Tips to Ski the Steeps, Chutes and Trees

Drills and tactics for skiing steep and difficult terrain. The channel can be supported here www.paypal.com/paypalme/skist...

[@johntavenner1379]

Body part separation, tipping edges, leading inside ski, blocking pole plants on steeps to articulate short radius turns-- pop, pop, pop-- all such solid, fundamental lessons/ skills. You're a great teacher!

[@Allen-by6ci]

Man I wish I had learned to ski as a kid.. they make it look so easy. Hoping I can ski something like that in a few years. Great videos Deb

[@4plum]

I took my son skiing at 4 and he took 3 years of a season long program at Kirkwood. Now at 12, he is a very good skier, and can do almost everything with style. I didn't want him to have to learn as an adult.

[@stihlnz]

Allen, you can't beat general leg/core fitness. Deb must have a vid on the jump turn

[@thepunisher5ful]

Yeah Allen i never had the opportunity to ski as much as my heart desired.But down hill mountain biking and motocross helped that void.It all runs together as some point.🤙

[@markmd9]

Everything is about practice, not about the age

[@TheSandkastenverbot]

You can do it, it just might take a little longer. The good thing is you're probably more patient now than as a kid

[@dg6226]

Crazy I'm not paying for these videos, Deb! Thank you for another round of great drills to hit on the mountain this weekend

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Ha!!!!! Thank you😉😉 and you can support. Hit that thanks button. Give whatever you like and I do this regardless. Thanks for the comment.

[@dg6226]

All over it! I just saw that option earlier. thanks again:)

[@JamesHuckfeldt]

Hi, Deb. I took your racing camp eons ago and cut 1.25 seconds from my times during the week. Subsequently, I went to the NASTAR Championships eight times and won two silvers and two bronzes. Nobody better than you. I subscribed and look forward to more lessons. The ones in this session will be put to work during my next ski trip. Thanks. Jim.

[@jasonshafer5409]

The old Navy saying is that you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training. The same is true when skiing the more technical/scary terrain. You don't suddenly become a better skier on top of that double diamond. You see it all the time when skiers who look great on the groomed runs suddenly become something else altogether when it's steep, low visibility, deep snow, etc. That's why you should always continue working and improving the basics. Great video.

[@ArturYusupov-sr8vh]

Потому что катание на супер крутых склонах это не катание, а просто падение или то, что показывал мальчик: боковые остановки. В чём кайф то?

[@melissalund6198]

Love this vid....you are an inspired and inspiring ski coach. Those kids are fantastic, too!

[@mingtsai8258]

Thanks Deb! I just found one of your videos tonight and then watched over 10 of them in row! Gonna take your advice to the slopes here in Switzerland very soon. All best for 2022!

[@jasonwebb6484]

Great, no nonsense video with tips I can work on. Thanks! Glad your video popped up. Subscribed!

[@beaugrahams]

Love the dad pushing the kid along in the background while Deb is laying out the plan. Great video too.

[@G.Amorth]

Love your advices. You let me understand and realize them and give me a confidence in what I’m doing. You’re the best! Love you!

[@reginay7729]

Love this video! Great explanations. It’ll help me to have patience with drills on groomers so that I can go have fun on steeps and moguls

[@Tunethetone]

What i love about Debs videos - steeps are looking like steeps, they are really steep like they should be like like the real thing!

[@geraldsmith2104]

I love your focus on control and using your feet to steer. The side slip drill in the corridor is a nice one, followed by the falling leaf. I am practice these skills each time I go out now.

[@johnklaus9111]

Deb is such a wonderful instructor! Great didactic techniques.

[@marklehr8070]

Deb is incredible… I learn something new each time I watch her. What an amazing person and teacher!

[@andrewj549]

Thank you Deb! Great lessons and content :)

[@zroeder]

Amazing teaching! I just returned from Steamboat, and those Winter Sports Club kids are incredible. So much fun watching them rip around the mountain!

[@petermartin9494]

You are such an awesome teacher and nice person. Skiing with you would be such a pleasure.

