experiments with the Clendenin method

[Perry]

I was able to go skiing for the first time this year in WV on Friday.  All in all a very interesting day from a number of different perspectives.  When I got to the slope, it was poorly groomed with a lot of frozen marbles,random chunks, and limited open terrain.  I have had people who know that I ski out west ask me why I continue to ski here.  I tell them that skiing is like pizza. There is a wide range from ok to really awesome pizza from Rizzo's in Philadelphia; but it is all good more or less. Well the day started out as a Walmart frozen with freezer burn and then came the snow.  In 3 hours I was skiing in foot deep powder with drifts up to my knees!!!!! .  It was the end of the day, my legs were cooked and I was on my Magnums at 177.  I had a blast.  I had to work with the magnums and Ron I would have loved to see how much more efficient a Pilgrim or Shaman would have been.........but, I have digressed from the Clendenin method.

What I noticed when paying attention to centering on my uphill ski to drift and use it as a brake was that I had much more control over my speed on the steeps.  Harold's method is great for giving balance, stability, and efficiency, but at least with me, it just make me go fast!! . I have so much fun with that but my "problem" is that up until now I really didn't have a choice to not go fast.  I could brake with my down hill ski with various degrees of the hockey stop, but it took a lot of work. 

I spent a lot of the early part of the day feeling the EP on the hard surface.  The thing that was interesting was that later, in the 8-18 inch powder, it was just as effective at helping me to control speed so that I could stay smooth and balanced in the milk. 

All in all a great day - an Italian pizzeria quality day in the end... but not Rizzo's.... you have to go out west for that.  The attempt to travel back on 77 Friday night is a whole other story, and adventure.

[Ron]

Perry, I prefer the Nomad SFT for that kind of snow!

Yes, JC's method is much more verstile for all mountan skiing in general for sure, so here's where you use some HH and some JC according to the conditions and terrain. thats fun snow though for sure, keep the pole plants coming and stay forward.

[Gary]

Ron's spot on with the pole plant...but if I may add...

The use of the EP..Epiphany Pad is very effective for Speed management and turn shape. Perry, so glad to hear you are applying these ski skills in such conditions.

Even on the iciest, hardest crappiest snow, you can use that uphill edge to feather your turn shape and speed and still look like you're carving turns in good form.

I've truly gotten to the point where I seldom if at all think about the big toe edge in any turn. That edge is so ingrained to how I ski, it's automatic. The effective use of the uphill edge is the tool that will move all to a place where skiing any all mountain conditions help you become more balanced, more flowing and just downright fun cause the skier remains in control.

Baby toe edge is the engine where the key is....aggressive pole plants.

SO keep those pole plants moving and the feet will follow,

Best,
Gary

[Perry]

Ron and Gary;
interesting you both mention the pole plants.  This is the other "next frontier" for my skiing besides better speed control.  I am able to ski most of the time without pole plants on every turn.  Part of this is I don't want to ingrain a dysfunctional or problematic pole plant.  I am really looking forward to the clinic to try to ingrain a good pole plant into my skiing.  I am excited by what this might mean for my skiing.

[Gary]

Perry, for many many years including those I skied 99mm skis with no poles, I just didn't have any sense of what those sticks were for. As I pushed my self to more challenging terrain, I finally was taught (had it pounded in)  the pole plant was the key to releasing the skis edges and moving into the new turn. Why it became more clear here was as I got into bumps...for sure a skier without a well timed pole plant was taking the "wild pony ride" in that terrain.

So stick with it.....read Johns book and review the DVD...see how the pole plant starts with a swing of the pole out in front of the ski and drops to the touch point. Also notice how the arms are held wide of the body. You can see this on all athletics skiers for balance. You can see the same use of the pole plant with all the great teachers of the best ski disciplines.

Skiing stacked and fluid with quiet exact motions makes carving, brushing, floating and bumping very efficient and a beautiful thing to see.
Best,
Gary

[ToddW]

In 3 hours I was skiing in foot deep powder with drifts up to my knees!!!!

Perry,

You sure opened your season with flair this year.? What was your phrase a while back ... pleasantly jealous or something like that?? ?That's what I am right now (no snow for me until next Monday at earliest.)? I'm glad to hear that you're working to master all 4 sides of your skis.? The little toe is the giver of both great speed control and wicked carves.? Learning more of the breadth of its gift will increase the euphoria of any skier.

There's a thread over on epic right now about whether folks "just ski" or always over analyze their turns.? I hope that once you'd recovered your ski legs you just skied some.? You'll have time enough at Aspen in a few weeks to focus on technique?

