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When skiing, do you spend more time practicing skills, or just ski freely and enjoy the time?
- Thread starter GoGo9527
- Start date
liquidfeet
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I have fun skiing, but choosing to not pay attention to what I'm doing is not how it works for me.
tactics:
I may be paying close attention to tactics if the run offers me challenges - where to turn and what speed I choose. The fun factor is succeeding in doing what I want to do, making turns exactly where I choose and holding my speed to what I chose. I give myself a big congratulations at the end of something like this.
experimenting:
Or I may be trying out a new way of doing something, experimenting and noticing what works or what doesn't. This is definitely fun because I'm learning new unexpected stuff. Extra credit for the day!
repetition, embedding new skills into muscle memory:
Sometimes I'll be working to embed into muscle memory something that I value but sometimes it fails to happen (so annoying!). This may be what you mean by "practicing skills." It can be the most frustrating if the desired movement pattern I'm trying to embed keeps disappearing, but I keep at it because this is the only way to make such things habitual so in the future I don't have to think to make them happen. I do notice that when I work on embedding, my skiing slowly and surely gets better and eventually that disappearing skill no longer disappears. Immediate fun during the repetitions? Maybe. I do feel proud that I've done X number of turns successfully, and that makes for a kind of fun.
drills:
Sometimes I do drills at the start of the day or at the start of a run because they help "set the tone" of the run. Example: I'm at the top of a steep icy run and I've decided to ski a narrow line down it, but I expect my turns will get wider without my permission because every time I try this my body goes rogue and inserts traverses in between turns. So I may start heading down the run with pivot slips (a drill), and morph them into super-short turns that hold to a narrow line. I'm thinking of one run in particular and if I succeed in skiing a narrow line down this run this season I will jump for joy, and do it again and again and again to start embedding that into muscle memory. Fun!
The only time my mind lets go of these types of thinking is when I'm in a group. I often cannot work on my skiing when I'm with others. I don't know why.
tactics:
I may be paying close attention to tactics if the run offers me challenges - where to turn and what speed I choose. The fun factor is succeeding in doing what I want to do, making turns exactly where I choose and holding my speed to what I chose. I give myself a big congratulations at the end of something like this.
experimenting:
Or I may be trying out a new way of doing something, experimenting and noticing what works or what doesn't. This is definitely fun because I'm learning new unexpected stuff. Extra credit for the day!
repetition, embedding new skills into muscle memory:
Sometimes I'll be working to embed into muscle memory something that I value but sometimes it fails to happen (so annoying!). This may be what you mean by "practicing skills." It can be the most frustrating if the desired movement pattern I'm trying to embed keeps disappearing, but I keep at it because this is the only way to make such things habitual so in the future I don't have to think to make them happen. I do notice that when I work on embedding, my skiing slowly and surely gets better and eventually that disappearing skill no longer disappears. Immediate fun during the repetitions? Maybe. I do feel proud that I've done X number of turns successfully, and that makes for a kind of fun.
drills:
Sometimes I do drills at the start of the day or at the start of a run because they help "set the tone" of the run. Example: I'm at the top of a steep icy run and I've decided to ski a narrow line down it, but I expect my turns will get wider without my permission because every time I try this my body goes rogue and inserts traverses in between turns. So I may start heading down the run with pivot slips (a drill), and morph them into super-short turns that hold to a narrow line. I'm thinking of one run in particular and if I succeed in skiing a narrow line down this run this season I will jump for joy, and do it again and again and again to start embedding that into muscle memory. Fun!
The only time my mind lets go of these types of thinking is when I'm in a group. I often cannot work on my skiing when I'm with others. I don't know why.
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Pandita
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
It just depends on the day. There are times when I just want to practice some skills and work on a focus area. There are days that I just want to ski and do not think of anything except being outside and enjoying the day. I don't have a routine or anything. Sometimes it depends on my mood.
Since I teach, I do have afternoons when we have training and work on target areas. Sometimes the next day I will work on that,
Since I teach, I do have afternoons when we have training and work on target areas. Sometimes the next day I will work on that,
GladeDuchess
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
For me, I'd say I'm a bit tilted towards enjoying my time mostly, but a lot depends on the situation.
If I'm with others, we just got fresh snow and conditions are fab, I'm at a new place or hill I do not get to as often, then skiing just for pleasure is usually what I do.
Other times I'm alone, wind holds limit me to one lift or a T-bar and I get bored of the same few trails, or I just want to work on a new skill, then I often go to drills.
Mix it up though, the joy of skiing is that you are not locked into some program type activity or schedule most times. All work and no play makes for a boring day, but all fun and we get stale and do not improve. I might ski a few runs for fun and then note a challenging feature I avoided or side slipped past that I want to go back and run a drill on, or decide I want to see how far I can go down the trail again without turning, or perhaps rerun a trail and decide I only want to stay to one side to work on shortening my turns.
Keep it lively and have fun as you learn and improve. : )
If I'm with others, we just got fresh snow and conditions are fab, I'm at a new place or hill I do not get to as often, then skiing just for pleasure is usually what I do.
