Best Tips for Adv. Intermediate moving from Blue to Black

[Paul]

yeah like I said, You are skiing along making a turn up on your egdes when the terrain becomes more steep or more icy, whatever, so you bring the skis up on edge more to get them to "bite" better. Or the the terrain gets softer or you run into some bumps, so you flatten the skii more so you can slide a little more.

Try that exercise sometime that I talked about above. Traverse across the slope up on your edges and while going across the slope vary how much you are angleing the skis. Flatten them, edge them, flatten them, edge them, to see how much you can affect how they are cutting into the snow and how that affects how the ski turns. That way next time you find yourself suddenly in icy conditions you are not tempted to slide, you have the confidence to keep the skis up on edge and cut into the ice/hardpack instead of standing up and suddenly flattening the skis.

Cool, thanks for that, DEVO ,I'm going to try that next time out.

 

[jack97]

Embrace the ice...make it your friend. Start on some low angle ice, learn to turn and feather your edges so you skid as little as possible, then move up progressively to steeper terrain. Learn to keep your feet moving and making turns no matter what.

Try that exercise sometime that I talked about above. Traverse across the slope up on your edges and while going across the slope vary how much you are angleing the skis. Flatten them, edge them, flatten them, edge them, to see how much you can affect how they are cutting into the snow and how that affects how the ski turns. That way next time you find yourself suddenly in icy conditions you are not tempted to slide, you have the confidence to keep the skis up on edge and cut into the ice/hardpack instead of standing up and suddenly flattening the skis.

Great idea and exercise. My take on this is; don't waste an "easy" trail run or a day out on the hill even if condition are "lousy". Plenty of things you can work on in either case.

 

[Brettski]

Take Group lessons as much as possible...and besides, it's a great way to neat lift lines in the afternoon

 

[Grassi21]

Take Group lessons as much as possible...and besides, it's a great way to neat lift lines in the afternoon

Let me take this one step further. Take group lessons midweek during the work day if possible. Even if 2 or 3 people show for a lesson you still pay the same price. I've been in weekend lessons where the groups are 6+ people. Can't beat a 2:1 or 3:1 student teacher ratio.

 

[wintersyndrome]

As the great Charles de Mar said: "Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn."

if you a fan of '80's movies you'll get the joke---(10 points to anyone that can name the movie)

Though seriousley there are alot of good points here, skiing with people above your ability level will help break you out of your comfort zone, for me anytime ive broken from the comfort zone ive noticed improvement, also consecutive days on the slopes always seems to help for me anytime I spend multiple days, even if its just a weekend, I think it has something to do with muscle memory. For me not looking at trail signs and not letting the symbols get in my head helpsed as well , I found that sometimes its a mental thing preventing me from tackling terrain I didnt even know I could do. and once I got beyond that I could ski the K-12

"and if you ski the K-12 and girls will go sterile just looking at you!"...especially on one ski

 

[RISkier]

Let me take this one step further. Take group lessons midweek during the work day if possible. Even if 2 or 3 people show for a lesson you still pay the same price. I've been in weekend lessons where the groups are 6+ people. Can't beat a 2:1 or 3:1 student teacher ratio.

Lessons and mileage would be my advice. But keep in mind that instructors are not created equal. Teaching beginners and near beginners is one thing, trying to bring an advanced intermediate to the next level is another. I'd consider private or semi-private lessons. But before you go that route, make sure you find someone who comes highly recommended. Don't know where you ski but folks on here or other ski forums may be able to give specific recommendations. I could give you a couple of names at Stowe and I know of a person at Sugarbush who's been highly recommended. If you don't have specific names, ask for a recently certified PSIA level 3 instructor. I'm not suggesting you wouldn't get good lessons from a 1 or 2, but recently certified level 3s can really ski. If you don't want to pay for lessons you might consider looking at some instructional books for drills. I think the All Mountain Skier by Mark Elling is good and I'm pretty impressed with everything that Lito Tejada-Flores has done.

