Tips and Techniques - Skiing

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Jump To: Choosing Your LineSkiing: The BasicsStand TallHow to do Carving Turns on your SkisHow to Ski Moguls

Choosing Your Line

One of the most common tactical issues that hinder effective performance is the line we steer and how it affects our control. Having spent many years watching skiers perform on a variety of slopes it is not unfair to say that the vast majority could dramatically increase their performance just by changing the shape of their turn. The first step is to change the ‘mind set’. I am sure all the skiers I have watched are doing what they want to do! The jagged, rushed turns being a result of not wanting to point down the hill (fall-line) and therefore gain too much speed, or, pushing their heels out as they may, incorrectly, have been told. The effects on their performance are many. The sharpness of the turn makes it harder to balance, the skis do not interact with the terrain and snow surface efficiently, either braking away if the texture is harder, or tripping the skier up if it is a little deeper, and speed control becomes fragile. None of these factors create problems when the skier is in their comfort zone, when the gradient is not too steep, when the terrain is not too challenging and when the snow is complimentary. However, once the going gets tougher and the snow get firmer or deeper, the terrain gets bumpy or the gradient gets steeper, their performance breaks down. This can all be overcome by steering positively to shape all turns into curves. Steering positively gives you a smoother, more balanced ride, it gives your skis the opportunity to do their job, working with the snow conditions and providing grip and support, or drive through different snow textures. But mainly, it gives you options. When zig zagging down a slope you come out of the fall line at one angle and in one direction, whereas shaping ‘S’ curves you can ‘release’ the curve at any stage allowing you to go faster or slower as you decide. An effective analogy is to compare steering your skis to steering your car. The car driver is very definitely steering into the curve and then steering out of the curve. At any stage they are placing the car exactly where they want it to be. It would be an ‘out of control’ driver who ‘threw’ the car around a corner and waited for the wheels to grip and take them off in the new direction, yet, this is what many skiers are doing in every turn they make. Here are some drills that will contribute to more accurate steering and also increase the effectiveness of your skis. All to be performed on gentle slopes. (Note - Develop your performance where you can focus on what you are doing and not be distracted or intimidated by the gradient, terrain or snow texture.) Prevent rushing the turns and ‘check’ there is a part of the curve when the skis are pointing down the fall line by saying “Now” as your skis point down the slope. Count around the curve. Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 through the CURVE. 1 as you start the curve, 2 as you accelerate, 3 as you point down the fall line, 4, as you steer out of the fall line and 5 as you slow down by ‘closing’ the curve. Breathe in by pulling in your abdomen as you build speed into the fall line, and breath out slowly as you close the curve and slow down. Link curves together to create continuous movement over your skis. Enjoy your skiing! Article courtesy of James (Jaz) Lamb, Director, British Alpine Ski & Snowboard School Courchevel Jaz Lamb is Director of British Alpine Ski School Courchevel (BASS Courchevel), a school based in Courchevel with a reputation for running small groups, intensive and involved teaching - and the maximum level of enjoyment! The school caters for all levels from aspiring Instructors to never having skied, young and old. Jaz learnt to ski in the Yorkshire Dales and Scotland before starting a career teaching skiing in 1984 that has taken him to schools in Scotland, Andorra, Italy and France before becoming Director of BASS Courchevel in 2000. He has worked with skiers of all levels, coaching British Champions with the Scottish Freestlye Squad and training and assessing all levels of instructors through his role on the training staff of the British Association of Snowsport Instructors. He remains passionate about skiing, balancing time in the mountains with a life by and on the water - when not skiing he can be found racing yachts and sailing dinghies on the south coast of England. BASS Courchevel is one of three schools in the Alps licensed by BASI to run Trainee Instructor and Ski Instructor Training courses on behalf of the governing body. They also run a comprehensive training programme supporting instructors through their qualifications as well as a full range of courses and private lessons for all levels and ages. If you would like to find out how we can help you achieve your skiing goals visit the BASS Courchevel website

