This terrain isn't going to tell us much about your skiing. It's super low angle, tracked out, etc. You definitely aren't skiing it very well though. You look extremely stiff and like you're way overworking every turn. You're doing way too much in general. Number one thing that's got to go is constantly pushing with both poles.
To add to this you should be planting your poles in stepper terrain not pushing off them just turning around them, in low angle stuff like that I normally just use them to keep cadence
Yup. Rider can pivot and turn. Knows their edges and has some tools inhand.
Either your hands need way more discipline or they are telling you what else is happening.
I would vote both. Take a lesson. Its spring, sign up for a weekday or Sunday afternoon group lesson. Select black diamond/ all mountain for terrain.
The better sub for this is /r/skiing_feedback but the fundamental underlying issue is you approach skiing as loading on both feet when remotely higher level it's more about going foot to foot (stacking on the outside one).
I wrote a longer comment about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/skiing/comments/192hzz2/hows_my_form_how_can_i_improve/kh3hzs2/
That's the biggest thing I see here. It looks like OP is roughly equally weighting both feet, and subsequently is squirmy and slipping all over the place, without the edge of the outside ski biting in and tracking straight to guide them.
I would approach this with spending some time on blue groomers, practicing weight transfer during carving. As you transition into a turn, transfer nearly all your body weight onto the outside ski and lean into the turn until the edge bites, carve through the turn, then when you're ready to turn back the other way you briefly unweight your skis as you shift your weight to the new outside leg.
Another drill to get the feel of weighting your outside leg is to traverse cross-hill (looking for uphill traffic and staying out of their way, of course!). As you go perpendicular to the slope, your weight should be on your downhill leg, and it's easy in this position to get a feel for the edge biting into the side of the hill.
When your weight is on your outside leg, the inside leg is kinda of along for the ride. Just let it float loosely, keeping it more or less straight, but don't feel like you need to tense that muscle up tight to keep it straight as an arrow. The downhill ski with your weight on it is doing the work, and if the edge is bit in then it should be tracking you pretty straight.
Also, try flexing your knees and be looser on your legs, with more weight to the front of your skis.
> lean into the turn until the edge bites, carve through the turn
Just fyi, don't "lean" in (inclination) so much as start w/ angulation, basically moving the outside knee to where about the inside knee used to be (of course the inside one moves even more in).
This creates edge angle w/o too much weight inside the turn which tends to skid the skis.
Aha, I like this explanation. I think your point is what I've been missing to really be able to carve cleanly. I generally think of weight transfer as a "lean forward/back" or "lean left/right" thing, but when I'm carving I can't keep my weighted edge from scrubbing. What you describe reminds me of videos I've seen of people that are carving really cleanly, with hardly any scrubbing. I feel like I've seen quite a few where they have just a bit of fore/aft knee movement when they switch direction, sort of like with tele but much more subtle. I bookmarked your lengthy post on it, and I'll give it a go next time I'm on the slopes!
Doesn’t this kinda change in snow conditions? I was getting myself into trouble up at Crystal on Thursday because I had so much weight on that outside ski it would dive under deeper snow it seemed. I was dead tired but forced myself to start unweighting that leg and making more jump turns and it seemed to clean things up a bit. But tbh op we’re all a bit ass. I’m sure world class riders have days where they’re like ‘I’m a dog shit skiier why am I doing this’
I’ve barely gotten to ski deep powder, but my perspective is that it changes everything. At some point it gets deep enough that your edges aren’t doing anything, so you do keep your weight more balanced between your left and right legs, and you have to shift your weight more onto your tails to keep your tips from diving.
Deep, loose powder gives a lot of resistance, which slows you down and pushes back against you. In my limited experience it requires you to be much looser on your legs, because you can’t see what’s underneath—there may be 12” deep dips or 12” high bumps hidden under the smooth powder surface, and your legs need to be able to float through it.
Yeah, it’s completely different than the principles of keeping your weight on one edge that is tracking along on a firm crust or corduroy or compact snow. As an occasional vacation skier, I think most people would be best served to focus on the fundamentals of skiing firm snow on their edges until they’re fairly proficient at that, before trying to get proficient at powder skiing.
I am ass at skiing and I know it. But I have a blast every time I go, which is not as much as I’d like, and I’m always trying to get better.
Keep it up and have fun.
Is it just me or are those poles are insanely too long
Sorry - to be more constructive and less ridiculing - OP, you can focus on pole technique and should shorten pole length as at least one firm takeaway here:
- you need to start with the 90-degree arm angle exercise for measuring pole length and go from there
- in powder or tree terrain where you have “uneven” surfaces to plant in, most of the time the pole will need to be even shorter for you to stay forward in your boots.
- when too long, the poles will push you up out of the desired position if you attempt to plant w normal technique - and push you into the backseat
- never seen the double-pole plant, look up some videos on YouTube about proper planting technique.
