Off piste - technique and tactics

PMTS Forum

Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby Max_501 » Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:26 pm

One of the common problems I see is skiers that attempt to ski off piste slowly and with a relatively flat ski. This approach is difficult and exhausting when the snow is variable, deep, or heavy because the skier never develops the "pop" needed to release/float the skis from the snow.

I use the same BPST movements I use on groomers and at the same speed (which is relatively fast).

Note the angle of the skis in this this picture.

Image

Image

When I flex to release, the skis will pop right out of the snow, making it easy to tip onto the new edges.

More coming...
Last edited by Max_501 on Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby HighAngles » Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:45 pm

Very nice. Would love to see more shots.
User avatar
HighAngles
 
Posts: 792
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 5:46 am

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby h.harb » Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:07 pm

You Tube follower just posted a comment on my channel, he said, "I finally figured out why you ski so distinctively different from all others, , you hold your inside ski back."

Yes it's evident in all good skiing. Here Max501 shows how to hold back and tip your inside ski.
User avatar
h.harb
 
Posts: 7047
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: Dumont, Colorado

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby Matt » Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:39 pm

Motorhead?
Matt
 
Posts: 353
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 1:15 pm
Location: Northern Sweden

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby milesb » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:10 pm

Rule #1- never stop tipping.
YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH78E6wIKnq3Fg0eUf2MFng
User avatar
milesb
 
Posts: 981
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 10:17 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby Max_501 » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:35 pm

Picking up where we left off. Its time to aggressively flex to get the skis out of the snow.

Start flexing to end the turn:

Image

Keep flexing and hold CA:

Image

The skis pop right out of the snow. Tip the new inside ski right away. Don't delay!

Image

As you come into the new turn keep on tipping, manage the free foot, hammer CA, and drive the inside arm forward!

Image
Last edited by Max_501 on Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby h.harb » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:46 pm

We are testing the new Head Venturi, 181cm, 95mm under foot, with a 16 turn radius. Maybe a "Jam" replacement?
User avatar
h.harb
 
Posts: 7047
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: Dumont, Colorado

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby Max_501 » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:52 pm

I only tested the Venturi in firm conditions. It wants to pivot at the top of the turn when carving so you have to be very quiet during the float. I'd guess it would be fun off piste with the 16M radius.
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby milesb » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:20 pm

cool pics. Would you agree that in this situation, holding the CA through the end of the turn (and even through transition- nice!) is more important than the amount of CA (the picture shows less CA than you probably expected)?
YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH78E6wIKnq3Fg0eUf2MFng
User avatar
milesb
 
Posts: 981
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 10:17 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby Max_501 » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:27 pm

milesb wrote:the picture shows less CA than you probably expected


The pic shows the amount of CA needed to make the turn. The tighter the turn the more CA needed. Holding CA is always important.
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby Max_501 » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:30 pm

Variable wind affected snow in flat light. Create angles so the skis have the energy to blast through the snow and float during the release.

Image
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby Max_501 » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:49 pm

When skiing off piste I'm prepared to flex at any time. I never know when I might run into a bump that will challenge my balance or toss me into the air. I try to time terrain absorption with a release.

The key is to flex aggressively to absorb the bumpy terrain...

Image

and then drive the skis right back down to the snow while tipping to the new edges.

Image
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby NoCleverName » Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:28 pm

OK, check me out on this. Since I ski mostly eastern and since I ski the tt800 (66 underfoot) when we get a min of 6-8 or more (it happens, really) I have a hard time getting out of 80-90% stance ski weighting. So what I do is convert to a more or less weighted release and that seems to even things out. So either 1) I can't truly do a weighted release (!) or 2) in fact that is the right way to quickly get to a more balanced weighting in the powder (such as it is) or the heavier crud.
User avatar
NoCleverName
 
Posts: 452
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2004 9:56 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby h.harb » Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:35 pm

If I understand you right you are looking for more even foot to foot weighting in off piste skiing? Why?
User avatar
h.harb
 
Posts: 7047
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: Dumont, Colorado

Re: Off piste - technique and tactics

Postby HighAngles » Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:52 pm

We've been skiing similar conditions over the past couple days. It always amazes me how well the PMTS essentials work in all conditions. I feel like I had a good breakthrough this weekend that improved my tipping and CB (unfortunately I only have POV video).

What I did was really take to heart the idea that we should completely exhaust our tipping range in the lower body BEFORE allowing the upper body to move into the inside of the turn. I would just tip as much as I could with my upper body still over my skis and once I couldn't go any further I would retract the inside ski and allow my upper body to move inside of the turn as I continued tipping. What I realized is that in my pursuit of higher edge angles I was rushing to get my upper body inside of the turn and that was defeating my CB and leaving me with more inclination instead of angulation (upper/lower body separation). This also provided a lot more edge grip at the top of the turn.
User avatar
HighAngles
 
Posts: 792
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 5:46 am

Next

Return to Primary Movements Teaching System

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 39 guests