In another thread I was asked to define some freestyle vocabulary. One term that immediately came up was "grabs". We have all seen a skier takeoff a jump and grab one of his skis. But most of us are unfamiliar with the numerous variations that exist. Each day (or close to it) I will post a description of a different grab, along with some pictures or videos. Please feel free to ask questions, offer information from your own experiences, or contribute in anyway you see fit.
Safety Grab
A safety grab is a common starting point for many skiers new to freestyle. It is very simple; grab your right ski with your right hand, directly underneath your boot. Or you can grab your left ski with your left hand in the same place. The image below demonstrates a very basic safety grab.
To perform any grab, it is important that you be comfortable carrying speed and catching air. You should be a very balanced skier (no backseat drivers). Grabs can be performed on just about any size feature, but the more time you can give yourself in the air, the easier you will find it is do to this successfully. After you find the right feature, approach it with an appropriate amount of speed. Pop off the takeoff and be patient as you ascend to the apex of your jump. When you feel as though you have reached the highest point of your jump, bring your knees into your chest and reach down with one hand. Be sure to bring your equipment to your hand, just as much as you bring your hand to your equipment. Try to make these movements slow and deliberate. Fast, jerky movements look awkward and ultimately have an effect on your balance.
Now there are many variations to each of the grabs I will be describing. This is where the idea of "style" comes into play. Remember we are talking about "free-style". Grabs can be a way for skiers to express their individual personalities. One variation of a safety grab is called the "high safety". In this grab, the skier grabs the right ski with the right hand, just above the toe piece of his binding. The same can be done with the left hand respectively. Below is an image of a skier performing a high safety grab. Notice how different it looks from the image above. Perfect example of how two skiers can perform a very similar trick but add their own individual style.
Next time I will be discussing the "mute", a real staple in the freeski community.
Safety Grab
A safety grab is a common starting point for many skiers new to freestyle. It is very simple; grab your right ski with your right hand, directly underneath your boot. Or you can grab your left ski with your left hand in the same place. The image below demonstrates a very basic safety grab.
To perform any grab, it is important that you be comfortable carrying speed and catching air. You should be a very balanced skier (no backseat drivers). Grabs can be performed on just about any size feature, but the more time you can give yourself in the air, the easier you will find it is do to this successfully. After you find the right feature, approach it with an appropriate amount of speed. Pop off the takeoff and be patient as you ascend to the apex of your jump. When you feel as though you have reached the highest point of your jump, bring your knees into your chest and reach down with one hand. Be sure to bring your equipment to your hand, just as much as you bring your hand to your equipment. Try to make these movements slow and deliberate. Fast, jerky movements look awkward and ultimately have an effect on your balance.
Now there are many variations to each of the grabs I will be describing. This is where the idea of "style" comes into play. Remember we are talking about "free-style". Grabs can be a way for skiers to express their individual personalities. One variation of a safety grab is called the "high safety". In this grab, the skier grabs the right ski with the right hand, just above the toe piece of his binding. The same can be done with the left hand respectively. Below is an image of a skier performing a high safety grab. Notice how different it looks from the image above. Perfect example of how two skiers can perform a very similar trick but add their own individual style.
Next time I will be discussing the "mute", a real staple in the freeski community.
