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Takin' Off SWITCH

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westcoast1
Posts: 17 - Karma: 10
arright straight to it: i can do big regular spins with grabs easy

however i can barely do a switch 1, and its scary (on good sized jumps, that is). i always feel like im going to catch an edge and smack my head on the jump.

also i spin left going forward, but i do switch 1s spinning right. And i don't think i can get bigger than about a switch 3 unless i spin left. but spinning left switch is crazy i can't.

How do you take off switch? How do i fix this?

Mar 30 2008 10:21PM
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invader7
Posts: 5756 - Karma: 49
practice.
Mar 30 2008 10:22PM
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OhioRiderSPK5
Posts: 968 - Karma: 24
dude i had the same problem as you. I spin left forward but when going switch i spin right. I could never get past switch 270 until one day i took it to a big jump and i could spin easier. When u take it to a big jump u dont worry about ur air time.
Mar 30 2008 10:39PM
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BigJew
Posts: 6974 - Karma: 79
I assume you're looking over your right shoulder which is why you can only spin right. It may seem weird but practice looking over your left shoulder until you feel comfortable hitting jumps. Everything will go a lot smoother.
Mar 30 2008 10:56PM
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icon1234
Posts: 3081 - Karma: 1,475
I have the exact same problem as you do. I spin left normally, but when i hit a jump switch i cant look over my right shoulder, just feels so unnatural and weird. Although I saw this video for JOSS where the guy looks over his right  shoulder (while going switch) then at the last second right before he hits the jump he starts turning his head to the left and starts spinning. Heres the video below, (this isn't me fyi).




I would try it like that, but it just looks scary and my hill closed 2 weeks ago anyways.
Mar 30 2008 11:08PM
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PBraunstein
Posts: 1448 - Karma: 3,804
im not the best spinner... but i just started doing switch 3's a few weeks ago and i had a similar problem... i actually learned by doing the above mentioned technique.. i look over my right shoulder than and the last second switch shoulders and set my spin... works real well and i was stomping  my switch 3's real well..
Mar 30 2008 11:25PM
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Bugler
Posts: 903 - Karma: 14
I ahve the sammme problem.
Mar 30 2008 11:36PM
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sirskizalot
Posts: 4370 - Karma: 161
practice riding switch so you can look over both shoulders easily and just practice more
Mar 30 2008 11:51PM
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JakeMusser
Posts: 121 - Karma: 66
Same problem also.
Mar 30 2008 11:56PM
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jahmin44
Posts: 638 - Karma: 37
YAY im not the only one with this problem. next time i go skiing i am gonna tray looking over the right and thenthrowing it to the left las secound. hopfully this will work.
Mar 31 2008 12:13AM
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three6steeze
Posts: 484 - Karma: -3
youve got the right idea but what you really need to do is get more comfortable looking over your left shoulder the WHOLE way down not just right at the takeoff makes it a little easier and its somthing you should learn to do.

To address the other issue of the thread maker catching his tips its a pretty simple solution... POP. your probably doing it when spin regularly your just not used to taking off switch and your not fully thinking about what you have to do. Whenever you spin regular or switch you should always be popping and when you learn to spin switch you really have to concentrate on popping super hard.
Mar 31 2008 12:16AM
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westcoast1
Posts: 17 - Karma: 10
So I need to practice riding switch looking over my left until im comfortable with it, then maybe try switch 1 or 3 over a smaller jump, then bigger jumps?
Mar 31 2008 12:27AM
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australianjibber
Posts: 530 - Karma: -22

actually, the answer is a lot more simple than you guys make it out to be. Think about how you take off regular...the key to your spin is the carve. take a look at guys like lolo and andreas- they carve so hard thats why their big spins looks waaay better than most.

The likelihood is that you cant carve switch very well. If you naturally spin left, then taking off switch spinning left is going to mean your turn will be initiated by the inside of your left knee...now think about it...when you take off regular, to spin left, the carve is initiated by the inside of your right knee.

This is where the discrepancy lies, and also why a lot of people find it easier to spin the opposite direction switch - because the carve is coming from your 'weaker' or less used side. this is why more advanced and pro skiiers dont have this problem, because they dont have a weaker side generally speaking.

So the answer to your problem is to work on the strength of your weaker side, in the gym and on the slopes. That means, really practise your right turns when skiing regular, and your left turns when skiing switch. Also focus on the support leg, because its more than likely that this is acting as a counter to your turns if it is indeed much stronger

Good luck guys

Mar 31 2008 12:40AM
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huckaberry
Posts: 993 - Karma: 14
i learned by taking it straight to the big jumps
i dont know
came natural to me
first day i got sw 3
Mar 31 2008 1:47AM
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Gharf
Posts: 1390 - Karma: 983
he s got it.


it seems that 80% people have this problem.

just learn to look over your left shoulders.
Mar 31 2008 1:59AM
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Kazabazua
Posts: 3529 - Karma: 1,128
I found my big problem was I wouldnt be going fast enough, I would think i'd be going too fast switch and slow down therefore fucking up my spin completely, carry a good amount of speed in it for switch, also I found i kept going corked when I went off and I would always flail and eat it, throw your spin downwards when you go off to level yourself out.
Mar 31 2008 2:25AM
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three6steeze
Posts: 484 - Karma: -3
and remember that the majority of your spin is set with your legs and body NOT your arms
Mar 31 2008 2:29AM
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Kazabazua
Posts: 3529 - Karma: 1,128
^ hmm... you have to throw your arms pretty hard for switch 7 and up... but i know what you mean, more leg torquage on switch spins than regular.
Mar 31 2008 2:38AM
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australianjibber
Posts: 530 - Karma: -22
also, you should be able to complete a 180 with your upper half before your taken off after practise. have a look at the old NS cover with JF Houle to get a better understanding of what im explaining very poorly haha
Mar 31 2008 9:55AM
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MidwestSteeze
Posts: 1839 - Karma: 153
finally a possoble solution to help me
Mar 31 2008 11:47AM
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Hairmetaler
Posts: 1200 - Karma: 15
its definetly really hard
Mar 31 2008 12:20PM
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skiEER
Posts: 4089 - Karma: 79
thats weird i can do grabs better with switch spins
Mar 31 2008 1:13PM
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Shilling
Posts: 774 - Karma: 14
thats because naturally people grab at the 180 degree rotation, no matter how much spin they're going for. hitting it switch you are pointed forward at that 180 and you're more comfortable to get the grab.
Mar 31 2008 1:55PM
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i.ski.troll.
Posts: 4692 - Karma: 247
thats what i do. i just start looking straight at the lip as Tanner says in a trick tip for a cab 5 and right as i start comeing up to the jump i switch over to my left shoulder and spin left. it works awesome
Mar 31 2008 6:30PM
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unchyll
Posts: 4554 - Karma: 96
wayy, easy. You can spot your landing so easily when spinning switch
Mar 31 2008 6:32PM
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