MA Request 4 A Michigan Skier

[h.harb]

Stereotypes save time! I am direct, you can waste lots of time beating around the bush, the way PSIA does. You won't get better information anywhere. I applaud your direction and your efforts. You will always get a real answer here.

[RyanAllen]

Thank you Harald and all for your assistance! Here's an update on my efforts. The unvarnished truth about my skiing as explained by HH really motivated me to dig deeper and work at this. I've been skiing since age 10 and am still hungry for more. In addition to a lot of dry land including all of slantboard drills, Indoor Intro Vid, and practicing the exercises from Essentials Vid 1,2,3, I also went to the Short Turn Camp at Welch Village. The coaches there were great and I was missing it all the moment I left for home.

It "felt" like I was making improvements to the my blocking and extending problems, but as I look carefully at the video's, I am actually pretty disappointed with my progress. I can still see an extension from my inside leg while transitioning and lifting my stance ski. This, in spite of literally thinking, "bend the free ski leg, hold the LTE." We drilled on this stuff at camp, but it seems like lifting my stance ski "triggers" the extension.

There are moments, mid turn, where I see some good things - some counter balancing, maybe some improvement with counter acting (see hip-o-meter vid). But my transitions are ugly, not PMTS, and I'm frustrated. I'm adding links to my video's for Short Turn Camp, but would like to use these screen shots to highlight where my skiing breaks down with the transition:

Finishing a left turn:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bP6nsG ... sp=sharing

Feet coming apart, starting to stem(?):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hP2LPt ... sp=sharing

Extending off free ski, yuck!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e1SLJA ... sp=sharing

Weight transferred to new stance ski but not flexing, yuck!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HzlO1L ... sp=sharing

Now past the worst of it, into my next turn, not as hard to look at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aS2kuB ... sp=sharing

Full Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OkjFho ... e=youtu.be

Hip-o-meter:
https://youtu.be/gwYgRdtOSWk

I am wondering if anyone else has been "cured" from this issue, and whether I am correct that attempting the phantom move could possibly triggering part of my extension? I know skiing in a blocked position without any CB & CA can lead to extending, as Harold said above. And, the poles across the knees drill helped me feel a stronger counter and seemed like the only way I could turn was to flex. We also did pole drags and knee touches. When we tried two-footed releases, I also felt like I was flexing to release my edges and tip the skis downhill, followed by lifting my new inside ski. So, could that help? Basically trying a TFR with exaggerated flex?

Post note - I really want to get to a camp in CO next year. I am however, a little concerned about coming home and STILL not being a PMTS skier.

[RyanAllen]

Since posting the update above, I have gotten some great feedback, and would like to share a few details... The common theme from the feedback I've gotten was "balance." Work on balancing on the stance ski and free foot management. Also, finish the turn strongly, with more tipping. Also, relax during transition, and think of keeping my legs and ankles soft - don't push on the skis.

To this, I added something that gave me some good feedback last season, the sponge drill. This was a very good test of my balancing, releasing, flexing, and tipping. By focusing on balancing 100% on the stance ski, I found it much easier than last season to tip my free foot and hold it against my downhill boot, holding the sponge securely. The transition is (obviously) the most difficult part to keep the sponge from falling. I found that by flexing into the transition, and holding a strong counter, I was able to release the stance ski and transfer balance to the free ski (hopefully to the LTE) and continuously keep pressure against the sponge by tipping the new free ski early into the next turn. Doing so, I was able to keep the sponge from moving out of place for several (12?) turns. Obviously, if I can avoid dropping the sponge then I'm not stemming, that makes me happy! My only drops were where the trail transitioned across an intersection. But I was able to keep the sponge from dropping even where the trail pitched downward. However, when it was late in the day and I began to tire, I did start dropping the sponge after a few turns. It definitely takes energy and focus.

I want to get some more video soon, but am having a little trouble finding fellow nerds!

-Ry

[RyanAllen]

Updates!

