Kickers: Park vs Natural

Domski1856

Domski1856

Member
I’ve been doing park for about 2 seasons now. Being in University, my studies only give me limited time to ski so my progression is kinda slow but nonetheless I’m able to do some clean grabs (tails, safety, mute, etc...) and some basic spins. It might just be me but it seems like when I’m going off of actual kickers in the park, I’m able to do ALOT more tricks as opposed to going off natural “kickers” I find while shredding groomers. What are your thoughts?

**This thread was edited on Dec 4th 2017 at 9:40:07am
 
It comes down to jumps in the park being built specifically for learning/throwing down tricks. Random stuff around the mountain is more adapting tricks to whatever you're hitting.

Sometimes it's easier for people to learn small tricks on random side hits or powder jumps because they're less afraid. That said, after a little bit of progression I think just about everything is easier on park jumps. Obviously maybe not on the eastiest ice coast day but in general. Hitting a jump that's build well makes it easier to initiate tricks. You can get the propper airtime needed for said tricks, and have a decent landing that matches the jump.

Now with more places building smaller jumps that progress all the way through the big jumps, it's easy to find a jump that works.

That said it you can, keep throwing tricks all over the mountain. Off little cliffs, rollers, side hits, whatever. Make the mountain your bitch. That'll help you progress a bunch in skiing in general.
 
biggest difference between park kickers and natural/side hits etc IMO is that the inrun is a flat, smooth, long transition into the lip as opposed to a bumpy, possibly whoop-y inrun on a side hit. the former is obviously easier to keep your posture and balance and composure on as you approach, go through the compression, and get ready to pop

that and as abortionater said, the geometry and build of a good park kicker will ideally be optimized
 
my local got the wildest wind lips. Look up Benjamin Forthun on IG he got some vids of him throwing some dub backs there.
 
Tricking off natural hits will almost always be more difficult as there are more variables (as stated above). You may think you have a trick down in the park but that is only because your brain and body have learned to recognize the conditions and automatically respond to them. When you take these moves to natural hits you are challenging your brain and body to adapt to conditions they have yet to experience.

Think about it like the first time you ever tried to do a trick off a park jump. It wasn't easy and it didn't feel smooth. After doing it a couple of times your brain began to recognize the conditions and tell your body how to respond to them subconsciously. The more you push yourself to try your moves in different places the more you will train your brain and muscles.

If possible, anytime you're riding a trail, or on your way to/from the park look for random bumps to hit. Even throwin 180s and 360s, forward and switch, on small things will help your brain adapt for the future. A memory of skiing Mammoth during the spring some years back with Will Wesson comes to mind. I watched him get off the chair lift and proceed to hit several mogul bumps in a row at a moderate pace throwing simple 360s all ways as he skied down to the park. Small things like this can make a huge difference in your body and skis control.
 
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