Opinion
Ski tips: Rise up
Published
5 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Dan Egan EBS Contributor
Skiers looking to control their speed should rise up between turns. This will move your hips over your feet and your feet under your hips, which will result in applying pressure on the front of the ski at the start of the new turn. By pressuring the front of the ski, while placing it on edge, the ski will flex and absorb energy, and this will control speed as you enter the next turn.
In photo one, professional freeskier Clara Greb completes a turn and initiates the next one by reaching with her downhill pole. By initiating with the pole she has a created a timing and rhythm for the next turn. Notice the edge pressure illustrated by the plum of snow caused by the edged ski as well as the hip angle.
In photo two, with her eyes looking ahead and her shoulders square to the hill, she starts to rise up moving her hips toward her hands while the skis move into the transition—they start to flatten with less pressure on the edges of the skis and there is no skid or spray of snow.
In the transition of the turn it is important to roll onto the new edge as one fluid motion from releasing the old edge. Short transitions equal more control. By rising the hips up the shovels of the skis will dig into the snow on the new turn, which initiates the bending of the ski in the new arcing turn.
A smooth, quick transition with high hips moving towards the tips of the skis is important and the crux of control. If skiers delay movement in the transition, there is both an increase in speed and a lack of control in the next turn.
In photo three, Greb is standing taller, her skis are in the fall line and her hips are starting to move to the inside of the new arc. Notice that the skis are starting to roll onto the new edge, her eyes have shifted to the right to look towards the inside of the new turn and her heels are under her hips.
As the skis roll onto the new edge, deceleration will start to happen as the skis bend and arc into the new turn. Notice how close the hips are to the hand—her hips moved toward the pole-planted downhill hand and as she moves up and out of the old turn, and into the new turn, the left hand pole will start to extend down the hill to initiate the new turn.
In photo four, the plume of snow equals energy loss caused by an arcing edged ski. The new downhill pole is swung out and down the hill in anticipation of the next turn, continuing the timing and the rhythm set up in the pervious turn.
Rising your hips up will allow you to remain in balance, especially in big mountain skiing. It will allow you to gain control, regulate your speed and feel more comfortable in the transitions of your turns.
Extreme skiing pioneer Dan Egan has appeared in 12 Warren Miller Ski films and countless others. He was inducted into the U.S Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2016. Today he teaches clinics and guides trips at locations around the world including Big Sky, where he’ll be teaching this season (contact Big Sky Mountain Sports for availability). Find more information on Dan Egan camps and clinics go to skiclinics.com.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m.
Event Details
Please join the Arts Council of Big Sky for free music from Jacob Rountree at the Wilson Hotel Lobby Bar from 5-7 p.m. on April 24.
Jacob Rountree is an alternative/indie songwriter living in the stunning alpine of Montana. Contemplative yet playful, his lyric forward style is reflective of his love for philosophy, poetry and quantum physics.
Time
(Wednesday) 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
The Wilson Hotel
145 Town Center Ave
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd