Consolidation and Short turns
Today was more about “feedback” and correction but including some persistence on the “Pivot” exercise – which Nil appropriately renamed the “weird” turn.
The weird turn takes practice to master – but it imparts vital skills for controlling speed, turn radius and building confidence.
The short rapid turns in the fall-line are made by starting each turn from the uphill edge of the uphill ski – effectively short weird turns.
(botulinum toxin type A)
Conscious Skiing – beating fear
When people want to calm the mind they can meditate or they can focus on certain activities. Meditation is special because it focuses on the body’s own internal processes at rest – but physical activities can be used as a form of moving meditation. When skiing even the ski can be seen or felt as an extension of the body itself.
Accurate understanding of skiing mechanics and awareness of how the body has to be used channels focus internally and the skier’s mind is totally focused on feelings and adaptations. Just like the meditation “at rest” there is no place left for fear to exist.
Fear has its origin is external distractions – looking down a hill and imagining all the things that could go wrong. Sometimes the distraction is due to focusing on keeping up with Fred while George heads off in the wrong direction and a snowboarder almost knocks you over and you are worrying about which direction to take and the fact that you can’t go fast enough to keep up with Mable….
When you internalise your focus on your body and its actions – on the accelerations and adjustments – then the mind becomes still and yet more alert than ever. There is no fear.
It’s too small to see