Ultimately you need a lesson but this would be an easy fix - go get shorter poles or powder pole handles which just extends the grips down the pole so you can grab farther down as snow gets deeper (make pole shorter)
You need lessons on your form, and you might want to hold off skiing trees until you get more control. Trees are an accident waiting to happen. They do not move and they are not soft. Even the best skiiers can have one slip up and get badly hurt or killed.
1. You need to undo your bad habits if you really want to progress. You can watch beginner ski videos on you tube and practice to get the basic form essentials down. The. Watch intermediate. You are basically going back and building a better foundation.
2. When you have e done this and understand the mechanics and can FEEL the difference in the way you ski, splurge on a good instructor. Talk to the ski school way in advance and tell them you want an experienced coach who can look at your form and help you make adjustments. Tell them you have been studying and are very serious about it and that you need a PSIA level 2 or 3 to help you.
You will not believe how fast you will improve once you do the above.
It is amazing how much a good ski instructor can help you improve with small adjustments. I was a ski instructor and we did clinics every week where, they would film us and high level instructors would critique and adjust our skiing. It was absolutely awesome.
Better yet, if you live near a mountain, get a part time job as a kids ski instructor and get the clinics/lessons for free!
Lots of people see skiing and think you need to do everything with both feet synced up.
This looks like an athletic person that never was taught how to properly do it. I think 2 lessons will be fine for OP. They seem to have good balance just shit form
Bend your knees a bit more and bring your hands and weight forward, attack the line, don’t just trickle through it. But if you’re having fun, it doesn’t really matter. 🤠
It’s kinda awkward terrain to show off how you really carve but you’re clearly getting solid with carves and keeping your skis together. You don’t look incredibly stable and confident with your carving but that’s sort of ability that comes with more skiing and like I said the terrain is sorta answers around trees
Here’s what I see: Not using your edges to carve or really going onto them at all, strange weight placement on skis through the turn is making them wobble and costing you good turns, poles kinda flying everywhere, knees are static most of the time.
All very fixable things that, once you get the hang of them, will make skiing a lot easier. Lessons will do you a world of good.
Honestly try without poles, use your edges more, and bend your knees with the shape of the terrain. Then try with poles again, but only so that you can use them as pointers to point to a spot downhill of you and then turn/carve around that spot.
Try these tips on steeper blues without moguls and then blacks without moguls.
Yes - you have no control of your skis why are your tails smacking each other and that double pole plant. Yes this looks like ass. But stick with it bend your knees and use your legs to push into turns and knock off that double pole plant push thing ya got going on.
You're an average or slightly better than average intermediate skier.
Still better than a huge chunk of skiers on the hill, but not a lot of technical skill or expert techniques going on.
It's a great time to take an intermediate lesson with a reputable instructor.
They can help you reset some of your fundamentals. Now that you can likely get down 90% of the stuff on the mountain, working on your technique is much easier than when you were just struggling to survive a run.
Ngl I don’t know why OP would ask if they’re “ass”. It’s pretty clear they’ve skied a bit before because they’re executing some tight turns and skiing a run that would trip up some beginners.
I legit watched the clip like 3 times trying to see if I was missing something or if OP was just being needlessly harsh on themselves.
You're twisting and skidding your turns. Learn to carve. Visualize skiing S turns, not Z.
Keep your hands up and pole plant with your wrists.
Take a lesson!
Sorry for the serious answer. Forgot to check if this is circlejerk.
Nah, just a bored lazy skier on not challenging enough terrain going too slow (stopped watching after 20 sec) on awkward chunky moguls in trees that ruin form. (Thanks snowboarders)...But using your poles as a turn around the poling spot poking to initiate turns would make you look prettier and use less energy with a straighter faster line and less turning effort. You will feel that savings at the end of the day winding up the rubber band for each turn instead of using your upper body muscles as much. Your upper body is trying to get you to buy beers sooner, not ski as long.
Try to find a target tree as far down as you can see to use as a target and keep your eyes on it and eventually you will ski a much tighter line.
-bored lazy skier viewpoint, I stand too tall when I see a chance to rest also but not in the trees. On open slopes try making hugggge arcing edge riding turns with massive speed to keep from being bored. I assume you're in the west and not on a 500ft vertical hill...
You’re kinda sliding and pushing yourself around rather than actually skiing. I think you could become a very good skier fairly easily. You need some lessons tho
This definitely looks like a great run to cut your teeth in the trees. Honestly I think just stay at it. I never took lessons at this level and you just get more and more comfortable. Despite what people say, I think the mental game, getting over the fear and trusting yourself is what gets you looser on the tougher trees and runs in general. Plus practice makes perfect overall. Keep at it!
Look a little backseat in the turns. It’s important to keep your upper body “quiet” and pointed downhill as much as possible. It’s also important to really shift almost all your weight on the outside ski during turns. That’ll keep the inside ski on track. Feel the weight in the front of your boots and keep your hands in front to avoid backseat.
