The Pop

RACER

RACER

New member
Hi, so as the name describes. I was a racer. I'm a very good skier, as long as at least one ski is on the ground most of the time. I really like big mountain/all mountain extremes and small cliffs and whatnot but I would like to add some elements of style into the mix. Basically one goal I have is to just get really comfortable with 3's and be able to throw them just about anywhere I can find a little bit of air. But I don't live out there, and where I live one thing we do have is parks... and I am getting a bit ahead of myself. I would like to get park fundamentals (like super basic) down solid.

One thing I've never really fully understood is this idea of "the pop." I mean WTF I have skiboots on! I started watching some freestyle videos this European dude, he does this whole video on "Pop" and talks about it alot in his 360 video....as if you're literally jumping off the jump. (SRSLY?) My whole life, I always thought that you are just supposed to GO OFF the jump, not literally actually jump. In ski racing, like in the speed events (Such as Downhill, Super G) there is big air, but you are trying to minimize it, because air is slow; snow is fast. As a little kid I would fearlessly fly off jumps, but I've had one too many bindings practically tear me a new asshole at a ripe young age.

And I also couldn't figure out really how to control my body in the air (or make a correction) if I launched a little off. Later, when racing motorcycles, I learned some little stuff, like just tapping the brakes midair or kicking the tail over could help bring the front wheel down, and slow the bike down so it would be less prone to overshooting the landings.

Please help me understand this "POP" in skiing. Last week I skied for the first time, and didn't hit any jumps, in part because whenever I tried to "POP" I would end up back seat or something dumb just off of knolls or groomer lips. Seriously, I'm dumb and I need halp. I tried to watch this video of this European dude explaining it and I just got more confused. And just what I'm realizing too is I just don't have super consistent, at least park-oriented air awareness skills.

Any sage advice besides that I will never be cool in my racer helmet?
 

topic:RACER said:
Hi, so as the name describes. I was a racer. I'm a very good skier, as long as at least one ski is on the ground most of the time. I really like big mountain/all mountain extremes and small cliffs and whatnot but I would like to add some elements of style into the mix. Basically one goal I have is to just get really comfortable with 3's and be able to throw them just about anywhere I can find a little bit of air. But I don't live out there, and where I live one thing we do have is parks... and I am getting a bit ahead of myself. I would like to get park fundamentals (like super basic) down solid.

One thing I've never really fully understood is this idea of "the pop." I mean WTF I have skiboots on! I started watching some freestyle videos this European dude, he does this whole video on "Pop" and talks about it alot in his 360 video....as if you're literally jumping off the jump. (SRSLY?) My whole life, I always thought that you are just supposed to GO OFF the jump, not literally actually jump. In ski racing, like in the speed events (Such as Downhill, Super G) there is big air, but you are trying to minimize it, because air is slow; snow is fast. As a little kid I would fearlessly fly off jumps, but I've had one too many bindings practically tear me a new asshole at a ripe young age.

And I also couldn't figure out really how to control my body in the air (or make a correction) if I launched a little off. Later, when racing motorcycles, I learned some little stuff, like just tapping the brakes midair or kicking the tail over could help bring the front wheel down, and slow the bike down so it would be less prone to overshooting the landings.

Please help me understand this "POP" in skiing. Last week I skied for the first time, and didn't hit any jumps, in part because whenever I tried to "POP" I would end up back seat or something dumb just off of knolls or groomer lips. Seriously, I'm dumb and I need halp. I tried to watch this video of this European dude explaining it and I just got more confused. And just what I'm realizing too is I just don't have super consistent, at least park-oriented air awareness skills.

Any sage advice besides that I will never be cool in my racer helmet?
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topic:RACER said:
because whenever I tried to "POP" I would end up back seat or something
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Super common issue when people start leaving the ground on skis. You probably don't have enough shin pressure when you are popping.

the air awareness comes with repetition, like anything in skiing. Just keep at it. Also I'm not sure what kind of skis you're using, but some skis are much easier to pop with than others. Even between just park skis, I've had some that practically feel like they pop for me, and some that are very hard to pop with
 
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14421399:Abomber22 said:
... and you two been here awhile....ol dawgy knew that racer shit was sus
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my brain doesn't work so well in the mornings, I have a terrible habit of smoking hash oil right after I wake up
 
14421399:Abomber22 said:
... and you two been here awhile....ol dawgy knew that racer shit was sus
Click to expand...

Guys, I’m a real person. I am ok with you having some fun at my expense but I do want to learn this stuff and it was a serious post that happened to be on April 1st.

I realize I will look stupid in the park and people will laugh at me or my posts (whatever, enjoy!) but honestly I just want to develop this other skill set and become a more well rounded skier. Tricks are cool. Why wouldn’t I want to learn?
 
Profile created today. Long rant in bio. I really can’t tell ?

But I’ll bite in case actually real. Popping off the toes allows your body position to be stacked and balanced. Load up tail of the ski and, as it releases, push of the balls of your feet. Kinda like a skateboard Ollie in some ways.

But I still have my suspicions after reading your bio ?
 
A pop is when you bend your knees in the transition of a jump, then extend the knees at the lip of the jump. Its a similar motion to jumping on a diving board.

Why cant you pop? Easy! Your backseat skiing. Its impossible to get a good pop, or take off if your center of gravity is near the heels.

What can you do to understand the motion? On a flat surface, without speed, just jump with your skis on. If you get your skis off the ground, than you popped correctly. If the tails of the skis seem to be glued to the snow and the pop felt weak and unbalanced, then your backseat.

The take off, or pop, is a fundamental to freeride. Practice the motion on every bump until you can do a twister.
 
thank you! that helps. I will try it today! It's just awkard to me, I never knew to do this, or to actually jump off of the jumps lol! No wonder anything that had a steeper "booter" or "kicker" profile was always hard. I'm pretty used to skiing weight forward regular skiing (I have a racing background so that was always emphasized) but with jumps I didn't know there was anything to it except just skiing off of the jump.

Thanks for your thoughtful response.
 
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