Other times I'm alone, wind holds limit me to one lift or a T-bar and I get bored of the same few trails, or I just want to work on a new skill, then I often go to drills.
Mix it up though, the joy of skiing is that you are not locked into some program type activity or schedule most times. All work and no play makes for a boring day, but all fun and we get stale and do not improve. I might ski a few runs for fun and then note a challenging feature I avoided or side slipped past that I want to go back and run a drill on, or decide I want to see how far I can go down the trail again without turning, or perhaps rerun a trail and decide I only want to stay to one side to work on shortening my turns.
Keep it lively and have fun as you learn and improve. : )
@GoGo9527 : Welcome! What is your home region?
You've asked a good question: "When skiing, do you spend more time practicing skills, or just ski freely and enjoy the time?"
My answer has changed in the last couple decades. I didn't start taking lessons until about 15 years ago. Before that, there was about a 30 year hiatus when I didn't ski much. Didn't start paying attention to technique until after knee rehab in 2012. The knee injury had nothing to do with skiing. I was over 50 and really wanted to keep skiing for a long time. Initially, I probably practiced 30% of the time at my home hill in the southeast, which has no off-piste terrain and a long run takes under 5 minutes to finish. I learned how to practice skills on short groomers related to fundamentals by working with a very experienced (PSIA Level 3, 20+ years experience) instructor.
A few seasons ago, I did a Private Ski Week at Taos (6 consecutive morning group lessons) with a few friends. We were working with one of the most experienced instructors. All four students were older advanced skiers who had been taking lessons in recent years. We had all started skiing more often after working less. In the middle of the week, the instructor said we should be "skiing groomers deliberately." Meaning there are finesse skills that can be practiced on any groomer. Those skills apply to skiing on more complex terrain.
In short, having become a solid advanced with the help of assorted instructors I much more likely to practice something at some point every ski day. However, in most cases anyone skiing with me won't be able to tell what I'm practicing.
Off-piste, if I'm skiing with friends then I'm just having fun. If I'm skiing solo, then I may concentrate on a skill for a little while. But not for an entire run.
You've asked a good question: "When skiing, do you spend more time practicing skills, or just ski freely and enjoy the time?"
My answer has changed in the last couple decades. I didn't start taking lessons until about 15 years ago. Before that, there was about a 30 year hiatus when I didn't ski much. Didn't start paying attention to technique until after knee rehab in 2012. The knee injury had nothing to do with skiing. I was over 50 and really wanted to keep skiing for a long time. Initially, I probably practiced 30% of the time at my home hill in the southeast, which has no off-piste terrain and a long run takes under 5 minutes to finish. I learned how to practice skills on short groomers related to fundamentals by working with a very experienced (PSIA Level 3, 20+ years experience) instructor.
A few seasons ago, I did a Private Ski Week at Taos (6 consecutive morning group lessons) with a few friends. We were working with one of the most experienced instructors. All four students were older advanced skiers who had been taking lessons in recent years. We had all started skiing more often after working less. In the middle of the week, the instructor said we should be "skiing groomers deliberately." Meaning there are finesse skills that can be practiced on any groomer. Those skills apply to skiing on more complex terrain.
In short, having become a solid advanced with the help of assorted instructors I much more likely to practice something at some point every ski day. However, in most cases anyone skiing with me won't be able to tell what I'm practicing.
Off-piste, if I'm skiing with friends then I'm just having fun. If I'm skiing solo, then I may concentrate on a skill for a little while. But not for an entire run.
I seldom do drills solo, but don't know how to turn off the skills practicing part of my brain unless I am chasing after others or leading the pack in powder. Even then, it is really hard to turn of the brain that knows some focused skiing could help me ski faster, better, smoother, more playfully. Sometimes I go out with friends and we all work on things, but mostly we ski and stop and chat about the most random things.
AJM
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
To be honest I'm all over the show !!
Sometimes I practise and sometimes I just go for it, it depends on the snow and who I'm skiing with.
I have been focusing a lot on technique this current southern hemi season and I do try and go over my internal checklist as I'm skiing and will usually set aside time to consciously focus on one maybe two aspects as I'm skiing but then sometimes its about the joy of just skiing that wins and everything goes out the window !!
In saying that, I did find myself on an off piste windblown powder run (read I nearly got blown off !) the other day and my first "just go for it " run was pretty bad so I went back to my internal checklist and I skied it much more solidly and enjoyed it so much more after that.
Sometimes I practise and sometimes I just go for it, it depends on the snow and who I'm skiing with.
I have been focusing a lot on technique this current southern hemi season and I do try and go over my internal checklist as I'm skiing and will usually set aside time to consciously focus on one maybe two aspects as I'm skiing but then sometimes its about the joy of just skiing that wins and everything goes out the window !!
In saying that, I did find myself on an off piste windblown powder run (read I nearly got blown off !) the other day and my first "just go for it " run was pretty bad so I went back to my internal checklist and I skied it much more solidly and enjoyed it so much more after that.
