From: gunn@cucbs.chem.columbia.edu (John Gunn)
Subject: Re: Question to more advanced skiers (bumps)
Organization: Center for Biomolecular Simulation
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 16:10:53 GMT

In article <1992Dec21.035423.4667@wam.umd.edu> bgohari@wam.umd.edu (Babak Gohari) writes:
>Dear more advanced skiers:
>I have a sort of important question.  I'm a relatively new skier (i.e. been
>seriously skiing for a little over a year, been skiing as a whole for three)
>Anyway, I tend to ski mostly blues (or greens even, if they're fun and
>I don't want to embarrass myself for falling).  Let's just say that I can
>probably ski most blues without falling at a reasonable speed and control.
>The question I have though is this: how do you stop on bumps?  Usually on
>normal runs, if I feel I'm going too fast as to be about to lose control,
>I slow down greatly or even stop (providing that there's no one behind me.
>I tried that once without making sure, and some snowboarder didn't have
>anti-lock brakes <grin> so he hit me pretty hard).  But on bumps, it's very
>hard.  I can't always skid-stop because of the bumps, and snowplowing
>usually doesn't work at the higher speeds (at least I can't get it to work).
>What I usually end up doing is (now don't laugh) to turn so that I actually
>start going up the hill and lose the momentum.  This sounds stupid, and
>looks even worse, so my question is: is there any other way to stop on
>bumps, especially many mini-bumps in a cluster?  Thanks.
>
>-Bob
>
>P.S.  With my last final over, my first day of skiing this season is tomorrow!
>Can't wait! (about time, huh?)

Since I've never seen you ski, I can only guess what level you are at from
your post.  Your best bet is to get someone who knows what they're doing
to go skiing with you so they can see what you are doing.

That disclaimer aside, it sounds like a good place for you to start is
with learning how to ski in control on an easier run.  You may (or may not)
be able to ski an intermediate groomed run in adequate control, but if
you learn to ski with much more control you will develop the skills you
need to feel comfortable in bumps.

The way to control your speed is to vary the types of turns you are making.
You can change the size (radius) of your turns, the amount of pressure on
your edges, and the degree to which you complete your turns.  Yes, you were
actually on the right track.  Completing the turns refers to how far across
the hill your skis are pointing at the end of the turn.  This can vary from
+/- 10 degrees (barely turning) to +/- 90 degrees (traversing back and forth)
to >90 degrees (facing back uphill).

What you should be able to do is ski a run so that you are making all your
turns at the same speed, i.e. maintain a steady rhythm without accelerating
as you go down the hill.  Then, you can try speeding up by making wider turns
and then gradually slowing down again by making tighter turns.  That's the
fundamental skill you need to ski bumps.  Good skiers maintain their speed by
using their edges, not simply by absorbing the impact as it might sometimes
look.  Stopping is exactly the same.  The best way to stop is to use the
same techniques you use to slow down, except more so.  (I know that sounds
pretty silly, but it's true.)


-- 
John Gunn, Ph.D                    |  "A casual stroll through the lunatic
Columbia University, New York, NY  |  asylum shows that faith doesn't
Center for Biomolecular Simulation |  prove anything."
and Head Coach, Ski Team           |     - Friedrich Neitzsche
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