Skiing Technique / Photo Critique Thread

[jack97]

all this bump talked has me jacked.

You're killing me! All this talk about bumping. I feel like a sailor stuck on the ship ported next to the harbor town.

BTW, jack is a noun not a verb or an adjective.

 

[jack97]

Keep 'em coming...

Depending on how far you want to take this, check out the instructional vid from Mogul Logic. Lots of good stuff in there, its all about skiing moguls like the pros and is still applicable to non pros like us. Exactly the same as Dan Dipiro mentions in his book. Just to give you a tidbit, check out this other youtube vid from the Killington team, 3 min and 20 sec into it, the turns they make are specific to how you want to take it into the bumps. Martin explains why, use the knees to drive the turn, less hip angulation and more stuff I haven't thought about. They do it this way to make sure you get into a ready position for the A&E. John Smart who runs another mogul camp has another good video, but can't find it in the web.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmIakNCun7U

Martin's video
http://www.mogullogic.com/video.html

 

[2knees]

You're killing me! All this talk about bumping. I feel like a sailor stuck on the ship ported next to the harbor town.

BTW, jack is a noun not a verb or an adjective.

jack as in he got JACKED UP!

Its killing me too. I know you're laid up but i couldnt get out either this weekend and i bet saturday must've been downright mogul heaven just about anywhere.

 

[SkiDork]

Nice vid. Iceman may want to go to KMS when he gets older...

 

[Goblin84]

oh ski academys. Ive had a couple roommates that have gone, SMS and CVA. My ideal job (well...ideal in the sense I could ski) would be to get a job as a college counselor at an academy. but I just say that joking around

 

[awf170]

Here is a video from me at Wawa the other night: (I'll have a few more clips when I have some more time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myoEan2AFXo

Basically this was my 6th day ever really skiing moguls . Like actually thinking about it instead of zing-zanging my way down. I consider myself a decent glades skier so I think that helped a lot. I went from hating moguls last season to absolutely loving them now.


Also, I know basic things like how my legs are too far apart, pole plants suck, etc. I'm sorta looking for tips on how to improve these things.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Here is a video from me at Wawa the other night: (I'll have a few more clips when I have some more time)

Basically this was my 6th day ever really skiing moguls . Like actually thinking about it instead of zing-zanging my way down. I consider myself a decent glades skier so I think that helped a lot. I went from hating moguls last season to absolutely loving them now.


Also, I know basic things like how my legs are too far apart, pole plants suck, etc. I'm sorta looking for tips on how to improve these things.

If you come over to my new forum, http://forums.mogulskiing.net and post this vid, you might get some more advice and thoughts. But, for starters:

You're definitely on the right track.

First thing that stuck out was the pole plants. You hold your poles too far apart. You want to hold them in front of you at all times, as though you are holding a tray... a little more than shoulder-width apart. Then your plant should just be a flick of the wrist. Pole plants should never be used as a pivot or as a stopping tool in the bumps. Just lightly tap the downhill side of the bump.

You'll want to work on tightening your stance. The best way to do this is to practice on the groomers. Just focus on getting the skis so close together that your boots are touching each other. I'll try to get a picture of the tips of my K2 Cabrawlers so you can see what a close stance means! Once you've mastered making quick rotary turns on the groomers with your skis real tight, then head for a lower pitch bump run, and work your way up. It will come with practice.

Also, be certain to always stand tall; never crouch. Make sure you maintain constant shin-to-tongue pressure between your legs and boots, and keep your hips up.

And, as everyone hears upon asking for bump advice... A&E. Absorb with your knees when you approach and attack the bump, then extend back into the upright position in the trough. There are two basic ways to drill A&E: rollers or traversing a low grade bump run. If you can find some rollers to play on, absorb them as your skis go up them, then extend between them. Same idea if you can't find rollers... traverse yourself across a bump run, absorbing each bump as your skis hit them, then extend between. Once you get the feel for it, it will just start to work. It's one of those epiphanic moments.

Something to remember as you work on your bump technique: don't get carried away with speed. Technique first, speed later. Don't try to rip a zipper-line as fast as you can until you've learned the technique first.

 

[Marc]

You're killing me! All this talk about bumping. I feel like a sailor stuck on the ship ported next to the harbor town.

BTW, jack is a noun not a verb or an adjective.

What the hell? Of course it's a verb (and a noun). Haven't you ever jacked up a car?

C'mon mang, I'm an engineer, and even I know that.

