I think I am a solid advanced skier. Good on piste, starting to really get the hang of off piste, mainly in the mixed conditions of the Alps. I even like moguls! However, I have a real mental block about using my legs as suspension. It's difficult to explain but here goes:
In bumpy terrain I can completely get my head around pushing down into dips. However, I am completely useless at the opposite of allowing my legs to lift up under me. I think I can do the former as it is a positive action involving engaging the leg muscles in a positive act, whereas the latter seems to involve letting go. On our off piste course this week (trip report to follow), our guide/instructor encouraged us to carve wide turns over some very bumpy chopped up cruddy slightly mogully area at the bottom. I could see that it enabled some preservation of energy, and could do it better than I thought, but I still feel totally knocked about by the process and have the habit of hitting big bumps when I am travelling a straight line at speed, and then crashing. Of course, it then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. I am trying not to overthink, trying to relax (telling someone to "relax", is, in my opinion, guaranteed to make them tense up), but still need to maintain an grip on the snow.
Anyone out there who understands my problem have any tips, ideas, head games I can play with myself to switch on my suspension would be gratefully received!
In bumpy terrain I can completely get my head around pushing down into dips. However, I am completely useless at the opposite of allowing my legs to lift up under me. I think I can do the former as it is a positive action involving engaging the leg muscles in a positive act, whereas the latter seems to involve letting go. On our off piste course this week (trip report to follow), our guide/instructor encouraged us to carve wide turns over some very bumpy chopped up cruddy slightly mogully area at the bottom. I could see that it enabled some preservation of energy, and could do it better than I thought, but I still feel totally knocked about by the process and have the habit of hitting big bumps when I am travelling a straight line at speed, and then crashing. Of course, it then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. I am trying not to overthink, trying to relax (telling someone to "relax", is, in my opinion, guaranteed to make them tense up), but still need to maintain an grip on the snow.
Anyone out there who understands my problem have any tips, ideas, head games I can play with myself to switch on my suspension would be gratefully received!