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I never went to a ski
academy. In fact, not too long ago, skiing was just one of many sports I did.
But every weekend, my father would drive my brother and me to Vermont, where
we were members of the Killington Freestyle Ski Team. Nobody would show up
after lunch, so I'd get private lessons. That's how I learned to ski bumps. My hips are low in this
picture because I'm absorbing the mogul, but I'm not sitting back. I'm
actually pulling my feet backward so my knees can flex over my boots. In
moguls, it's impossible to edge if you don't keep your feet under you. Also,
there is constant contact between my shins and the tongues of my boots—a
critical part of skiing moguls well. It is best to be
"in the driver's seat" in the moguls and maintain shin pressure. If
my feet get ahead of me, I may be able to sneak in a few more turns, but I
will most likely lose control and blow out of my line. I also concentrate on
hand position. See how my left hand is reaching down the hill for my next
pole plant? This keeps my shoulders, torso and hips heading down the fall
line. I try to plant my pole on the back (downhill) side of the mogul. I
won't let my pole linger, because if it stays too long, it will drag my
shoulders out of position. My right hand is ready to drive forward—straight
down the hill—to initiate the next turn. Here I'm in a right
turn, but my eyes are focused way ahead—on my next right turn, actually. My
best mogul advice: Go where you're looking, work on your hands, and maintain
shin pressure. When you lose the pressure, it's like letting go of your car's
steering wheel. Have an instruction
question? Email Stu Campbell at stucski@aol.com. |
From SkiMag.com