How old is too old....

[jrmagic]

That looked painful I'm all for getting air and dropping reasnoable ledges but there's no way I'm ever going to be trying 360s at this point. I'm 45 and haven't tried one in at least 20 years. I pulled a few off back then but I was about 50/50 with some nasty wipeouts.

 

[troy]

def street cred for tryin'

 

[jaywbigred]

Kickers in the moguls tend to be rutted, so it helps to pop and then rotate so your tails don't get hung up. Contrary to what you see in the park, where kids are winding up and starting to rotate before leaving the (smooth/manicured) jump.

Well this was in the park so I was trying the wind-up, pre-rotation sort of method. It didn't cross my mind that since it hadn't been below freezing in weeks, even the normally smooth/manicured park kickers would be soft/rutted and not allow for the early wind-up/rotation. So I think I caught the edge in the soft snow/rut as a result of the conditions more so than my form. If I had it to do over, I guess I would rotate a touch later.

it actually looked good, catching the edges is what screwed it up. If you hadn';t done that you might have landed it. I'll show it to Iceman tonight and see if he has an idea why you caught the edge (besides just unlucky)

I agree, I think the edge was to blame. If you watch it in "slow mo" you see my right ski especially dig in and then an explosion of snow as it finally is released. The split second it is caught is what turns me somewhat inverted and also stops my rotation.

 

[twinplanx]

So... I guess 40 is to old to attempt "catching air"(not even sure if thats what the kids are calling theses days ) in the Half-Pipe? Only really tried one time, and that didn't end so well...landed on the deck instead of back on the wall Would like to check it off my list someday. Seems easier then all the twisting involved w/ a 360...? I have no problem reaching the top of the walls in most pipes, think its just a mental barrier that keeps my skis on the snow...oh well maybe next year

 

[jaywbigred]

OUCH! No spinning for me. I just jump straight and not very far. :lol:
You say "continue"? How many times have you tried it and crashed?

Let's see.

1992 - 2002 (ages 12-22) - never tried one. Terrain parks were just starting to pop up more frequently as I graduated college.

2002 - 2005 - skied 5 days while in grad school

2006 - no attempts. adjusting back to skiing regularly and the concept of wearing a helmet. Also, what are these twin tip thingys? Purchased carving skis.
2007 - 4 late season attempts off a non-park, side of the trail kicker in the snow. Lots of landing 180 unintended. On carving skis.
2008 - 40+ attempts on a tiny kicker I built at a school in NJ after a snowfall with a friend. Run-in and run-out were way too short. Kicker was way too small. On carving skis.
2009 - 6 attempts with an instructor at Stowe. Closest I've come. After landing 180 (unintended) a few times, I was able to get my chest/head around but not my skis on a couple attempts. On mogul skis.
2010 - 12+ attempts in Grommet Terrain park (XS features) at Mt. Snow. I think these kickers are the ideal size but the run-in is not steep enough to get enough speed. On twin tips.
2011 - No attempts. Spent the late season getting used to bigger kickers in the Medium sized park at Carinthia. On twin tips.
2012 - 2 attempts. The video is of the second. The first one was a 180 off the same jump where I just stopped rotating. I had plenty of air, I just forgot to keep turning my head. Rode it out until I hit a bump and then fell slowly. Video is second attempt. On twin tips.

Were you trying just a 360?It looks like your looking to invert.First,you don't need to use such a big kicker for a 360.Something 1/2 that size is plenty and will save ou many hard lumps.

The invert is from catching the edge; it was almost like my legs got lassoed and pulled back while the rest of my body kept going.

I was thinking the same thing about the kicker. I wish Mt. Snow had a Grommet sized kicker on a slightly steeper trail. I shouldn't need that much air too spin, esp. since I consider myself relatively quick/agile even at my age. Foot speed and quickness were always my strengths when I played team sports and also why I think I enjoy moguls so much.

 

[bigbog]

Kudos to attempting a "3" JBR...especially with the horrible conditions.
Edge issues all over in the junk that we have remaining....

 

[RENO]

Well this was in the park so I was trying the wind-up, pre-rotation sort of method. It didn't cross my mind that since it hadn't been below freezing in weeks, even the normally smooth/manicured park kickers would be soft/rutted and not allow for the early wind-up/rotation. So I think I caught the edge in the soft snow/rut as a result of the conditions more so than my form. If I had it to do over, I guess I would rotate a touch later.



