Terminal Intermediate?

[Skier75]

Finally, the right equipment can go a long way; though I'm a firm believer that equipment doesn't make a skier, but crappy equipment can keep someone from progressing efficiently. Advanced level equipment is more demanding and will in a sense force you to ski more agressively. Be sure you're fit properly in your boots.

My breakthrough into a lower advanced category came last season. I'm finally able to comfortably keep my hands up and out and really drive them down the fall line. Good hand position is key. Presumably you know how to turn well on most slopes being an upper intermediate skier so once you can confidently keep those hands up and out, the rest will follow. Good luck.

Yeah, I hear you there....first off after I got my boots to fit properly, that was one of the best things I could've done to help improve my skiing. Next is the hand position, that's one of my worst culprits as well as the "back seat thing...." I vary between these things and when I do, that makes for a bad day of skiing for me. I'm soo bad at dropping my hands....I keep praticing keeping them up, but it still gets me. The "back seat thing" is a fall-back(no pun intended) for me for saftey. When I start going too fast I squat and push really hard to slow down, I know that's not the way to do, it but its works for me.

 

[RISkier]

I shouldn't even chip in here given my skill (or lack thereof) level. Lessons have really helped me but I'm in real need of mileage. As to lessons, it seemed early on lessons were good. Period. But we've gotten to the point where we find HUGE differences between instructors. Group lessons can give you a private or semi-private relatively cheap. My wife and I did several group lessons at Stowe as part of a package and it was always either just my wife and I, or 1 other person who was at our level. But the quality ranged from excellent, to what seemed like a canned package. I suspect you're about at the same level as we are and would likely be in the highest group lessons. At minimum I'd request a PSIA level 3 and I'd ask here for recommended names at resorts you might go to.

 

[awf170]

speed is over rated

Take that back! Speed overrated, whats wrong with you :wink:

 

[snowmonster]

Here's my list of suggestions (these totally worked for me):

1. Buy a season pass: Get out and get out often!!! I bought my first season pass last year to Jiminy and was able to get around 30 days on-snow last year. What a difference it made!!! I was able to experience just about any East Coast condition possible and it really enhanced my skill set. You'll be more willing to take advantage of those crappy days when they're already paid for. In return, you'll gain valuable experience that will make you a better skier.

2. Take lessons: Good instructors have drills that will get you to feel something in your skis that you haven't felt before. Many ski clubs offer free lessons to members (http://OCskiclub.org for example in the capital district has an awesome instruction program) as a way of maintaining a strong member base. They can help you expand your comfort zone and build your self-confidence on the slopes.

3. Decent Equipment: Better technology does make a difference. I didn't really take off until I bought myself a decent pair of skis. This year, I made another major progression by obtaining new, stiffer boots. You don't have to buy the latest and greatest for a fortune either. Ask around for a good all-mountain carving ski to get started.

4. Take advantage of "hero snow" conditions: Hero snow is when the temperatures are nice and the snow is set up nice and soft. It really allows you to experiment with edging technique (these were the days I made my first "railroad carves"). You'll really be able to feel your skis hook up and bend and this is a great opportunity to feel them out.

5. STAY POSITIVE: Focus on the good things you accomplished that day. Negativity can really kill your confidence and make you you're own worst enemy.

And oh yeah, I second the advice about "The All-Mountain Skier." Reading that book really put skiing technique into terms I can understand and use.

One note on getting more comfortable with speed. Whatever you do, keep pushing forward. DO NOT GET IN THE BACKSEAT!!! I had to learn that one the hard way. Commit to the turn and push your weight forward. Concentrate on your turn shape and size, keep a tall upper body and your hands out up and in front.

Now, get after it!

I completely agree with all of these. I actually did just about all these things this year. I started skiing in February last year -- but after my first day out, I was hooked and was out on the slopes every weekend until they closed resorts in late April.

In the off-season, I stoked my fires by listening to the wisdom on these boards (yes, I was a lurker for a very long time) and by reading any ski instruction book I could get my hands on. I made a commitment to ski a lot this year so I got my own ski pass, bought my skis and boots and promised myself that I wouldn't quit until they dragged me out of there.

At the end of last season, I was past the greens but doing some blues with some difficulty (ex. burned my thighs going down Northway at Jay). Early this season, I made the the breakthrough into blacks and, as of two weeks ago, was skiing down double blacks without even pausing at the top of the trail to think of what I was getting into. Am probably an upper intermediate skier now (I think) and regularly run down blue and blacks. My next target are glades and bumps and am soaking up the knowledge in the other threads, believe me.

Anyway, aside from the list above, I'd probably add:

1. Ski with someone whose abilities are slightly better than you - You need someone to push you slightly on the trails (but not so recklessly such that you never do what they ask you to do because they're just too scary). Sometimes it's a question of seeing someone else do it and saying to yourself "hey, I can do that." Sometimes it's the competitive fire in you that won't allow you to be beaten which pushes you over your limits.

