Terminal Intermediate?

[tekweezle]

Crouching is the backseat.

okay, my "crouch" is more like a "athletic, forward leaning stance-chest over knees over toes, hands forward". not hunched over like a shrimp, which is the opposite of arching your back as described above.

 

[JimG.]

Crouching is the backseat.

okay, my "crouch" is more like a "athletic, forward leaning stance-chest over knees over toes, hands forward". not hunched over like a shrimp, which is the opposite of arching your back as described above.

At this point I'd need to see you ski...these terms are all somewhat relative to the person using them.

One of my enduring memories of teaching is the beginner classes that bow forward when you tell them to lean forward. I learned then that fewer words and more visual demonstrations were the key.

 

[andyzee]

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...

Step away from the computer and get your butt out on the slopes!

 

[hammer]

Step away from the computer and get your butt out on the slopes!

Still here...easier said than done, I guess...

 

[andyzee]

Step away from the computer and get your butt out on the slopes!

Still here...easier said than done, I guess...

Actually meant Greg

 

[hammer]

Step away from the computer and get your butt out on the slopes!

Still here...easier said than done, I guess...

Actually meant Greg

Thought so but the comment seemed valid for all of us...

 

[andyzee]

Step away from the computer and get your butt out on the slopes!

Still here...easier said than done, I guess...

Actually meant Greg

Thought so but the comment seemed valid for all of us...

Ain't that the truth! However, so far I have managed to get 25 days in this year. And there is no question about it, nothing like practice

 

[Greg]

Step away from the computer and get your butt out on the slopes!

Still here...easier said than done, I guess...

Actually meant Greg

Has more to do with family obligations than the PC...

 

[Skier75]

Step away from the computer and get your butt out on the slopes!

Still here...easier said than done, I guess...

Actually meant Greg

Thought so but the comment seemed valid for all of us...

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....ain't that the truth!
I'd like to as well......darn weather! This warm weather just can't be good for the slopes!

 

[kingslug]

definitely go skiing out west if you haven't yet preferebly on uncrowded weekdays. it can change your perspective on skiing entirely.

to be able to cruise for miles without having to get on a lift will allow you to work on your technique.

How true. Once I started making regular trips out west i just got better and better. The great conditions helped a lot of course. Utah...steep and cheap :beer:

 

[tirolerpeter]

Skiing Better

definitely go skiing out west if you haven't yet preferebly on uncrowded weekdays. it can change your perspective on skiing entirely.

to be able to cruise for miles without having to get on a lift will allow you to work on your technique.

How true. Once I started making regular trips out west i just got better and better. The great conditions helped a lot of course. Utah...steep and cheap :beer:

Amen to that! Going back west in nine days!

 

[andyzee]

Re: Skiing Better

definitely go skiing out west if you haven't yet preferebly on uncrowded weekdays. it can change your perspective on skiing entirely.

to be able to cruise for miles without having to get on a lift will allow you to work on your technique.

How true. Once I started making regular trips out west i just got better and better. The great conditions helped a lot of course. Utah...steep and cheap :beer:

Amen to that! Going back west in nine days!

Don't forget the reports!

 

[HDHaller]

Does anyone recall the time that they felt they had transitioned from "intemediate" skiing to more "advanced" skiing? Do you remember one or more things that you started doing that caused this to happen?

I may be just a little impatient (this is my 3rd season going skiing on a regular basis), but while I've been happy going skiing I haven't been too happy with my skiing lately. Transitioning to smoother turns that don't take as much out of my legs has eluded me so far...

I think I need a lesson...

Hammer,
If you've got the time and $ for a substantial ski vacation / clinic, check out the link I have in my signature below. Dan and John Egan, and the rest of their XTeam crew, specialize in breaking advanced intermediates out of their ruts. They've got Val D Isere and Alaska heli-skiing clinics coming up in March and April.
-HD Haller

 

[hammer]

Bumping this old thread...because I think my transition to terminal intermediate is official. I can get myself down steeper trails than 4 years ago but I certainly don't look that good doing it.

I have proper equipment so I can't blame it on that.

I did have a few short videos done at the end of last season. I noticed that my turns were rushed and I had a pronounced A frame, which would explain why my past attempts to ski bumps have not worked out well.

Any suggestions on an improvement plan for a planned trip to UT in Feb would be appreciated...not looking to hit the whole mountain but I don't want to be stuck on groomers the whole time either.

 

[2knees]

Bumping this old thread...because I think my transition to terminal intermediate is official. I can get myself down steeper trails than 4 years ago but I certainly don't look that good doing it.

I have proper equipment so I can't blame it on that.

I did have a few short videos done at the end of last season. I noticed that my turns were rushed and I had a pronounced A frame, which would explain why my past attempts to ski bumps have not worked out well.

