Good TFR video, not HH or Max?

[JohnMoore]

I'm primarily self-taught from the books and videos, and one thing I've found very helpful, in the absence of going on an actual PMTS course, is watching good video on e.g. YouTube over and over. I really find it helps, though, if I look at a number of different models. I want to work on my two-footed releases, and as far as I can recall, all the video I've been studying has been from Harald or Max. Is there any good video out there of two-footed releases by anyone other than these two? (Not that there's anything wrong with these two, of course, it's just the variety I'm after).

[h.harb]

My TFR on You Tube is about as well demonstrated and described as you will ever need. It's not about variety in this case, it's about what you are doing and how you are performing. Video yourself in numerous TFRs, I'm sure you will have plenty of variety to study after that exercise.

[Max_501]

Variety is useless in this case. Use HH as the model. But make sure you really have mastered Book 1 and also the phantom javelin which is a prerequisite to learning the TFR.

PMTS - Mastering the Two Footed Release

[JohnMoore]

I really do get that Harald is the model to follow, and I don't question that for a moment. And I have no complaints whatsoever about the clarity of Harald's expositions of the TFR on YouTube and elsewhere, which are exemplary and inevitably form 95% of my understanding of the move.

The variety I'm after, though, is not seeing people doing the TFR different ways, but different people doing the same move. Different people have different physical styles, from their different physical characteristics. I have closely studied video of Max doing TFRs, by all accounts extremely well - but even so he looks quite different from HH doing the same move. I just find that interesting, and useful, to observe. It helps me note what are the salient characteristics of the move itself, isolated from the physical attributes of the demonstrator.

[HeluvaSkier]

I just find that interesting, and useful, to observe. It helps me note what are the salient characteristics of the move itself, isolated from the physical attributes of the demonstrator.

I think you are going too far with your MA. Focus only on the movement. Letting personal style/characteristics affect how you are viewing skiing is going to distract you from seeing the movements that you should be focusing on. Adding variants will only complicate your learning process.

[Max_501]

And I have no complaints whatsoever about the clarity of Harald's expositions of the TFR on YouTube and elsewhere, which are exemplary and inevitably form 95% of my understanding of the move.

HH's instruction should be 100% of your understanding of the TFR.

I have closely studied video of Max doing TFRs, by all accounts extremely well - but even so he looks quite different from HH doing the same move. I just find that interesting, and useful, to observe.

The difference between the video of my TFR and Harald's has nothing to do with physical attributes. I'm simply not doing them as well as HH. Using my footage as a model when you have HH is pointless. HH is the master of demonstration and you can see each of the movements in his video samples. Use HH as the model, PERIOD!

It helps me note what are the salient characteristics of the move itself, isolated from the physical attributes of the demonstrator.

The TFR drill is not a move but a result of proper PMTS movements. All of the movements needed to produce a TFR are covered in detail by HH in the video. Just do exactly what he says. If you can't do a TFR following his instruction then there is something missing in your PMTS fundamentals that you should have mastered during your journey through book 1.

John, have you had your boots, footbeds, and alignment done by a trusted professional? That is a key step for skiing improvement.

[JohnMoore]

If you can't do a TFR following his instruction then there is something missing in your PMTS fundamentals that you should have mastered during your journey through book 1.

I didn't say that I couldn't do one from his instruction. I just find watching other experts informative. If I was seriously wanting to improve my tennis, I would watch Nadal, Djokovic, Federer. I wouldn't watch just one of them and rule out the others. But I'll not belabour the point.

John, have you had your boots, footbeds, and alignment done by a trusted professional? That is a key step for skiing improvement.

No, not yet - there is very little scope to do so by a PMTS-accredited bootfitter here in Europe, unless I manage somehow to get to a Hintertux camp. I have been planning to pay a visit to the guys at Portes du Ski in the Netherlands for ages but have never managed to do so.

[Max_501]

I didn't say that I couldn't do one from his instruction.

You didn't need to say it because it was implied in your post. If you could do a TFR, as demonstrated by HH, you wouldn't be asking for footage of others doing a less perfect version.

If I was seriously wanting to improve my tennis, I would watch Nadal, Djokovic, Federer. I wouldn't watch just one of them and rule out the others.

