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Skiing moguls for the first time.

username

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Thanks for the advice everyone, I can handle the glades in the valley with no problem, but i shit my pants looking at the moguls haha. I might try out crotcheds moguls first and wait until the snow gets soft again.
 

MadMadWorld

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Find the flattest mogul run you can. Go slow. Keep your hands in front of you (try to plant your poles by moving your wrists, not your whole arm!), try to keep your upper body as quiet as possible. Look at the next mogul - not the one you are on. Keep trying!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When do I get my lesson?
 

jack97

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I might try out crotcheds moguls first and wait until the snow gets soft again.

Past several seasons, Crotched has been setting up a small skiercross course under the park-lift chair. I overheard that they plan on doing it again this season. They usually setup three to four rollers along with two banked turns.

IMO, the rollers are a great way to practice absorption and extension. Check out the vid below on how this Canadian instructor does it and you will get the idea. BTW, I have seen vids of world cup bumpers doing the same type of drills on a set of rollers, that's how useful it is.

 

Edd

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There don't seem to be rollers like that at the places I ski. I think extension is a big weakness I have.
 

jack97

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Gonna sound like i'm pimping the crotch :p...... it prolly about 1.5 hrs from Newmarket. They have the vertical value card for $89, which is 50% off weekday ticket and 25% w/e ticket, applies to attitash and wildcat as well. A free ticket comes with the purchase of the card.

Nowadays, in order to get good at the bumps, you have to seek out the right terrain.
 

mister moose

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There don't seem to be rollers like that at the places I ski. I think extension is a big weakness I have.

Nowadays, in order to get good at the bumps, you have to seek out the right terrain.

Good video, Jack97. Avelement has been around a very long time, and it an excellent thing to get to know. However, you don't need some special roller groomed zone to practice.

Every runout trail has washboard areas. Seek these out, and use them. You should ski them straight at first absorbing every bump completely with the legs. Your head stays still. If it works for you, imaging a ceiling just above your head. As the first bump approaches, if you don't absorb it with your legs, your head will hit the ceiling. If you're daring, put your tongue between your teeth before the washboard. How are you going to keep from biting your tongue? You need to keep the head still. Or look out far ahead. Your eyes are a video camera. Do not shake the frame. Keep your head perfectly in alignment with something out in front. It should feel like you are actively sucking them up, they won't do it for you. See avitar.

You can also practice this one bump at a time on a slope.

The terrain to practice with is there, you just have to use it.
 

jack97

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Good video, Jack97. Avelement has been around a very long time, and it an excellent thing to get to know. However, you don't need some special roller groomed zone to practice.

Every runout trail has washboard areas. Seek these out, and use them. You should ski them straight at first absorbing every bump completely with the legs. Your head stays still. If it works for you, imaging a ceiling just above your head. As the first bump approaches, if you don't absorb it with your legs, your head will hit the ceiling. If you're daring, put your tongue between your teeth before the washboard. How are you going to keep from biting your tongue? You need to keep the head still. Or look out far ahead. Your eyes are a video camera. Do not shake the frame. Keep your head perfectly in alignment with something out in front. It should feel like you are actively sucking them up, they won't do it for you. See avitar.

You can also practice this one bump at a time on a slope.

The terrain to practice with is there, you just have to use it.


Got to disagree, the purpose of the rollers is repetition, rhythm and throwing in the turns for good measure. BTW, some bumpers don't even bother with the turn, they just absorb & extend. Seeking out one bump on a slope one at a time just doesn't cut it.

As for washboard areas, they just don't have the right shapes.
 

Blanton

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Got to disagree, the purpose of the rollers is repetition, rhythm and throwing in the turns for good measure. BTW, some bumpers don't even bother with the turn, they just absorb & extend. Seeking out one bump on a slope one at a time just doesn't cut it.

As for washboard areas, they just don't have the right shapes.

Rollers/ absorption tanks are for teaching constant ski snow contact and consistent shin pressure through the entire range of motion. It's much easier to teach this without worrying about carving turns and pole plants.

A lot of times the easiest way to practice this is on the tight lines just into the woods that little kids use to hit as jumps.
 

mister moose

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Got to disagree, the purpose of the rollers is repetition, rhythm and throwing in the turns for good measure. BTW, some bumpers don't even bother with the turn, they just absorb & extend. Seeking out one bump on a slope one at a time just doesn't cut it.

As for washboard areas, they just don't have the right shapes.