 

[Greg]

If you come over to my new forum, http://forums.mogulskiing.net and post this vid, you might get some more advice and thoughts. But, for starters:

You're definitely on the right track.

First thing that stuck out was the pole plants. You hold your poles too far apart. You want to hold them in front of you at all times, as though you are holding a tray... a little more than shoulder-width apart. Then your plant should just be a flick of the wrist. Pole plants should never be used as a pivot or as a stopping tool in the bumps. Just lightly tap the downhill side of the bump.

You'll want to work on tightening your stance. The best way to do this is to practice on the groomers. Just focus on getting the skis so close together that your boots are touching each other. I'll try to get a picture of the tips of my K2 Cabrawlers so you can see what a close stance means! Once you've mastered making quick rotary turns on the groomers with your skis real tight, then head for a lower pitch bump run, and work your way up. It will come with practice.

Also, be certain to always stand tall; never crouch. Make sure you maintain constant shin-to-tongue pressure between your legs and boots, and keep your hips up.

And, as everyone hears upon asking for bump advice... A&E. Absorb with your knees when you approach and attack the bump, then extend back into the upright position in the trough. There are two basic ways to drill A&E: rollers or traversing a low grade bump run. If you can find some rollers to play on, absorb them as your skis go up them, then extend between them. Same idea if you can't find rollers... traverse yourself across a bump run, absorbing each bump as your skis hit them, then extend between. Once you get the feel for it, it will just start to work. It's one of those epiphanic moments.

Something to remember as you work on your bump technique: don't get carried away with speed. Technique first, speed later. Don't try to rip a zipper-line as fast as you can until you've learned the technique first.

BMM nailed it all. Stance seemed to be your biggest issue. You can't A&E well if you have one ski "walking" up the bump while the other drops in the trough. My advice? Squeeze your knees; your skis will follow. This is something I've been working on this season as well. You look pretty damn good though. Keep at it and ski the bumps a lot even when they're frozen and hard. When you get on hero bumps like you have now, you'll really rip. Those lines look sweet up there.

 

[JimG.]

Something to remember as you work on your bump technique: don't get carried away with speed. Technique first, speed later. Don't try to rip a zipper-line as fast as you can until you've learned the technique first.

This is really a great tip...something I have to remind myself of at the start of each day.

Austin, you might want to get a pair of adjustable poles and try shorter pole lengths...those poles you're using look way too long. That might be one reason why your pole touches are so heavy at times and non-existant at others. And it might be why you hold them so far out and not shoulder width apart. Pole movement should be a flick of the wrist, not a flailing of the whole arm.

That said, you have come a long way in bumps.

 

[Greg]

I've got this on the mogulskiing.net forum too, but what the hell. This is from Tuesday night. Low-angle bumps:

http://www.gregblasko.com/skivids/sundown_greg_031307.wmv

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.

 

[bvibert]

I've got this on the mogulskiing.net forum too, but what the hell. This is from Tuesday night. Low-angle bumps:

http://www.gregblasko.com/skivids/sundown_greg_031307.wmv

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.

That came out good, now where's the one of me??

 

[BushMogulMaster]

This is really a great tip...something I have to remind myself of at the start of each day.

Austin, you might want to get a pair of adjustable poles and try shorter pole lengths...those poles you're using look way too long. That might be one reason why your pole touches are so heavy at times and non-existant at others. And it might be why you hold them so far out and not shoulder width apart. Pole movement should be a flick of the wrist, not a flailing of the whole arm.

That said, you have come a long way in bumps.

You're right about the poles. I forgot to mention that. To determine proper bump pole length, determine the proper groomer length, and take off 4-6". I'm 5'9" and skiing with 42" poles. Normal groomer poles for me would be 46 or 48". I find that the 42" poles are great... they never end up back behind me and getting caught on bumps.

 

[awf170]

If you come over to my new forum, http://forums.mogulskiing.net and post this vid, you might get some more advice and thoughts. But, for starters:

You're definitely on the right track.

First thing that stuck out was the pole plants. You hold your poles too far apart. You want to hold them in front of you at all times, as though you are holding a tray... a little more than shoulder-width apart. Then your plant should just be a flick of the wrist. Pole plants should never be used as a pivot or as a stopping tool in the bumps. Just lightly tap the downhill side of the bump.

You'll want to work on tightening your stance. The best way to do this is to practice on the groomers. Just focus on getting the skis so close together that your boots are touching each other. I'll try to get a picture of the tips of my K2 Cabrawlers so you can see what a close stance means! Once you've mastered making quick rotary turns on the groomers with your skis real tight, then head for a lower pitch bump run, and work your way up. It will come with practice.