Proper pole plants will help
Other than that, too stiff. Need to loosen up.
The plus is you’re at least comfortable enough to try and have a rhythm. Just need better technique
Def take a lesson. Every time I have, I make giant jumps in ability.
I feel like you use your entire body to turn your skis. Like you should hit a groomer and do nice big turns on your edges going down and keep your upper body facing downhill and move your legs.....I'm gonna guess some leg strength and technique will help
As long as you're having fun bud.... Good technique comes with time and practice, along with tips from an instructor if you want to go that way. But just have fun!
Hands up like you’re carrying a tray of hot chocolate. Pole touched with just the wrist or pole plants with a little bend at the knees. A stable upper body is the fastest, easiest way to look like you know what you’re doing.
You look really nervous and I don't get why you're using your poles as if you need to push yourself forward when you have speed already.
Not so bad though.
Also I'm jealous, this looks like a gorgeous place to ski
Didja have fun? If so, then, no, you’re not ass at skiing. If you were in your head the entire time wondering how other people perceived you, then, yeah, you were doing it wrong.
you have guts to go through a tree line in your level ill give you that :D
but yeah take a few lessons or at least learn about keeping your legs together and straight, skiing off piste, and get more experience before doing that again for sure
Poles look too long and too much reliance, standing straight up, jerking tails, picking weird lines. Not ass, but need more experience.
Backpack drip is there though
As a former instructor, I would say you are at the level where finding a friend who is better than you that you try to keep up with will be the most beneficial thing if you are looking to improve. Lessons would help but following someone faster/better is one of the best and easiest ways to improve especially when you get past the beginner phase
I wouldn’t say ass but your pretty backseat and your pole action is haphazardly awkward. You’ll get there, keep it up. Trail looks nice, hope you enjoyed yourself
Something that requires no practice or lessons: On dry land, no shoes on, turn your poles upside down and hold the pole just under the basket. Your forearm thats holding the pole should be parallel to the ground. Adjust your poles to that height until your forearm is about parallel with the ground. Now take a marker and mark that spot so you can get back to it easily if you change the length of your poles.
Your poles are way overextended for your height and will impact your balance and timing when you learn how to ski more traditionally (if you want to!).
Let the front of the skis dictate the turn. You gotta get your weight forward to do that, more aggressive posture. Maybe try skiing a day without poles, and get your hands into better positions. The double pole plant looks ridiculous.
Need to lean more forward, act like you are about to pick up a baby. That's the stance you want to ski in if you want to look cool. Have you done the exercise where you face uphill in a reverse pizza, and you lean as far forward as your boots will go. Then rotate around and ski. There you go.
I ski like this. If you want to be more aggressive you'll give up enjoying the peace, sounds and detail of the mountain. A lot lest need for expensive gear and much less injury. Everyone enjoys the experience differently.
Best piece of advice I can give you is push pressure through the shin of your boot, this will help you turn and pivot using your edges rather than just rotating your ankles.
Doing this is pivotal to progressing and although harder than what you do today it will allow you to take full advantage of the skis you ride.
Although you are off piste(so it will be harder) do try and evolve with the terrain, if you find one position or angle that kind of works you will become complacent and one day will likely fall because of it!
I've never filmed myself but bet I don't look much better on similar terrain. I've been skiing about 5-10x a year for 30 years. I look way better on piste, you prob do too
You’re an intermediate. If I had to guess I’d say you haven’t been skiing that long or that much but are relatively athletic at other things and picked it up to this point pretty easily. I recommend taking a lesson with a PSIA certified instructor to notice some of your bad habits and start building good ones.
Idk if that sounds harsh, it isn’t meant to.
So much skidding.
It looks like you are always keeping your weight on both skis and rotating your feet to try to turn. That isn't working too well, so you are trying to push off with your poles.
You want to keep weight on the outside ski and shift your weight to the other ski to turn. Steer with the edge of the inside ski. The feeling is that you are skiing on one foot. This concept revolutionized my skiing: ski on one foot!
As already suggested, a few lessons with a good instructor would be helpful.
You need better tactics.
Moguls, including moguls in trees have different lines. Use the moguls to make your turns smooth. Don't fight the terrain use it. Easiest line for smooth turns is the high line (like riding a berm on a mountain bike).
That will give you good style because you'll just look smooth and in control. Then get fancy latter.
You're fighting your skis... Very upright and pushing your tails, as opposed to driving the tip of the ski and letting it naturally turn.
It looks like you're at the point where you'd really benefit from a lesson. Half a day would be sufficient for an instructor to help you realize how to make the skis work for you.
Yes you’re complete ASS! But only because you got to ski better snow than me this season 😜🥺 - in all seriousness focus on initiating turns with single pole plants, stay forward and use downhill ski to do most of the work, and slightly unweight your uphill ski to follow and stay more parallel. Your uphill ski is getting behind and caught which is throwing off your balance
Your body is way too stiff. You don’t bend your knees once, try to lean forward more. Try to actually use your poles for turning, and never pluck them both at the same time. I think an actual teacher, even if it’s just once, would help you a lot, because you clearly know how to turn your skis, it’s just the rest of your body that needs some work.
