Newsgroups: rec.skiing

> 
> So, should I learn to ski w/o poles?  If so, what the hell do I do 
> in crowded lift lines, where there are occasionally little bumps and 
> hills that are prob'ly impossible to negotiate w/o poles?  Pop one ski off,
> and walk through the line?
>

Jeff,

Here's a copy of a letter I sent to someone a few years ago (Are you 
still out there Rolland?) on skiing bumps without poles.   I ski everything
without poles except powder, and powder won't hurt your wrists.  In reality,
steep bumps are easier to ski w/o poles than flats since they provide a 
natural "platform" to unweight your skis for the next turn.

WRT the lift lines, I either skate, side step or just pull on the ropes 
they use to delineate the maze.  It's not usually a problem.  Obviously,
the best solution is to just ski onto the lift ;-)

John
*********************
> 
> In article <106480113@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> you write:
> >
> >P.S. If you'd like sometime, I can give you some tips on how to ski those 
> >     icy bumps "softly".
> 
> If you do, please cc me.  I quit bump skiing a few years ago due to
> hip problems and I'd love to try it again.
> 

About four years ago, I injured my wrist and had to have surgery on it.
Ever since I've been skiing without poles.  (Unless there's lots of fresh
powder.)  I was an expert skier before the injury, and in several ways,
skiing without poles has made me better.

Without poles, you *must* be centered over your skis, and you can't be 
taking big shocks from hard bumps, or you'll crash (big time).  This means
being in balance and in control at all times.  So how do I do it?

I took a page from the racer's book and use a *lot* of independent leg 
action.  The increased edging from having all your weight on one ski, plus
the ability to "step-down" into the troughs allows you to soften those 
hard bumps.

Obviously, all the old rules apply (face downhill, shoulders square, quiet
upper body, etc).  But as I approach a trough, instead of keeping my legs
and skis together, I "stem-christie"!  All my weight is on the downhill
ski.  I "step down" into the trough with my uphill ski (soon to be downhill)
keeping the *tip down*.  At this point my downhill leg is bent and the uphill
leg extended.  Keep in mind that you must be leaning forward a lot in order
to step down *and* have the tip be the first part to touch the snow!

As soon as the tip is down, I transfer all my weight to it, turning it.
It becomes the downhill ski, and the process starts again.

Don't worry about the un-weighted ski.  If you're the level skier I think
you are, it'll just follow and become parallel with the weighted one.  Also,
don't worry about how you look.  From my description, you might get the
idea that this looks dorky.  But in practice, it looks like a gracefull
dance.  My friends have described it as, "Looks like water flowing down
between the bumps."  

One other nice thing about this technique is that you don't have to go fast.  
In fact, you can go as slow as you like, especially when you're learning.
However, even though I'm going slower, I usually beat my friends to the
bottom.  This method takes a lot less energy, and you don't have to stop
as often :-)

One more tip: When you step down into the trough, don't step into the 
bottom of it.  Step about halfway (two-thirds?) down the bump (on the 
inside of the turn) and scrape down it as you turn (keep the shovel down!!).  
This will absorb the shock, as well as slow you down.  And never get 
airborne.  Always keep at least one ski on the snow.

Good luck, I hope this description was a little bit understandable,

John

P.S.  You can use poles if you want :-)

P.P.S I'm using 204cm Rossi 4S's.


Newsgroups: rec.skiing