Hello PMTS members
I’ve enjoyed reading various threads over the past year on the PMTS Forum and have become familiar with the names of some of the regular posters.
I’m asking for specific help with 1) an MA on my skiing 2) Some advice on what sort of skis I should get for masters racing and 3) Some specific advice about how to make the most when racing (or trying to race) using PMTS technique..
As a new poster on the forum I thought I should also give a brief background to at least introduce myself.
I’m an Australian who lives on the south coast of New South Wales about 3 hours drive from the Australian ski fields and ski mostly at Thredbo. Since returning to skiing about 6 years ago I mostly get less than a weeks skiing in a whole year but expect that I will be doing more in the next few years. I came in to contact with Harald’s first book about 5 years ago and a year later I was lucky enough to track down Peter Stone, an Australian PMTS instructor and have a few hours as a private lesson. That helped enormously as prior to that I wasn’t aware that I wasn’t really relaxing to releasing my downhill ski but rather having a subtle push off.
The rest of my skiing has had to be based mostly on Harald’s books and videos and my application relying on my interpretation, so a proper PMTS MA on my skiing would be very useful.
1) Request for an MA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HC5_l78K3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9_aZaGfzAE
I’m off to Thredbo in 2 days to do the 5 day masters training before the race on Saturday so it is my chance to really work on my PMTS technique.
2) Some advice on ski selection for Masters Racing (last year I raced on Head 1400 chips and they were a bad choice for racing, way too soft and not edgy enough).
I find the supershapes very easy to ski on and suspect that want a racing performance ski but not real race stock.
I’m aged 52, basically quite athletic and healthy , have been riding a bike for the past few months to get leg strength for skiing and do yoga enough to maintain good flexibility (and vary occasionally surf and use to do Karate for some years).
At 5’10.5” I weigh 76kg and I’m skiing on 170 Head Supershapes (who isn’t). Boots are Nordica Speed Machine14 with zipfit liners.
I’m thinking mostly of Fisher World Cup RC, or maybe Head World Cup ispeed or any other recommendations. I'd be particularly interested in Haralds recommendation if that were possible since he knows the mechanics of skis, skiing and racing.
What wuld be the best ski, are there others I should consider instead. What size I should go for.
3) Some specific advice about how to make the most of racing with PMTS technique.
I had a first go at Masters last year and skied really appallingly (and with no evidence of any PMTS technique). I was 16 seconds behind the best overall time of 49 seconds but can see so many areas I can improve in. My goal this year is to drop 10 seconds off my time (ie be within 6 seconds of the fastest skier). I’ve only been able to read The Essentials properly over summer so I’ll really be working to incorporate power releases and flexing the inside foot early to pull me into greater body angles as well as plenty of CB into my skiing.
Perhaps it best for me to post some actually video of my attemps at racing technique later this week for a seperate MA.
I’ve noted the recent remarks in this forum about masters racers.
“No, instead, I'm talking about the 50-somethings in full-blown race suits skiing on Race Stock they can't bend... “ “They can't even carve a decent turn much less engage in the more esoteric nuances of WC technique. Frankly, it's embarrassing!”
“How right you both are. At least the Masters know how bad they are ( the times and score board don't lie) and much of what they do is play the game to be involved with the social aspects of ski racing, which has a great community”
Seriously! I just bought a race suit too! So that’s me.
What’s more I’ll be doing my high speed snowplough turns down the GS course carrying a giant sign saying “I'm a PMTS Skier” so you’d better excommunicate me from the forum immediately - or give some characteristically fabulous HH type advice.
But seriously, I‘d be grateful for any advice. And expect that I won’t post such long items again.
Thank You
Robert