Tips and Techniques - Skiing

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Jump To: How to Ski MogulsHow to do Carving Turns on your Skis

How to Ski Moguls

Skiing bumps (moguls) is one of the most demanding aspects of all mountain skiing yet it is one of the most exciting and satisfying when done well. Skiing bumps is almost a lost art (very popular in the 80s) as the modern day focus on carving has taken away the emphasis of bashing the bumps. Indeed some National Instructor Training organisations such as the French (ENSA) do not even include bump skiing as part of their syllabus. The following article looks at three aspects for skiing the bumps well as follows; Technique – using the right input How to approach the bumps – getting the line right Mental toughness – hang in there and attack! Technique – using the right input Using the right input focuses on three important skills to help you ski the bumps effectively; Narrow Stance Leg Absorption Leg Stretching Narrow Stance Skiing bumps is easier with a narrow stance. With the development of skis over the last 10-15 years a more open stance has been widely promoted. This is certainly effective for piste skiing where high edge angles are used to gain maximum performance from your skis. However when skiing bumps a narrow stance is more effective because it allows you to negotiate the terrain more easily and is certainly more preferable than having one ski on a bump while the other is in a trough. It is also a choice between stability & agility. A wide stance certainly promotes stability while a narrow stance allows for quicker and more responsive movements which are a key aspect of skiing through a mogul field. To ski a fall line run down the bumps requires fast reactions and movements and a narrow stance is definitely helpful in achieving this. Leg Absorption One of the key movements involved in skiing bumps is the ability to absorb with your legs. You need to involve all the key joints; ankles, knees and hips but the major movements come from the knees and the hips. Your legs must in effect fold in front of you with your feet slightly ahead as you approach or ski into the bump. If your feet get behind you at this point you are likely to break forward from the waist and this will block your ability to use your legs properly and compromise your balance. Leg Stretching Absorption is crucially important but so is your ability to then stretch your legs as you come over the bump or ski into the rut. The goal here is to maintain snow contact. Therefore you need to push the tips of the skis down and engage the front of the skis as the terrain changes and falls away. How to approach the bumps – getting the line right How should you approach the bumps? Well there is no absolute right or wrong way but different approaches can be used depending on the speed you wish to go (or are capable of going). And depending on how steep the terrain is or how big / small the bumps are. The following are all approaches you can use to suit these variables; Skiing the ruts Using the bumps to control speed Playing with terrain – varying the route Skiing the ruts Skiing the ruts is probably the fastest way down the bumps giving you the most direct line. This is where quick reactions and fast feet are required. Using the bumps to control speed This approach is ideal for steeper terrain and bigger bumps but requires a big range of movement in the legs both for absorbing and stretching. It also requires great discipline with the upper body so that you avoid breaking forward from the waist. Playing with terrain – varying the route As your skill level improves you can start to vary your line within the same run mixing up your speed, your line and even taking a little air! Mental Toughness – hang in there and attack! Skiing bumps tests every aspect of your skiing. They test you mentally, physically, technically and tactically. But there is a strong link between your mental toughness and your physical endurance. To help with this consider the following aspects; Stay focused – use imagery Hang in there – endurance Attack – ski with flair Stay focused – use imagery It’s a good idea to pause before the start of each run and look at the route you want to take. Work out where your first 3 to 4 turns are going to be by seeing where you are going to place your feet. Then close your eyes and see the run as you ski it trying to feel the sensations associated with the run. This is know as mental rehearsal and helps set you up for success. Hang in there – endurance Skiing bumps is physically demanding and takes practice. Start with short sections ensuring that there is “quality” about your performance. Then gradually try to increase the length of the runs you ski, accepting that there may be some mistakes, but push yourself to keep going. Attack – ski with flair! And finally imagine that you are performing for an audience (or indeed ski some bumps near a ski lift) so that you can show them what you can do. There is nothing more satisfying that really “nailing” a run when others are watching. So next time you are skiing in the Meribel area remember that skiing bumps is very much part of learning to ski the whole mountain. Further information on skiing bumps is available in the new book “Parallel Dreams Alpine Skiing” by Derek Tate and is available online at www.paralleldreams.co.uk Article courtesy of Derek Tate, Director, British Alpine Ski & Snowboard School Chamonix. Demonstrators: Derek and Shona Tate. Bumps lessons are available through BASS Meribel Derek Tate is a director of British Alpine Ski School Chamonix (BASS Chamonix) a small client focused ski school in the Chamonix Valley. Derek began skiing quite late in life, at the age of seventeen but was always a very keen sports person. Growing up in Dublin back in the eighties skiing was not a big thing! Football, Karate and Athletics were very much his sports. However after being introduced to skiing through his school and enjoying a couple of trips to Bulgaria, Derek joined the Ski Club of Ireland, started skiing regularly at the dry ski slope and has never looked back….. Some 20 years on he is still totally in love with the sport and “life in the mountains”. During that time he has been involved in racing, race coaching, ski school, instructor training and has taught just about everything from 4 year olds to top level instructors. He has worked in many countries around the world including the USA, France and of course Scotland to name but a few. More recently he has worked in Courchevel with New Generation Snowsports School. One of his passions, over the years, has been in training and assessing ski instructors. He is currently Director of Training for the Irish Association of Snowsport Instructors, a Tutor for Snowsport Scotland and a Trainer for the British Association of Snowsport Instructors. Derek and his wife Shona set up the Chamonix branch of BASS two seasons ago and have enjoyed great success already. If you would like to share their passion for skiing and the mountains visit the BASS Meribel web site and find out how we can help you achieve your skiing goals! last updated 5-Jun-2008 [First] [Previous]  1  2  [Next] [Last]   This website and all original content remains Copyright © Powder Blue Ltd 1998-2008 | Terms & Conditions of use | The site is built & maintained by Powder Blue