[@Tphuntsok]

I just love ur videos and teaching skill …🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 I just started learning ski …

[@cmccarrick10]

Those kids can shred!! Awesome instruction, very easy to follow!

[@bfobar]

I spent all breakfast thinking about some good steeps progressions for my afternoon class, and you drop this for me like you're psychic. Thank you.

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

Amazing how I just started this morning with a couple of runs just trying to constantly make round short turns and keep a consistent speed down a groomed black run just for fun. Then I find your new video 👍 I am a big fan of your teaching. As an old high school tennis coach coach I always tell my players “you got to do the drills to build the the skills “ and “practice the way you want to play “. If you remember the movie The Karate Kid these drills are like the Wax On Wax Off drill that the old karate master made his student do.

[@jankalafut9894]

This video was so helpful, I love skiing too especially carving.

[@sandygilmour5444]

Such a good teacher awesome chat 👏

[@mcavander]

Really appreciate these videos, super informative and clear.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Lovely skiing Great video thanks Debs! Miss the steeps right now!

[@tracygiesker9703]

Such great tips! It makes me want to ski more.

[@cjtathome]

Amazing ! I know your an Olympian but that separation and skill was amazing to watch. As for your young student - you lead it 🤣🤣 brilliant - glad he did it

[@ecycled3d]

Every video I watch of yours just makes my day. Deb you are magic! Thank you for all you do.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Thank you

[@alexanderosherow2064]

thanks for the stickers! great meeting and another great video

[@teresabuck3305]

Your are such a beautiful skier

[@collinhoey5517]

A fantastic teacher and instructor. Motivates skiers from all over from beginners intermediate to advance . Good job! DAKINE. Never missed a beat.lol congratulations on the Olympic win back in the 90s! A true champion on board ack those days., My idle!

[@Little6]

Amazing drills Thank you

[@rebecahanrahan5556]

Very cool to watch and helpful!

[@teresabuck3305]

And you’re great teacher,I’m learning from watching the video,thank you very much

[@shaka2012]

Awesome as always, great explanation ❤️

[@JohnnyUtah13]

Your videos get me excited to LEARN to be a better skier. Great tips. I can't wait to practice this next time out. I met you in line for Chet's at Loveland earlier this year and it was an honor. Great video!

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Thanks Johnny!!!!!!

[@ilonabrandt-tom454]

Critical upper and lower body separation. Thank you again for this guidance.

[@user-ev8zc5ke8y]

Thank you for the great lesson. l Learned a lot from the video. After this pandemic is over, I will go to Colorado for skiing. Looks like a real fun.

[@zakingle1420]

Great video! Thank you Deb!

[@mrsmartypants_1]

Ha ha. “YOU lead it.” Love it.

[@letekro]

Great communicator and teacher

[@Eddie07S]

These videos with the kids are the best. They are so willing to work with you and their responses to your questions are great! You do really well with them. A few videos ago included a person who talked about “the top of the turn” and the “the bottom of the turn”, and how the emphasis in skiing has switched from the bottom being important to the top being important. Could you do a video explaining the difference between the two and the skiing techniques associated with both? I have a sneaking suspicion this is something I need to understand in order to make better turns on steeps like you are skiing in this video, but on the polished powder we so often ski here in the NE. At any rate... Thanks for the great post.

[@daniela8694]

This is so useful. Living in Chile is super hard to find snow and trees together, usually there are no forest near ski resorts (except for Patagonia) so every time we go skiing in Europe is like “whut are this children doing to don’t crash!”

[@AdventureCayman]

Deb, you hit the nail on the head! You are the first person to ever to understand this that I know. I use every different part of my foot to ski and can feel how those movements translate to tiny movements in my skis. I noticed this a number of years back when I started skiing switch and doing a lot of surface spins with wide twin tip skis on the East Coast hard pack. I literally smacked my hands together, jumped up out of my chair and said finally someone gets it! You ROCK and I love your videos, I am going to share this with my ski buddies.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Great!!!!!