With best wishes for a great season to both you and Gloria,

-todd

[Ron]

Todd, Its a great thread! I posted there of course.  You can only learn and absorb so much at any given time.

back to poles, the use of poles (which includes the creation of momentum of the body to the next turn/direction) is absolutely mandatory if you want to ski diffcult or steep terrain. I also never leaned to use poles and had to go back the basics once I started to ski off piste and bumps. THey keep you moving forward (or forwardagonally) and become invaluable for balance and recovery when you get knocked off balance or need to make abrupt turns or stops.  If I had to pick one of the most valuable tools it would be the use of poles. Even if you don't tip both feet together, if you can move with your poles correctly, you can ski more technical terrain than being able to use the feet but no understanding how to use our poles.  Try to ski bumps without pole plants (this includes the movement of the body) or powder for that matter, forgets steeps it won't happen! Up your game istantly. The pole plants are continuous, you are always "reaching" for the next turn, they keep you body moving in the new direction, The "reach" is usually nothing more than an extension of the pole downhill, I am a little more agressive with the plants than JC method but the faster you ski the more they need to be in front as by the time you are reaching and planting, your body is moving over the plant. BTW- don't ski around your pole plants, you ski through them.

[Perry]

Todd,
glad to have your comrade spirit with me on the slopes.  I am one who actually has fun experimenting with new things so I don't do it in an over analytical way, it's more intuitive but conscious of what is going on if that makes any sense.  At any rate, I don't do any "work" at the slopes unless I am in a clinic.  I am thinking that the combination of the Harb and Clendenin tools can be a powerful thing.

May you have good lines when the snow comes my friend.

Perry

[Ron]

Pery well said and congrats!? I totally agree with your approach. i did refine a few things over the past couple of weeks without focusing on them, just trying to be concious of them and working them in.
lower my poles by almost 3 inches!? My forearm is now less than parallell when in an attack position. I have found that measuring pole length when standing up is not really accurate and leads to the length being too long.?

I also did much better at keeping my shins pressed into the front of the boots, I was too neutral before which lead to a back seat tendency. Aslo, not starting turn to early from a start. I now either traverse a few feet or drop straight first; it has stopped a lateral body movement and permitted better forwardagonal positioning, this is universal regardless of what ever ski method you choose.

Pole, plants are much more active, not really used for support but used to create movement and flow. Still upper body but movement towards the new direction or turn (a slight difference)

Looking down 2-3 turns- this is a big one folks, if you don't do it , start. huge difference in flow and timing, that 1/2 second is huge in trees and bumps. You feel like you have all day to turn. You don't look at the door case when you walk through it- you don't need to look at the trees either! - Mtn biking was huge to learn this

Keeping legs stacked and under hips- huge, .

[Perry]

Yesterday, I was working some on using poles on each turn.  I found that my timing is not "set" or ingrained.  At first I would release in anticipation or as I was planting rather than after the plant as I was passing the pole.  When my timing was right, there was a natural feel.  When I was early, it was just not as good.  I am not sure what is going on when I am early that the turn doesn't feel as good.

The speed control is now solid.  I was playing with some of the tactics...it was fun and I am really looking forward to the time in Aspen, now only 10 short days away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ron]

Perry, without making too much of this, the pole plant is really the start of everything, you don't really need to think of the turn until you are ready to start it. As you are skiing the line, (bumps trees or other) you are scanning ahead 2-3 turns, you glance down to see where you want to turn, this is where you plant the pole, you ski over your plants not around them (in any method) which is part of a lot of peoples timing issues. (including my own)as soon ans that pole makes contact, you tip or whatever you want to call it with your edges and start the drift, carve or whatever (keeping this non-denominational) it's really that simple, you are just trying too hard.  Close the mind off to things you already know and be aware of the turn; it will flow.  You don't think about walking through doors, walking up/down stairs do you? 

[Gary]

Oh whatever ...

Perry...practice this on nice non threatening terrain....bathtubs, bus stops, exam tables...now take your faux ski poles arms out to the side, now flick the wrist so the tip of the pole plant moves up in front of your imaginary ski and drops down just to the side of your imagainary toe or whatever....kee heee...this is fun.
Now as soon as this imaginary pole touches the ground, do something? whatever with your feet, release, tip, giggle, wiggle, slip, slide, or whatever makes your skis move into the new direction you wish to go in.

There....now do not do this where people can see you...you will be wearing a white jacket with leather straps...no Ron....its' not a freerider jacket.....Best or whatever.....G?

[Ron]

Flicking is a good term to use, its so important to have the arms/hands out in front so you can keep the plants in time. Especially in the powder and trees. That's one thing that is very critical. As soon as you start dropping the hands or spearing your plants, you are lost.  JC use the 11 and 1 points i beleive (Gary?) I would say to those standards that the steeper the plant actually goes out farther but more down the fall line and to 3 and 9, it creates a stronger leverage point - creating a quicker turn. My guess is JC would not disagree with this (except for the reaching down farther but with speed you don't want to ski over your pole- that would suck.  ) 

[Gary]

Hey ROn...on steep terrain, JC suggests the pole touches by the boot or directly in the fall line. This sets up strong counter and keeps the body moving down the fall line

yeah...running over a vertical pole is Skier falling down the mountain....not pretty!

G

[Perry]

Ron and Gary,
Thanks for the input.  NO doubt there is too much thinkin going on.  This is how I learn a new skill and then let it drift into the background.

Gary - I will practice in the shower........but I am concerned about the part when my pole hits the ground?   I'll try to figure it out and won't make you explain again.

Perry