for specific skills development. He's a member here too. Works with all levels of skier.

http://tinderboxskischool.com/home.php

cstodd wrote:hi,

I've just become an intermediate skier - progressed to red runs with little trouble - but when the slope steepens I've had some problems containing the speed, in particular when the edges start to bite my whole leg + skis start shaking violently, I lose control (and it's not very pleasant!) and I fall quite often.

Question: am I simply using too much edge? I've tried to use less and the shaking eases off but then I slide more and can't seem to control the speed properly. Do I maybe need to lean forward more? Or perhaps it's normal to be going faster and I just need to get used to it?

I'm off to chamonix next week so sorting this problem out will ensure getting the best out of the place!

Thanks

Maybe you should stick to blues or less steep reds, and practice your technique until youre ready to attack the steeper ones.
Lessons will help, as will lots of practice.

cstodd,

Common problem which needs two types of solutions.

The first is a change in mind set,,,,how you think while skiing!
Let me explain with an analogy you all know, driving a car !

You should not drive at top level speeds and SUDDENLY put on brakes ( and hope to stop on a penny) !

You must at all times think safety, think to stay in your "comfort zone" thus modify your skiing strategy in terms of; steepness, ski conditions , skiers etc,,,
Instructors call this "anticipation" ! Thinking ahead,,,,"what if,,,,,"

That is why I never go very fast on my first run down any ski slope, even if I have skied there 20 years ! I verify ski run and remember "danger spots" for my next run down ! You will learn this from experience.
The sudden dips
The cut-offs
The the ice patches
The the narrow "funnels"
etc,,,

The second "competence" you must develope is the varied "slowing down" techniques suggested already by previous persons!
There are a multitude of such slowing techniques which you can practice BEFORE
you need them.
Some are;
1. The famous snow plow
2. The Stem Christia
3. The "hockey stop"
4. The quick edge set/release approach
5. The across/up slope turn
6. The "take skis off" and walk down
7. The side slide to very bottom ( with both skis raised above the snow)
8. The "hail Mary" knee slide
9. The follow the expert,,,,,,,
and finally the last very last slowing down technique,,,,
10 The grab a tree and hold on ( not recommended)

In short you must practice slowing down!
must practice thinking ahead,,,,"what if" !


Enjoy your skiing!

Hope this helps you!

Pavel

Seems that you weight is not on the down hill ski when you have turned

You need to control your speed through the turns, not braking with your heels. The steeper the slope more you have to turn. Turning uphill doesn't make the next turn more difficult. You release edges and the gravity does the job. You can also slow down if you finish your turns with a sideslip. Sometimes you don't have the luxury of being able to pick a slow line, and have to ski more defensively, but pushing on the heels is not the way to do it. But if you want to make the most of Chaminix skiing take a lesson or two with instructor there. Couple years ago I took couple private lessons there with ESF and was very satisfied with the results.

cstodd wrote:Excellent, thanks a lot! One last question: you mean making bigger turns slows you down, going all the way across the piste? Or can you slow down with smaller turns too?

But I'll definitely get some lessons.

No, bigger turns won't slow you down. The more turns you are making the slower you go and you can fit fewer wide turns on any given slope.

Also....

Transitioning to intermediate means sometimes revisiting things you may have done before, I found (and still find) the falling leaf exercise fantastic for discovering what my body is doing in turns - I do this exercise a few times every trip to remind myself, I think it is one of the best exercises for helping with exactly the problem you described. There's a video http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ekgb_falling-leaf-exercises-in-skiing_sport describing it here...

Cheers for all the advice everyone, will try it out at the weekend - lessons booked, will let you know how it all goes!