Although it would be very familiar to most of the members of this forum, I still want to say my big "thank you" to Harald Harb and his PMTS system.
When I was a kid, I was practicing Nordic skis, skating style. (That's probably why I have this BTE lock)
But I was wondering what it would be like to go downhill from big slopes.
With a school friend we were reading the Joubert's book, but of cause little did we know.
Later on, when I finally started Alpine skiing, after some fast initial progress and fun, I was very confused and frustrated.
Unconnected pieces of information were not making too much sense, and the famous Ron LeMaster's book added even more confusion.
As I started on some second-(or third?)-hand straight (but soft) Head RS combination skis, I was mainly skidding and stemming and rotating like mad. At the same time I was always trying to counter-balance and counter-rotate, which seemed to me natural enough. The boots were some old Lange ZR or something, stiff as hell, but there was a direct connection to the skis, unlike those rental boots with 50 flex index.
As I was playing tennis as well, I was thinking about the "efficient" and "elegant" way to ski, and not to fight the skis or terrain.
At some point in time I got myself a pair of shaped Volkl 320 skis, and something started to tick in my head, that now it is possible to turn
by just putting the skis on edge and let them flow... But I had no idea how to do it correctly, and there were too many contradictions in the "bag of tricks", no system. As it was pointed out numerous times in this forum (I am still on page 3 and working my way through), I am more of a thinker, than a copier, so having a good explanation is better for me. Ideally one should have all three: explanation, display and feedback from the instructor.
Low and behold, few weeks ago I was directed to a YouTube video of a certain Harald Harb explaining how to put the ski boots.
I have to say that I was always struggling while putting on my Lange WC120 boots, but as they seemed to fit nicely my narrow leg,
I could stay the whole day in them without problems.
I was shocked by the video, that the way I was putting my boots was completely wrong! And the way the should be put on was extremely easy,
once correctly explained. Of cause I was just stupidly pulling the cuff in front...
Low and behold, I started to look around for more videos from Harald, and finally discovered the Site, the Blog and the Forum.
Ordered the #1 book. Read it. And the puzzle started to assemble! Finally I had a book which was a first part of a clear and concrete system,
with detailed explanations, pictures, drills, etc. And most of my skiing problems started to make sense to me.
I have the usual list of bad habits/deficiencies:
- little or no tipping of inside/free foot
- little or no flexing
- too extended stance foot and A-frame
- release through leg extension and not by flexing
- back-seat riding due to the lack of flexing of the feet under the hips
- swinging pole plants
- no effective speed control
- bump hate
- etc, etc.
But now I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and the fun of the modern skiing.
Ordered other books and videos.
Made myself a slant board and started practicing.
Instead of going fast and "useless" around the slopes, started to practice tipping and Phantom move on greens/blues.
Joined the forum.
Removed the forward lean shims from the back of the boots to have more upright leg position.
Need to make a video for MA.
For the time being I have to stick to my present gear, Elan Amphibio WaveFlex 12 and Lange WC120s,
knowing that it might not be the best combination for PMTS.
Maybe I will change them to Head skis and Head boots, but cannot do it right now financially.
As far as I can tell there are no PMTS instructors/camps in France, but the Hintertux is not to far away.
But maybe there are some PMTS skiers around the French Alps, Geneva region?
So, thank you so much again Harald, that you are showing the occasional recreational skiers the way out of confusion and dead-end habits!
And now back to the slant board, books and drills, and some fun on the slopes
Oleg.