by geoffda » Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:23 pm
Hi Dan,
Understand that you are going to start over with your skiing, so going back to easy terrain is going to be most helpful. Right now, the bumps are just going to reinforce bad movements, so by and large you should avoid them. You may *occassionally* venture back in to test your new movements or just for fun (cause skiing is fun, right?), but just be aware that you don't want to spend too much time on any terrain that causes you to revert to old patterns.
The key to quality skiing is how you get from one set of edges to the other and the key to that is tipping. PMTS is first and foremost about tipping. Everything else (whether primary or secondary movements) is about making your tipping better. So tipping is the place to start. Tipping has to start with the feet. Specifically, it needs to start with the old stance foot. As you flex to release the turn, you need to be tipping the old stance foot onto it's little-toe-edge. When you do this, the old free foot will follow and, as long as you don't apply any twist, you will get clean edge engagement. Continuing to tip through the turn leads to tighter radii and dynamic, flowing skiing.
At the moment, you aren't showing any tipping skills. You are getting on your new edges by inclining your upper body (and you've probably got a heel push in there as well). For great skiing, you need to develop the ability to change edges with your feet (while they are under your hips). Pick whatever PMTS book you want to start with, go back to green terrain and work through all the tipping drills. Be sure to practice dry land tipping as well. You need to really understand what proper tipping feels like at all levels of the "kinetic chain". That is feet, ankles, knees, and hips. If you know what it is supposed to feel like from dry land, you'll be much better able to judge what is going on when you ski. Continue to post video as you work through the drills so you stay on the right track. It is easy to think you have it right when you don't. Or better yet, get a PMTS lesson! Also, understand that as you start to develop tipping, you will need to develop the ability to flex and counterbalance more or less concurrently.
So hopefully that gives you a mission. Go back out there and get us some video with some tipping!