Ski Technique: Ski Technique Myths

UNRAVELLING THE MYTHS OF SKI TECHNIQUE
Ski instruction is filled with many myths. Some of these myths have been passed down from generations when skis were very different. Some misunderstood. Some taught to short cut learning. Phil Smith from Snoworks Ski Courses discusses the myths of ski technique and why many of these could be holding you back from improving and reaching your full potential.

[@garthly]

Great! So many things I thought couldn’t be right, indeed weren’t right! Thanks.

[@whales302]

What a great overview of all these myths, many of which I have wondered about, thank you for all this great information. After getting back into skiing at 54, after a 20 year hiatus, I have learned so much from listening to experts like yourself.

[@fredericmayer899]

very inspiring ..thousands of people have to see this videos ...

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Frederic, great you enjoyed it.

[@kayakamy2618]

This is brilliant! Puts so much into perspective. Love the enthusiasm of delivery, thanks so much. Makes me wants to come for lessons with you.

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Great, glad you got something from it. Thanks for the feedback.

[@gregy1194]

That is the best explantion of ski technique Ive watched. It took a few years for me to work out the skills vs the game. These days its a few warm up/practice runs, then go have fun. Great vid

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Greg. You sound like a truly 'open' skier. Great to hear. Thanks for the feedback.

[@simon1066]

Really enjoyed hearing these explanations - words of wisdom! Thanks Phil.

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Simon.

[@RichardHartley65]

Excellent video once again Phil. Keep ‘em coming! 🙂 I think the weighting/unweighting myth is possibly the most persistent one. Many people are still obsessed with “keeping the weight on the downhill ski”. I think it was Ali Ross who demonstrated that when you instruct someone to put weight on one leg, they have a tendency to flatten the “weighted” foot.

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Great point Richard. That is exactly what happens.

[@Antifogasta]

So enjoyable and interesting! Love the enthusiasm and the presentation skills!. Many thanks!

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Antifogasta. We are enjoying sharing them.

[@bindu9185]

We must be close in age because I also learned skiing with over 2 meters under my feet and extension was kind of essential to rotate those monsters. And now I still struggle to avoid doing it because with these new skis extension equals lose control... btw I've started skiing again only five years ago and adjusting is still problematic at times. Thanks for these videos, love the Brit accent, but remember here in the US a stretched middle finger might send a problematic message :)

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Brilliant. Thanks for the comments. I will bear in mind the finger. LOL.

[@Benzknees]

This series is excellent & a welcome distraction from the current 24/7 hype onto what really matters - skiing! And so much better than series from the ‘some people’ referred to at 14:36!

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Benzknees. Appreciate your feedback.

[@theandreas9262]

This video is really enlightment for me. I grew up in tropical country and never seen any snow then I have been learning skiing by myself after move to Norway, just watch video there and there then try in the weekend.. in the end I was feeling it was how your body naturally react to the slope/snow condition. Video after video I watched and I tried to implement the perfect drill they presented in video into my game, I always end up feeling that it tend to make everything so 'closed' and more difficult to me, especially when I start to learn how to ski off piste. Great video and many thanks !

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Andreas, fantastic. Thanks for commenting. Wonderful to hear. Hopefully we will catch up on the slopes one day.

[@theandreas9262]

@@SnoworksSkiCourses it will be a pleasure for me. France Alps is one of my bucket list, surely will go there after vaccine is done, border is opened and covid is forgotten.

[@agenthex]

Regarding tip pressure, it's the efficient method to tighten turns, particularly when carving (ie. turning using the sidecut), because forward weight transfer increases tip traction while decreasing it at rear, creating a smooth skid. It can only be considered a "myth" because it's somewhat less effective when combined turns via leg twisting preferred by less advanced skiers, especially on nouveaux wide rockered skis which are designed to be skied from the center using leg twisting.

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Good points as always Agent00F. We don't use tip pressure as we are mostly skiing off piste so would be constantly falling over our tips in all the variable terrain. But I get your point. Thanks for commenting. Brilliant as always.

[@retobaumann5604]

Great webinar Phil... love it. One question you might be able to help with... I do ski piste a lot and I'm very used to ski piste. Works very well and my ski boots seem to fit well. Once I enter the deep snow (esp. crop) I get cramps in my feet very fast. Why's that? Any ideas and how I could overcome that?

[@m0nk3ym0p3d]

Great video - thank you!

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Simon.

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Simon.

[@robdavies4294]

Great stuff. When u try to move the camera down it doesn't seem to move, so we didn't see your legs, but, no matter, a v interesting fresh perspective on ski technique

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks for the tip, Snoworks.

[@harrymakris7190]

Great Video

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Harry

[@rmsmith2396]

The best example of what you are describing in the beginning of this segment would be Karate, in which you practice VERY set movements then enter a ring and incorporate these movements in an almost unconscious (maybe freewheeling?) way.

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

R M Smith. Absolutely. Exactly the same. Drills and skills and playing the game. Thanks for commenting.

[@dondaigle9646]

While studying Karate, I heard a great line from Yaguschi Sensei right before I took my second assessment for black belt. I was to spar against a 2nd degree black belt. Sensei said: remember this is Karate, no technique.

[@jjr007]

Actually I do lean forward walking down hill, when there are leaves on the ground, otherwise my feet slide out from under me.

[@hollyburnspsychic1523]

Is the reason you can't go skiing due to covid shut downs, or are you talking about it being too warm as it's spring.. etc???

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Yep the webinar was done in the Covid lockdowns. Who would have thought 1 year later we are still in lockdown. But we have been skiing.

[@robdavies4294]

These videos are great but it's unusual to see a 30plus min video, might get more views if u broke them up a bit. That said. I watched it all

[@SnoworksSkiCourses]

Thanks Rob, appreciate your comment. Snoworks