[@collinhoey5517]

Truth!

[@karinsweller9455]

Love this! I’ll try it out tomorrow

[@andyeunson270]

Great tips for skiing chutes.

[@emptysea1137]

excellent teacher. She could teach anything that she loved, and be amazing at it

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Thank you🙏🙏

[@Zachary_Cordova]

Damn thank you so much for this ill will definitely be practicing these this weekend

[@danielminor14]

I’m a person who rarely subscribes to channels.. I watched about 4 minutes of one of your videos and subscribed. I can feel your passion for skiing through a simple KZbin video! Keep up the awesome work!

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Love it

[@cliang001]

I didn't ask for this but this is what i needed!

[@bartman2395]

Just wanted to say You are amazing human. Best wishes

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Thank you. hugs

[@oitoitoi1]

Every skier should subscribe to your channel!

[@faing4923]

Still remember a video you post with 2 kids in the steeps in Taos. "Keep turning and reach down with your ploes" The words are so simple but they are powerful.

[@hawklerfalco9067]

Haha, Debie, I just watched the video you won the 1984 gold medal of Olympic. 😃 I plan to practise mogul ski this weekend.

[@jimgooch3704]

I love this kid. He's a coach's dream, innit he?

[@NPC_OLC]

“You lead it!” Clever boy 🤣🤣

[@cbrooks2767]

Deb, these videos are amazing. They're making us want to schedule some private lessons with you. How can we reach you to schedule something like a full day with you?

[@CC-ys8qq]

Keep turning, best advice I ever got, on the top of a mogul, behind it, in front of it, anywhere maintain the turning rhythm.

[@TheHannes]

Hi Deb. Thank you for coaching me in basically my first ski season (had 5hours last season). I hear your tips and advice in the back of my head trying bigger moguls and steeper terrain and it really got me comfortable to the point I want to try my first diamond run. My biggest concern is my feet that go numb during runs. If I loosen the straps a bit to wake them up, I loose accuracy in my control. Unfortunately I have high bridge feet and it even happens during jogging. Any advice would be great. I have been boot fitted and got a larger volume boot that was heat molded. My other concern is that most of my loss of control happen on flatter faster terrain, ski outs etc. When I try and straigtline it is like I get a speed wobble and that's only at 30km/h ( 20mph). What should I focus on for more control on those flatter straights to hit higher speeds safely? Thank you again for all the advice, tips and drills

[@danielasantisteban70]

Omg that little girl at the end! I wish. Barely hitting blue trails with a little more confidence after a couple years of learning to skii. Don't live near a mountain so it's been only a couple times a year for me for the last 3 years. Hoping to hit the slopes for spring skiing this year in May a couple times to make this a good practice year and encourage me to get a season pass for next year. :) If your'e starting as an adult, consider dropping the $$ for a couple days of lessons, I wish I would have! had to make a lot of mistakes and learn the hard way, I feel like it woulda taken maybe 3 days of skiing to get the hang of it more had I taken lessons at first. :)

[@elainenilsson5472]

Excellent

[@felisaaero]

Holden is so funny! This is exactly the lesson I need! Haven’t got any response to my emails sent to Skistrong or Taoski for your classes.

[@alexstaroff2108]

Deb, добрый день! Я тоже Ваш ученик, только чуть постарше (60+). Не зная языка, мне почти всё понятно. Осваиваем вообще уроки на пару с женой! Огромное спасибо! Алексей, Россия

[@ilonabrandt-tom454]

preparing for my Level III next season . Struggle with the separation at times - steeps and bumps. I study your videos.

[@n-da-bunka2650]

Another good video with a great kid as the subject Deb! I just had a lot of fun @ Whitefish but discovered that skiing the steep bumps through the trees on Connies Coulee tested my skill/equipment my limit. Doing this with a pair of 2019 Blizzard Bonafide 187cm skis which were, yep, too long and stiff for that type of terrain so you may want to educate the public on the appropriate gear because no matter the skillset, if you have the wrong skis for the assignment, your going to struggle While it WAS a LOT of work, I was still able to hang with the young guns but reality of approaching 60 mens that its time for me to reduce the length and weight of my powder-ish skis. Currently shopping for replacements that I can use easier in the steep bumps.

