More of a technical update this week than a personal one… How to sit ski! Although not too disimilar to a normal ski, it does have a different sensation as it is your shoulders doing the majority of the work and your centre of gravity is so much lower to the ground.
So without further to do, here goes:
Sit ski technique
Push and open stabilo in direction to travel.
slide (glisser) outside arm outrigger/stabilo, NEVER dig in as it prevents turning.
Turn head and shoulders in the direction you want to travel, do NOT drop shoulders into turn, just turn shoulders.
Keep ski flat and pivot to set off.
Keep stabilo on the snow at ALL times “i ‘ave two ‘ands”!
Keep shoulders level and parallel with stabilo NOT keeping them too close to the body.
Keep head UP looking at the whole mountain NOT just the next turn.
On steeper slopes
i. Push open/turn the stabilo and move the arm AWAY from the body – this exaggerated movement is important. Then pull the arm back in carving a semi-circle with the inside edge of the stabilo (sliding not digging it in)
ii. First start the turn on a flat ski but complete turn with edge into slope.
iii. Turn on top of bumps- it’s easier to pivot. Also keep ski flat at all times as it gives you a much smaller turning circle(important when turning on steep slopes in particular)
iv. Lean forward on turning and lean back on completion.
v. Keep head, shoulders and body facing DOWN slope to maintain balance (otherwise you fall over!)
vi. Very steep and narrow (cor/petite)slide sideways down hill and then do a short turn on the pivot.
On flat surfaces/going quickly
Transfer weight either side of ski onto edges to carve – but only when travelling fast enough to do so. Failure to carve when going quickly lets the ski slip and slide(glisser) all over the shop so always carve when going quickly do not go in a straight line.
Don’t lean forward too much – stay vertical - when going fast as it will dig the tip of the ski in and slow you down/destabilise you.
When travelling quickly for an excellent sensation turn on the bump to carve well.
Gradient(pente)/Dayver against direction of run:
Always look at the lay of the land over the direction of the run.Combine a small turn falling with the gradiant with a long one into it.
On Powder/off-piste:
Keep stabilo on top of the snow at all times.
Have a wider ski.