One of Tim’s posts on where the hands should be in riding rang especially true for me about skiing. It’s disappointing how complicated and confusing some instructors can make this issue through a wide array of well-intentioned tips that have little positive effect on your skiing. One common useless tip is the thought that you should “hold your hands like you’re carrying a tray of hot chocolate down the hill.” No professional waiter on the planet could successfully carry a tray down uneven, pitched terrain with both hands grasped in lock-step in front of them. The arms have to move freely and independently to constantly fine-tune your balance while moving down a slope.
Archive for December, 2005
Do you find yourself skiing the same locations on the same trails? Do you automatically make the same size and shape of turns? Do you avoid some trails because you’re intimidated by the terrain? There’s a fine line between having favorite runs and skiing or riding in a rut. Ski some new snow and develop new tactics by changing your outlook; get mentally tough!
Skiing and snowboarding in thick fog can be very difficult. When the snow is white, the air is white, and visibility is at a minimum, skiing and snowboarding can become quite difficult. Feeling stiff and “disconnected” from your equipment becomes difficult. So how do you cope?
First, attempt to relax. Many people take up “defensive” postures and tighten muscles they would not ordinarily tense while skiing or snowboarding. Try to systematically relax each muscle group from toe to head.
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This applies to most any sport as balance and posture are universal. So where should your hands and arms be while snowboarding? Answer: Anywhere they need to be. Unless you are practicing a specific task or drill don’t worry too much about the position of your hands.
Hmmmm….. but so many people keep telling me “you need to keep your hands ______”. Well, for the most part they are wrong. Your arms and hands are used to facilitate balancing. But does this mean it is okay to have my arms and hands in weird positions flailing back and forth?
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Mental imagery can be equally important as effective body movements in skiing and riding. After all, it’s the intangile sensations of skiing and riding that set it apart from just plain physical exertion. One image for developing smooth and round turns is to concentrate on the manner in which the a river winds through a valley. Whether big or small, rivers are a continuous stream of water that makes smooth, sweeping changes of direction. The ability of water to redirect itself to a path of least resistance with an arc makes it an excellent mental focus for skiing and riding smoothly.
USA Today has compiled a list of the top 10 snowshoeing destinations in the United States. Feel free to add your favorite snowshoeing locations in the comments below.
- Yosemite National Park, California
- Camel’s Hump State Park, Near South Burlington, Vt.
- Olympic National Park Port Angeles, Wash.
- Timms Hill Park Price County, Wis.
- White Grass Touring Center Davis, W. Va.
- The Adirondacks Upstate New York
- San Francisco Peaks Coconino National Forest, Ariz.
- Mount Greylock North Berkshire County, Mass.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Gunnison, Colo.
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Superior National Forest, Minn.
While out for a noon snowshoe the other day, I became aware of the importance of pace in moving over uneven terrain. Coastal Maine received at least 6″ of new snow last Friday which is just enough to start getting out on the trails in snowshoes or nordic skis. While the ground was basically covered, the snow cover wasn’t enough to fill in and level out the surface over objects and uneven terrain. I had to pay attention to each step and discovered that I was changing the length of my legs with each step to maintain a constant stride.
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Now that it is getting colder in most parts of North America more and more lakes and ponds are freezing providing more opportunities for cross country skiing, ice skating, and snowshoeing. But when is the ice safe?
Folklore suggests that multiplying the total inches of ice by 200 gives you the number of pounds that the ice can support. I don’t buy it!Two inches of ice should be present before you consider walking on it. But, not all ice is created equally!
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A simple focus to improve edging in downhill skiing is to develop an awareness of the relationship of your foot to the angle of the ski. As the skis tip onto edge, your foot bends at the ankle in a sidewards motion to build your balance on the side of your foot. The big and little toes are the most obvious body part along the foot, so focus on edging by honing your ability to balance on those sides of the feet. For parallel turns, one foot balances on the little toe side of the foot and the other balances on the big toe. For wedge turns, both feet balance on the big toe side of the foot. This is a great example of big benefits from little moves: edging takes little more effort than balancing on the sides of your feet!