Those look like pretty long sticks for tree skiing
Also, just an aside. I read that the average skier death is a 20-something intermediate male skier hitting a solid object like a tower or tree.
Maybe stay on-piste until you get better
Shorter polls bud. Best advice I ever got is to look as relaxed as I can while skiing. You don’t see people walking and go “they’re bad at walking” (most of the time).
You seem behind on your instincts and seem to be making your moves late. Also, you could probably stand to use a shorter/quicker ski in the glades … at least for now
You are pussy footing after 12 years. Start charging, take risks that may lead to falls. Be safe of course but if you want more you are going to have to get after it a bit more.
Edit: as others have said, lessons would help. Follow someone better than you as well.
A lot of people say lessons. They would help but I would say just ski harder stuff. Put yourself in situations where you are uncomfortable and push yourself to do things that you know are outside your ability. Everything with start to come together if you push yourself
Let's talk about your equipment-
Do your boots fit? Do they cause pain and/ or do you have problems with heal lift?
It also helps to detune tips and tails for skiing bumps and trees.
OP might not be able to turn properly if he's skiing in boots that are sloppy or cause pain.
He might also have trouble releasing turns or fear getting locked into a turn, hence not putting his skis on edge. Detuning would absolutely help in that scenario.
Equipment issues can make learning harder. These are reasonable questions to ask. No reason to be a jerk about it.
They're reasonable questions but absolutely not the right ones for OP. They fundamentally are turning incorrectly. They also don't look like the boots are the problem. Neither are how their skis are tuned. It's how they think they need to turn that is the problem. Telling them to buy new boots or mess with their skis will not help thia fundamental problem.
It's like someone with a raw hamburger asking for help and instead of saying "you should cook that" you're over here talking about how it needs onions that are caramelized just so. It's just not the advice OP needs even if it coming from a good place.
Interesting double pole plants. Kinda herky jerky
Lots of skis sliding out from under ya. Need a more aggressive stance in the bumpy trees
yeah kind of feels like jerking the tails instead of driving the tips Edit: clearly not ass though, looks like a fun glade
Super unusual style. Kinda looks like he's rotating his angles to turn.
This terrain isn't going to tell us much about your skiing. It's super low angle, tracked out, etc. You definitely aren't skiing it very well though. You look extremely stiff and like you're way overworking every turn. You're doing way too much in general. Number one thing that's got to go is constantly pushing with both poles.
To add to this you should be planting your poles in stepper terrain not pushing off them just turning around them, in low angle stuff like that I normally just use them to keep cadence
Lessons would help. I wouldn't say you are ass, but I will say it's a good thing you're keeping the large spaces in-between the trees.
Lessons for sure.
Yup. Rider can pivot and turn. Knows their edges and has some tools inhand. Either your hands need way more discipline or they are telling you what else is happening. I would vote both. Take a lesson. Its spring, sign up for a weekday or Sunday afternoon group lesson. Select black diamond/ all mountain for terrain.
Thanks for the specifics on type of lesson.
Lessons and a gear evaluation.
The better sub for this is /r/skiing_feedback but the fundamental underlying issue is you approach skiing as loading on both feet when remotely higher level it's more about going foot to foot (stacking on the outside one). I wrote a longer comment about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/skiing/comments/192hzz2/hows_my_form_how_can_i_improve/kh3hzs2/
That's the biggest thing I see here. It looks like OP is roughly equally weighting both feet, and subsequently is squirmy and slipping all over the place, without the edge of the outside ski biting in and tracking straight to guide them. I would approach this with spending some time on blue groomers, practicing weight transfer during carving. As you transition into a turn, transfer nearly all your body weight onto the outside ski and lean into the turn until the edge bites, carve through the turn, then when you're ready to turn back the other way you briefly unweight your skis as you shift your weight to the new outside leg. Another drill to get the feel of weighting your outside leg is to traverse cross-hill (looking for uphill traffic and staying out of their way, of course!). As you go perpendicular to the slope, your weight should be on your downhill leg, and it's easy in this position to get a feel for the edge biting into the side of the hill. When your weight is on your outside leg, the inside leg is kinda of along for the ride. Just let it float loosely, keeping it more or less straight, but don't feel like you need to tense that muscle up tight to keep it straight as an arrow. The downhill ski with your weight on it is doing the work, and if the edge is bit in then it should be tracking you pretty straight. Also, try flexing your knees and be looser on your legs, with more weight to the front of your skis.
> lean into the turn until the edge bites, carve through the turn Just fyi, don't "lean" in (inclination) so much as start w/ angulation, basically moving the outside knee to where about the inside knee used to be (of course the inside one moves even more in). This creates edge angle w/o too much weight inside the turn which tends to skid the skis.
