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| As you start to experiment with higher speeds,
you are ready to try a more advanced schuss position. The tuck, or egg,
offers the optimum aerodynamic position, but still allows the use of the
edges to steer. It is fun and fast but quite tiring for the thighs, back
and neck. In addition, shock absorption is limited, and unexpected bumps
and hollows can provide unpleasant surprises for the inexperienced. |
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| Though not as fast as the tuck, the pike position is much less strenuous.
It is especially useful for long, shallow schusses. |
Use a neat, compact tuck to achieve a high-speed schuss.
[Photos: ifyouski.com] |
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[Photo: ifyouski.com] |
The Fear!
Many beginners spend their first few days on skis in a paroxysm of fear;
even more experienced skiers live through the occasional moment of terror.
A realistic fear of injury is useful: it is your body's protective mechanism
at work. But more often, fear results simply from the unfamiliar surroundings
or the feeling of sliding. This is unproductive. The way to learn is to
concentrate on the sensations of your skiing, and fear blocks your ability
to do this.
- Avoid slopes that are well beyond your capability.
- Stop before you become excessively tired
- Talk yourself down slopes that you know you can ski
- Be realistic about the consequences of a fall.
- Always take the time to look around and enjoy your surroundings.
If you continue to be tense and nervous, there are a number of learning
methods that may be of use. These use techniques to focus your attention
on kinesthetic sensations (the sensations arising from forces in your body),
while blocking out worries and self-advice. The best known of these methods
is called Inner Skiing (see Inner Skiing, by Timothy Gallwey and Bob Kriegel,
Bantam Books). |
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