Any suggestions on an improvement plan for a planned trip to UT in Feb would be appreciated...not looking to hit the whole mountain but I don't want to be stuck on groomers the whole time either.

the answer lies in your "location". you need to drop the "not" and learn to ski the highwaystar way......

I wish I could offer you some real advice but alas, i have none. At this point, my feeling is as long as you're having fun you're winning.

 

[kingslug]

You need to ski with people who are better than you..and pay attention. Working on 1 thing at a time is the way to go. If you aren't skiing parrallel this is whats killing you in the bumps. Work on getting you're feet closer together. probably best done on green runs, then just step it up as you get better. Unfortunately you can't practice much powder skiing here, well hopefully you can at times, so in Utah you'll just have to learn as you go...or...take a much needed powder lesson, or a few. And rent some fat skis while out there, it makes all the difference. They rent Rossignol S'3's at most places, its my powder ski and really makes it much easier.

 

[dmc]

You need to ski with people who are better than you..

Yup... Thats a good way to get good.. watch and learn

 

[4aprice]

Any suggestions on an improvement plan for a planned trip to UT in Feb would be appreciated...not looking to hit the whole mountain but I don't want to be stuck on groomers the whole time either.

Get out there and hit it. Don't shy away from bumps, trees, steeps etc: Watch other skiers who you feel are skiing well and challege yourself to ski like them. Sometimes the mind is more of a barrier then actual ability. Like 2knees says if your having fun your winning. Being an eastern skier you will find Utah very forgiving and enjoyable.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[speden]

I did have a few short videos done at the end of last season. I noticed that my turns were rushed and I had a pronounced A frame, which would explain why my past attempts to ski bumps have not worked out well.

Hi Hammer,

I think I am in the same boat as you. I had my wife videotape me and I was surprised to see that I go into a slight stem at the start of each turn, and yet I felt like I was skiing parallel. But after I saw it, things suddenly made sense. I have a bad habit of needing to lift the downhill ski to initiate a new turn, and that's because if I just edge over while in stem, then wham down I go, since the new inside leg isn't pointed correctly into the new turn.

I was reading an interesting thread about this over on epic. I think the solution for me is that instead of trying to initiate a left turn with the right leg, I should flatten and steer the left ski into the left turn, and the right ski is going to come along for the ride and be parallel. And instead of intentionally shifting my weight to the right ski to turn left, I should just let the turn shift my weight naturally. Then I won't need to lift the left ski during the turn entry and I can stay balanced on both skis. At least in theory... I'll have to see if that works for me in the real world.

I think once you find yourself skiing in Utah powder, it's going to be very important to be balanced on both feet and with skis parallel if you want to stay upright. If you go into a stem in 3d snow, I don't think it will work too well.

Here's the thread on epic:

"Teaching Intermediates to Parallel"

http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/97837/teaching-intermediates-to-parallel

 

[RISkier]

Hi Hammer,

I think I am in the same boat as you. I had my wife videotape me and I was surprised to see that I go into a slight stem at the start of each turn, and yet I felt like I was skiing parallel. But after I saw it, things suddenly made sense. I have a bad habit of needing to lift the downhill ski to initiate a new turn, and that's because if I just edge over while in stem, then wham down I go, since the new inside leg isn't pointed correctly into the new turn.

I was reading an interesting thread about this over on epic. I think the solution for me is that instead of trying to initiate a left turn with the right leg, I should flatten and steer the left ski into the left turn, and the right ski is going to come along for the ride and be parallel. And instead of intentionally shifting my weight to the right ski to turn left, I should just let the turn shift my weight naturally. Then I won't need to lift the left ski during the turn entry and I can stay balanced on both skis. At least in theory... I'll have to see if that works for me in the real world.

I think once you find yourself skiing in Utah powder, it's going to be very important to be balanced on both feet and with skis parallel if you want to stay upright. If you go into a stem in 3d snow, I don't think it will work too well.

Here's the thread on epic:

"Teaching Intermediates to Parallel"

http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/97837/teaching-intermediates-to-parallel

You might want to take a look at Harold Harb's stuff. His "Anyone Can be an Expert Skier I" pretty much only talks about what he calls the "phantom move" which is pretty much all inside foot. I think a lot of the drills he describes in his Essentials book are really good. And he really emphasizes the idea of flexing (lightening) the inside leg and tipping the inside ski rather than pushing with the outside foot. Harb is kind of an iconoclast who has a huge chip on his shoulder regarding PSIA, but I think he gives some really good drills. Lito Tejada-Flores talks about some of the same things in his books and videos. You might also want to look at some of John Clendenin's stuff. FWIW, I read a lot better than I ski.