Good Big Mountain Skiers

SaturDazed

SaturDazed

Member
Hey everyone...i ski big mountain and i love tha powder but ive only been skiing big mountain for like a year and i really want to take my skills to the next level....any tips would be appreciated very much
 
dont lean back

pretend like your on the olympic downhill course and you have to win

so you lean forward in your racing stance and bomb it

works for every terrain besides park
 
Ok, what i have learned the last couple of years is to keep my knees bent and not be hunched over. When you first start skiing, staying forward is everything, but later you realize you are hunched over and absorb bumps too much with your hips, propelling your torso forwards. It really hinders your skiing. Concentrating on not being hunched over and knees very bent can really help. Think about keeping your back back while you are skiing. Having short poles forces me to either be real forward stanced or knees bent and low. My knees are to bad to ski well that way on the first run, but after that i'm usually good. With your bindings mounted more forward, you should be able to keep your butt pretty far back, but you still don't want to be popping wheelies and all back seat. Some people of course say to keep your shins against the front of your boot. I have really found that by allowing my knees to bend a lot, like when u r skiing the moguls can get you through almost any last minute turn or adjustment for tight trees or whatever without having to suddenly hockey stop or fall on your ass. You place your skis up and over a hump instead of slamming into it with your whole body.

When i take off from a cliff I pop and get tucked up. And hands in front of you helps keep your balance forward. and sometimes u can land that way if it is a good steep landing, but usually you extend your legs just before impact so you can absorb the impact by bending your knees. If you land in deep snow it's real easy to do a summersault by absorbing with your hips and not so much your knees. A lot of people just do a good backslap to keep from going over the handlebars, which is sometimes almost unavoidable in certain snow conditions off certain drops, but most landings can be made clean by maximizing the shock absorbtion with your legs. I've seen rollerbladers drop huge and land on flat concrete keeping there speed up and by really utilizing their legs as shock absorbers. Utilizing my knees more has really helped me ski out of a lot more landings the last couple seasons. It is so important to be forward and not backseat, but i feel that being hunched over hindered me for a long time i am finally where i can keep my torso back, but not be backseat if that makes sense to you. You can be in a good knees bent, torso back position and be pulling a wheelie, or be diving forward over a roll.

If you have any specific questions, maybe we can exchange insight on them too.
 
You ask a moderately stupid question, you'll get a sufficiently stupid question. When it comes to ripping Big Mountain, you can sorta only do what the conditions/terrain allows. "How to take your Big Mountain skiing ot the next step?" Find different big mountains, and rip them. His Alaska answer was actually good.
 
and when you do go over a roll, sometimes it helps to think about pushing your tips down over it. And use your peripheral vision. I guess i learned that in moguls by looking way down the line instead of at the bump right in front of me. In the trees you just keep looking forward as you with mentally note the spaces you will be moving through. It should become something you do subconsiously. And keeping an eye farther down the hill helps you know where you are and eye possible routes or takeoffs before you are right there.
 
not unless you want to bounce back up and tomahawk the rest of your line, you gotta stomp cliffs stay centered, do it like hugo
 
I could be completely wrong here but when you drop something thats above 30 or 40 feet dont you have to land on your back so you dont jam your knees into your chest or face? Granted if it wasnt powder I would assume you wouldn't but yeah....
 
I don't think it was a stupid question at all. Skiing is something u mostly have to learn for yourself. you experiement with everything and see what feels best. There are really only a few simple tips that can help. Like with beginner skiers, you tell them hands forward and that usally keeps them from being backseat. And if I were you, i wouldn't over pole plant and let you hands get behind your body. I like to drag my uphill pole a little on each turn on a big face, but that might just be me. Ski with confidence. If you are going to commit to something commit. A sketchy big mountain line is just like a big gap to rail. If you are going to do it. Do it right and commit fully. Being cautious and commiting halfway will only lead to broken ribs and and a sore butt.
 
i didnt mean to be an ass but it was a pretty vauge question

railslair or w/e sounds like he really knows his shit listen to him but... i wouldnt mind doing my idea to get good at big mnt
 
Pole plant. I love watching the park rats in Whistler on a pow day with their hand by their knees when they ski pow. So sketch. Also, pop a bit off cliffs. It will get your hands in front of your knees and prevent windmilling.
 
def. pop off cliffs, i love watching park skiers and not so great skiers drop cliffs (kohl schoenings promo, doesnt pop or anything, and the landing is fucking funny! madd props for going after it! and hes a way fucking sick skier, its funny how NS.COM has like our own "hometown heros" like stepp and shoeing(sp) anyway, come in with speed pop and stomp that shit, and if its huge buttslpash and make a bathtub sized impression in the snow! FUCK THE HATERS THAT SHIT IS FUN.

anyway, just fucking charge, push yourself, but stay on the edge of the envelope not off the mother fucker, cuz in our niche of the sport, people GET FUCKED UP.
 
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