1) Dec. 2020 Short Turn Camp - Good experience, challenging though. Not because of the pandemic situation. Coaching was excellent, world class even. Had the pleasure of skiing with HH and WE - bucket list check off! The feedback is objective and succinct. Not always fun but without correction you can't really improve. But to be fair, the coaches were VERY quick to compliment you when something improved. I could tell how vested they were in getting improvement out of us. In fact, Walter was pushing us hard on the last day. He wanted results. My only gripe would be relate to the limited terrain and collision risk at A-Basin.

2) Alignment - I went through the process at the shop the day before camp. They are as thorough as described in other posts. Several hours of work. This was a challenging project for me because I had done a huge amount of DIY'ing this summer on my carver alignment, and we were not entirely on the same page. My setup evolved over several days and we eventually reached a similar outcome. This helped my balance improve, particularly on my right leg which had a tendency to rotate inward. Back skiing in Michigan, I've added another 0.5 degree to the right boot and posted my own footbeds to get a stronger medial side.

3) Skiing and Harb Carving - My thoughts on the transition from pavement to snow are evolving. I had expected a somewhat bigger improvement in my skiing and the first few days at camp were frustrating. Getting my alignment dialed in over the week helped, but there was another problem. I have become very comfortable releasing off the old edges and tipping towards the new edges Harb carving on 3 or 4% grades. But I'll be honest, attempting the same movements on the steeper pitches on High Noon at A-Basin was very intimidating. HH in fact could tell that I was holding back, not letting go. Getting out on the early groom the weekend following camp helped build some confidence - first part of video. Back in Michigan, you'll see I'm actually not on the smooth stuff but after getting acquainted I managed to become more confident with my releases.

Sorry, I'm probably "burying the lead." So do Harb Carvers translate to snow? I say yes! It's just taking me some time to get comfortable with steeper pitches. Here's a comparison I thought was striking:



And first video of the 2020-21 snow season:



And for reference, here's a video of my skiing last year (BC - before carvers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OkjFhoqCxQ

Couple of things I want to improve:
1) Stronger balance on stance ski
2) Faster tempo
3) Weighted releases
4) Stronger tipping and flexing

Thanks for following and commenting, and happy holidays!

[SkiMoose]

I'd agree that the jump from Carvers to snow is challenging. In my experience, CA, CB, and flexing translates fairly well, but the difference in pitch affects weight distribution foot to foot (there is typically more weight on the inside ski on carvers), and for aft balance (less pull back is required on carvers). I've found that just getting lots of reps on snow after being on the carvers to be the most beneficial in adjusting to the different dynamics of skiing. Steeper pitches = higher angles and higher degrees of movements

[ErikCO]

Your video from last year is coming up as private when I try to watch it. I'd be interested in seeing it. (If you don't want it to be generally available on YouTube, just change it to unlisted but post a link here.)

I'm kind of surprised you felt there was a collision risk at ABasin. Most of the time I just feel that way before the other mountains open up. By late November or early December, I generally don't find it to be all that crowded. That said, we haven't had a great snow year thus far in central CO so terrain is a little slow opening.

I won't give much feedback on the video you posted from camp, as I'm sure the coaches gave you better feedback than I am able to do. One thing I will agree with you on, however, is faster tempo. You are staying in your turn long enough that you bleed all the energy out of it. If you were to release and head into the next turn a half second sooner, you would get much more of a dynamic feeling to your skiing. Of course, my skiing often ends up looking like that at camp because I am concentrating on a particular movement more than on the overall flow of my skiing.

So glad you got a chance to get to camp despite the pandemic!

[willwingpang]

Looking good - Keep skiing!

[RyanAllen]

I've found that just getting lots of reps on snow after being on the carvers to be the most beneficial in adjusting to the different dynamics of skiing. Steeper pitches = higher angles and higher degrees of movements

Thanks Moose! I enjoyed meeting you in person and watching you work on your skiing. Your passion and dedication are paying off! I so enjoyed my carver experience this year. I understand some have Harb carved and skied on the same day, and I've got intentions of doing that too for an integrated experience. And it could be a fun video project.