last updated 23-May-2008

Skiing: The Basics

Skiing is a very simple sport based upon the interaction of the skier, their equipment and the mountain. The skiers we admire and aspire to achieve harmony with these components, they are effortless, skilful, playful and in control. The skiers that do not achieve this harmony look wooden, forced and they struggle. Skilled skiers flow whilst others fight their way down the slope. As we plan our trips to the snow and look forward to our skiing think how you can achieve this interaction and go onto the slopes considering these 3 components of your performance: The skier: The human body has evolved through thousands of years of hunting and gathering to be athletic and active. Regardless of whether you spend more time sitting behind a desk rather than fighting off wild animals your body still retains its natural ability to move and balance subconsciously – give it the freedom to work. Skiing is a sport not an armchair activity and does require a level of physical effort. You don’t need to be a fitness fanatic to enjoy skiing but do make sure you have a base level of fitness and agility to be active at altitude. Get fit to ski – usual disclaimers apply – see your doctor, join a gym and get moving! The equipment: Whether you own or rent and no matter what level you ski to, the boot / binding / ski combination is designed specifically to help you control your descent down a slippery, snow covered slope. Using the design features will make life easy; whilst fighting against them the ski / slope will always win! Taking the ski as the tool to control our descent (leaving the boot & binding as the connection between the skier and their skis) the important features to be aware of are: Mounting Point: the technicians take care over mounting your bindings correctly so your boots and feet are in the right place on the skis. Balance through your feet naturally and you will be in the sweet spot of the ski – fall away from this point and the ski will take you for a ride! Side Cut: the ski is designed to steer curves – use it! Either skid the ski by scraping its edges lightly over the snow or carve by following the natural design of the ski. The Edge: you can control how much you tilt the ski to make it grip – be aware that it will respond exactly to your input so be sure on what you are asking it to do. (see future articles) Running Surface: the base is waxed and slippery on the snow and is designed to help us slide down the mountain - allow the skis to do what they are designed to do and let them slide! This may be stating the obvious but many skiers try to stop their skis from sliding. This occurs when they are on too steep / difficult a slope. The Mountain: When you go skiing there are countless routes down. The gradient, snow texture, terrain (bumps etc) all contribute to make one slope easier or harder than another. These prepared slopes are bracketed into different coloured ‘pistes’ (green, blue, red and black) but you will still find some runs of the same colour easier or harder than others (ie Pleney B compared to Pleney D). You will also find that the same slope changes as evolving snow, terrain conspire to make it harder. So, choose which slopes you want to ski on depending on your confidence level and your ability. Don’t be led by more experience skiers saying “you’ll be fine, it’s easy down here”. Remember ski instructors are trained to make decisions on which are the most suitable slopes to consolidate, reinforce or challenge ability without over stretching – your friends are not. Only when you are comfortable and confident on the slope in front of you and when you have a positive frame of mind, will you be able to unlock the potential of your skis and body. When skiing as a group, appreciate the ability of the weakest, it is not possible to short-circuit their learning. A skier may be able to ‘survive’ getting down but it will be at the expense of their technical development, their confidence and often at the expense of their enjoyment. When skiing with a party of mixed ability arrange different routes to the same point. For example from the top of the Pleney gondola, skiers can choose from the easier (Pleney B) or harder (Pleney D) blue runs, the red (piste H) or the black (piste J). It is important for individuals to choose their challenge allowing them to achieve the flowing, effortless descent that comes from body, equipment and the mountain working together in harmony. Enjoy your skiing. Article courtesy of James (Jaz) Lamb, Director, British Alpine Ski & Snowboard School Courchevel Jaz Lamb is Director of British Alpine Ski School Courchevel (BASS Courchevel), a school based in Courchevel with a reputation for running small groups, intensive and involved teaching - and the maximum level of enjoyment! The school caters for all levels from aspiring Instructors to never having skied, young and old. Jaz learnt to ski in the Yorkshire Dales and Scotland before starting a career teaching skiing in 1984 that has taken him to schools in Scotland, Andorra, Italy and France before becoming Director of BASS Courchevel in 2000. He has worked with skiers of all levels, coaching British Champions with the Scottish Freestlye Squad and training and assessing all levels of instructors through his role on the training staff of the British Association of Snowsport Instructors. He remains passionate about skiing, balancing time in the mountains with a life by and on the water - when not skiing he can be found racing yachts and sailing dinghies on the south coast of England. BASS Courchevel is one of three schools in the Alps licensed by BASI to run Trainee Instructor and Ski Instructor Training courses on behalf of the governing body. They also run a comprehensive training programme supporting instructors through their qualifications as well as a full range of courses and private lessons for all levels and ages. If you would like to find out how we can help you achieve your skiing goals visit the BASS Courchevel website