2. Concentrate on fundamentals - Hands in front of you, stay tall, put your weight forward, shins on the tongues of your boots and drive that ski. In the lessons, you take them for granted. But, when you're up there, it really makes a lot of difference.

3. Concentrate on what's ahead of you - When standing on top of a steep trail (ex. Gondi at the 'Loaf), don't stare at how steep the trail is by looking at the town at the bottom of the hill. You'll just get vertigo and never get down. Instead, concentrate on what's immediately ahead of you - the 20 feet of snow that you must ski in order to get down. Everything becomes simpler then. The mind is a wonderful thing and never underestimate your powers of concentration.

4. No Fear - Think positive. I was always chant to myself "you can do it" when pushing myself down a double black. Am my own cheering section. When you get scared, you allow yourself to make mistakes. (When I get scared though, it's great to have my balaclava on. It hides any stupid facial expressions I'm making and hides the fact that I'm freaking out! Somehow, the fact that I am not embarassing myself makes me go on. Normally, when I am embarassed, I'll just stop what I'm doing. Anyway, hope that helps.)

Just my 2 cents. I learned so much about skiing from the folks on these boards, I just wanted to pay that forward by sharing my own observations.

Cheers! :beer:

 

[ctenidae]

Gotta say, once you get your gear set up right, the thing you have to do is do it. Look at that scary trail and plan it out- I can turn there, go around that Volkswagen, make a turn there, slide across that patch of ice, bounce off that lift tower, and make a turn in that patch of soft snow there. Then, launch yourself, adn forget the plan entirely. Before you know it, you're at teh bottom, and you've just survived a scary trail without even knowing you were doing it. I find that my worst runs are down slopes where I let myself get worried beforehand. After getting down, I go up and do it again- usually much, much better becasue I know it's doable.

You want to break through to the next level? Well, do it. Don't think you can ski trees? you'll never know until you go do it (it's a rush, believe me). Blacks got you down? Beat them. Improving your skiing is as much a question of mindset (if not more) than technique. Dont' get me wrong, improving your technique is important, but you'll never do it unless your willing to push your limits a bit and put yourself in postions where you have to concentrate on improving.

/words of wisdom from someone who's been skiing for two years. Still, the only trail I've turned away from in the past two years is Green Beret at Jay- what wasn't ice or grass was rocks- not my idea of a useful trail.

 

[ctenidae]

Double posting blues...

 

[Paul]

Wow Cten, you can say that again! :wink:

 

[Greg]

Ah yeah - the upper intermediate plateau... Just remember, it's all about the miles. The only way to break through is to continue to ski more.

Lots of mileage is key...the more you ski, the better you get. Same as any other sport or skill; practice makes perfect.

You're the one that told me this, Jim back at Hunter last year. I never forgot it and since have been trying to get out as much as possible. Scored 25 days last season and 11 so far this year which is not too bad considering we now have two young children. It's tough to juggle life and the skiing passion, but if you make a commitment to ski as much as possible, you will advance...

 

[Rushski]

Try to paraphrase what many have already said:

1. Buy equipment for a higher level. Noodle skis and overly soft boots will keep you sloppy. Stiffer skis/boots will force you to work the equipment.

2. SKI. As much as your schedule allows. When I was 19 or 20 and crossed the plateau, it was primarily because I skied nearly constantly.

3. Commit to the fall line. Keep your torso still and always pointed downhill. Intermediates are generally turning their whole body into the turn, which takes away much control.

4. Lessons can always help. Try to find a solid instructor for the correct level. An instructor who is great for first timers isn't neccessarily a great advanced instructor.

5. Force yourself into shorter radius turns. If you can get tight turns down, it will lead to be able to skiing more terrain.

Good Luck...

 

[Greg]

3. Commit to the fall line. Keep your torso still and allows pointed downhill. Intermediates are generally turning their whole body into the turn, which takes away much control.

Yup. The different when watching an intermediate vs. a more advanced skier, is the intermediate's torso will follow the ski tips. An advanced skier will remain square to the fall line and the upper body will remain quiet. Good hand position goes hand in hand (no pun intended) here. Always keep your hands in your peripheral vision, up and away from the body. Do not swing your arms when you pole plant. You should remain relatively still from the head down to the waist. Good consistent hand position and the rest of the upper body will follow.

 

[hammer]

Try to paraphrase what many have already said:

I've seen so many good responses I'm trying to do the same...

1. Buy equipment for a higher level. Noodle skis and overly soft boots will keep you sloppy. Stiffer skis/boots will force you to work the equipment.

