by skijim13 » Mon Nov 10, 2014 6:21 am
I was having my annual Wine and Cheese party at my home with friends from the ski club as well as other friends. One of my friends who skis was interested in seeing my tipping board and teeter board I had built. I showed he the high ski balance on the board and other moves I do on the board. A person who has dedicated his life to skiing and teaching full time for the past 20 years, was at the party and saw what we were doing, he quickly came over and demonstrated the move with a super wide stance and after a long discussion still would not admit you can carve without a wide stance. I next annoyed him further by showing him my sponge and nerf ball, and told him I use them to practice short radius turns with. He said there was nothing right about that move and it was old school. The lack understanding out there in ski instruction is sad. My favorite move which I see at my mountain is to have the students lay on their back while the instructor turns their feet to feel rotary movements. Another great one I often hear from other ski instructors is with the wider skis you need to ski differently, the key is to widen your stance to make better turns. If you are the general public and you believe ski instructors know about skiing which one do you listen to? The person who tells you to widen your stance or narrow your stance? Should you tip your skis with no rotary input or should you turn your skis? I can see why most people don't have much value in current ski instruction.