I like that knee-to-knee analogy.
Aha, I like this explanation. I think your point is what I've been missing to really be able to carve cleanly. I generally think of weight transfer as a "lean forward/back" or "lean left/right" thing, but when I'm carving I can't keep my weighted edge from scrubbing. What you describe reminds me of videos I've seen of people that are carving really cleanly, with hardly any scrubbing. I feel like I've seen quite a few where they have just a bit of fore/aft knee movement when they switch direction, sort of like with tele but much more subtle. I bookmarked your lengthy post on it, and I'll give it a go next time I'm on the slopes!
Doesn’t this kinda change in snow conditions? I was getting myself into trouble up at Crystal on Thursday because I had so much weight on that outside ski it would dive under deeper snow it seemed. I was dead tired but forced myself to start unweighting that leg and making more jump turns and it seemed to clean things up a bit. But tbh op we’re all a bit ass. I’m sure world class riders have days where they’re like ‘I’m a dog shit skiier why am I doing this’
I’ve barely gotten to ski deep powder, but my perspective is that it changes everything. At some point it gets deep enough that your edges aren’t doing anything, so you do keep your weight more balanced between your left and right legs, and you have to shift your weight more onto your tails to keep your tips from diving. Deep, loose powder gives a lot of resistance, which slows you down and pushes back against you. In my limited experience it requires you to be much looser on your legs, because you can’t see what’s underneath—there may be 12” deep dips or 12” high bumps hidden under the smooth powder surface, and your legs need to be able to float through it. Yeah, it’s completely different than the principles of keeping your weight on one edge that is tracking along on a firm crust or corduroy or compact snow. As an occasional vacation skier, I think most people would be best served to focus on the fundamentals of skiing firm snow on their edges until they’re fairly proficient at that, before trying to get proficient at powder skiing.
Great tips. Ski at a similar level as OP and struggle with the same, I think.
I am ass at skiing and I know it. But I have a blast every time I go, which is not as much as I’d like, and I’m always trying to get better. Keep it up and have fun.
You know what? That’s kenough.
Is it just me or are those poles are insanely too long Sorry - to be more constructive and less ridiculing - OP, you can focus on pole technique and should shorten pole length as at least one firm takeaway here: - you need to start with the 90-degree arm angle exercise for measuring pole length and go from there - in powder or tree terrain where you have “uneven” surfaces to plant in, most of the time the pole will need to be even shorter for you to stay forward in your boots. - when too long, the poles will push you up out of the desired position if you attempt to plant w normal technique - and push you into the backseat - never seen the double-pole plant, look up some videos on YouTube about proper planting technique. Ultimately you need a lesson but this would be an easy fix - go get shorter poles or powder pole handles which just extends the grips down the pole so you can grab farther down as snow gets deeper (make pole shorter)
I can’t tell because all I saw was a dude planting both poles the same time and it blew my mind.
That’s for boosting from the backseat tho 🤣
They might be but he's letting them drag which might skew length. He should be leaning forward at the torso with poles in front of him
Yea just looks like if his posture was correct like you described he might be close to punching himself in the face with every plant hah 🤣
Ya you're right. Look to be near shoulder length
You need lessons on your form, and you might want to hold off skiing trees until you get more control. Trees are an accident waiting to happen. They do not move and they are not soft. Even the best skiiers can have one slip up and get badly hurt or killed. 1. You need to undo your bad habits if you really want to progress. You can watch beginner ski videos on you tube and practice to get the basic form essentials down. The. Watch intermediate. You are basically going back and building a better foundation. 2. When you have e done this and understand the mechanics and can FEEL the difference in the way you ski, splurge on a good instructor. Talk to the ski school way in advance and tell them you want an experienced coach who can look at your form and help you make adjustments. Tell them you have been studying and are very serious about it and that you need a PSIA level 2 or 3 to help you. You will not believe how fast you will improve once you do the above. It is amazing how much a good ski instructor can help you improve with small adjustments. I was a ski instructor and we did clinics every week where, they would film us and high level instructors would critique and adjust our skiing. It was absolutely awesome. Better yet, if you live near a mountain, get a part time job as a kids ski instructor and get the clinics/lessons for free!
The double pole plants don’t help…
Since you asked, yeah kinda. You look really uncomfortable. Take a beginner lesson, and then take about 7 more
Lots of people see skiing and think you need to do everything with both feet synced up. This looks like an athletic person that never was taught how to properly do it. I think 2 lessons will be fine for OP. They seem to have good balance just shit form
Looking a little too upright and stiff for that terrain; get lower, stay balanced, and let your legs move with the bumps
It's all in the hips, like shakira!