That may be an option in a few years, but I need to get some more mileage out of the equipment I have now. Biggest problem I have is that I think my boots are a bit too big -- if I can fit time into my schedule, a trip to Jeff in Concord is in order...

2. SKI. As much as your schedule allows. When I was 19 or 20 and crossed the plateau, it was primarily because I skied nearly constantly.

I hope to get a season pass next year. Most likely candidates are Pats, Crotched, or Wachusett. Nashoba's a lot closer but I wouldn't get a season pass there -- too expensive IMO.

3. Commit to the fall line. Keep your torso still and always pointed downhill. Intermediates are generally turning their whole body into the turn, which takes away much control.

Working on it...I do face down the fall line at least some of the time, but in all honesty I'm not sure if it's because my neck is turned or if it's because my upper body is really pointing downhill. I'll have to pay more attention to this next time I go out.

I'm also working on the hand position as well, although I'm not sure if my hands are out but my butt's in the back seat anyway...:-?

4. Lessons can always help. Try to find a solid instructor for the correct level. An instructor who is great for first timers isn't neccessarily a great advanced instructor.

The main concern I have is that I don't want to overstate my abilities -- the last lesson I went to, the parents of one kid did this, and it's not good for the others in the lesson when a change has to be made after the lesson starts.

5. Force yourself into shorter radius turns. If you can get tight turns down, it will lead to be able to skiing more terrain.

Working on that as well...as a goal, I try to stay on the sides of a trail if I can. Besides, that's where the better snow usually is.

To all...again, thanks for the responses! :beer:

 

[Greg]

I'm also working on the hand position as well, although I'm not sure if my hands are out but my butt's in the back seat anyway...:-?

I'm a major croucher too despite what I consider decent hand position. Look at my new avatar for an example. Try to stand taller, puff out your chest a little bit; but try to still remain relaxed.

 

[JimG.]

I'm a major croucher too despite what I consider decent hand position. Look at my new avatar for an example. Try to stand taller, puff out your chest a little bit; but try to still remain relaxed.

To put it another way:

Stand tall and flex your knees and ankles slightly, not too much. Now, think of your lower back and emphasize the curvature (the "C" shape in your lower back). You'll be most successful doing that by moving your hips up (skyward) and forward (down the hill).

No more backseat.

 

[Greg]

Stand tall and flex your knees and ankles slightly, not too much. Now, think of your lower back and emphasize the curvature (the "C" shape in your lower back). You'll be most successful doing that by moving your hips up (skyward) and forward (down the hill).

Great way of putting it. You will make Dan proud. I am going to concetrate on just this next time I'm out.

 

[JimG.]

Stand tall and flex your knees and ankles slightly, not too much. Now, think of your lower back and emphasize the curvature (the "C" shape in your lower back). You'll be most successful doing that by moving your hips up (skyward) and forward (down the hill).

Great way of putting it. You will make Dan proud. I am going to concetrate on just this next time I'm out.

The trick is doing that while you're moving.

In bumps, the only way to be consistent is to nail the extention/absorption technique.

 

[tekweezle]

what are your thoughts on crouching versus "raising your knees to your chest"?

i find that when I am crouching, I tend to go across the fall line like a GS turn-low center of gravity to the slope.

when I keep my upper body "quiet" and am facing down the fall line, the "raise the knees into your chest" allows me to make quicker short turns.

 

[JimG.]

what are your thoughts on crouching versus "raising your knees to your chest"?

i find that when I am crouching, I tend to go across the fall line like a GS turn-low center of gravity to the slope.

when I keep my upper body "quiet" and am facing down the fall line, the "raise the knees into your chest" allows me to make quicker short turns.

Crouching is the backseat.

Raising the knees to your chest and then immediately extending into the next trough is absorption/extention and that's key to skiing bumps well.

 

[Greg]

The trick is doing that while you're moving.

In bumps, the only way to be consistent is to nail the extention/absorption technique.

Indeed. I can ski tall no problem on the groomers. Get in the bumps and uh oh: king-fu defensive mode = back seat. Starting to get A&E though. Absorption has never been a problem, extension has. Not extending will also put you back right off the first few bumps. It's starting to click though and it feels so good when it does (for me, this is only every now and then... ). I love the challenge of trying to put all these little pieces together. You really need to do them all together though and that only can happen with practice, practice, practice. I guess realizing when it feels right is half the battle.

 

[JimG.]

I guess realizing when it feels right is half the battle.

Yup...to me it feels right when my hips are leading everything else down the fall line; my legs are just moving underneath me and my upper body is nice and still.

But I'm still at the point where that isn't always the case.

 

[ctenidae]

Yup...to me it feels right when my hips are leading everything else down the fall line; my legs are just moving underneath me and my upper body is nice and still.

That's what she said!

(sorry. just had to get that in there before Marc showed up)