Carving Tuition - Has to be seen!!!

Pablo Escobar wrote:

AllyG wrote:Pablo,
Never mind - looks like we're back to Ian's 'lessons, lessons, lessons' then.

I think one of the problems with using self-help videos and books is that you can't see yourself ski, so you think you're doing whatever it says, but actually you're not. You need either an instructor, or someone like Tony's friend Skidaddle, to point out the error of your ways and help you along in the right direction.

I would never have thought the reason I was sliding sidewards downhill and not finishing my turns properly, was because I was leaning uphill, instead of downhill, until my instructor told me so, last week. I need to do lots of ski-ing exercises pretending to touch my downhill boot.

Ally

I would guess that most people try fix the surface issues, or the ones that are really obvious, rather than going to the root cause.

spoken like a true risk manager, honours for you my lad!!

I accept that it is a poor video, but it was the first time i have ever seen myself ski, that with other clips taken on the same trip. Its amazing how quickly u can see your own faults when they are filmed. At least now seeing them for myself I can relate to them and try and do something about it. 'Upright' I know, I have been told that loads of times, but its only when u see it for yourself!!!
50 and never to old to learn!!

Scarlet

I am definitely no expert, but I did have carving lessons last year so can repeat what I was told.

The video is not carving as it was explained to me - there is 'kick up' from the skis at the point of turn - carving is a much a smoother sweeping turn.

The chest should point almost squarely down the slope - in the video the shoulders are swinging probably 30 to 45 degrees off centre which explains 'boxing' pose.

You are too upright and should be leaning forward from the waist more.

Only wish I could actually do what I have described - still learning at 62.

Aitch

Scarlet Fez,
I think trying to change something really fundamental, like one's basic stance when ski-ing, is really difficult. I mean, for example, we all walk in different ways, and if someone was to criticize the way you walk and tell you to change it, would you manage it? I'd probably manage it for a couple of yards, and then revert to my usual style of walking.

I tend to ski with my skis too far apart. I know I do this, but I don't seem able to correct it, especially if I'm ski-ing a difficult bit and concentrating on pure survival and not falling over! I think maybe I feel safer with my skis further apart, although it gives me a problem when I try and do a parallel turn. It's fine for carving though. On a blue run, I can concentrate and remember to keep them closer together, but on a steep red run, or a black, they seem to move apart on their own and stay there.

I don't know if you saw my daughter's video, or not, of me ski-ing last week on an easier bit of a black run in Tignes. In it I am ski-ing worse than you, so it might make you feel a bit better about your ski-ing. It is just after a lesson where I was told to lean downhill and ski smoothly and finish my turns (by swinging uphill if necessary)in order to stop my lower ski from sliding downhill. I am trying to do this, but doing so has put out my usual ski-ing rhythm and I'm not moving up and down properly, or pole planting correctly, so it's upset my turns as well. Change is very hard.

Anyone else got any videos of them ski-ing? I like watching other people ski.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN6WMzDaL0

The guy overtaking me is there just to remind everyone what we're supposed to look like when we're ski-ing :lol:

Ally