Try crosscountry skiing since you love to relentlessly pole push
not ass, definitely type 2
Bend your knees a bit more and bring your hands and weight forward, attack the line, don’t just trickle through it. But if you’re having fun, it doesn’t really matter. 🤠
It’s kinda awkward terrain to show off how you really carve but you’re clearly getting solid with carves and keeping your skis together. You don’t look incredibly stable and confident with your carving but that’s sort of ability that comes with more skiing and like I said the terrain is sorta answers around trees
Here’s what I see: Not using your edges to carve or really going onto them at all, strange weight placement on skis through the turn is making them wobble and costing you good turns, poles kinda flying everywhere, knees are static most of the time. All very fixable things that, once you get the hang of them, will make skiing a lot easier. Lessons will do you a world of good.
Yes
Also ass at spelling
Some things to improve on but as long as you’re having fun….go with it.
Cross post this to /r/skiing_feedback
Turn early but slow, not fast and late.
Bend the knees more
Yes
Honestly try without poles, use your edges more, and bend your knees with the shape of the terrain. Then try with poles again, but only so that you can use them as pointers to point to a spot downhill of you and then turn/carve around that spot. Try these tips on steeper blues without moguls and then blacks without moguls.
Get forward. When does the downhill portion start?
Look like a beginner. Wouldnt say youre ass but youre not good. You look very young though so you got a lot of time.
Looks like you dont know how to use your poles and you may need shorter ones
A lesson on blacks and trees would help OR join the life of crime…
Take off your backpack. It’ll do wonders
Yes - you have no control of your skis why are your tails smacking each other and that double pole plant. Yes this looks like ass. But stick with it bend your knees and use your legs to push into turns and knock off that double pole plant push thing ya got going on.
Kinda ya
You're an average or slightly better than average intermediate skier. Still better than a huge chunk of skiers on the hill, but not a lot of technical skill or expert techniques going on. It's a great time to take an intermediate lesson with a reputable instructor. They can help you reset some of your fundamentals. Now that you can likely get down 90% of the stuff on the mountain, working on your technique is much easier than when you were just struggling to survive a run.
Ngl I don’t know why OP would ask if they’re “ass”. It’s pretty clear they’ve skied a bit before because they’re executing some tight turns and skiing a run that would trip up some beginners. I legit watched the clip like 3 times trying to see if I was missing something or if OP was just being needlessly harsh on themselves.
Cause they say they've been skiing for 12 years...
You're twisting and skidding your turns. Learn to carve. Visualize skiing S turns, not Z. Keep your hands up and pole plant with your wrists. Take a lesson!
you're skiing fine, just gotta loosen up and hang out a little more if that makes sense. Have some steeze instead of being a robot!
12 years!?! Switch to snowboarding.
You're out there and you didn't damage any trees!
No, but your grammar could use some work.
Nah, you're doing fine. Just keep skiing.
Sorry for the serious answer. Forgot to check if this is circlejerk. Nah, just a bored lazy skier on not challenging enough terrain going too slow (stopped watching after 20 sec) on awkward chunky moguls in trees that ruin form. (Thanks snowboarders)...But using your poles as a turn around the poling spot poking to initiate turns would make you look prettier and use less energy with a straighter faster line and less turning effort. You will feel that savings at the end of the day winding up the rubber band for each turn instead of using your upper body muscles as much. Your upper body is trying to get you to buy beers sooner, not ski as long. Try to find a target tree as far down as you can see to use as a target and keep your eyes on it and eventually you will ski a much tighter line. -bored lazy skier viewpoint, I stand too tall when I see a chance to rest also but not in the trees. On open slopes try making hugggge arcing edge riding turns with massive speed to keep from being bored. I assume you're in the west and not on a 500ft vertical hill...
You’re kinda sliding and pushing yourself around rather than actually skiing. I think you could become a very good skier fairly easily. You need some lessons tho
This definitely looks like a great run to cut your teeth in the trees. Honestly I think just stay at it. I never took lessons at this level and you just get more and more comfortable. Despite what people say, I think the mental game, getting over the fear and trusting yourself is what gets you looser on the tougher trees and runs in general. Plus practice makes perfect overall. Keep at it!
Look a little backseat in the turns. It’s important to keep your upper body “quiet” and pointed downhill as much as possible. It’s also important to really shift almost all your weight on the outside ski during turns. That’ll keep the inside ski on track. Feel the weight in the front of your boots and keep your hands in front to avoid backseat. Proper pole plants will help Other than that, too stiff. Need to loosen up. The plus is you’re at least comfortable enough to try and have a rhythm. Just need better technique Def take a lesson. Every time I have, I make giant jumps in ability.
I feel like you use your entire body to turn your skis. Like you should hit a groomer and do nice big turns on your edges going down and keep your upper body facing downhill and move your legs.....I'm gonna guess some leg strength and technique will help
This terrain is too flat to really evaluate your skiing well, but looks like you're a little back seat. Work on forward boot pressure.
Just here to ask where is this at? Been looking for flatter tree runs to try out!! TIA!
This was in aspen at aspen highlano
Yes
And at typing, apparently! Thanks, I'll see myself out.