Also, be certain to always stand tall; never crouch. Make sure you maintain constant shin-to-tongue pressure between your legs and boots, and keep your hips up.

And, as everyone hears upon asking for bump advice... A&E. Absorb with your knees when you approach and attack the bump, then extend back into the upright position in the trough. There are two basic ways to drill A&E: rollers or traversing a low grade bump run. If you can find some rollers to play on, absorb them as your skis go up them, then extend between them. Same idea if you can't find rollers... traverse yourself across a bump run, absorbing each bump as your skis hit them, then extend between. Once you get the feel for it, it will just start to work. It's one of those epiphanic moments.

Something to remember as you work on your bump technique: don't get carried away with speed. Technique first, speed later. Don't try to rip a zipper-line as fast as you can until you've learned the technique first.

Awesome! Thanks a ton. I'll post that vid and a few more on your site later.

BMM nailed it all. Stance seemed to be your biggest issue. You can't A&E well if you have one ski "walking" up the bump while the other drops in the trough. My advice? Squeeze your knees; your skis will follow. This is something I've been working on this season as well. You look pretty damn good though. Keep at it and ski the bumps a lot even when they're frozen and hard. When you get on hero bumps like you have now, you'll really rip. Those lines look sweet up there.

Yep. I'll ski anything for bumps. Since my first real bump skiing experience at Cannon on Feb 20th it is pretty much all I do (and woods,but that's a bit challenging at the mighty Wawa)

This is really a great tip...something I have to remind myself of at the start of each day.

Austin, you might want to get a pair of adjustable poles and try shorter pole lengths...those poles you're using look way too long. That might be one reason why your pole touches are so heavy at times and non-existant at others. And it might be why you hold them so far out and not shoulder width apart. Pole movement should be a flick of the wrist, not a flailing of the whole arm.

That said, you have come a long way in bumps.

I'll try using my touring polls next time. I thought those poles were the right size but after watching the video again they are defiantly too long. Also, wouldn't adjusting your pole size based on how deep the troughs are make sense?

You're right about the poles. I forgot to mention that. To determine proper bump pole length, determine the proper groomer length, and take off 4-6". I'm 5'9" and skiing with 42" poles. Normal groomer poles for me would be 46 or 48". I find that the 42" poles are great... they never end up back behind me and getting caught on bumps.

Those are perfect for groomers so I'll give that a shot next time.


Off topic: Does anyone know how to rotate a video so that I don't have to tilt my head or computer to view it. Thanks a lot Marc...

 

[JimG.]

You're right about the poles. I forgot to mention that. To determine proper bump pole length, determine the proper groomer length, and take off 4-6". I'm 5'9" and skiing with 42" poles. Normal groomer poles for me would be 46 or 48". I find that the 42" poles are great... they never end up back behind me and getting caught on bumps.

I'm 6'2" and skiing with 46" poles...last year I used 48" poles and felt they were still too long. Much happier at 46".

Like you, no more stuck poles pulling my arm out and back.

 

[Greg]

I'm 6'2" and skiing with 46" poles...last year I used 48" poles and felt they were still too long. Much happier at 46".

Like you, no more stuck poles pulling my arm out and back.

I'm at 47" and I think they might be just a bit too short. I've been trying to stand taller which I think I've been acheiving, at least in low-angle bumps, and now I'm beginning to miss pole plants. 48" is probably right for me.

 

[awf170]

Here's a video of me at Wildcat yesterday. I haven't really skied bumps much at all since that Wawa video, but have been skiing woods a decent amount. Also, I didn't think I was going to be skiing bumps so I'm using long poles. Opinions?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEWlWJgCBOw

 

[Bumpsis]

That's good skiing but these are not bumps. Find a real bump trail and film it again.

 

[Greg]

That's good skiing but these are not bumps. Find a real bump trail and film it again.

Well, in Austin's defense, sometimes bumps look much tamer in video (especially at crappy YouTube resolution)...

Nice agressive skiing, Austin.

 

[awf170]

Well, in Austin's defense, sometimes bumps look much tamer in video (especially at crappy YouTube resolution)...

Nice agressive skiing, Austin.

Yeah, that video does make them look smaller. Though they were still pretty small and pretty spread out.

That's good skiing but these are not bumps. Find a real bump trail and film it again.

Wildcat doesn't have real bumps. Those were some of the biggest on the mountain.