Skiing epiphanies?

Skiing epiphanies?

What has happened in your progression from a newbie skier to where you are now?

What have been the moments when something previously unnatural or unimagined just gelled in your head and became part of how you ski?

I'm still way nearer the newbie end of the spectrum than I'd like so am interested in what others have felt as they've improved.


So, some pretty basic stuff from me:-

(1) Leaning back won't help you... As soon as the front of your skis remain weighted (even in fear) then you can steer at will. This was a good moment! :D

(2) There's always a way off the mountain.

(3) Sliding your skis parallel to each other, perpendicular to the direction of travel and then digging the edges in will slow you down no matter how fast you're going. Hey presto, speed is fun and can be safely managed too... :twisted:

(4) After the agonizing first week of burning thighs and side stepping up a field it's time to let ski lifts do the hard work. Falling over and getting up by levering yourself up on poles uses a huge amount of energy. Just slide down the hill on your side and let gravity pull you up. 8)

(5) To quote Pavelski (sorry if I've got it a bit wrong) "Merely suggest to your skis where they might like to go next." Skiing is not roller skating! Let your edges do the work. As soon as this becomes clear skiing can be as tiring as you chose to make it. Suddenly cruising gentle runs becomes as physically demanding as standing up, and a chance to shake out muscles, relax and enjoy the scenery. Then you can deploy your reserves of energy when you want to. Skiing hard is then a choice and not a constant slog. :idea:

(6) Reaching a point of being able to handle a particular grade of run. Be it green, blue, red or black. Just having the confidence of not having to stop at the crest of every new bit of terrain and plan what to do next, but to "ski it as it comes to you". Much less stressful than wondering if the next new trail will have been miss-graded and you'll end up way out of your skill / comfort zone half way down a run.

What has fallen into place in your skiing subconscious as you've got to grips with our sport?

Cheers,

Owen.

Missed one!

(7) Your first big crash. Ski bindings really work you know! Don't twist anything or smack into anything more solid than you are and chances are you'll be none the worse for wear. :oops:

Marksman wrote:Missed one!

(7) Your first big crash. Ski bindings really work you know! Don't twist anything or smack into anything more solid than you are and chances are you'll be none the worse for wear. :oops:

It's fun to be a kid again :D

I remember with great happiness the day I realised that instead of knackering myself by doing 40 turns and going backwards and forwards across a steep slope, I could simply point down the hill and get to the bottom in 5 or six skid type turns at greater speed.

This developed on to being able to control those turns much better, and actually ended up as being a proper series of linked moves in almost total control. :D

Far Queue wrote:I remember with great happiness the day I realised that instead of knackering myself by doing 40 turns and going backwards and forwards across a steep slope, I could simply point down the hill and get to the bottom in 5 or six skid type turns at greater speed.

Nice :thumbup:

Far Queue...
...in almost total control. :D

This quote belongs on a T-Shirt. :shock:

Owen.

Please don't use too mant big words, I'm only a cab driver :shock:

I often see crosses at the tops of mountains.

Ian Wickham wrote:... I'm only a cab driver :

I thought you were a "personnel transportation and logistics consultant" ?