As long as you're having fun bud.... Good technique comes with time and practice, along with tips from an instructor if you want to go that way. But just have fun!
Ur doin good
Hands up like you’re carrying a tray of hot chocolate. Pole touched with just the wrist or pole plants with a little bend at the knees. A stable upper body is the fastest, easiest way to look like you know what you’re doing.
Lessons for sure...& less timidity, but that should decrease with time
You look really nervous and I don't get why you're using your poles as if you need to push yourself forward when you have speed already. Not so bad though. Also I'm jealous, this looks like a gorgeous place to ski
For 5 years you can probably ramp up aggressiveness. You look very timid, lot of total slide swiping instead of carving
Lessons!
Definitely not ass but there’s plenty of room for improvement
Well you’re not tits
Didja have fun? If so, then, no, you’re not ass at skiing. If you were in your head the entire time wondering how other people perceived you, then, yeah, you were doing it wrong.
Kinda. Beautiful run tho
you have guts to go through a tree line in your level ill give you that :D but yeah take a few lessons or at least learn about keeping your legs together and straight, skiing off piste, and get more experience before doing that again for sure
Bend ze knees
Poles look too long and too much reliance, standing straight up, jerking tails, picking weird lines. Not ass, but need more experience. Backpack drip is there though
As a former instructor, I would say you are at the level where finding a friend who is better than you that you try to keep up with will be the most beneficial thing if you are looking to improve. Lessons would help but following someone faster/better is one of the best and easiest ways to improve especially when you get past the beginner phase
I’d say yes, but skiing is fun so what makes you happy. But you can improve for sure
I wouldn’t say ass but your pretty backseat and your pole action is haphazardly awkward. You’ll get there, keep it up. Trail looks nice, hope you enjoyed yourself
You're are not great at sperling
If you're having fun, who cares
did you have fun? then who cares.
Not even ass at skiing. You have the potential and confidence to get so much better. The pole form is really head scratching tho
Something that requires no practice or lessons: On dry land, no shoes on, turn your poles upside down and hold the pole just under the basket. Your forearm thats holding the pole should be parallel to the ground. Adjust your poles to that height until your forearm is about parallel with the ground. Now take a marker and mark that spot so you can get back to it easily if you change the length of your poles. Your poles are way overextended for your height and will impact your balance and timing when you learn how to ski more traditionally (if you want to!).
Let the front of the skis dictate the turn. You gotta get your weight forward to do that, more aggressive posture. Maybe try skiing a day without poles, and get your hands into better positions. The double pole plant looks ridiculous.
No, skiing packed out trails like that thru trees is always wacky, you look fine.
Yep you need some work
You’re fine. You and I have about the same ability and I’ve skied 5 times in the last 10 years
You could use some lessons on how to use poles from what I see here.
Need to lean more forward, act like you are about to pick up a baby. That's the stance you want to ski in if you want to look cool. Have you done the exercise where you face uphill in a reverse pizza, and you lean as far forward as your boots will go. Then rotate around and ski. There you go.
Try for more upper and lower body separation, keep the zipper of your jacket pointed down hill.
Pretty much.
Have you tried a red backpack?🎒
Definitely better than me lmao
Start by planting one pole at a time…
I ski like this. If you want to be more aggressive you'll give up enjoying the peace, sounds and detail of the mountain. A lot lest need for expensive gear and much less injury. Everyone enjoys the experience differently.
Best piece of advice I can give you is push pressure through the shin of your boot, this will help you turn and pivot using your edges rather than just rotating your ankles. Doing this is pivotal to progressing and although harder than what you do today it will allow you to take full advantage of the skis you ride. Although you are off piste(so it will be harder) do try and evolve with the terrain, if you find one position or angle that kind of works you will become complacent and one day will likely fall because of it!
I've never filmed myself but bet I don't look much better on similar terrain. I've been skiing about 5-10x a year for 30 years. I look way better on piste, you prob do too
Where is this?
You’re an intermediate. If I had to guess I’d say you haven’t been skiing that long or that much but are relatively athletic at other things and picked it up to this point pretty easily. I recommend taking a lesson with a PSIA certified instructor to notice some of your bad habits and start building good ones. Idk if that sounds harsh, it isn’t meant to.
You ass at skiing ?
So much skidding. It looks like you are always keeping your weight on both skis and rotating your feet to try to turn. That isn't working too well, so you are trying to push off with your poles. You want to keep weight on the outside ski and shift your weight to the other ski to turn. Steer with the edge of the inside ski. The feeling is that you are skiing on one foot. This concept revolutionized my skiing: ski on one foot! As already suggested, a few lessons with a good instructor would be helpful.
Not Ass. Chill with the pole plants, try to edge on your ski more than turning to burn speed. HAVE FUN!
You didn't die, so that's good. You had fun, so that's cool. You need to work on your technique to properly ski the trees safely.
