Performance Free Skiing

[jbotti]

I know we have both some Harald fans on this forum and some that are far less than enthralled with his work. Putting aside his online persona (which seems to be an issue for many) a lot of what I hear from those that don't like his work and teaching is that his DVD's and books are too filled with drills. The reason I have posted this is because the new DVD "Performance Free Skiing" is a wonderful one hour presentation on how to get the most out of your free skiing and it talks about the skills, techniques and tactics necessary to ski the most difficult terrain. I can think of only two drills that are even mentioned in the DVD and the rest of time it just shows great skiing and how one can appoach achieving this level of skiing. I use the DVD to get the right mental images in my mind before I go out and ski. I also look a lot at the tempo of the turns and I try to duplicate this on the slopes.

Now here is the real reason I posted this. My wife who really does not like to do drills or to watch drills on DVD's, was absolutley enthralled by this when we watched it last night!!

I do think that this is a DVD that will get a much wider audience than just PMTS fanatics. I also think that it will help everyone who watches it ski better especially in steeper and more difficult terrain. And it's fun to watch!!

[Philpug]

[Phil ducking] "Performance Free Skiing"? Does that mean the video teaches how to ski, free of performance? [/Phil Ducking]

[jbotti]

I appreciate all good humor!

[Ron]

[Phil ducking] "Performance Free Skiing"? Does that mean the video teaches how to ski, free of performance? [/Phil Ducking]

Where can you ski for free?

[Philpug]

[Phil ducking] "Performance Free Skiing"? Does that mean the video teaches how to ski, free of performance? [/Phil Ducking]

Where can you ski for free...with performance?

FIFY

[midwif]

[Phil ducking] "Performance Free Skiing"? Does that mean the video teaches how to ski, free of performance? [/Phil Ducking]

Phil
We all know how you really feel about HH!
But, it's okay to try and hide it behind a stiff male mask of indifference.
We all understand.
L.

[ToddW]

[Phil ducking] "Performance Free Skiing"? Does that mean the video teaches how to ski, free of performance? [/Phil Ducking]

Phil
We all know how you really feel about HH!
But, it's okay to try and hide it behind a stiff male mask of indifference.
We all understand.
L.

Lynn,

Shame on you -- Phil's affection for HH and PMTS iis a private matter!? Phil marked your bootboard in a moment of weakness and we should all pretend we didn't see it out of respect for Phil's feelings.

Cool video, though.? And imagine how excellent the skiing would be if there were some Kaestle and Hart skis in the quiver instead of being handicapped with Head skis.

PS How'd you like the MX78s this weekend?

[midwif]

Hi Todd

The MX 78's were not for me. Too stiff and heavy. Too damp.

Ditto on the Vists. Though the fact they were about at least 6cms too long for me may have
played a part in that feeling.

OTOH, I acknowledge that I am very used to light, softer skis.
Not sure if over time, I would "grow" into these kinds of skis.

I do know that my arches, feet  and ankles were working way hard than usual with these skis.

Progressor 8's are what I really want to demo. Svend's wife Terryl, pm'd me with her review and personal feedback. It might be my cup of Joe!

I did really like the Elan (forgot the name already!) at Elk. Felt damp, but tipped easily and turned snappily. Plowed thru piled up soft, crud
like nothing. Very smooth overall.
The Dynastar Speed Magic? also was very nice. Felt lighter and a bit softer, but excellent grip on hardpack, did well in crud.

Would love to try a SS out in my size. Hard to find these days. Very few of the shorter lengths in general.

It was fun watching you 3 guys with the same size boots switch and try out each others skis!

[jim-ratliff]

Hi Todd

The MX 78's were not for me. Too stiff and heavy. Too damp.

Ditto on the Vists. Though the fact they were about at least 6cms too long for me may have
played a part in that feeling.

OTOH, I acknowledge that I am very used to light, softer skis.
Not sure if over time, I would "grow" into these kinds of skis.

I do know that my arches, feet? and ankles were working way hard than usual with these skis.

Progressor 8's are what I really want to demo. Svend's wife Terryl, pm'd me with her review and personal feedback. It might be my cup of Joe!