last updated 23-May-2008

Stand Tall

Listening to some parents teaching their children to ski the other day, one phrase that kept being repeated was “Bend your Knees!” It is a stereotypical phrase and assumed that all ski instructors use as a stock comment. However the reality is very different. I find that I spend much of my time asking skiers to stand taller. For the children being taught by their parents, bending their knees more resulted in two effects at ski level, firstly their weight dropping back onto their heels and secondly the knees dropping together and the skis going onto their edges. Both these effects resulted in the child starting to fight their skis. If the opposite advice had been given and they were asked to stand taller the results would have been very different. They would have become more naturally balanced over the balls of their feet (or at least closer to being naturally balanced over the balls of their feet) and the skis would have rested flatter on the snow making them much easier to control and direct. The end result would have been a more natural stance and a stronger ‘connection’ with the skis and the snow. Try this little task. Stand up naturally and balance through the ball of your feet, now let your legs flex lightly, let your knees move forwards a couple of inches (4 – 5 cm). Feel for how strong you are and how effortless it is to hold this position. Now “bend your knees” and let your legs flex more so your thighs move more towards the horizontal. Compare your feelings. How strong is this position compared to the first? How much effort does it take to hold this position compared to the first? Now relate this to your skiing. How much effort do you waste holding a lower, more ‘flexed’ stance because someone has told you to “bend your knees”. All this extra effort for no direct benefit! Let us use this taller, more natural stance to give us: Better balance and therefore a greater connection with our skis. More efficient skiing, use your skeletal structure and musculature more efficiently. More power, use your skeletal structure and musculature more effectively and powerfully. So try this for your level of skiing: Introductory level skiers (nursery areas & Green) Become connected to your skis: Find a section of slope that you are confident to slide on. Try the Magic Carpet & Nabor Chairlift Stand tall and stand through / balance through the balls of your feet. Stay in a tall ‘natural’ position as you link some gentle curves together. With this taller stance you will be able to work with your skis rather than feeling that you are fighting them Developing level Skiers (Blues & easy Reds) Lets develop more accurate balance: Find a section of slope you are confident to let your skis slide on. Try Pleney B, Piste G or the Gentiane in Les Gets using the Chairlift de la Croix. Use a positive but smooth stretch as you move from one curve to the next, as you move from one turning ski to the other. A positive stretch to stand tall will help you establish better balance on the new turning foot and therefore the new turning ski. Stay tall as you steer around the curve and allow your leg to ‘relax’ a little as your skis move through the end of the curve and start travelling more across the slope. Only use a natural range of movement to ‘settle’ onto the skis and remain balanced. This taller stance will enable you to become better balanced over the new turning ski at the start of the curve whilst the softening at the end of the curve allows you to remain balanced through this phase. Performing Skiers (Reds and Blacks) Lets go fast and develop more power out of the skis: Find a section of slope you are confident to let yourself go fast on and make sure it is safe. Try Rhodos in Les Gets or the bottom, flatter sections of Piste A in Courchevel. Stretch and stay tall as you become supported by the new turning ski, progressively tilt the skis to generate the curve. Hold your leg ‘long and strong’ to brace against the ski, loading it with more power. Let the ski flatten, allowing the forces of the curve to pull your centre of Mass (hips / tummy button) out of that curve and fluidly into the new curve. Remember Long is Strong! So the two lessons to be learnt here for all levels of skier are: Stand taller Always go to professionals for your lessons! Article courtesy of James (Jaz) Lamb, Director, British Alpine Ski & Snowboard School Courchevel Jaz Lamb is Director of British Alpine Ski School Courchevel (BASS Courchevel), a school based in Courchevel with a reputation for running small groups, intensive and involved teaching - and the maximum level of enjoyment! The school caters for all levels from aspiring Instructors to never having skied, young and old. Jaz learnt to ski in the Yorkshire Dales and Scotland before starting a career teaching skiing in 1984 that has taken him to schools in Scotland, Andorra, Italy and France before becoming Director of BASS Courchevel in 2000. He has worked with skiers of all levels, coaching British Champions with the Scottish Freestlye Squad and training and assessing all levels of instructors through his role on the training staff of the British Association of Snowsport Instructors. He remains passionate about skiing, balancing time in the mountains with a life by and on the water - when not skiing he can be found racing yachts and sailing dinghies on the south coast of England. BASS Courchevel is one of three schools in the Alps licensed by BASI to run Trainee Instructor and Ski Instructor Training courses on behalf of the governing body. They also run a comprehensive training programme supporting instructors through their qualifications as well as a full range of courses and private lessons for all levels and ages. If you would like to find out how we can help you achieve your skiing goals visit the BASS Courchevel website

last updated 23-May-2008

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