Blanton said:
Rollers/ absorption tanks are for teaching constant ski snow contact and consistent shin pressure through the entire range of motion. It's much easier to teach this without worrying about carving turns and pole plants.

You both are talking more advanced concepts, I'm talking basics. Somone who doesn't get absorbtion isn't going to get to constant shin pressure through the entire range of motion, because they don't have any range of motion yet.

And yes, one bump at a time has value. You can always disect the parts and put them together later. And by the way, most bumpers I know still ski one bump at a time.
 

Not Sure

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Definitely. It's risky but if you do it right you are officially "The Man". Actually, my friend ruptured his spleen back in college trying to do that technique on a snowboard, so you probably don't want to listen to me. :p
This quote could be in the "Word Asscoiation thread" Snowboard,Mogul,Spleen!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Edd

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And yes, one bump at a time has value. You can always disect the parts and put them together later. And by the way, most bumpers I know still ski one bump at a time.

One bump at a time...I understand your point but linking bump turns is its own tool in the box. Wouldn't you agree? I'm not a very good bump skier but I can sure as hell ski a single bump pretty well.
 

Blanton

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You both are talking more advanced concepts, I'm talking basics. Somone who doesn't get absorbtion isn't going to get to constant shin pressure through the entire range of motion, because they don't have any range of motion yet.

And yes, one bump at a time has value. You can always disect the parts and put them together later. And by the way, most bumpers I know still ski one bump at a time.

It doesn't get anymore basic than telling someone to lean forward in their boots while keeping their skis on the snow the entire time.

A 6 year old can visualize and work on that...
 

mister moose

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One bump at a time...I understand your point but linking bump turns is its own tool in the box. Wouldn't you agree? I'm not a very good bump skier but I can sure as hell ski a single bump pretty well.

Of course linking turns in bumps is worthwhile; I'd say it's more than a tool, it's the essence.

Not making insults here, but are you sure you ski one bump pretty well? I think maybe what you mean is you can get over one bump pretty well. Because if you are coming off one well skied bump, the next one should go the same way, and the next, and the next. If you are "not a very good bump skier", then what is different about the second bump that is harder than the first - technique wise?

Sometimes there is value in isolating a particular motion at a particular point in the turn, or bump. As in all things, if someone can bring you to feel it, you can then try to repeat motion that you felt over and over until you have mastered it. If you can't feel it, but can only see others do it, you aren't quite there. I think focusing on the parts sometimes is worthwhile.
 

mister moose

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It doesn't get anymore basic than telling someone to lean forward in their boots while keeping their skis on the snow the entire time.

A 6 year old can visualize and work on that...

I bet I can ski those rollers with constant pressure on the shins or boot tongues, yet not absorb anything.
 

Edd

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Of course linking turns in bumps is worthwhile; I'd say it's more than a tool, it's the essence.

Not making insults here, but are you sure you ski one bump pretty well? I think maybe what you mean is you can get over one bump pretty well. Because if you are coming off one well skied bump, the next one should go the same way, and the next, and the next. If you are "not a very good bump skier", then what is different about the second bump that is harder than the first - technique wise?

Sometimes there is value in isolating a particular motion at a particular point in the turn, or bump. As in all things, if someone can bring you to feel it, you can then try to repeat motion that you felt over and over until you have mastered it. If you can't feel it, but can only see others do it, you aren't quite there. I think focusing on the parts sometimes is worthwhile.

Mmm..you may be onto something there. I haven't had the opportunity to ski bumps this season yet. I should reassess.
 

jack97

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Not making insults here, but are you sure you ski one bump pretty well? I think maybe what you mean is you can get over one bump pretty well. Because if you are coming off one well skied bump, the next one should go the same way, and the next, and the next. If you are "not a very good bump skier", then what is different about the second bump that is harder than the first - technique wise?

Sometimes there is value in isolating a particular motion at a particular point in the turn, or bump. As in all things, if someone can bring you to feel it, you can then try to repeat motion that you felt over and over until you have mastered it. If you can't feel it, but can only see others do it, you aren't quite there. I think focusing on the parts sometimes is worthwhile.

I agree that the focus is skiing one bump well, the problem with this is when the bumps are spread between one trail and a lift ride, that ah-ha feeling gets lost when you try to get that feeling again. Sometimes you never get it again for the day.

The value in rollers and low angle bumps is repetition, you get an immediate shot of that ah-ha and hopefully it gets put into muscle memory.
 
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