Hugo Harrison sits back a lot

[koreshot]

Every instructor I have ever had has told me I suck cause I sit back too much and don't drive the tips into the snow. Yet everyone movie I have of Hugo Harrison, the fastest man on skis, he is sitting back. Why is it that he can make it work and I can't?

 

[ctenidae]

Because he's a better skier?

Seriously, I would imagine just about any technique can work, if you can make it. Hugo can sit back, others can't. Instructors teach techniques that work for the largest number of people and are easy to demonstrate and correct.

 

[riverc0il]

i have no idea who hugo harrison is who how he skis like, so i can not comment on his technique. but i can comment that getting in the back seat is almost always a sure way to lessen your control on skis. perhaps hugo skis powder and figure 11s exclusively and doesn't need to turn much or doesn't face boiler plate eastern conditions hardly ever. i am sure he would need to adjust his technique if he wanted to ski conditions similar to "eastern packed powder".

a similar comparison would also be lead guitar players from some well known bands. a lot of great lead guitar players never took a lesson in their lives and can shred some amazing licks, but their technique looks sloppy. does it matter? perhaps, maybe they could be slightly better with proper technique but if your a top dog in your field, it doesn't really matter much if you use proper technique or not, heh! in some cases, i think proper technique could reduce the effectiveness of some of the top players and skiers around that have been brought up pushing the limits doing it their own way.

 

[koreshot]

i have no idea who hugo harrison is who how he skis like, so i can not comment on his technique. but i can comment that getting in the back seat is almost always a sure way to lessen your control on skis. perhaps hugo skis powder and figure 11s exclusively and doesn't need to turn much or doesn't face boiler plate eastern conditions hardly ever. i am sure he would need to adjust his technique if he wanted to ski conditions similar to "eastern packed powder".

If i remember correctly, Hugo is from Montreal and did a bunch of juniors racing before heading out to Whistler. Given that he rocks and he has a racing background, I am sure he knows how to ski "properly" by driving the tips of the skis into the snow, but hhas adapted a back seat technique for skiing pow. His style is to ski as fast as possible, straightline whereever possible and catch huge airs on the way down.

The point of the thread wasn't as much "if he can do it, why can't i?", but its interesting to see a rippin skier technically skiing "incorrectly" and making it look sweet.

 

[2knees]

The point of the thread wasn't as much "if he can do it, why can't i?", but its interesting to see a rippin skier technically skiing "incorrectly" and making it look sweet.

some skiers, you hear the conversations on liftrides and in lodges, are way to freakin uptight about technique and form while others just go about kickin ass anyway that works. he must have some serious quad strength to pull that off however.

 

[Greg]

some skiers, you hear the conversations on liftrides and in lodges, are way to freakin uptight about technique and form while others just go about kickin ass anyway that works.

I'm kind of in the middle here. I've started to really hone in on technique a bit the past few seasons, but not at the expense of having fun. I try to work on various techniques - good hand position, balanced stance (some call it staying forward, but you actually just want to be centered, or perpendicular to the fall line), tight stance and good A&E in the bumps. Working on these concepts is fun to me, especially when what you're doing improves your overall technique. For me, good A&E in the bumps, or a good stance on steeps simply feels good which is why I primarily focus on these things. I've also skied with skiers that just like being out there, enjoying the day and cruising the hill with little regard for "proper" technique. That's cool too.

I stuggle with some back seat driving too. A bigger problem for me is crouching which naturally results in sitting back. I always try to work on raising the hips and standing taller. I'm not out there for speed necessarily though.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Back Seat

As others have stated, if something works well for you, it is not "wrong." Personally, once I totally committed to staying "centered" on my bindings, and pushing forward as conditions demanded, my skiing improved immeasureably. And while I am in excellent condition and don't have "quad burn" issues, If I spend too much time lazily "sitting back" I can get those babies pretty "warm." The more comfortable you are on your skis the easier it is to ski in virtually any position. When I find my edges losing their bite, I invariably also find myself too far back. I have taken a couple of trips out west with a guy who is a major biker (as in bicycles) who does 150 - 200 miles a week out on the road on his bike. He has absurdly developed quads, and "powers" his skis around through anything. However, he does not have really great control in many conditions. He looks like he is always on the verge of losing it, especially on serious steeps. He definitely has trouble controlling his speed and I have seen him fall far more often than I think he should. My $.02.

 

[lloyd braun]

2knees hit that nail on the head in my opinion. It would be his strength. Being strong will get you through most anything, good technique just takes less force to ski the same thing.

So go to the gym, get super strong, and then sit back and carve!

 

[koreshot]

2knees hit that nail on the head in my opinion. It would be his strength. Being strong will get you through most anything, good technique just takes less force to ski the same thing.

So go to the gym, get super strong, and then sit back and carve!

Either that or Hugo has figured out that skiing as fast as he does, being a bit back is better. His segment in MSPs "Year Book" is sick - he takes a huge crash which helps put the speed into perspective.

