With the right movements and mental attitude on the right piste skiing is easy. Change any one of these items and it becomes more difficult.(but not impossible)

Example1:" Movements " If you were to use a large wedge on a easy piste to slow down or turn, you use more energy. It puts you in a defensive position where any movement is difficult. This is not good for your confidence. If you use a small wedge or parallel to turn for speed control it is much easier. This puts you in a more offensive position which is important for movement and control. This builds confidence.

Example2: "Mental Attitude" It can be a challenge to show up the first day of skiing with the perfect attitude. Fatigue, stress and fear can contribute to a bad day. The first day you should take it easy. Go half speed. Give yourself time to adjust to your new surroundings.

Example3: "The Right Piste" Start off on a easy piste. When you fill confident then challenge yourself. Always check on the snow conditions. If its icy that blue piste can become a black.

The Four Skill Movements

Use this photo as a reference for the text below.

Balance Movements

When I think of balance, I think of everything being neutral. As far as the human body is concern, in relation to skiing, it is when all your muscles are relaxed and are not busy keeping you upright. (Remember the tipping forward and backward exercises?) This is important so that you can move with more ease. A balance athletic stance is when you bend all your joints a little. Ankles, knees, hip, and spine.

When I think of balance movements, I think of balance in two planes. Side to side and forward and back. This is an important concept because when we our moving and turning we have to adjust our balance, not only to compensate for outside forces working on us, but also to utilize the ski design to our advantage.

In general we want to balance on the inside edge of the outside ski. (side to side) At the beginning of a turn I'm on my toes, at the end I'm in the middle of my foot.(forward and back)

Edging Movements

Edging is putting your skis on there side to create friction(wedge) or reduce friction(carved parallel turn).  This is why I teach small wedge skidded turns for speed control to beginners. To put your skis on edge in a large wedge you spread your legs. This puts both skis on edge and makes it difficult to turn. In a smaller wedge its easier to put one ski on edge. The skidded turn not only slows you down it makes it easier to learn parallel turns.

Edging movements is how you put your skis on edge. This is done with three joints. The knee, hip and ankle. I use all three joints in different turns, but one joint becomes dominant in different turn types. I use my knee for slow speed turns and quick snappy turns. I use my hip for high speed turns. I use my ankle for small adjustments.  My favorite turn is when I can use all three equally.(easier on the joints)

Rotery Movements

Good rotery movements is the rotation of the femur in the hip socket. This can be done actively or passively. Passive rotary movements complements a carved turn to keep the skier in a strong stance. Active rotation allows the skier to steer the skis in a tighter turn radius therefor reducing their speed or avoiding an obstacle.  This also causes the skis to skid which also reduces your speed. This is the big difference between what I teach and most European instructors. The European classes that i have observed don't even acknowledge the rotory movement. To explain why I'd have to go into the difference between American and Euopean ski cultures. I'll spare you with a general explaination. In Europe the ultimate goal for skiers is to become a World cup racer. In America the ultimate goal is to be able to ski any off piste slope in any snow condition. Carving to me isn't the only way to ski, it's just a another tool to use.

Pressure Movements

Presure movements is the movements you make to manage outside forces and how you maximize ski design for a desired result. All the movements above allow us to manage pressure. To master pressure movements is to become an expert skier. What I have taught you new skiers is very basic. To pressure the inside edge of the outside ski. As you continue with me down this path you will discovory what would take me three pages to write. (next month)

Mental Attitude

Mental attitude is anything, good or bad, that effects your concentration. This is a broad subject so for now I'll just touch on some highlights.

Fear

Fear can be a positive emotion and can help us focus and act instinctively in dangerous situations. Also it can be a very strong unpleasent paralyzing experience. I don't know many skiers who havn't experienced this. That is the challenge as a ski instructor, to know when skiers are mentally ready for new challenges. If the step up in steepness is to great then you're asking for trouble. I am really excided about the upcoming year because I'll have more slope selections with the "Discover Zillertal" packages I'm offering. (see SKI ADVENTURES)

Diet

Did you know that a balance diet of 40% carbs. 30% protein and 30% fat is the perfect diet to increase concentration and perfomance. This doesn't include beer and schnitzel. Alcohol and skiing really don't mix. One beer, for me, throws my reaction time and balance off. And there is nothing worse than trying to ski with a hangover.  Thats not to say that you shouldn't buy your favorite ski instructor the after ski beer.. After all it is your holiday.

The Right Piste

The right piste for learning is one that doesn't put you in a defensive mode. This could be caused by many reasons. Usually the steepness can intimidate you and causes you to lean back a little. If this happens work on getting on your toes at the beginning of your turn. Another common reaction is to try and rush your turn by rotating your upper body. Try to focus on a round turn shape. If this still doesn't work step back to an easier piste and practice the perfect turns that I have taught you. After you have it back together, return and try again.

More to come later.