uphillklimber
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- Mar 16, 2003
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Folks, I've been skiing downhill since 1997. I started out in 1979 doing cross country, and pretty much self taught myself to ski downhill, just keep trying and find something that works. I have taken some lessons here and there, but no series of them. Never been on a ski team or race team. Certainly having tons of fun. As a result, however, I have learned a good many bad habits over the 2 decades of skiing.
Last year, I joined Primetime ski club at Sunday River ( a group for over 50's folks, gasp!!!) So nowadays, I always have someone to ski with. And of course, that means someone who is better than me. I love to ski behind them, emulating their moves. They give me pointers, and I practice them. It's tough, as an old dog, learning new habits, but what a difference!
We skied cascades the other day when the whales were all moguled up. I love skiing them, but I struggle in moguls. So I followed my ski buddy, and shocker, I was skiing them, with confidence and a bit of style, not having to stop because I barely survived going over that last one. No, I have not "arrived" yet and I'm sure I'm gonna have an awesome yard sale this year, but wow, what a difference, actually working on form and style improves the skiing.
What about you folks? Who has done it like I did, self taught, then have to unlearn the bad habits? Who took just one lesson to get them going? Who was on the ski team and got tons of lessons and practice as a youth?
More importantly, what has most benefitted you, and what didn't really seem to matter?
Folks, I've been skiing downhill since 1997. I started out in 1979 doing cross country, and pretty much self taught myself to ski downhill, just keep trying and find something that works. I have taken some lessons here and there, but no series of them. Never been on a ski team or race team. Certainly having tons of fun. As a result, however, I have learned a good many bad habits over the 2 decades of skiing.
Last year, I joined Primetime ski club at Sunday River ( a group for over 50's folks, gasp!!!) So nowadays, I always have someone to ski with. And of course, that means someone who is better than me. I love to ski behind them, emulating their moves. They give me pointers, and I practice them. It's tough, as an old dog, learning new habits, but what a difference!
We skied cascades the other day when the whales were all moguled up. I love skiing them, but I struggle in moguls. So I followed my ski buddy, and shocker, I was skiing them, with confidence and a bit of style, not having to stop because I barely survived going over that last one. No, I have not "arrived" yet and I'm sure I'm gonna have an awesome yard sale this year, but wow, what a difference, actually working on form and style improves the skiing.
What about you folks? Who has done it like I did, self taught, then have to unlearn the bad habits? Who took just one lesson to get them going? Who was on the ski team and got tons of lessons and practice as a youth?
More importantly, what has most benefitted you, and what didn't really seem to matter?
The only way to become a good skier is to take many, many private lessons and practice drills on boring groomers until you can make a perfect, symmetrical, PSAI approved railroad track carve.
LOL!The only way to become a good skier is to take many, many private lessons and practice drills on boring groomers until you can make a perfect, symmetrical, PSAI approved railroad track carve.
I wouldn't call myself "self-taught". I struggled when I started so I took a fair amount of lessons just to get comfortable on skis.I have learned a good many bad habits over the 2 decades of skiing.
What about you folks? Who has done it like I did, self taught, then have to unlearn the bad habits?
This really resonates with me. I used to have a mentality of "the skier makes the ski, not the other way around" as well. I didn't get shaped skis until 2007 when I was skiing and struggling at mammoth. While I do have a few pairs of skis in my quiver, I'd like to think I can ski most terrain with any given ski, albeit with a few exceptions.I used to think a good skier can make any equipment work, and I still think that is true. But the equipment can make a huge difference for you as well. Years back, I remember skiing a trail I had done many times in the past, and I was struggling. WTH!!! I know I am a better skier than this. I tried everything, including going to a boot fitter. Turns out my boots, while very comfy, were 2 sizes too big. My feet were basically floating around in them and I had no good interface with the skis. No wonder I couldn't control the skis. He set me up with the proper size boots and got them plenty comfy for me.
More on gear: Last year, I joined up with a ski group at the River. We always joked how I liked to ski about 50 MPH, straight. They suggested maybe I should learn this turning thing. I tried, but basically, my 8 year old AC-3's liked going straight and they would plow thru crud, which I really loved. Turning.... not so much. I'd have to unweight the ski, do a skid turn, etc.... They would turn from the front, but not well, at least for me. I demoed a pair of RTM81's, and my first description of those skis was "nimble". I could turn those skis like nothing! I'm actually enjoying carving up a slope leaving railroad tracks behind me.... well mostly, still need more practice. (Tell you what, I'll go get some practice today!!!!).
ABC, your last statement is so true!I am far from a perfect skier and I absolutely love skiing. And, as I learn the various tips and pointers, the enjoyment level is going up!