It is very natural to use analogies we are familiar with to help us understand concepts we are unfamiliar with. Instructors use this method all the time to help guests visualize or internalize new skiing movements or ideas.
the question we usually ask very early in a lesson is, "so what else do you like to do when your not skiing?"
It can be anything from playing a musical instrument to driving a truck or flying an airplane. Heck, we even have analogies for mathematicians and engineers.
I have an analogy between target sports and skiing that I have been working on. It was initially purely a mental exercise (though the situation exists for me teaching both disciplines....) I thought that if I could logically identify the similarities in coaching these two seemingly unrelated sports and do it in a way that had merit...then I would be able to make analogies between almost any two activities that involved human beings......I found many commonalities. Many more than I thought existed...and some that I had to dig really deep for!....
But before I assail you guys with that lengthy inquisition, and only if your interested, Here are a few common analogies you may have heard before.
Skating: hockey or figure.
If you have ever pushed off the side of an ice skate's edge (not the toe gear on a figure skate) then you will be able to visualize skating on skis...and the sensations will be very similar.
Pedaling a bicycle: backwards.
helps with understanding skiing from outside ski to outside ski, and keeping your feet under your body mass. COM
Squeeze the lemon slices:
imagine lemon slices placed one, at the top of the tongue of your boot, the other at the top of the shaft of your boot....you can gently squeeze either one, but dont crush them....
Practice your penmanship:
what letter do most intermediate skiers leave in the snow? "Z" the shape of their turns or the tracks they leave in the snow look like "Z"s strung together. Work on turning those "Z"s into "C"s and then "S"s. (control speed through turn shape)
These are just a few simple examples.....Please add more if you like....or tell us something that has worked for you.....
JP
the question we usually ask very early in a lesson is, "so what else do you like to do when your not skiing?"
It can be anything from playing a musical instrument to driving a truck or flying an airplane. Heck, we even have analogies for mathematicians and engineers.
I have an analogy between target sports and skiing that I have been working on. It was initially purely a mental exercise (though the situation exists for me teaching both disciplines....) I thought that if I could logically identify the similarities in coaching these two seemingly unrelated sports and do it in a way that had merit...then I would be able to make analogies between almost any two activities that involved human beings......I found many commonalities. Many more than I thought existed...and some that I had to dig really deep for!....
But before I assail you guys with that lengthy inquisition, and only if your interested, Here are a few common analogies you may have heard before.
Skating: hockey or figure.
If you have ever pushed off the side of an ice skate's edge (not the toe gear on a figure skate) then you will be able to visualize skating on skis...and the sensations will be very similar.
Pedaling a bicycle: backwards.
helps with understanding skiing from outside ski to outside ski, and keeping your feet under your body mass. COM
Squeeze the lemon slices:
imagine lemon slices placed one, at the top of the tongue of your boot, the other at the top of the shaft of your boot....you can gently squeeze either one, but dont crush them....
Practice your penmanship:
what letter do most intermediate skiers leave in the snow? "Z" the shape of their turns or the tracks they leave in the snow look like "Z"s strung together. Work on turning those "Z"s into "C"s and then "S"s. (control speed through turn shape)
These are just a few simple examples.....Please add more if you like....or tell us something that has worked for you.....
JP