[@hammervonjammer1279]

187cm is super long. That is a young man's size. The goal is to enjoy skiing and not get injured.

[@n-da-bunka2650]

@@hammervonjammer1279 The 187cm isn't bad for me as a 225lbs and 5'10 guy who still races some club stuff but that length in the trees and chuttes was a lot of work. In the off season I was fortunate to pick up a pair of Head KORE 105's in the 177cm length for a January trip to Jackson Hole.

[@hurstshifter]

From 0:57-1:33 I was cracking up laughing. The parent pulling/pushing their kid along the cat track was just perfect. I'm getting started with this right now with my kids and it really is just like that the first few times. Advice? Splurge for the lessons.

[@micklogg5377]

Again awsome

[@rubyalexander2]

Thanks!

[@WTF-Chuck]

Nice!

[@pdxfunkjunkie]

Deb, your wonderful instructional videos have become an important - and valuable - component in my quest for Continuing Improvement! Now, please put a PayPal option on your "Thanks" page and I will gladly donate. I will NOT enter the CCV to my credit card, as asked a minute ago - what am I, nuts??

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Here you go. Thank you so much! Glad you appreciate the channel. www.paypal.com/paypalme/skistrong?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

[@jacopojacopo648]

you're great

[@Kjodienda]

What run were you on at the beginning of the video with the youngster?

[@liamcooper3836]

Mind elaborating a bit more on why it's important to get your feet under you if you fall in the steeps? Is this to prevent momentum buildup and reduce chance of the downhill "tomahawking", or some other reason? Thanks for these videos, just found your channel and I am learning so much and so impressed by these young shredders' technical knowledge.

[@hammervonjammer1279]

If your feet are downward, you have a better chance of stopping sans injury. On steeps, you could end up on your back despite a skis release and accelerate into a tree. With your feet downwards, you can use your leg muscles to slow your body to a stop. Momentum build up injures and could possibly be fatal.

[@rubyalexander2]

How do you know when are you are ready for a black diamond? Thanks!

[@jtwoolley]

Hey Deb, what is the corridor? What does that mean in skiing

[@garthly]

If you prompt kids for a reply, they usually give you back something you didn’t quite expect. So what is important in the steeps? If you fall get your skis below you! A, yes, but what else!

[@dianeboross6978]

What I find in steeps is not smooth trails. Often people have stopped short and a lot of snow is piled into these soft big loose bumps going down the hill, where I find my knees pushed up to my chest and leaning very forward to keep my balance, with heavy use of uphill ski edge. How do you recommend negotiating those dumplings?

[@rubyalexander2]

What I really want to know is how to approach steeper terrain. How do you know you are ready to ski a steep slope after practicing on easier stuff? It terrifies me to think I would be at the top of a run and realize that the only way down is a steep area that I'm not confident that I can ski. BUT, you have to try harder terrain to become good at it. It is a conundrum. I am trying easy blues now and working up to harder blues. Do you just keep practicing what you find scary until it isn't scary anymore? Thanks for these videos. They are truly inspiring.

[@basketballandstuff546]

pretty much. you do have to push yourself, but not too much. One way to progress is to ski with someone who knows the mountain well, like an instructor in a lesson, and you can explore new terrain that way. Other than that, you really do have to try the scary terrain to get better at that terrain. I would suggest trying a variety of groomed blue runs, and really work on controlling your speed. Take your time on those groomed runs, and especially on the steeper groomed runs, control your speed and take your time.

[@rubyalexander2]

@@basketballandstuff546 thank you!!

[@specialneedsmolester1957]

Give a video of how to ski the fresh ice of the east coast

[@jj5561]

Deb! Are you able to give out any information on how we can book ski lessons with you? I have been taking numerous private lessons expecting them to be similar to how you teach and they unfortunately are nothing close.. I would love a lesson from you!

