Hey Max,
I was a little cranky that day.
Don't get me wrong. The movements used in carving are the same movements I use in my beloved bumpity bumps, off piste, my favorite tree lines.
I just tend to keep my feet closer. I've never been able to make the tight radius turns, because I've never really focused on carving. Since I don't practice much with my feet wider, I don't get the tight arcs. That's what I meant to say, when I said I don't want to ski groomers.
Now some will read this and go, "Wait a minute. He practices PMTS, but he doesn't practice carving? Whazzup with that?"
I'll tell you whazzup with that. When I first started in PMTS, my goal wasn't carving. It was to ski where others don't. So I focused on balance, nothing but balance. If you watch HH ski bumps or off piste in either 1 or 2, he has a narrow stance. Hell I ski with him, I know. His stance is wider on groomers. He can do this because he comes from racing, where a wider stance is used. Me? I've never raced, so I never learned to use a wider stance.
But I use the Primary Movements, heck yes I do. I just do it with a narrower stance. I totally focus on making turns with my downhill foot, the upper body control. Text book PMTS. Where I've never really focused is getting two tracks that are consistent in width. Because to do so, you need to hang out on groomers. I don't wanna hang out on groomers.
10-4?
One more thang (Rusty). I ski at Vail/BC most of the time. During the year I see racers here, either for a camp or training. Of course the men's Downhill is at the Beav every year. Last year at the Beav I followed a few WC skiers who were free skiing. I gotta say, they couldn't ski bumps very well at all. I dusted them. They were also having a little trouble negotiating the powder chop. Why? Well, it could have been because they were on race skis. But in the bumps, I could see it plain as day. There feet were too far apart. That and it looked like they just didn't practice much in da bumpity bumps.
I see skiers all the time, who can make better turns than me on groomers. You know, two tracks, evenly spaced. Heck. I'll see a few in this camp I'm going to. What I hardly ever see, are skiers who can out do me on my turf.
Of course this gets back to the stance debate. There is no debate. If carving is your thang (Rusty), then a wider stance is needed. If bumps, off-piste is your thang (Rusty), then you'll need a narrower stance. Can you get the best of both world's in PMTS? You bet you can, it's what it's designed for. PMTS teaches one set of movements, used everywhere -- the Primary Movements.
I just skipped over some of it.
But you know what Max? Maybe, just maybe, I've typed myself into finding that middle ground. As long as it's fun, and I dig it, I'll do it. We'll see what I get out of this race camp I'm going to. But I won't be able to see how it feels until next year. I'll let you know.
If not, don't look for me on groomers anytime soon.
Be cool Max, we'll check you out later.