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Which technique failure is most common for you?

MISkierMISkier Posts: 3,439 Mega Baller
in Technique & Theory
We all have certain technique methods we struggle with. And, for many, the difference between skiing well and skiing poorly is found in a small number of mistakes, or one particularly pesky shortcoming, which can be the Achilles' heel most often encountered. As the season gets underway for some, there are items that require focus to avoid impeding skier performance. Which one is yours?
The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears.

Which technique failure is most common for you? 71 votes

Arms and hands too far from the body/Arms not straight
21%
ski6jonesscotchipmanblockAliAndreskisprayMattPchris_loganmusclefixerBill22MISkierJJVDMZNOSUwaterskierlazznghutch 15 votes
Dropping the butt/Riding the tail of the ski
21%
HortonDaveDPSMGarnBraceMakerLuzzRAWSkiKKellyKRoundyRAKdavid_quailscorban2shansen345FSSPCatsethbakescake 15 votes
Leading with shoulders into the wake/Not properly stacked
30%
dislandLZywicki1ForrestGumpmatt_bMastercraftPatMNandoakale15david_skicustomskijerrymbraindamageScottScottdhofertErikBerghillerObrienslalomChunkydAbR_Ski_Studentalbertabradvtmecheng 22 votes
Flat ski at wake/Not leaning away from the boat
14%
mlangeBroussard303SkierRivvyrockdogpgmooreGreenj2nhCkruegwtrskier197 10 votes
Other (specify)
12%
thagerswerveitCamjimbrakelpskierdbskiswardcoozskiShererSkier 9 votes

Comments

  • CamCam Posts: 403 Crazy Baller
    Other (specify)
    All of the above, I always seem to have one of them going on at any given time.
    MISkierJJVDMZN
  • thagerthager Posts: 5,549 Mega Baller
    Other (specify)
    LFF. Old football injury to left knee needs replacement soon. Knee is weakening as I age even with therapy, making it hard to evenly distribute weight on COM point on ski..
    Stir vigorously then leave!
    MISkierjimbrake
  • AndreAndre Posts: 1,791 Mega Baller
    Arms and hands too far from the body/Arms not straight
    I learned to ski with Cam.
    So,yes to all of them...
    I'm probably the worst mid 35 off skier in the world!
    My ski finish in 16.95 ...but my ass is out of tolerance!
    MISkier
  • MISkierMISkier Posts: 3,439 Mega Baller
    Arms and hands too far from the body/Arms not straight
    Related to my vote of arms/hands away and/or not straight, another subsequent issue with me is remembering to reach up at the turn and, of course, counter rotate. Looking back at the selections, I should have listed "Not counter rotating/closed off at the turn". But, surprisingly, nobody has selected "Other" and then said that counter rotation was their issue.
    The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears.
  • RAWSkiRAWSki Posts: 971 Mega Baller
    Dropping the butt/Riding the tail of the ski
    Depends on the day. Sometimes I totally forget that I have to work on the ski and with the boat.
    MISkier
  • rockdogrockdog Posts: 705 Crazy Baller
    Flat ski at wake/Not leaning away from the boat
    Result of breaking at the waist on off-side, such a difficult thing to fix..
  • ski6jonesski6jones Posts: 1,314 Mega Baller
    Arms and hands too far from the body/Arms not straight
    Going from.32 to 35 and beyond requires a step change improvement in handle control. Hands close/arms straight.
    Carl Addington, Cedar Ridge, MS
    MISkier
  • thagerthager Posts: 5,549 Mega Baller
    Other (specify)
    My most common technique failure is I actually listen to @Horton !
    Stir vigorously then leave!
    RAWSki
  • lpskierlpskier Posts: 3,782 ★★★Triple Panda Award Recipient ★★★
    Other (specify)
    Shoulders forward at the apex of the off side turn.

    Why is it that good technique abandons you just when you need it most?
    John Wilkins- Si non pro sanguine quem ludus ne. #iskiconnelly
    MISkier
  • MISkierMISkier Posts: 3,439 Mega Baller
    Arms and hands too far from the body/Arms not straight
    @lpskier, maybe that is why they call it offside turn - it’s the turn that needs the most concentration and effort to maintain good technique and body position.
    The worst slalom equipment I own is between my ears.
  • jimbrakejimbrake Posts: 1,453 Mega Baller
    Other (specify)
    A few interconnected things that all have to do with the edge change and swing up to the apex. Early season for me because I'm just getting started after knee replacement (@thager ) on 2/7/18. I'm not "ski strong" yet and that makes my most glaring error show up - reacting poorly/weakly to the load through the edge change. As soon as my ski starts to move under me from one edge to the other, I let my shoulders (and arms and handle) get pulled over to the inside. Fix? Stay level in the shoulders through the edge change and out to the apex. But, if I'm not driving my COM forward during acceleration, then too much load builds up and I'm more prone to this error. Fix? Keep my COM moving forward so I stay over my ski and the load stays manageable. Result? Great speed on the acceleration, easier-to-manage load, can keep shoulders level, can keep line tight during the swing up, turn is easy. It all starts on my pullout for the gate. If I get it correct there, then I can generally get it correct through the gate, then repeat going left out of 1 and so on.
    "...all of the basic fun banter"
    Gar
  • ShererSkierShererSkier Posts: 139 Baller
    Other (specify)
    I think my biggest problem is sometimes I lose my mental focus, not sure how to describe it. But when it happens I have a breakdown, it’s usually during a turn and I’ll lean back into a little wheelie or lose handle connection too early and then I’m chasing the course after that.
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