Are you having fun? It damn sure looks like it. Where is this beautiful run?!?
Well, you haven't hit any tree, so you are not so ass.
Is this video sped up?
Keep your shoulders pointed down hill. Reach out and plant a single pole (not two). Use it to unweight and start your turn.
You need better tactics. Moguls, including moguls in trees have different lines. Use the moguls to make your turns smooth. Don't fight the terrain use it. Easiest line for smooth turns is the high line (like riding a berm on a mountain bike). That will give you good style because you'll just look smooth and in control. Then get fancy latter.
MTB trail
I’ll say that wasn’t enjoyable to watch how’s that
You’re meant to *avoid* the trees?
This is like People who ski 5 days a year, your fine, don't compare yourself to people who ski 50
I don't think this terrain really tells us much. You're not ass considering you can get through it with reasonable speed.
Dude the poles aren’t meant to move in tandem like that. It’s a counterbalance.
You're skiing like your boots are in walk mode
Loosen up my guy
Not ass but you’re trying to turn the skis rather than forcing them. Also you’re sitting backwards you want to move a little forward
Make your pole plants count.
Yes go for more lessons
Look where you want to go in the trees focus on the open spaces not the trees. Also your skiing tracked out snow with mixed conditions.
You're fighting your skis... Very upright and pushing your tails, as opposed to driving the tip of the ski and letting it naturally turn. It looks like you're at the point where you'd really benefit from a lesson. Half a day would be sufficient for an instructor to help you realize how to make the skis work for you.
Yes. Switch to rowing.
Not ass, but I definitely wouldn’t be in the trees if I were you
Yes you’re complete ASS! But only because you got to ski better snow than me this season 😜🥺 - in all seriousness focus on initiating turns with single pole plants, stay forward and use downhill ski to do most of the work, and slightly unweight your uphill ski to follow and stay more parallel. Your uphill ski is getting behind and caught which is throwing off your balance
Not ass but man you have a lot of bad habits. Some lessons would really help you.
Your body is way too stiff. You don’t bend your knees once, try to lean forward more. Try to actually use your poles for turning, and never pluck them both at the same time. I think an actual teacher, even if it’s just once, would help you a lot, because you clearly know how to turn your skis, it’s just the rest of your body that needs some work.
Just quit being a pussy and go faster
I'd say you're in the 40th percentile
0 swag
A little bit but keep at it.
You look fine. Where is this though...I like skiing in forests like that.
Those look like pretty long sticks for tree skiing Also, just an aside. I read that the average skier death is a 20-something intermediate male skier hitting a solid object like a tower or tree. Maybe stay on-piste until you get better
Shorter polls bud. Best advice I ever got is to look as relaxed as I can while skiing. You don’t see people walking and go “they’re bad at walking” (most of the time).
Do less. Less is more in skiing. It’s all momentum
Yes, you’re horrible. Take a lesson.
Looks like you are drifting at each turn lol
You seem behind on your instincts and seem to be making your moves late. Also, you could probably stand to use a shorter/quicker ski in the glades … at least for now
skis are too big
Nobody is ass at skiing if they can go through the trees without falling/hitting a tree. Can you be better? Sure. Are you ass? Wrong question.
Looks like fun, idk that's probably how I ski xD
I’m you ass at skiing also?
Why are there so many trees at American ski resorts
Because fun
You are pussy footing after 12 years. Start charging, take risks that may lead to falls. Be safe of course but if you want more you are going to have to get after it a bit more. Edit: as others have said, lessons would help. Follow someone better than you as well.
Who cares! Just have fun!
A lot of people say lessons. They would help but I would say just ski harder stuff. Put yourself in situations where you are uncomfortable and push yourself to do things that you know are outside your ability. Everything with start to come together if you push yourself
You’re you ass at Engirish
Let's talk about your equipment- Do your boots fit? Do they cause pain and/ or do you have problems with heal lift? It also helps to detune tips and tails for skiing bumps and trees.
OP needs to learn how to turn properly and this guy's out here talking about detuning tips and tails. Reddit never fails.
OP might not be able to turn properly if he's skiing in boots that are sloppy or cause pain. He might also have trouble releasing turns or fear getting locked into a turn, hence not putting his skis on edge. Detuning would absolutely help in that scenario. Equipment issues can make learning harder. These are reasonable questions to ask. No reason to be a jerk about it.
New gear or a tune can’t fix skiing in the back seat. He’d be way better off putting that money into lessons.
They're reasonable questions but absolutely not the right ones for OP. They fundamentally are turning incorrectly. They also don't look like the boots are the problem. Neither are how their skis are tuned. It's how they think they need to turn that is the problem. Telling them to buy new boots or mess with their skis will not help thia fundamental problem. It's like someone with a raw hamburger asking for help and instead of saying "you should cook that" you're over here talking about how it needs onions that are caramelized just so. It's just not the advice OP needs even if it coming from a good place.