Your video from last year is coming up as private when I try to watch it.

Fixed, sorry!

One thing I will agree with you on, however, is faster tempo. You are staying in your turn long enough that you bleed all the energy out of it. If you were to release and head into the next turn a half second sooner, you would get much more of a dynamic feeling to your skiing.

Harald mentioned this too. I was traversing between turns, even more so, early in camp. It was similar with my carvers this year too, getting comments like "pick up the pace!" When I eventually did so, carving really changed. Funny too, my wife watched some ski video with me last night - the usual suspects like Berger, McGlashan, etc. - then watched mine. Her parting comment was fantastic. "You just need to turn sooner." I guess I've got my marching orders

I'm also interested in mastering the "weighted release" exercise. Because it seems that the better job I do keeping the old stance foot on the snow, the better job I do flexing to release and reducing/avoiding an extension.

[RyanAllen]

MA Update - Based on recent feedback, my goal since the last post has been to work on a faster tempo. I ran into a few problems during my first attempts to pick up the pace. A bit of extension crept back into my transitions, and my free foot tipping was a bit weak. So, I drilled on basic tipping, boot touch transitions and the weighted release - I think that will be money when I can nail it consistently. There are some things that I like in this video and things I don't like, but I will let you all be the judge .



I know stills can be cherry-picked, but it has taken me so damn long to begin ridding myself of the cursed PSIA extension move!!



Happy New Year everyone!!

[willwingpang]

The difference in your skiing between now and previous videos is like night and day - In the latest one, I love the speed control, the tempo and rhythm and the float in between the turns. Also, your movements look more smoother and crisp.

IMO, in some turns your BTE on the old inside ski bites little early in the high c... perhaps you could try the accelerator and brake garland drill with emphasis on strong LTE edge when release the BTE on the stance ski, and try this on shallow, mid, steeps.

You can get MORE tipping in as you travel through the lower half the turn, be more aggressive and playful with the Phantom Move and and foot/feet pullback. Diana's Step Up video is a great source - I learnt a lot from that also re-discovered the float (it's funny how I forget this...).

[ErikCO]

Now THAT's some skiing! Looks so much better and flows much better than your previous videos! If you manage to do turns exactly like that on a groomed western black run (and I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to), you will be better than almost everyone on the mountain!

I'm sure coaches will have input on small tweaks to the above, but as willwingpang indicated, the place to go from here is probably working on increasing the magnitude of your essentials. Make sure you feel confident in the movements you all ready have, but as he said, increasing tipping is a good place to start. You start increasing your tipping and get video and you will then see what other essentials need to be worked on to match the tipping. At least, that is my approach as I find tipping to be the easiest essential to push myself on. Then that exposes the areas where I am weak.

[Max_501]

From one coach to another - Watch your video and MA as if it was one of your students.

1 - How often do you see an O-Frame (LTE tipping before BTE tipping)?
2 - Is the pelvis part of the legs or torso (especially here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7d_jxDFH04)
3 - In the most recent footage with an increase in tempo and decrease in turn radius - how much ski performance do you see (for the sake of discussion look for a bent outside ski that leads to a pop during the release)?

[oggy]

Hey Ryan. A couple of other outcomes to watch out for that might be useful:

1. look at the ratio of how much time you spend in high-C and low-C (above/below the fall line), and compare that to Harald or any of the coaches in the coaches training video that Harald posted last season
2. look at how much spray is coming off each ski and when

[RyanAllen]

An update (edited)... I've been practicing and free skiing a good amount. Focus areas have been keeping my inside ski light and trying to hinge/tip on the LTE, narrowing my stance, getting my hips low, and flexing for angles and releasing.



I would imagine that most of us have a favorite video of HH's skiing - something we aspire to ourselves. This is mine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waSLlrxDCdg&list=PLzQjF_llzGT2zP8EVYHb0GBpfR0SmU626&index=16 I've got it on my bookmark bar for easy access. To me it really is "the way to ski," with power, balance and rhythm.