 

[2knees]

I'm kind of in the middle here. I've started to really hone in on technique a bit the past few seasons, but not at the expense of having fun. I try to work on various techniques - good hand position, balanced stance (some call it staying forward, but you actually just want to be centered, or perpendicular to the fall line), tight stance and good A&E in the bumps. Working on these concepts is fun to me, especially when what you're doing improves your overall technique. For me, good A&E in the bumps, or a good stance on steeps simply feels good which is why I primarily focus on these things. I've also skied with skiers that just like being out there, enjoying the day and cruising the hill with little regard for "proper" technique. That's cool too.

I stuggle with some back seat driving too. A bigger problem for me is crouching which naturally results in sitting back. I always try to work on raising the hips and standing taller. I'm not out there for speed necessarily though.

For us mere mortals, analyzing and improving your technique is important to becoming a better skier. when you reach the level of guys like harrison, it almost becomes a mute point. If he can drill this stuff sitting in a laz-e-boy, then all the more power to him.

 

[2knees]

2knees hit that nail on the head in my opinion. It would be his strength. Being strong will get you through most anything, good technique just takes less force to ski the same thing.

So go to the gym, get super strong, and then sit back and carve!

not sure but it sounds like you're busting my stones. I wasnt suggesting technique should be ignored and the key is just to muscle up like a gorilla and bull your way through. Just that when you reach a level like this guy, who cares, it works for him. Backseat skiing will get most people in big trouble on anything challenging and makes for higher chances of blowing an acl.

 

[JimG.]

Most folks sit back to lower their center of gravity. It makes them feel safer on snow.

Perhaps speed skiers and straightliners use a similar technique for that reason. Although I doubt anyone who skis at 125MPH regularly cares that much about being safe.

 

[thaller1]

My experience is that instructors teach you to work the front because most skiers are on groomed and/or bumps..with little powder...

Hugo skis steep powder runs.. if he leans forward he goes over... he needs to lean back to push threw the snow and keep from going 10000 miles an hour..

imo

 

[jack97]

Even at the highest level, a handfull of skiers can get by on their physical skill and not rely on techinques. Bode Miller gets away on the backseat because he has strength, balance (see him T bone and do a one ski down the race course) and quick reactions. I think if he skis more conventionaly, he negates his physical advantages.

Reminds of the time I talked to my kids' tennis instructor, he said that the Williams sister has lousy technique in their swing and their body position is lousy when they approach the ball. Both are sucessfull due to their strength and foot speed to the point where they can win major tournaments.

 

[Greg]

..........Bode Miller..........I think if he skis more conventionaly, he negates his physical advantages.

VERY well said...

 

[lloyd braun]

not sure but it sounds like you're busting my stones. I wasnt suggesting technique should be ignored and the key is just to muscle up like a gorilla and bull your way through. Just that when you reach a level like this guy, who cares, it works for him. Backseat skiing will get most people in big trouble on anything challenging and makes for higher chances of blowing an acl.

2knees, I was not trying to bust balls at all. I was agreeing with you, just saying it in a different way, but I think I failed at my point!

So here goes again.

Strong people with poor skills get by on their muscle strengh. Not as strong people with great skills get by using the skills.

A Powerful body can pull you out of trouble, just as skill and technique.

A powerful body with great skills is the best combo.

make sense?

I'm an idiot!

 

[2knees]

2knees, I was not trying to bust balls at all. I was agreeing with you, just saying it in a different way, but I think I failed at my point!

I think your point was clear but my reading comprehension sucked. sorry bout that.

 

[mattchuck2]

Looks like a pretty good stance to me.

Sometimes when pitches get steeper, it gives the optical illusion of someone leaning back.

Also, the dude has enormous thighs and is in sick shape, so he can probably get away with being pitched back a little (say, on the landing of a 50-footer) and pop back up using his quad muscles.

In order to get the most out of your skis, you have to be able to pressure the area of the ski around the toepiece and the ball of your foot. It's usually tough to accomplish that if you're in the back seat.

 

[salida]

If you had Quads the size of British Columbia you could sit back all you want... Since they are reduced to mere mortal size, you have to ski like what you are a mortal.

These guys didn't get so good by being scrawny. gah, go drink another beer or do some squats, or both!

 

[riverc0il]

like someone else said, there can be the illusion that people are sitting back in certain terrain. for example, bode miller. i wouldn't exactly say that he skis in the back seat. pro racers get some extreme angles that may look like they are hanging back, but if you aren't centered on hard pack, you can not easily dig in an edge. regarding skiing pow, lets not forget you don't want to be in the back seat when skiing pow.. i look at pow skiing as being centered whereas regular skiing on hard pack you want to be forward. perhaps skiing steep figure 11's requires you to lean back a bit or perhaps that is the natural position when you are dropping 50+ degrees without turning at high speeds. who knows. the dude makes it work. like i mentioned with my guitar pro ananology, a lot of people at the top of their game do not use "proper form" and they excel and might even take steps back ward if they relearned proper form. that is cool, what ever works. though these folks should not be used as examples that other folks shouldn't be learning proper technique.