Skiing Backwards

[skibum4ever]

DH and I will be working with the Disabled Sports program at Mammoth this winter. One of the skills we will need is skiing backwards, something I have never done, at least not on purpose.

Any advice other than "just do it!"???

 

[itri]

Twin tips?

 

[KatyPerrey]

IMO it's a great way to blow out your knee if you don't know what you are doing! Although, lucky for us in this day and age they make skis (not a twin tip) with a bit of a turned up tail. This does make it easier. Harder to catch an edge.
Always great to hear when people are working with the disabled! Have fun and be careful!

 

[skibum4ever]

Maybe? Also, short skis might make it easier.

But between all the instructor Divas and all the Mommy Divas, I'm sure that there are some good hints and maybe even a video out there. Is skiing backwards required to pass PSIA Level 1? I somehow bet it is.

 

[skibum4ever]

Katy, blowing out a knee is precisely what I can't afford to do. I already have a plate and 4 screws in my right knee due to a tibia plateau fracture almost exactly 3 years ago at Breck.

 

[abc]

google "switch"?

 

[ski now work later]

Any advice other than "just do it!"???

Take a lesson from an experienced freestyle ski coach and ski on some softer twins that are long enough. After trying center mounted skis, twice, I've found I'm most comfortable on a longer, softer twin with a traditional mount.

 

[Jilly]

I'm thinking about when I teach rank beginners. Quite often I ski in a backwards snowplow. Twin tips make it much easier. Do you need to do a parallel turn for example backwards? If so, try a session with a freestyle instructor.

 

[skidaup]

Short ski's help too...

 

[skibum4ever]

Jilly, I suspect a backwards snowplow is exactly what I will need, since most of the disabled we are working with will probably be children who have little or no previous ski experience. As a first year volunteer I'm pretty sure we will not be working with parallel skiers, and if we were I doubt we'd have to ski in front of them backwards. Now to work on a backwards snowplow next time we are on snow.

Skidaup, I can get used second hand skis pretty cheap from the Disabled Sport Shop. I am normally on skis around 162 cm. I am 5'2",140 lb., and an advanced skier. Any thoughts about how short I should go?

 

[Jilly]

I would find a shorter pair - 150 and with the turned up tail if you can. Also get a pair that used, but not abused. They're going to get scratched, run over, whatever too.

 

[Snowflower]

When I was teaching all my neices and nephews I used a pair of snowblades. The were much easier to manage backwards and made navigating around and picking up a fallen child much easier to do.

 

[evaino]

Are you sure you'll need to ski backwards? I ski backwards often when teaching kids, but when I was involved with the disabled ski program, I rarely did. I worked with sitskiers and also with blind skiers. In the case of the blind skiers the ones I worked with already knew how to ski so we were just guides - one behind to yell out instructions (left...right...bump...ice...) and one ahead to basically clear the way. For the sitskiers, one of us would tether the skier and the other would ski ahead (not backwards).

I haven't taught disabled stand up skiers though, so maybe you'd need to go backwards, but I suspect in your first year you'll be assisting so I wouldn't worry too much about it. As I recall most of the people working the disabled ski programs weren't amazing skiers by any stretch. I don't mean that as a knock, but rather as a "don't worry about it - you'll be fine". Keep in mind that they won't put you in a situation that will be dangerous for either you or your kids.

In terms of skiing backwards, I find my normal skis work well backwards - typically I ski on an all mountain ski. I'm not sure I'd go twin tip, but it depends where you are. The only twin tips I've ever tried were pretty soft, but in my opinion you want a good strong edge to be able to ski backwards in control - more important than the twin tips to me. Also keep in mind that you will definitely be doing lots of forward snowplowing, so you want a ski that will be good for that.

I can't even think how to describe how to ski backwards except that the fore-aft balance is a little different, but otherwise you still want to flex and extend, pivot and engage your edges just like you would going forward.

Sounds like you've got a fun experience ahead of you!

 

[NH ite]

I started to learn it last year. Essentially it is a backwards snowplow to get started. Found it very helpful to learn. Whirlybirds may be beneficial to learn too.

 

[skibum4ever]

What are whirlybirds?

 

[NH ite]

360's

and around and around we go... the good skiers do it smoothly with grace and ease.

 

[Robyn]

With whirlybirds make sure you learn how to do them both directions. We actually use them with our racing athletes for balance and edging.

 

[skibum4ever]

A long time ago, there was a small company making the rounds of the ski areas demoing short skis meant for ballet and tricks. They had oil and ball earings in the front for stability. I recall that I could do a 360 on those, and it was a lot of fun.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Ah, the ballet skis - arguably the first "twin tips" - and the venerable, orange 150 Olin Ballet.....kind of surprised, if you remember this, that you didn't learn the backwards stuff, as so many of us were attempting back in those early "freestyle" days.

But....a lot of things surprise me these days: how little time is spent learning the flat ski/edge engagement and release types of drills (i.e., pivot slips, falling leaf, on-snow 180-360 etc). Somehow seems like shaped skis eliminated a whole learning segment of skiing. Too bad, because all that was great fun, really taught us our edges and a lot of fore-aft balance skills. I'm remembering just how much of this used to be incorporated in DH's teaching. Changing times/methods....

 

[volklgirl]

But....a lot of things surprise me these days: how little time is spent learning the flat ski/edge engagement and release types of drills (i.e., pivot slips, falling leaf, on-snow 180-360 etc)....

And hop turns and short swing and kick turns.

Ahhhhh....the good old day (sigh).

NOT!