The Wisconsin Skier

One of the things us skiers do is to tuck, that is to assume a more streamlined body posture. It makes a huge difference, especially when the time between the first place and the out of placing is measured in hundredths of a second, and that is no exaggeration.

If you have watched competitive skiing you know what I am talking about. Racers spend from more to less time in a tuck from downhill races to slalom. The more and tighter turning required means less time tucking and more time in a more upright position.

Now, what does a good tuck look like? Read on!
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I confess, I am not an advanced skier. Despite that, I do not feel I have to take on the double-black diamond runs in Aspen to write about skiing.

In fact, one of the reasons I write this site is to help me contact people and other sources of information to help me improve my skiing, and I hope in turn some of my readers can take away some tips and ideas to help them improve their skiing.
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Picked up on the following in a post entitled Why Skiing Accidents May Happen Even at the Best Resorts at Sunshine Bob’s Blog:

Skiing accidents may happen even at the best resorts. If you have adequate knowledge about the types of accidents that may happen while skiing, then you can avoid the accidents.

Reading through the list and the causes seems to place the blame on the resort, the resort’s employees, or the resort’s equipment. Those points where the blame is square on one guest or another the point is very thin.

For example: Ski falls: Ski falls may occur due to improperly designed or maintained slope. The ski area operator should therefore take care of designing, maintaining and operating their slopes.. The slope is what it is and it is up to the skier to be able to handle the slope. I have written many times on this topic, being able to ski black diamonds at home may not give you the ability to ski certain blue circles at that world class ski resort. Push down a run and you had better be able to handle it. If this means, burning a day to scout the hill for runs within your ability then that is what it means. No doubt, the resort has the responsibility to open and close runs according to conditions and to make sure the runs are clear of hazards such as debris and other such hazards.

Go down a ski run out of your abilities you may be looking for an able doctor. Being careful in your trail selection is a valid point Sunshine Bob does raise.

However, the most ridiculous point is brought up as a means to avoid on hill collision.
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I do not blame if you are thinking back to Airplane and the query to the control tower: What is your vector Victor?. What the hector a vector and how in the world do vectors apply to skiing?

Certainly, one does not compute vectors consciously while skiing anymore than Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre computes the velocity the football needs to be traveling to hit the receiver 20 yards down field. Still, understanding the math and physics behind what we do can be useful in understanding the whys and hows of skiing.

We start off discussing vectors.
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Skiing is the combination of practice with some knowledge and an intellectual understanding of the basics of skiing. By the basics I mean the mechanics and forces we have to work with.

By the time one reaches the intermediate level of skiing we should be skiing parallel and carving at least on an elementary level.

It is tempting to take suggestions and advice of others too seriously and force yourself into something that does not work for you.
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I can not remember when or where. I recall some ski instructor, or was it an author, or both? In any event, the fellow expressed disappointment that more people are not carving now that the equipment makes it easier.

Have you seen this phenomena anywhere else? I have.
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Once you reach a certain level of skiing you move beyond getting to the bottom of the trail, of course most of us are in that phase before the expert level in the intermediate phase.

Still, when skiing at expert levels you will often ski in situations that are driven nearly 100% by instinctual action. However, I am convinced that from time to time you should go slower and seriously study and observe what you are doing.
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Hat tip to the Denver Snow Dude for tweeting this one!

Good video demonstrating carving and gives some exercises to help improve your carving.

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Ski Resorts establish ski trails and then classify those trails. They place coded signs pointing out the trails and the difficulty level of the trail.

However, determining which trails are suitable for you and your skills is a little more tricky than looking for the appropriate color and shape.
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I ski NASTAR, usually I ski the gates on Sundays when my membership in Ski Brule’s friends and neighbor’s club entitles to me to some free NASTAR skiing. Even if it is not free I often times will participate.

I really like to do it, it helps me to gauge my skiing ability.
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