I agree, I think the edge was to blame. If you watch it in "slow mo" you see my right ski especially dig in and then an explosion of snow as it finally is released. The split second it is caught is what turns me somewhat inverted and also stops my rotation.

What kind of skis are you using? You could try some park/rockered skis. Less chance catching an edge...

 

[SkiDork]

Iceman says:

you're taking off heavy weighted on one foot, probably the right side. What you want to do is keep yourself totally platform, even weighted. Then you want to pop off the jump, then when you;'re in the air - rotate. You want to get off the jump before you rotate.

 

[Cheese]

Iceman says:

you're taking off heavy weighted on one foot, probably the right side. What you want to do is keep yourself totally platform, even weighted. Then you want to pop off the jump, then when you;'re in the air - rotate. You want to get off the jump before you rotate.

+1

Also looks like you wound up with your eyes looking at the jump. You want your head spun around like an owls so that even if you land switch you're still looking forward.

46 and still spinning btw.

 

[Tooth]

Have you tried smaller hits before? Do you need your hands, arms, or legs to work for your livelihood? Have you messed around on a trampoline ever? I am all for progression. What concerns me is the attempt does resemble more of a cork than a 360. I'd hate to see you land on your head. Talk to a kid in the park who can come with you and see you in person. Tough to get solid advice without being up close and right there. Smallest of details are huge. You know what I mean. I am impressed with your cojones. Once you master this your skiing will go next level. You'll start hitting it switch. Look out.

 

[Glenn]

I still need to try this...probably next year. :lol:

 

[Nick]

I used to do them but its been 7 years now

 

[2knees]

stole this out of the bump or bust thread. this should be titled spin cycle for all the 3's and 7's in here. maybe it'll help, probably not.

 

[gmcunni]

stole this out of the bump or bust thread. this should be titled spin cycle for all the 3's and 7's in here. maybe it'll help, probably not.

looks easy, don't it?

 

[2knees]

looks easy, don't it?

no kidding. i watched this the other night for the first time. It's gotten crazy the last two years. we are out of our element.

 

[Nick]

no kidding. i watched this the other night for the first time. It's gotten crazy the last two years. we are out of our element.

that's sickening. I suck at skiing. Lol.

 

[2knees]

that's sickening. I suck at skiing. Lol.

you know what blew my mind about that day, there was a kid who literally was snowplowing down course yet he threw 720's. I have never seen anything like it before. I dont mean like step turns, it was a full blown snowplow at times.

 

[bigbog]

you know what blew my mind about that day, there was a kid who literally was snowplowing down course yet he threw 720's. I have never seen anything like it before. I dont mean like step turns, it was a full blown snowplow at times.

Doesn't surprise me......that's what all the young kids are practicing. I'm not on top of the video scene but in video after video these days the only edge-control seen is the traversing on 90mm+ skis from jump to jump....(insert Yawn smilie).

 

[Abubob]

Looks like you started your spin before you left the lip! :lol:

Away back in 1975 is the last time I attempted a "helicopter". All I ever did was manage to land a 180 and land switch. See? - I was WAY ahead of my time.

What I notice from 2knees vid and what I've read its easier to spin in a compact shape. The best spins I saw on the video were tips dropped with arms and legs tucked tight rather than straight out.

At 53 (next season 54) I'm still trying to psych myself up to hit the park jumps. I know if I can get enough air time my confidence might built enough to try again. Who knows? I might be dumb enough to try it. :dunce:

 

[Cheese]

At 53 (next season 54) I'm still trying to psych myself up to hit the park jumps. I know if I can get enough air time my confidence might built enough to try again. Who knows? I might be dumb enough to try it. :dunce:

Uh, think twice my friend. I don't know what kind of helicopters you did in the past but airtime has changed the sport considerably. I'm able to spin the 20' and 30' foot hits but when it gets above that I just can't spin slow enough. What that means is the 360 you didn't think you'd make now over rotates to 540 or some other rotation that ends just as poorly. Compound that with the fact that you can't hit a big jump slow anymore unless you want to case it on a table top and splat but hard. I stick to the simpler combinations when I hit the big ones so I at least make it to the downhill part of the landing and spin on the little ones. I'd suggest you try the same.