Technique goals for 2006-07

[Phildozer]

I'm going to stop charging the ^%$&ing gates this year and smooth out my turns.

And continue to stay ahead of Sky.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Improvements?

I want to improve in the bumps, and get better in deep powder. Anything else in between is a snap!

 

[Greg]

My technique goal for this season boils down to simply improving in the bumps. Mastering moguls can translate into better skiing all over the mountain. Specific aspects of bump skiing which I want to focus on this season include: better hand position/quiet upper body, tighter stance, more complete absorbtion/extension (I'm a stiff skier and tend to slam into moguls a bit).

What are your technique goals for this season?

I think I advanced quite a bit in the bumps this season. I definitely tightened up the stance, can keep the upper body still and have improved with the A&E, as well as became more confident attacking the line more directly and with more speed. I need to work on a taller stance and keeping the hips forward and A&E can always use work.

So...? How'd ya do?

 

[Hawkshot99]

I want to get so that I can spin in the park. I also want to work on my fear of moguls.

Well I decided that the park no longer exites me, so I didnt do any spinning. I still love hitting the natural jumps though. More fun than waiting for others in parks.

I worked on my fear of moguls alot. While I am not very pretty looking while I do it, I have come to enjoy them. I still dont like the big hard icy bumps, but soften them up, or be small and I can have fun on them.


Not listed in my goals, but I was very happy with how I was able to improve my powder skiing ability. I now love the powder and get old with the groomed trails much quicker. (Even buying some fatter skiis for next year for those special days.)

 

[riverc0il]

definitely feel i upped my game this season. though i took a few bruises to realize that super tight is more about nuts vs. guts than styling technique. really worked on taking hits and jumps off natural terrain features and really enjoyed developing this aspect of my play book. reliably solid and styling when feet are measured in single digits so far.

 

[bvibert]

I guess I didn't post in this thread the first time around, so I can't quote my goals...

My biggest goal was to gain some confidence in the bumps and I think I exceeded my expectations in that goal. I also got to spend some time in natural conditions so I feel like I improved in that area too. I think I did a decent job of getting my hands up, though I need to be more consistent there still. I've gotten a better feeling of keeping my weight more forward/balanced instead of in the back seat all the time, by that I mean at least I recognize when I'm going it.

All in all I'm very happy with my progress. I hit some terrain that I wouldn't have gone near last year, including a few tree runs.

 

[hammer]

Progress from skidding to carving and learn to relax...

I think I made some progress on the first one, partly due to having boots that fit me better. It may be good for me to have someone shoot a video so that I can see what my technique really looks like.

Still need to relax a lot more...

 

[Greg]

I guess I didn't post in this thread the first time around, so I can't quote my goals...

My biggest goal was to gain some confidence in the bumps and I think I exceeded my expectations in that goal. I also got to spend some time in natural conditions so I feel like I improved in that area too. I think I did a decent job of getting my hands up, though I need to be more consistent there still. I've gotten a better feeling of keeping my weight more forward/balanced instead of in the back seat all the time, by that I mean at least I recognize when I'm going it.

All in all I'm very happy with my progress. I hit some terrain that I wouldn't have gone near last year, including a few tree runs.

You may very well be one of the AZ skiers that has progressed the most based on what I saw. Nice job!

 

[JimG.]

You may very well be one of the AZ skiers that has progressed the most based on what I saw. Nice job!

Agreed.

 

[Greg]

Anyone else?

 

[2knees]

looking back at this thread i said my goal was to work on my hands and get shorter poles.

so, in review, i'd say yes, i got shorter poles and now i swing my hands too much with shorter poles instead of long ones. lol.

the best laid plans........

but i had fun this year even though i dont think i improved very much.

 

[Grassi21]

Progress from skidding to carving and learn to relax...

That makes two of us.

I think I succeeded on this one. The number of days I logged helped tremendously. My confidence is up. I feel that I can make it down most runs (maybe not steep tight trees) without hurting myself and linking some decent looking turns. I think I reached that intermediate plateau and need some lessons to get me over the hump.

 

[Greg]

I think I reached that intermediate plateau and need some lessons to get me over the hump.

This thread is a must-read for those in your position:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/7345-terminal-intermediate.html

 

[Grassi21]

This thread is a must-read for those in your position:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/7345-terminal-intermediate.html

I was gonna search for that thread. Thanks for the link.

 

[Greg]

One expected advance in my skiing was much better turn initiation. There were many days at Sundown before the bumps were set up when I spent much of the night concentrating on driving my tips to start each turn. I learned to exaggerate it so much so that my tails would often lift off the snow and swing around. I have to thank highpeaksdrifter for this one. Check out the Hunter 12/15 video. HPD really drives those tips and gets those tails to swing around almost effortlessly. You inspired me with your skiing that day, HPD! It definitely helped me all over the mountain.

 

[hammer]

I think I reached that intermediate plateau and need some lessons to get me over the hump.

If you want to take a lesson next season, my advice is to go on a less busy day and make sure you mention that you are a solid intermediate...my last lesson was a private for the cost of a group lesson. :smile:

 

[Grassi21]

If you want to take a lesson next season, my advice is to go on a less busy day and make sure you mention that you are a solid intermediate...my last lesson was a private for the cost of a group lesson. :smile:

I've been meaning to try that trick but never got around to taking a lesson this season. I like taking random Mondays off during ski season.

 

[jack97]

One expected advance in my skiing was much better turn initiation. There were many days at Sundown before the bumps were set up when I spent much of the night concentrating on driving my tips to start each turn. I learned to exaggerate it so much so that my tails would often lift off the snow and swing around. I have to thank highpeaksdrifter for this one.

That's great news! If you look at the skideboss videos or the ones from Chuck Martin and John Smart, turning with the feet under the hips is key, definitely in the bumps and perhaps in the glades. All the stuff mentioned in the other forum about the hips forward and shin pressure is predicated on skiing under the hips. Gee.... I wish I was out on the hill again.