Self Arrest Techniques?

[TNtoTaos]

Oh yeah, that's the area I remember.......challenging conditions to say the least.

Right in front of that lift is the place to hike to the Ridge.

 

[santacruz skier]

Right in front of that lift is the place to hike to the Ridge.

Okay! Hiked to the Ridge once!

 

[marzNC]

Right in front of that lift is the place to hike to the Ridge.

Riding that lift, Lift 2, is also the way to go over to the Kachina side at Taos. Or to access double-black terrain off Bambi.

 

[marzNC]

Here's a better picture of Slim Slidell at Taos. He was brought out after the Kachina Lift opened on Feb. 3, 2023. One person I rode up with who was a first-timer didn't realize it wasn't a real person at first.

On a Sunday morning, while riding up Lift 2 I saw a group of tweens that looked like they were playing in the snow. Watching more carefully, I realized that the kids had on Taos Winter Sports jackets. It became clear that they were practicing self-arrest. The coach had them take off the skis a certain distance up a steep open slope that still had deep snow where they weren't in the way. Idea was to climb up, stand up, and deliberately lean back and fall in order to practice getting feet below, on stomach, and coming to a stop. The coach was standing in the midst of the kids yelling encouragement and instructions. The untracked snow provided relatively soft landings and the kids didn't slide that far before coming to a stop.

Top of Lift 2

Smaller sign:

STEEP SLOPES ARE
SLIPPERY
SKI WITH CAUTION

Main sign:

SLIM SLIDELL SAYS:
"KNOW HOW TO SELF ARREST!"
1. FEET DOWNHILL
2. DIG IN WITH HANDS AND FEET
3. STOP YOURSELF BEFORE
"YOU CAN'T!"

 

[AJM]

Here's a better picture of Slim Slidell at Taos. He was brought out after the Kachina Lift opened on Feb. 3, 2023. One person I rode up with who was a first-timer didn't realize it wasn't a real person at first.

On a Sunday morning, while riding up Lift 2 I saw a group of tweens that looked like they were playing in the snow. Watching more carefully, I realized that the kids had on Taos Winter Sports jackets. It became clear that they were practicing self-arrest. The coach had them take off the skis a certain distance up a steep open slope that still had deep snow where they weren't in the way. Idea was to climb up, stand up, and deliberately lean back and fall in order to practice getting feet below, on stomach, and coming to a stop. The coach was standing in the midst of the kids yelling encouragement and instructions. The untracked snow provided relatively soft landings and the kids didn't slide that far before coming to a stop.

Top of Lift 2

Smaller sign:

STEEP SLOPES ARE
SLIPPERY
SKI WITH CAUTION

Main sign:

SLIM SLIDELL SAYS:
"KNOW HOW TO SELF ARREST!"
1. FEET DOWNHILL
2. DIG IN WITH HANDS AND FEET
3. STOP YOURSELF BEFORE
"YOU CAN'T!"

I saw a similar thing a few years ago whilst riding the lift, a whole bunch of kids rolling around on a steep face in deep snow .... turned out it was my son and the rest of his Freeride team practising self arresting xx