I did really like the Elan (forgot the name already!) at Elk. Felt damp, but tipped easily and turned snappily. Plowed thru piled up soft, crud
like nothing. Very smooth overall.
The Dynastar Speed Magic? also was very nice. Felt lighter and a bit softer, but excellent grip on hardpack, did well in crud.

Would love to try a SS out in my size. Hard to find these days. Very few of the shorter lengths in general.

It was fun watching you 3 guys with the same size boots switch and try out each others skis!

And a mounting point that was 1cm forward might have made a world of difference as well.

[LivingProof]

JB,

You're now living proof that "no good deed goes unpunished". Been there many times in discussions about ski technique with the twin terrors of "just wanna have fun". Ironic how they like terms such as ski **** but want to quibble about free-skiing.

For a change, let me bring a thread back on topic. I've been watching the video and musing how to use it in my (lift ticket paid for) free skiing. It's a little different than the traditional road map of starting at the beginning as there's no "start here point". Clearly based in PMTS, my thinking is that it would be difficult for those without a PMTS background to comprehend. As with all of HH's work, there is a lot there to incorporate, not for the casual interest, short attention span demons of the world (and you know who you are). Props to Harald for continuing the development and thinking of how to do PMTS better.

Day one of skiing following viewing taught me counteracting skills continue to need development especially on turns to left. I think there are more than a few drills, but, they do emphasize ones that can easily be incorporated into a day of skiing with friends. I always leave the mountain thinking I've got a long way to go. So much skiing, so little time.

Agree that the visual images burned into the brain via watching are powerful. Very quiet upper body, feet that just dance. The music ......well let's just say bluegrass gets old after an hour or five minutes.

Well worth the investment.

Lynn, Jim and Todd - Any discussion of the new video this weekend?

Mike

[meput]

Hi Lynn,

"Would love to try a SS out in my size. Hard to find these days. Very few of the shorter lengths in general."

If Dan sets up a trip to Sugarloaf, I have access to SS (both of my daughters have them) in 160 length that you could try. I think you are strong enough to handle them. They are softer than you think they are (I used to ski them before I went up to 165's).

Enjoyed meeting and skiing with you and Jim.

Back to the topic of the thread, HH's Free skiing DVD is fantastic. Skiing eye candy without being "extreme" 

[meput]

Hey Todd,

That must have been my problem this weekend. I was handicapped by skiing on Head skis.

Enjoyed seeing and skiing with you again.

Back to topic again: I don't recall any discussion of HH's DVD's. I did screw up because I planned to bring my copies of the Performance Free Skiing and the Essential series that could have been viewed on my computer, but I forgot them at home. Since I did not have them with me, I did not bring up the topic of the DVD's with the group. I would have been curious to get Glen's thoughts on them, especially the PFS.

Look forward to skiing with you in the future.

Jim

[ToddW]

It was good to see you again, meput.   After you left, Glenn was saying nice things about how you played with the terrain on the narrower bump runs. 

[Johnny2R]

I'm pretty taken with the Performance Free Skiing DVD myself. As a follower of PMTS for some time, it's great to get 'permission' to try and improve my skiing by, well, skiing, as opposed to doing drills. I know doing the drills is a great way to get better, but as someone who gets just 15-20 days a year skiing, I want to spend most of my time actually enjoying myself out on the mountain. Besides which, I'm normally skiing with my partner, and it's no fun for her if I'm doing drills all the time. So to have some stuff to work on while having a blast round the mountain really helps. I can be having fun and learning lots at the same time.

[midwif]

Hi Johnny

Welcome aboard.

And agree with not wanting to spend enormous amounts of one's "snow time" doing drills.
I don't have either the drive or desire to use my ski time that way. But I will put aside the first two runs to both warm up
and do a couple of different drills at the top of the run, to get into my feet.

After doing a few exercises at the top of the run, I gradually segue into the rest of the run.
The 2nd run I will do some exercises at the top of the run to try and focus on counteracting/counterbalance/hands.

Through the course of the day,  I often will choose one aspect of my skiing to focus on in that run.
Skiing will never be "mindless" for me. Swimming wasn't either.

And occasionally, that focus becomes part of the whole, calm and serene and without effort.

Runners often describe it as a "runners high".   

L.