PROPER PRESSURE MANAGEMENT HELPS TAME STEEP TERRAIN BY ANN SCHORLING
T
o me, skiing the steeps means access to the entire mountain, stretching my limits, the ultimate exercise in working with the mountain, and performance under pressure. And because it’s diffi cult to stop a fall on a precipitous pitch, steeps are also the most inherently consequential terrain on the mountain. All the more reason students should have the right skill set before they take the plunge. Typically, the students who want to ski this terrain fall into two categories. T ey 1) want to say, “I did it” and descend a particular run or type of runs, or 2) can already descend it and want to kick butt skiing it.
On ONE CONDITION
reinforce ankle fl exion, and provide an excellent escape option if fear rears its ugly head). For students in that “kick butt” category, I focus on pressure management through fl exion and extension, and on developing tactics and fl ow. We practice fl exion both to absorb terrain undulations and to absorb turn forces in the fi nishing phase. Combined with an extension movement just after initiation, these movements enable skiers to maintain contact with the snow as the center of mass moves downhill. Strategically, we work on reading terrain, locating easier places to fi nish turns, anticipating challenging moves, and fi nding options for shedding speed or changing plans mid-run.
36Ζ$ $OSLQH 7HDP PHPEHU $QQ 6FKRUOLQJ PDNHV TXLFN DQG fl XLG ZRUN RI steep terrain through a combination of leg rotation, balance over the RXWVLGH VNL DW WXUQ fi QLVK DQG PRYLQJ WKH FHQWHU RI PDVV GUDPDWLFDOO\ downhill to start the turn.
FIRST THINGS FIRST Before entering the steeps with a student, I look at his or her headspace, movement patterns, and experience with the anticipated snow conditions. How the student performs under pressure will inform the speed of the terrain progression. Technically, the skier must be able to:
1. Maintain ankle fl exion and movement of the center of mass perpendicular to the slope in a variety of terrain,
2. Consistently balance over the outside ski at turn fi nish, and 3. Demonstrate excellent leg rotation.
All of these skills facilitate smooth movement into and across the fall line. Lastly, I consider the student’s performance on similarly textured snow – bumps, crud, powder, and chalk – before adding more pitch.
HOW TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE Because skiers experience more gravitational force in the steeps, I emphasize pressure management through the turn. Turning on fl atter skis enables students to effi ciently steer their skis back across the hill, reduces time in the fall line, and prevents them from building unnecessary pressure. For people in that “I did it” category, I use pivot slips (which promote leg rotation), hockey stops (to aid balance over the outside ski), and, especially, falling leafs (which
WORK UP TO IT AND BUILD TRUST When moving into steeper areas, terrain progression is critical. T ere are many short, sneaky, steep spots on which to practice all over our mountains. By the time your student stares down the barrel of a consequential double-black diamond, he or she should be able to break it down into manageable pieces. Once we arrive at THE run, I never add anything new. Instead I have the student explain his or her line before skiing, including strategies and movements. Entering steep terrain for the fi rst time can be the ultimate success for students as well as a hero moment for instructors. But be smart about it to boost success and help avoid injury. Snow conditions can alter the slope’s diffi culty and the consequences of a fall. In steep terrain we have an opportunity and a responsibility to build trust with our students, to know our mountains and the conditions, and to choose to “ski it another day” if it does not feel right. For students who want to ski the steeps – whatever their
motivation – be safe and focus on the right skill sets to help them be one with gravity.
Ann Schorling Ȃ ZKR LV EDVHG LQ -DFNVRQ +ROH :\RPLQJ Ȃ LV D QHZ PHPEHU RI WKH 36Ζ$ $OSLQH 7HDP 6KH LV DOVR DQ DOSLQH DQG WHOHPDUN H[DPLQHU LQ ΖQWHUPRXQWDLQ 'LYLVLRQ
VIEW VIDEO
WLQ\ FF G D]J\
To add more steeps technique to your repertoire, check out this video tip on hop-turns, produced by REI in collaboration with PSIA-AASI.
THESNOWPROS.ORG | 21
PHOTOS BY JONATHAN SELKOWITZ
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124