 

[Grassi21]

I think the All Mountain Skier by Mark Elling is good and I'm pretty impressed with everything that Lito Tejada-Flores has done.

All Mountain Skier is a great book! I have AMS and Dan Dipiro's book on my coffee table at all times. Which reminds me... I need to review Mr. Dipiro's stuff before I hit the slopes tomorrow.

 

[DEVO]

As the great Charles de Mar said: "Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn."

if you a fan of '80's movies you'll get the joke---(10 points to anyone that can name the movie)

Though seriousley there are alot of good points here, skiing with people above your ability level will help break you out of your comfort zone, for me anytime ive broken from the comfort zone ive noticed improvement, also consecutive days on the slopes always seems to help for me anytime I spend multiple days, even if its just a weekend, I think it has something to do with muscle memory. For me not looking at trail signs and not letting the symbols get in my head helpsed as well , I found that sometimes its a mental thing preventing me from tackling terrain I didnt even know I could do. and once I got beyond that I could ski the K-12

"and if you ski the K-12 and girls will go sterile just looking at you!"...especially on one ski

Better off Dead! Whoo hoo 10 points!! yeah!


...what do I do with 10 points?

"I want my two dollars!"

 

[hammer]

Nice post. :beer:

I agree. Get out as much as possible. It's all about the miles. That reminds me. Time to go skiing after this post! :idea:

Three other things:

1 - Work on good hand position
2 - Work on keeping your upper body still & square to the fall line, i.e. separation.
3 - Read this thread:
http://forums.alpinezone.com/7345-terminal-intermediate.html

Welcome to the forums!

Thanks for the link back...ended up being a bit of a "refresher" course for me.

I'd like to chime in on the value of night skiing...it's a good way to get mileage and, for me at least, the reduced light makes the terrain look less steep so my comfort level is increased.

 

[snowmonster]

All Mountain Skier is a great book! I have AMS and Dan Dipiro's book on my coffee table at all times. Which reminds me... I need to review Mr. Dipiro's stuff before I hit the slopes tomorrow.

All Mountain Skier by Mark Elling was my book last year and it was great for explaining technique. The exercises got tedious though and I was getting lost on some technical aspects. The toolbox approach is great but with so many tools discussed, you got impatient with the book. Seems you needed one long season just to build the toolbox. I would say that this book is great for folks who are at an advanced level and want to take it to another level. Definitely a book for refining technique.

Picked up Breakthrough on the New Skis by Lito Tejada Flores early this season. It's an easier read since the writing style is more narrative and he takes you progressively through the lessons. It's simple. Each chapter works on one main skill broken down into three or four key concepts which you should try out on the hill. It really feels like a long ski lesson. It's aimed at low to medium intermediates who want to progress. It may be too elementary for advanced skiers but I think it works for its intended audience (those who want to break out of "intermediate blues" like me). I like the writing style and the clarity of the lessons helped me out a lot. On the slopes, I just concentrate on what I need to do without cluttering my mind with too many concepts. Definitely a good read for a blue skier going into blacks.

Gee, haven't done a book report since middle school -- but there it is!

 

[mattchuck2]

I'm an instructor, and I have to tell you, "hands forward" is the most overused and lamest advice to give people. I constantly see people who are terrible skiers who have their hands locked forward as if that's going to save them on Outer Limits (Goat, Rumor, etc.). They look like freaking robots coming down the hill . . . no style, no ability to transfer weight, no independent lower half of the body, and no smooth transition (which is what truly separates intermediate skiers from advanced skiers)

The better advice to give to people is "hips forward". You can have your hands forward all you want, but if your ass is way back behind your heelpieces, you're not long for the trail.

 

[dmc]

The better advice to give to people is "hips forward". You can have your hands forward all you want, but if your ass is way back behind your heelpieces, you're not long for the trail.