None of that would seriously improve your tennis. Probably wouldn't improve it at all. If you want to improve your tennis you find a coach that can teach you the technique you want to learn. So if you want the super agressive style of Nadal you find a coach that plays like Nada. If you want to learn the finesse of Federer you find a coach that plays like him. You already found HH so focus on him and rule out everyone else.

No, not yet - there is very little scope to do so by a PMTS-accredited bootfitter here in Europe, unless I manage somehow to get to a Hintertux camp. I have been planning to pay a visit to the guys at Portes du Ski in the Netherlands for ages but have never managed to do so.

You've been on this forum for 10 years now, predating many of us. In Books 1 and 2 and on these forums HH has hammered the importance of a proper boot setup.

[JohnMoore]

In Books 1 and 2 and on these forums HH has hammered the importance of a proper boot setup.

If I was in the States I'd have done this years ago. You may not realise it but PMTS is all but invisible in Europe. There are virtually no PMTS accredited instructors or bootfitting/alignment specialists - certainly none in my country, and none in any places where I might go to ski. You don't know how lucky you are in this respect over there!

[Max_501]

If I was in the States I'd have done this years ago. You may not realise it but PMTS is all but invisible in Europe. There are virtually no PMTS accredited instructors or bootfitting/alignment specialists - certainly none in my country, and none in any places where I might go to ski. You don't know how lucky you are in this respect over there!

Ideas are Hintertux, Portes du Ski, a trip to the US, or locating a local fitter well respected among racers.

Did you pass the tests on Pages 21-22 of Book 2?

[go_large_or_go_home]

John, I was asking similar questions until I video'd myself...then I had a direct comparison the HH youtube clips & DVDs. From there, I was able to make real progress. I was skiing blind until that point....my Linked TFR took months of tireless drilling (often daily on/off the slope) and methodically working through book 1/2. After tweaking my knee in May, I stopped messing around with bashing slalom gates and got down to business. I literally stripped my skiing back to basics...

I started videoing myself in September - about the time that I was trying the TFR - I made more progress after that point than before. I could now relate to all of HH clips, because I knew what I looked like.

Without videoing yourself, you have nothing to work with. I feel your pain regarding the lack of visibility/ accessibility of PMTS in Europe, but the beauty about the system and ALL of its resources is that you can coach yourself....BUT, you have to use video. I used my iPhone and strapped a Gorillapod - (camera holder) to a ski pole that I positioned at various locations on the slope....

[JohnMoore]

BUT, you have to use video. I used my iPhone and strapped a Gorillapod - (camera holder) to a ski pole that I positioned at various locations on the slope....

Interesting that you can get good enough video from an iPhone to be of use. I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 which does pretty good HD video (but obviously no zoom). I may look into getting a Gorillapod for it and seeing if I can get some video of myself. I could get my wife to do it when we're skiing together, but she HATES filming (gets cold and frustrated standing around)!

[Max_501]

Interesting that you can get good enough video from an iPhone to be of use.

Sample footage here:

Two Footed Release MA please

[go_large_or_go_home]

It does take practice - the filming that is. I think I have have worked out a good compromise, atleast for my own MA... However, it is a compromise unless you get a decent enough camera AND a willing volunteer....That is a completely different battle.....

This is my ski pole filming:



And this is using my wife - you choose the better quality..:



EDITED TO ADD:

It is still a work in progress - both my skiing AND how to capture decent video, but atleast it gives me enough information to work on... Max and Geoff have been great in trying to analyse what they can from my footage...As I said, the resource is there...

[ToddW]

If I was in the States I'd have done this years ago. You may not realise it but PMTS is all but invisible in Europe. There are virtually no PMTS accredited instructors or bootfitting/alignment specialists - certainly none in my country, and none in any places where I might go to ski. You don't know how lucky you are in this respect over there!

Ideas are Hintertux, Portes du Ski, a trip to the US, or locating a local fitter well respected among racers.

Did you pass the tests on Pages 21-22 of Book 2?

I'm in the US and my PMTS bootfitter is just under 3,000 km away. Portes du Ski is closer than that to you.

Make your next ski trip a ski carpet trip. Go to Portes du Ski and get some privates and alignment from Jasper. Jasper's a good guy and he'll significantly improve your skiing. His spoken English is good, so no worries there.