I would argue that hop turns can be done with retraction -where retraction is an essential skill for bump skiingHop turns are seldom required for skiing bumps.
retraction is an essential skill for bump skiing
I don't think that's it, really. Maybe in practice it seems that way I guess. But slow line fast means using turn shape to control speed, and not using braking movements. I.e. go ahead and ski fast, but use complete turns (even uphill) to control the speed as much as you want. You could ski short radius turns and call it slow line fast if that's the speed control you want for that line, and you're making good turns.My understanding when we say slow line fast is means long radius turns taking up a lot more width on the slope than short swing or short linked turns.
I am a fairly competent mogul skier on moderate blacks with requiste separation and pivot slip skills. Can do dolphin like absorbion/retraction movements on blue moguls. These types of dolphin like turns are more reactive, then practiced. So I really can't say that I have dolphin turn skills because I usually don't plan ahead for it as a tactic - it just happens
Where I have trouble is adapting to steep terrain, with moguls that have sidewalls that resemble a a canyon mesa, fairly flat base with sheer dropoffs on front and sides of the moguls. These types of moguls formations, present a problem for me, I can not slip down the side, nor ski upon the side of an adjacent mogul because of almost vertical side walls of the moguls. I am not fast enough to ski a zipper line on very steep terrain, nor do 2 consecutive 180 degree ski pivots to slow down and enter the trough at its most shallowest point.( maybe this is something I should practice?). I usually can manage one 180 degree ski pivot to either side regularly in my current tactics.
The mogul formations I am talking about, are those one would encounter dropping into Screech OWL from the top of Grouse mountain at Beaver Creek, or those encountered at the bottom of "little Ollie" or "Heavey Metal" in Blue Sky Basin at Vail.
Any advice on tecnhique or tactics would be appreciated.
thanks in advance.
Above is nce skiing for sure but that is not "skiing the slow line fast". It is smoother and prettier than zipperline and is similar to how I mostly approach moguls.
I finally watched the video. I agree it is great skiing, but I would call that a "direct line." It's not competitive style, but it's most of the way to zipperline.Which, zipperline?
That's the slow line fast (the vid). Fast is relative. The point is, he is arcing his turns thus the meandering turns are the slow line but he is skiing it relatively fast. His skiing can't be compared to competitive bump skiing. Fast is not real fast in that example.
Just my take.
i understand. It is definitely a slower line than the competition line. I'm just saying there is an even slower line, and that even slower line is what most of us mean by "the" slow line.The slow line is not the most direct line. Competition bumpers ski the fast line. It's the direct line. Our skier is skiing turns that are out side the fast line. He is skiing the slow line with wider turns. If he were skiing the fast-line his line would be much more direct. As far as speed is concerned, if he was skiing the fast line he would be ripping the fall-line. Skiing the slow line fast does not equal the fastest way down. Fast skiing in the slow line is never going to be that fast, but it is very fast none the less. I really like the slow line fast. As an older skier it feels good to pick a line that doesn't kick your ax
Good Level III bump skiers ski the slow line fast. When the skis come around like that, it is the line. If you see great skier in the bumps and his skis are coming around - that's the slow line. He or she is still skiing the fall line. I consider it to be fantastic skiing. The zipperline can be either. But think about the line that competitive bumpers take.
@KingGrumpCan't agree with you on that one neither.
Take a trip to Crested Butte on your epic pass and spend lots of time skiing the steep terrain. You'll be forced to develop different tactics than you use on moderate-pitch bump runs. The bumps will teach you how to ski them with enough mileage.
retraction to me means the abdominal muscles and hip flexors do the work of pulling the trunk forward and legs up in order to stay in balance.
@KingGrump
I would argue that hop turns can be done with retraction -where retraction is an essential skill for bump skiing
I will stack Squaw's West Far terrain and comparable other areas on the mountain against any steep mogul terrain in the world.CB's steep terrain is just plain crazy. Best training ground for skiing steep bumps and weird terrain in the nation. I mean, whens its all open. Aspen and Aspen Highlands also offer some insanity.
When Moseley needs to stop, you know its rough hahaI will stack Squaw's West Far terrain and comparable other areas on the mountain against any steep mogul terrain in the world.
Sometimes the moguls are just too nasty or too steep to ski a clean fast line, so you need to adjust the line to control speed and balance. In those conditions I try to spend as little time in the trough as possible, because (a) it is the hardest place to control speed, and (b) why ski where everybody else skis? The only person I even saw skiing a fast clean line through nasty West Face moguls was Jonny Moseley, and even he had to stop mid-way.