I remember the saying..
"Don't sh*t your turns - f*ck your turns"

 

[Greg]

I'm an instructor, and I have to tell you, "hands forward" is the most overused and lamest advice to give people. I constantly see people who are terrible skiers who have their hands locked forward as if that's going to save them on Outer Limits (Goat, Rumor, etc.). They look like freaking robots coming down the hill . . . no style, no ability to transfer weight, no independent lower half of the body, and no smooth transition (which is what truly separates intermediate skiers from advanced skiers)

The better advice to give to people is "hips forward". You can have your hands forward all you want, but if your ass is way back behind your heelpieces, you're not long for the trail.

Lighten the F up. :roll: I'm just conveying what's worked for me, and as many here can attest, I truly am a radical skier...

 

[jack97]

I'm just conveying what's worked for me, ...

We're all wired a little different. Sometimes its; hands forward, hip forward, edge awareness, playing w/ turn radius, comfort on terrain and conditions. What ever works. My biggest breakthough was more ankle flex.

IMO, from what I see in the slope, the differences between the intermediates to the advance is both hip forward and ankle flex. Without these, you can't make those pretty turns.

 

[Marc]

I'm an instructor, and I have to tell you, "hands forward" is the most overused and lamest advice to give people. I constantly see people who are terrible skiers who have their hands locked forward as if that's going to save them on Outer Limits (Goat, Rumor, etc.). They look like freaking robots coming down the hill . . . no style, no ability to transfer weight, no independent lower half of the body, and no smooth transition (which is what truly separates intermediate skiers from advanced skiers)

The better advice to give to people is "hips forward". You can have your hands forward all you want, but if your ass is way back behind your heelpieces, you're not long for the trail.

I knew there was a good reason I've never taken a lesson from an instructor.

 

[Paul]

Lighten the F up. :roll: I'm just conveying what's worked for me, and as many here can attest, I truly am a radical skier...

Yeah, Greg can pretty much get some sweet air.

 

[wintersyndrome]

Better off Dead! Whoo hoo 10 points!! yeah!


...what do I do with 10 points?

"I want my two dollars!"

Sorry my grandmother dropped acid this morning and hijacked a bus full of penguins...kind of a family crisis...

 

[tjf67]

I have never taken a lesson but have assisted people trying to advance there abilities. I always say I dont care how you look. What is important is that you stay out over your skiis and make a lot of turns. As many as you can. Practice on an intermediate trail by making as many turns as you can is a six foot wide path. Once you have mastered this not matter what you look like you are ready to take it to the next level.
It all about being in control. If you can stay in control of speed then you can go anywhere. Case and point. My girl. She can skii just about anything. She does not always look pretty but when you look at her you can tell she is control. Lots of turns in a narrow space. This techniques has allowed her to go down the likes of Empire at whiteface as well as the steeps in Snowbird. While not the fastest skier I am comfortable with her going anywhere cause she is in control.
When in doubt snowplow it out. Great for lots of short turns

Instructors can be great but have to keep there ego in check

 

[mfi]

I've taken some good lessons at Hunter. This past one was pretty good. Identified some probs i didn't know I had with upper lower body seperation. The jists of the lesson: keep facing down that fall line, don't let you're body turn towards the direction you are skiing unless you are making a direction change. And better pole plants in the bumps. We'll see how this all works out this week.

 

[Marc]

I've taken some good lessons at Hunter. This past one was pretty good. Identified some probs i didn't know I had with upper lower body seperation. The jists of the lesson: keep facing down that fall line, don't let you're body turn towards the direction you are skiing unless you are making a direction change. And better pole plants in the bumps. We'll see how this all works out this week.

Like JimG always says and has helped me a lot - pole touches, not plants. You shouldn't have to put weight on the pole because you should be balanced enough not to have to. Then when you come across really soft ones you won't end up sinking your pole two feet into the damn thing.