Decidedly. This is indeed one great tool that works well for me. It is an advantage of lessons on the carpet: I have a recording of every lesson and then go through each afterwards. And yes, it does show where and what can be improved, sometimes easily. I have seen exactly and clearly how I do not keep the right stance and drop my hips, and that picture is actually in front of my eyes, helping quite a bit.Once I know how something SHOULD look, then watching myself doing it (or more likely, not doing it!) helps immensely.
I am a little wary of unsupervised learning
@EdithP, you look a bit more secure in your turns on the carpet now. What are the things that feel better for you? What do you know you've gotten better at since you've been on the carpet? I'd like to hear about your successes.https://www.dropbox.com/sh/va89pymfluz6t24/AABlFtbCj2LBBZR4voRKjLYOa?dl=0
I wonder if I could ask you again to have a look and tell me if things are moving on? I still cannot properly transfer weight between the skis and the usual exercises like lifting one ski heel during a turn do not seem to give me the idea of what exactly should be happening.
I have added another short video (2 minutes or so) from my last lesson. I will now have 2 weeks' break and would like to use that time for mental exercises. Would be very much obliged for tips. Thank you all.
Not sure I know what you mean? I am told to press the standing leg into the boot as much as I can, maybe I am getting something wrong? As to RH turns, yes, I agree, still working on getting that right turn to work, but at the beginning I just could not do it at all, so maybe these incomplete turns at least are an improvement?I still see a "pressing" of the leg". Also on the RH turns, they are not complete
Yes, this is the newer approach, to make me transfer weight to one leg only starting with standing on two. I am to start a turn with actually going straight down on both legs, and then put the weight on one log only. I guess it is not working too well at the moment.But it does look like you are still standing on both feet.
And this has turned out an impasse I seem unable to overcome. When I lift the inside ski (or just its tip) my outside ski rushes forward (ie across the carpet ) in a sudden jolt and before I can transfer the weight again, I am out of space on the carpet. It feels like I am not doing something important at the right moment, but I cannot figure out what. I am searching for what should I add to this sequence to land safely on another foot, but really have no idea for now.A good thing to do is stand on one foot only. Lifting the tail of the other ski will do that for you. You can't stand on the tip of a ski when its tail is lifted. That's what that exercise is all about. Lifting the tail (heel) of a ski is how people learn to transfer weight to the other foot.
While that is a drill that I learned when I started taking lessons out west in 2013, I would be loathe to try it on a rolling carpet. That's based on the one lesson on the carpet several years ago (advanced skier, lessons for several years before that). The opportunity was a perk for helping to support the installation at Inside Ski (near Washington DC).And this has turned out an impasse I seem unable to overcome. When I lift the inside ski (or just its tip) my outside ski rushes forward (ie across the carpet ) in a sudden jolt and before I can transfer the weight again, I am out of space on the carpet. It feels like I am not doing something important at the right moment, but I cannot figure out what. I am searching for what should I add to this sequence to land safely on another foot, but really have no idea for now.
How sweet of you to ask. I guess maybe I am enjoying it all a bit more. I like the speed (we have moved to 30 kms ph) and the effortlessness of movement on the carpet, for allmy imperfection. But the fact that I have by now had 28 lessons with not very much to show for it is beginning to irk me. I am reading skiers' stories and they mention how, after learning the rudiments, they subsequently take "a couple of lessons" each season meaning three, four, six - and it moves things forwards. So at the moment feeling a bit sore at my thickness. But will try and stick to it through the summer, maybe something will finally click.What are the things that feel better for you? What do you know you've gotten better at since you've been on the carpet? I'd like to hear about your successes.
Will do. Thank you, this is looks very doable.You could work on weight transfer at home.
The stories you are reading are not a random sample of skiers. How many people do you think want to post publicly about how difficult it is to learn any sport? How many people bother to learn to ski at your age?How sweet of you to ask. I guess maybe I am enjoying it all a bit more. I like the speed (we have moved to 30 kms ph) and the effortlessness of movement on the carpet, for allmy imperfection. But the fact that I have by now had 28 lessons with not very much to show for it is beginning to irk me. I am reading skiers' stories and they mention how, after learning the rudiments, they subsequently take "a couple of lessons" each season meaning three, four, six - and it moves things forwards. So at the moment feeling a bit sore at my thickness. But will try and stick to it through the summer, maybe something will finally click.
True. I should have thought about that. Never making allowances for my age is one of my strongest rules., though. But I guess there are occasions where one should just factor it in. So I have been unrealistic in my estimate of time it will take me to get to my goal? I probably have, you are right. But then, I keep thinking that time is short and I do not have the whole life to learn and perfect this new skill. I will need to be more patientHow many people bother to learn to ski at your age?
From what you've said, I don't think age is the primary factor. At least not the fact that you are over 60. However, the fact that you aren't under 30 is a factor. Also makes a difference that learning a new sport has never been that easy for you. I remember reading stories about adults who picked up skiing quickly . . . partially because they played ice hockey or had done figure skating at a high level before starting to ski. My friend's son was amazing in how quickly he picked up skiing at age 6, even compared to other kids at ski school. But he starting playing ice hockey at age 4. His little sister started younger but will never get to his ski level. Not as interested and with different natural skills.True. I should have thought about that. Never making allowances for my age is one of my strongest rules., though. But I guess there are occasions where one should just factor it in. So I have been unrealistic in my estimate of time it will take me to get to my goal? I probably have, you are right. But then, I keep thinking that time is short and I do not have the whole life to learn and perfect this new skill. I will need to be more patient
Thank you though for the reminder not to believe all one hears/reads/is given to understand about the process of learning to ski. Or rather, not to apply others' situations to my own.
There's your issue. You lift the whole ski, or the tip. Not the tail. You need to lift only the tail, with the tip still down on the snow/carpet.And this has turned out an impasse I seem unable to overcome. When I lift the inside ski (or just its tip) my outside ski rushes forward (ie across the carpet ) in a sudden jolt and before I can transfer the weight again, I am out of space on the carpet. It feels like I am not doing something important at the right moment, but I cannot figure out what....
....And I guess it is all down to the fact I am still not leaning forward enough when turning. That alone could cause that shooting forward, I suspect. So, forwards and upwards!
.... this is the newer approach, to make me transfer weight to one leg only starting with standing on two. I am to start a turn with actually going straight down on both legs, and then put the weight on one log only. I guess it is not working too well at the moment.
I think on a rolling carpet, the only way I would want to try this drill would be when holding onto the safety rail. I'm not really sure how it would work. By the time I was doing parallel turns, I didn't need the rail.Worth repeating:
You need to lift only the tail, not the whole ski ... and definitely never ever just the tip. And to lift only the tail you absolutely have to have your weight forward.