As the wise Yogi Berra’s should have said: ‘Skiing is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical’
I heard it differently. "Skiing is 90% mental; the rest is in your head."
As the wise Yogi Berra’s should have said: ‘Skiing is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical’
I was chatting with a ski buddy this morning. The topic of jumps came up. He is stuck on the fear of standing at a lip, then jumping in. He knows that all he has to do is balance. He can balance. He knows that. He's fit...he's an accomplished rock climber. He can do all that, and he freezes at a jump that he's technically fully capable of nailing. He's worried about snagging the ski tails and then dumping. I can't imagine how that could happen...maybe if one is way, way in the back seat, which he isn't.
So, my duty when we're skiing together for 3 days at Whistler next month is to hound him until he jumps. I'm not a jumper, but I do it when needed. Just go into it and balance. That's about it. Flex to absorb the landing, but just balance. I'll pester him until he tells me to stop yapping about it, and he does it. That'll work for the two of us. That's not how I'd do it with anyone else.
He is stuck on the fear of standing at a lip, then jumping in.
backed away and skied toward it so that I'm not trying to "jump" from a standstill.
He's worried about snagging the ski tails and then dumping. I can't imagine how that could happen...
oh, one more thing. I saw that happen, at Whistler actually. The guy's tails hit an outcropping of snow, the guy went tumbling. So, maybe rather than encourage your buddy to jump, it might be better to discuss possibilities that may happen, and go through what the reaction plan is. Once he is confident that all bases are covered, he will no doubt do it.
1) fear makes you aft, and and does not work well on steeper terrain (as we all know, and I knew, but didn't realize how aft I get on it.)
Do not widen your stance when it's steep, you will put too much weight on the uphill ski.I had a great time skiing in Grand Targhee, and came away with a few notables.
1) fear makes you aft, and and does not work well on steeper terrain (as we all know, and I knew, but didn't realize how aft I get on it.)
2) I need to widen my stance.
3) my fear is mostly related to not having the confidence/skill set to comfortably get down something.
My frustration last season came from the fact that I COULD get down some steeps fairly well the season prior. But fear in my life translated to fear on the hill, which made me ski more defensively than ever.
I'll probably always be a lot more cautious than most. That's just how I'm wired. I aim to be a very beautiful, competent skier, not a fast skier. So many people equate speed with higher skill set, and as we all know, that's not the case in many instances. I know that as my skill set improves and my confidence comes back, my speed will naturally follow.
Just a taste of winter from Targhee. Neat shot taken from a video--I'm digging my new red Outdoor Research jacket.
Yep.aft = weight aft = backseat
Shying away from the hill.
aft = weight aft = backseat
Shying away from the hill.
tail slap is a lot less likely if you're in a strong athletic forward/neutral stance
fear makes you aft
don't think I understand "aft" in this sentence -
Sure, my comment is strictly in the separation between skis horizontally. Of course you will have a lot of vertical separation.yes, Don nails it....some folks dont equate "long leg/short leg" with a wide stance...some do...but either way, it is very functional on steeps and allows for a smooth turn transition.....if you have the right mindset!. Its sort of a hori-vertical separation.... transitioning weight from the old downhill (long) leg, by extending and committing to the slope onto that new downhill (old uphill) ski as you begin to make it long is a real hoot!...it almost feels like weightlessness and flying....a childhood dream of mine...Who didnt want the ability to fly as a kid?....
anyway that old downhill ski/leg shortens progressively and appropriately to the steepness of the slope so that you can keep a stable upper body that is in a position to keep moving down the hill and into the next turn.....if the movements are progressive and not rushed or too slow it can be very enjoyable.....the turns sometimes feel like they are happening upside down....hard to explain...but if you get on your edges early enough, it almost feels like you are making arcs in a nearly uphill direction.
(some call this slow line fast...)
Once you can achieve this blend of skills and movements, you will begin building confidence very quickly as it allows you to tackle many different kinds of slopes. and it works in quite a few snow conditions as well.....
I guess it could be considered the opposite of inclination....leaning uphill......stiff legged and in the back seat, too much on your inside ski, ect....
JP
the turns sometimes feel like they are happening upside down....hard to explain...
I think fear moves the CM uphill. Sometimes that's "aft," but more often it's back and on the uphill ski, which makes turn initiation a bit of a challenge.