Skiing.... and enjoying it. I've been skiing about 50 years.
Occasionally, I will practice something new I learned (like in Taos), but mostly do not want to think about what I'm doing unless in terrain a bit over my head.
Occasionally, I will practice something new I learned (like in Taos), but mostly do not want to think about what I'm doing unless in terrain a bit over my head.
GoGo9527
Diva in Training
Hello, thank you for your reply. I have plenty of time, and I go skiing in Europe, North America, and Australia—though I visit Australia less frequently. My current thought is that practicing my skills is still really important. The reason is that my posture might be incorrect; after skiing for a long time, my feet start to hurt. So I need to find a coach to help me correct my posture.
I totally get what you mean about posture, it can really make a difference in comfort and performance. It might be worth looking into a coach who can help with alignment and foot positioning, especially if you're feeling discomfort after long sessions. Sometimes, small adjustments can make a big difference in how your body feels during and after skiing. Also, you could try some specific exercises off the slopes to strengthen those muscles and improve posture. Best of luck with finding the right coach!
Yep, "posture" is very important. Although the PSIA instructors I've had usually use the term "stance." The adjustments can be a combination of the width between ski boots and the position of the entire body from feet to head, including the arms and hands.
I had bad habits to overcome when I started taking small group lessons at my home hill. Took a couple of seasons for a better stance to feel normal since I was only skiing 15-20 days a season back then. About the same timeframe for my friend who was an advanced skier in high school but didn't have a lesson again until he was in his 60s. We both do lessons more regularly these days (after age 65). Makes it a lot easier to have fun skiing full days, regardless of snow and weather conditions.
Do you have a favorite resort in the Rockies?
Trailside Trixie
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I tend to do drills often depending on who I"m with. I take a lot of clinics so am usualy working on something. Somes I just like to let loose and have fun but I always start off each ski day with a drill or two.
I heart this. My definition of "fun" skiing is working to improve, analyzing technique, doing drills, and judging how using the different skis in my quiver affect my performance. I can't say I ever "just ski" without thinking about form, function, and analysis. I'm always in my own head - in every turn.
NewEnglandSkier
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I always start off the day by doing drills or working on something specific. Depending on the conditions, I may just keep in that mindset for the whole day or I may then try to forget about specifics and just ski--but mostly I am always thinking about working on something.
It sounds like you have the opportunity for a lot of time on hill. Colour me a little green with envy. If you're getting foot pain after long days, you have probably already looked for likely culprits close to the source. But on the off chance that you haven't yet, I'd talk to your boot fitter and have him assess your footbeds.
Early season when I am less strong and the terrain is less interesting I do a lot of drills, and explore my stance with odd movements. I have to say though, I consider it fun. Later season, when I am strong and centered, I focus more on challenging terrain - which is really fun. Nonetheless you will see me doing some basic drills in the flats, particularly if I had any “backseat” moments on the steeps.
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I’m not an aggressive skier and as I’ve gotten older, I’m much more conservative approach skiing like I approach cello practice. Early season may look like this:
1. Warm ups on something elementary that allows me to focus on technique and my equipment. I may spend most or all of my time doing this, and maybe mostly on green trails.
2. Once warmed up, then move on to more challenging terrain, or more challenging skill practice.
3. Finally, take a few runs to put it all together.
I have a constant dialogue in my head, reminding myself of various points of technique.
I also prefer to ski alone because I hate feeling like I’m holding others back from what they want to ski. I know I’m slow.
1. Warm ups on something elementary that allows me to focus on technique and my equipment. I may spend most or all of my time doing this, and maybe mostly on green trails.
2. Once warmed up, then move on to more challenging terrain, or more challenging skill practice.
3. Finally, take a few runs to put it all together.
I have a constant dialogue in my head, reminding myself of various points of technique.
I also prefer to ski alone because I hate feeling like I’m holding others back from what they want to ski. I know I’m slow.
scandium
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Both, because to ski things that are fun I need to practice my technique!! I have a lot of inefficient habits in my skiing that mean that just "fun" skiing is also tiring, more often than not I need to warm up with drills to get me out of the backseat so that my skiing for the rest of the day is more effective.
It’s evolved for me. Back when I could only ski a few days a year, I would just ski with my husband or group all day, but in retrospect, that undoubtedly held back my skill development and I wish I’d spent some time on lessons then. Started adding in lessons and clinics about 15 years ago, when I was skiing about 10-15 days a year. Last year was the first year I had the opportunity to be near mountains all season, and I was watching a lot of video and trying to do drills a couple of times a week at least. I got Carv as well and that helped with learning while skiing, as you can set it up to focus on a particular metric while you ski, so I found I could use it while catching runs with my husband. Upcoming season, I’m very luckily going to be in Utah and I’m going to try to structure my weeks so I have some dedicated time for drills (in addition to some lessons & clinics), because while I didn’t find them the most exciting things to do, they definitely helped.
