From: couch@unislc.uucp (Keith Couch)
Subject: Re: Mass and Speed Control (especially on bumps)
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Organization: Unisys Corporation SLC
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Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 22:33:25 GMT

Jonathan Byrd (jon@zeus.med.utah.edu) wrote:
: In article <1992Dec31.181155.9070@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> warren@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (warren.a.montgomery) writes:
: 
:    One topic I have yet to see discussed either here or by a ski
:    instructor is what larger, heavier people need to do to stay in
:    control on steep bumpy slopes.  I'm not huge (190), but I'm bigger
:    than the people people who I see gracefully bouncing through bumps
:    controlling their speed with just a little scrape on each, and
:    I've never understood how they do it.  I can make tight, quick
:    turns on a steep slope, but after half a dozen I am approaching
:    warp speed and it's time for a long scrape or a big turn up hill.
:    No trouble on smooth slopes but deadly on the bumps.  Once that
:    happens, it's back to stumbling around in terror of going too
:    fast until I get (over) confident again and point them downhill.
:    The heavier you are, the more potential energy you have to
:    dump in descending  a steep slope.  It's all got to go either into
:    your edges or your knees.  Contrary to someone else's posting, I
:    can't stay in control plowing on steep, hard slopes, no matter how
:    hard I edge.  There's just not enough friction to absorb the
:    energy.  Having had one knee operation, I'd just as soon
:    minimize the energy absorbed in my knees.  Any 200 pounders out
:    there who can ski bumps?  How do you keep from accellerating?
: 
: The acceleration due to gravity here on Earth is independent of mass;
: all objects fall at the same rate, if all other variables are equal.
: Remember the story of old what's-his-face, and the leaning tower of
: Pisa? ;-)
: 
: Perhaps there is something different about the frictional forces that
: oppose the acceleration.  Maybe heavier people melt the top layer of
: snow under their skis faster because of the increased pressure.  This
: may lead to a reduced frictional coefficient.
: 
: Another possibility: Are you sure that you are travelling as fast as
: the lighter people you see dancing through the bumps?  Sometimes
: smooth, graceful motion can make a skier appear to be going more
: slowly than he is really going.  Perhaps these skiers are comfortable
: at faster speeds.
: 
: I think that the most likely factor is your anticipation of the bumps.
: There is a tendency for heavier people to be slower than lighter
: people.  Momentum and all that.  If you suck up your knees an instant
: before you hit the bump, and extend them quickly down the backside of
: the bump, you can maintain a firm connection to the ground, and carve
: a smoother, more continuous turn.  Make sure you keep your tips on the
: ground at all times.  When your skis come off the ground, you are in
: freefall, with no friction to slow you down.  Also, you have no power
: to turn when you are airborne.  Another advantage of keeping your tips
: on the snow is that you get some shock absorption from the flex of the
: ski.

As a 225 lb. 50 year old mail who skis 25 to 35 days a year, I feel 
that I have some expertise in this area. I ski with people who are
generally younger than myself by 10 to 25 years. Almost without exception, 
I am the faster and more agressive skier in the group. I ski under
control and have a great time on the mountain.

I would suggest that it comes down to technique and confidence.  And to 
improve your technique and confidence, TAKE A LESSON! (Sorry, I didn't mean 
to shout.)  A good ski instructor can spot your weaknesses and make
corrections in a one hour lesson. Make an investment in your skiing
enjoyment and take a private lesson. You'll be amazed. 90% of your
skiing ability is located between your ears -- it's a mental game and
lessons can surely help.

: 
: Of course this is only one man's moderately humble opinion. ;-)
-----
Keith Couch                         (801) 594-6088
Senior Software Engineer            (801) 594-4861 FAX
Unisys Corporation                  couch@unislc.slc.unisys.com
322 North 2200 West                 couch%unislc@uunet.uu.net
MS-D1V03
Salt Lake City, Ut 84116

-- 
-----
Keith Couch                         (801) 594-6088
Senior Software Engineer            (801) 594-4861 FAX
Unisys Corporation                  couch@unislc.slc.unisys.com
Newsgroups: rec.skiing