Latest posts for the topic "sking on steeper terrain"

sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 19:26:21 GMT

Hi all, great to have joined this forum. :) I am a "beginner intermediate" skier, can navigate the less steep terrain with ease, making these nice S shaped turns and going at a decent speed. However, in order to better ski the advanced "blue" hills, without my thigh muscles screaming for oxygen I think I need some pointers. One instructor told me that the reason why my thigh muscles get so tired (where I literally have to stop half way down the mountain to rest and I am in a good physical shape!) is because I am not engaging the right muscles. I am not sure if it is a simple matter of "keep on skiing and you will get it eventually" or implementing better techniques. Any advise?
Best, Monika

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 19:32:34 GMT

Keep skiing and you will get better.
Keep having lessons every season.

And keep your speed down from the first turn when going onto slightly steeper slopes. Your muscles are probably aching because you get faster and faster and then expend more and more energy "braking".

Keep slow from the start, finish properly every turn, take it easy and focus on turning efficiently.

Make sure you practice "beautiful" skiing on easy runs some of every day. This will help you lock in your good technique and be very flattering - nothing beats knowing you have just done some lovely turns!

Oh and don't forget to enjoy yourself.
:D

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 19:39:48 GMT

Thank you "OldAndy" for the tips. I think another ski lesson may be in order for me anyway and who said "you cannot teach an old dog new tricks". :-) Monika (40-something)

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 20:17:23 GMT

Hi Mtrzcinska, it can be very difficult to explain why things may not be right without actually seeing someone, but in my case, the "screaming" thighs was due to me not allowing my weight to go forward properly. I was sort of "sitting" on the skis, as as we know while that position may be good for warm ups before we go on a holiday, it is not what you want when going down a piste.

Make sure that your balance is not towards your heels, it is one reason why we use the poles to "reach" for the start of a new turn. It helps us to push our weight forward.

Like OA says, it will come. One day, suddenly everything will click together and you will ask yourself why you had all the issues before. Enjoy your skiing.

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 20:25:16 GMT

Far Queue wrote: One day, suddenly everything will click together and you will ask yourself why you had all the issues before.

I have been awaiting that day for the last 2 seasons, maybe this will be the one!

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 21:04:38 GMT

Thank you all! After reading your replies and doing some additional research, I think the problem might very well be that I put too much weight on the back of my heels and not pushing myself forward enough when on steeper terrain. The trouble is all the instincts tell me to stay back because I am afraid that if I put my body more forward I will fall. I am skiing on the east coast of USA, where conditions vary greatly during a given winter and it gets icy often. I realize that in order to become a better skier I need to overcome that fear. I will try next time, perhaps during evening hours when I do not have to navigate slower skiers and children who fall in front of me at times :-)
Monika

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 21:24:49 GMT

The hardest thing to master in skiing is getting your weight properly balanced over the skis. It goes against instinct. The steeper the slope, the greater the instinct is to lean into the mountain. Just keep practising, it will click.
The trick is to relax (much easier than said than done I know), but you won't ski well if you are too tensed up.

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 23:33:58 GMT

Hi Monica, I went through similar with being scared of the ice and tensing up. It wasn't helping that my skis were just too wide for the ice and my less than perfect technique.
Have you done the drill where you hold your poles together out in front of you with your elbows down by your sides as if your poles are a tray and your holding the tray out as if to offer someone a drink? If you have not, try it, pretend you are a waiter, for some inexplicable reason someone has put a $50 dollar bill down the front of your ski boots between the tongue and your shin, you have to anchor that money in place whilst you ski down the mountain offering people drinks from the tray. Take it nice and slow, after all a good waiter glides gently round the restaurant, You should keep the poles nice and level so you don't spill the drinks, and don't lean back in your boots or the money will blow away and so will your chance of a tip. :-)

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 23:46:51 GMT

in my experience I was finding exactly the same thing and I finally forced myself to adjust my posture to the position that Andy recommends..I can say that it works and you find you feel much more ...balanced..try it

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 08:05:20 GMT

I agree with the Andy focus on your weight on the down hill ski :thumbup:

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 08:45:00 GMT

Its all about the Tekkers and it doesnt come naturally or instantly for anyone, I was the same. I skied aggressively and hard for a number of years, and got tired thighs, and then one day - bing!! That light bulb moment where you get it right and you're leaning forwards, down the hill, pushing yourself against your principles down the mountain. I also stopped dragging my turns and engaged my edges, and now my skiing - whilst probably not the tidiest in the world - is good, fast, confident and I can ski pretty much anything. In fact, the steeper the more I like it.

I only had 1 week of beginner lessons, everything else was taught by experience, falling over and being determined not to let it beat me, and skiing with friends who taught me a lot, one in particular who I tried to mimic when skiing who was an excellent skier. Eventually I got there, but it took a few years of skiing twice a season most years.

Patience and commitment is what it took, although I'd have cracked it quicker if I;d had another few lessons I reckon but I was impatient and wanted to ski myself.

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 17:47:02 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Its all about the Tekkers and it doesnt come naturally or instantly for anyone, I was the same. I skied aggressively and hard for a number of years, and got tired thighs, and then one day - bing!! That light bulb moment where you get it right and you're leaning forwards, down the hill, pushing yourself against your principles down the mountain. I also stopped dragging my turns and engaged my edges, and now my skiing - whilst probably not the tidiest in the world - is good, fast, confident and I can ski pretty much anything. In fact, the steeper the more I like it.

I only had 1 week of beginner lessons, everything else was taught by experience, falling over and being determined not to let it beat me, and skiing with friends who taught me a lot, one in particular who I tried to mimic when skiing who was an excellent skier. Eventually I got there, but it took a few years of skiing twice a season most years.

Patience and commitment is what it took, although I'd have cracked it quicker if I;d had another few lessons I reckon but I was impatient and wanted to ski myself.

And Tony, I'd bet my house on the fact that if you had a few more lessons you'd ski even better - and ultimately have more enjoyment.

Monika, my tip would be to persevere with practice but don't do it all yourself. Get an occasional lesson and allow a professional to help you develop.

Re:sking on steeper terrain

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 20:33:57 GMT

LOTA wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Its all about the Tekkers and it doesnt come naturally or instantly for anyone, I was the same. I skied aggressively and hard for a number of years, and got tired thighs, and then one day - bing!! That light bulb moment where you get it right and you're leaning forwards, down the hill, pushing yourself against your principles down the mountain. I also stopped dragging my turns and engaged my edges, and now my skiing - whilst probably not the tidiest in the world - is good, fast, confident and I can ski pretty much anything. In fact, the steeper the more I like it.

I only had 1 week of beginner lessons, everything else was taught by experience, falling over and being determined not to let it beat me, and skiing with friends who taught me a lot, one in particular who I tried to mimic when skiing who was an excellent skier. Eventually I got there, but it took a few years of skiing twice a season most years.

Patience and commitment is what it took, although I'd have cracked it quicker if I;d had another few lessons I reckon but I was impatient and wanted to ski myself.

And Tony, I'd bet my house on the fact that if you had a few more lessons you'd ski even better - and ultimately have more enjoyment.

Monika, my tip would be to persevere with practice but don't do it all yourself. Get an occasional lesson and allow a professional to help you develop.

I have no doubt that lessons woud tidy me and teach me a fair bit. Especially with things like powder, off piste and mogus which I am still trying to develop my skills on.