No knee drop for Noob

[TallGrass]

One free heel mantra is to ski alpine turns until forced into tele by deep or grabby snow where you need better fore aft stability.

I can rock to that tune! Thanks.

Part of the instability feeling (and likely also trying to override "alpine" muscle memory) is the skis feel like they are on caster wheels with no "rails" to keep them in-line like some snow would do. Different day, different resort, I was skiing down some blue sections in them, steeper, but again not leaving much if any discernible track.

Thoughts on getting first runs down groomed (corduroy) snow routes?

[Montana St Alum]

Lots of strategies might work. If your plan is to ski alpine until forced to drop a knee, you'd best be able to drop a knee.


This guy's pretty good for starters also.

[TallGrass]

Lots of strategies might work. If your plan is to ski alpine until forced to drop a knee, you'd best be able to drop a knee.

It's not that I'm not flexible enough, and can do those flat, walking drills, it trying to do that while moving. Think of it like the difference between standing on one leg, and standing on one leg with your foot on an inflatable ball. I'm sure it'd be easier in plastic tele' boots and more resort like skis, but I'm "dancing with the one I brought."

On BC trails, I can split some, but not turn because of the rut, and at the resort I have the openness (no rut) for turns but not the stability (edge/base tracking) to split. Hence I like the prior mention of "alpine ski until you're forced to split for fore-aft stability" methodology.

It's also why I went up Rollins Pass Road hoping I could ski down (not pole down) as it would:
1. have enough snow for the skis to track, make their own groove
2. be wide enough to make turns
3. be a gentle enough slope to not worry about going too fast ( 'form before speed' )
4. be long enough to get repetitive practice ala ANWR "drill, baby, drill"

If timing works out, maybe I can find a steeper road that is NOT along an old railroad grade (3% max or so; too gentle to get good glide) after a decent snow to ski(n) up and ski down.

[Montana St Alum]

Lots of strategies might work. If your plan is to ski alpine until forced to drop a knee, you'd best be able to drop a knee.

I like the prior mention of "alpine ski until you're forced to split for fore-aft stability" methodology.

I meant it in a humorous vein.

If you can't drop a knee, "skiing parallel until you HAVE to drop a knee", doesn't strike me as a very sound strategy!

There's an interesting exercise. One of those things that's just kind of funny. Get someone who is pretty competent at skiing tele and just have them stand with skis next to each other and bend such that both heels are lifted. Pretty easy.

Then have then try it at a couple of MPH and it seems impossible. Really just good for a laugh. But it highlights the difficulties of doing something while moving that you can easily do while standing still.

There are a lot of aspects that are easier in plastic boots, but really, dropping into the tele stance isn't one of them.
Just keep at it, you'll get it.

[Krummholz]

I think you said that you had been skiing in the Ryan Gulch area by Dillon Res. Trail/road 9009 looks like a nice and gentle downhill that’s mostly straight. Ski up, on the ski down, kick to get some glide, leave the front foot forward, bend that front knee so it’s over the ankle, leave the back heel up, you might need to pull it in closer so it’s under you butt. Glide and hold it. Come up. Repeat on the other side. Your working to keep your balance. Keeping your skis flat, ankles straight. Don’t try to do this on turns until you feel you can keep your balance. If you feel you’re going to fast, pizza it to slow down. Then start again. If you’re going really slow that’s fine, you want a speed your comfortable with. If your muscles start shaking, that’s good, your pushing your brain to deal with your muscles doing something they’ve never done before, keep pushing it, it will set to the new experience.

[TallGrass]

I think you said that you had been skiing in the Ryan Gulch area by Dillon Res. Trail/road 9009 looks like a nice and gentle downhill that’s mostly straight.

... and is pounded into packed snow and ice including refrozen paw prints from skiers, booters, dog walkers, etc. Any powder is packed down within 24 hours.

If you feel you’re going to fast, pizza it to slow down.

I've done that stretch from higher up at the main trail junction down to the parking lot trail head several times. It's either a rut too narrow to snow plow, or wide but too iced over.

I'm not complaining, it's just the nature of a trail system right next to a LOT of residences, but at least you can take the bus back to the top at every :17 of the hour.

[Krummholz]

If I can get away Monday I’ll check out a couple of roads off St. Louis Creek, like King Road. It usually doesn’t get a lot of traffic like Louis Creek does. But it could be knee deep pow with one skinny trail. It’s behind Fraser toward Byers Peak. It climbs up levels off then drops back to St. Louis Creek.

[lowangle al]

What boot are you using? They're the most critical part of your gear and will have the biggest impact on stability. It sounds like you're not stable enough to get in the telemark position at the speed you are going.

[TallGrass]

What boot are you using? They're the most critical part of your gear and will have the biggest impact on stability. It sounds like you're not stable enough to get in the telemark position at the speed you are going.

I'm using these leather boots. I am not going to $$$pend for new boots even if that means "fun" with these and not using wider skis until I find some 28.5 mondos cheap on craigslist or something. It's easier to justify such expenditures if you live in the mountains or around a lot of snow where you can use them more regularly than I can.

[DG99]

What boot are you using? They're the most critical part of your gear and will have the biggest impact on stability. It sounds like you're not stable enough to get in the telemark position at the speed you are going.

I'm using these leather boots. I am not going to $$$pend for new boots even if that means "fun" with these and not using wider skis until I find some 28.5 mondos cheap on craigslist or something. It's easier to justify such expenditures if you live in the mountains or around a lot of snow where you can use them more regularly than I can.

Definitely some challenge to take on descents on that gear. Not impossible at all though, long turns at low angles should work. Very light and loosy goosy gear. Smash the heck down lotsa weight on the little toe on the trailing foot to get the back ski to come around with the forward ski. Groomers when soft like new snow or spring corn should help.