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

I teach the SkiStrong program in Taos NM

[@fudhater8592]

Aww, was hoping this was at Alpy 🙂

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

I wish!!!!!!! I need ro get back there. How are the conditions this year?

[@fudhater8592]

@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong Started off with a bang in December, then the last couple of weeks there has been virtually no new snow 😭

[@gtranquilla]

Large and hard moguls between the trees are a bit too much! Powder in the trees is easiest but powdery moguls are ok too! The brain works two or three turns ahead and the body follows the plan.

[@philkaznowski1653]

Linked braquage with a pole plant/touch

[@jtwoolley]

what is the fall line?

[@elainenilsson5472]

What was that about straight lining a tree?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Ha!

[@boredboiseboy]

Are there any tips for tall skiers on long skis? Doing short radius turns with 188-193cm skis in steep, tight terrain is a bit challenging, to say the least.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Hum, not my direct area of expertise and experience for anything particular other than the creative have already put out there

[@josephgdraper]

Can you do side slips on steep groomed terrain in both directions? Work on linking them together into something called a pivot slip. If you can do pivot slips in a narrow corridor, you have the rotary part of a short radius turns. Add some pole plants and edge sets and you have more tools for controlling speed in the steps.

[@boredboiseboy]

I got some FIS slalom skis off craigslist and took them out, and it was pretty surprising how much easier short radius turns were. Those skis are planks though. My left side falling leafs are pretty jerky...and I think my boots are way to stiff.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

@@boredboiseboy fun!!!!! Ya, SL skis are stiff. If yiu think your boots be too stiff they very well may be😉

[@dennisdose5697]

I'll give this a shot. Let's consider 163 vs 193, 30 cm about 1 foot. Look at the skills Deb is teaching, the side slip and falling leaf. She is pivoting essentially with her body as the axis, another 6 inches for and aft is pretty negligible. Remember this is largely skidded turns and pivoting, the side cut radius defining a carved turn is not really relevant. Anybody else have a thought? This seems valid here in my arm chair 🤔. Welcome any feedback.

[@vitaliy1515]

👍👍😎😎 красиво )

[@jtwoolley]

what is our corridor

[@4dogsannacat]

Hey what happened to your Scott poles?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Ha!!!! Traded them in for one ways. Still have them however😉

[@andyashworth7750]

Is this the principal from school of rock? I can't unhear it lmao

[@andyashworth7750]

Greta vids tho

[@jtwoolley]

w is the fall line

[@cdawg9149]

If you can catch a crescent wrench, you can catch a ball.

[@thirdpedalnirvana]

I was sort of hoping for pointers regarding navigating ungroomed terrain. I'm still progressing on groomers, learning to carve, I can safely ski down almost any pitch as long as it's groomed. but the moment I'm on ungroomed snow, it feels like the skis have a mind of their own, the shape of the mountain wants to steer my skis without my consent (or keep my skis from turning when I want them to). So it sort of drives me nuts watching ski videos where skiiers just ski how they want to on ungroomed terrain, I don't get why when I try it my skis don't listen to me. I can't turn down the fall line for fear my skis won't continue to turn into a skid and keep me safe.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Hum, this gives me ideas for future videos

[@DeadheadInABed]

"Fall in a hole and die" This kid gets it

[@thirdpedalnirvana]

Shoots or Chutes?

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Ya!! My typo. I fixed it😉😉😉

[@leonardbertaux6897]

Christmas Tree Bowl SS

[@sucapizda]

OK, now do one on how I can graft on a pair of Boston Dynamic legs so I dont poop out half way through a run. Oh, and maybe a set of cheetah lungs to.

[@DebArmstrongSkiStrong]

Ha!!!!

[@Mag09Ong]

I really wish I could afford 5 hrs lesson with her so that I could move forward to become a better and skillful skier.

[@antonyschwarz8749]

Sweet Lord Jesus bless u Hallelujah xxx