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Advice on getting better at skiing?

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Skiinmontana
Posts: 9 - Karma: 10
Well I've been skiing for a while now, very casually. However this year I've been actually trying to get better. I can do very small jumps, and can ski backwards, and i'm wanting to get better. What should i be practicing freestyle-wise to get better? Or in other words what is the most beginner trick or freestyle thing that i can learn to start getting better. Any other tips on getting more comfortable with jumps or just skiing in general would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Dec 23 2011 5:25PM
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Mr.DarthVader
Posts: 1322 - Karma: 556
just start with some simple 180s and 360s and go from there
Dec 23 2011 5:30PM
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douchebagmdgee
Posts: 300 - Karma: 26
180s and 360s yeah, work your way up and get the smaller tricks DOWN before trying bigger ones!
Dec 23 2011 5:32PM
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Jahrassicpark
Posts: 2075 - Karma: 38
practice and watch a lot of ski edits
Dec 23 2011 5:35PM
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C_Thomps-12
Posts: 639 - Karma: 26
xl saga with team sized jiberish underneath
Dec 23 2011 5:49PM
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s.parker
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 259
try stuff, dont be afraid to fall, and also learn how to fall so you dont hurt yourself to much.
Dec 23 2011 5:51PM
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A.Eberhard
Posts: 4426 - Karma: 415
Get comfortable with just sliding rails and boxes, then learn how to get on to urban style rails/boxes. Then fs 270, bs 270 along with a fs sw up and bs sw up then link em together for some nasty combos.
Dec 23 2011 5:52PM
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chris.goodhue
Posts: 946 - Karma: 6,209

all these guys have great advice! ^

id would say ride switch alot!!!! it will come in handy when you want to start learning switch tricks, i know i wish i rode switch more back in the day, now its just something you can do when just skiing around

Dec 23 2011 5:54PM
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jorb.co
Posts: 2581 - Karma: 468
LEARN HOW TO ACTUALLY GO DOWN THE HILL AND MAKE NICE TURNS AND POLE PLANT AND SHIT, THESE PARK RATS JUST FUCKING STRAIGHT LINE SHIT AND MAKES ME SO ANGRRRRRYYYYY
Dec 23 2011 5:58PM
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KAS
Posts: 1417 - Karma: 68
GOOD ONE.

These stupid jokes should stop, especially if it's the only thing you're going to say.
Dec 23 2011 6:05PM
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AMcT
Posts: 204 - Karma: 41
One thing that I find to work is to make a list of tricks or whatever to learn by the end of the season. The only thing is to make sure they are achievable trick think baby steps.
Dec 23 2011 6:08PM
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3mania
Posts: 2613 - Karma: 10,361
Actually knowing how to "ski" is highly overrated these day. Luckily that makes it easier for me to be the best skier on the mountain. If you wanna learn to ski, I'm putting on a clinic everyday under Storm Peak lift. Take notes.


Dec 23 2011 6:17PM
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Heart
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 3,462
.

nothing is more annoying than watching a skier do the wedge to slow down before hitting a rail
Dec 23 2011 6:21PM
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dompuch
Posts: 1449 - Karma: 1,186
keep practicing and watch other skiers, you learn best from seeing others creativity and style, youll soon get better
watch ski videos!!
Dec 23 2011 6:29PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
Why? I just straight line everywhere, because that way you go faster and faster=more fun. I'll make excellent turns in pow or down steeps, but just cruising around groomers I like to go as fast as humanly possible at all times. Why you mad though? Let people ski how they want.
Dec 23 2011 6:32PM
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openmindportrait
Posts: 1157 - Karma: 818
I wouldn't say I'm a total park rat but I ski a lot of park and straightline anytime i get the chance. Then again I am also Level 2 PSIA certified so I know how to ski very well. Honestly going straight is efficient you can get faster laps!!
Dec 23 2011 9:04PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
play skate with people who are better than you, you'll have to try stuff you're not comfortable with.
Dec 23 2011 9:07PM
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Skarvle
Posts: 28 - Karma: 13
This is massive, in order to get better one of the most important things is to ski with people who are either better than you technically (either at jibbing or traditional).

Being able to ski confidently and smoothly is a great thing. Honestly I think the best days aren't the ones where you just slay it in the park,but rather just get a great flow going. Nice big carves back and forth down some quality snow with a decent grade and then hucking something of the side of the trail and just resuming, no stopping no worries just skiing. (Note, personal experiences may vary. For best results please add powder)

btw If you could film yourself going down I'm sure plenty of PSIA guys (myself included) wouldn't mind giving you some pointers, its just very hard to offer advice without seeing a person ski
Dec 23 2011 11:14PM
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tcgoldman
Posts: 704 - Karma: 723
huck and hope!!!!!! works 50% of the time.........
Dec 24 2011 10:54AM
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bob.marley
Posts: 102 - Karma: 33
I always wonder if since I started skiing last year if I really work at it and go skiing a lot if I can get up to a level who have been freeskiing for longer than I have.
Dec 24 2011 11:09AM
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yugi*ski
Posts: 7 - Karma: 10
Don't be afraid when you try new stuff !
Dec 24 2011 11:12AM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
probably not

you can probably get to the point where you can do the tricks or ski the terrain but nothing but time and experience will give you the flow and style of an experienced skier.
Dec 24 2011 11:49AM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11988 - Karma: 12,261
i ski absolutely nothing but park and i can do damn near perfect slalom and GS turns

GET ON MY LEVEL BITCH
Dec 24 2011 12:03PM
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5oup5teeze
Posts: 1259 - Karma: 74
when you start spinning on those jumps, make sure you keep your head turned. if your head is turned, then your body will follow. i would practice just straight air on jumps first to get comfortable with the speed and feeling of the jumps. rails are difficult too, just practice the motion on some simple, wide flat boxes.
Dec 24 2011 12:04PM
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caesar11
Posts: 10 - Karma: 10
whatch alot of edits
Dec 24 2011 12:14PM
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ironic
Posts: 735 - Karma: 104
I see what you did there, and it was impressive. But honestly, the best thing you can do is work on your technique. Get those parallel turns down beautifully and knowing how to properly plant your poles doesn't hurt either. I know it sounds lame, but these things will really help.
Dec 24 2011 4:08PM
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bob.marley
Posts: 102 - Karma: 33

Yeah, I see Durtschi's vids from like 03-04 and to me he looks just as good now as he did except he probably has skied 1000 days since then. In order to have that smoothe flow and style with tricks and airs in general does it just take like 4 years of skiing to even improve noticabely with style on tricks?

Dec 24 2011 4:13PM
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TZA.
Posts: 1462 - Karma: 181
buy saga you instantly get better
Dec 24 2011 5:10PM
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hatchback
Posts: 13 - Karma: 18
absolutely!!!! someone that gets it. Find some people that are good at skiing the whole mountain and ski with them. It's amazing what you can learn from just skiing with people that ski the mountain rather than hike the same rail for hours on end
Dec 24 2011 6:03PM
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128368798788
Posts: 0 - Karma: 1,167


Dont hate on the french fries when you diggin pizza
Dec 24 2011 7:51PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
if you can't ski properly, make good carving turns, etc, you fucking suck. Don't even bother learning park because chances are you wont really get that good anyways thats why you don't see a lot of people who are good in the park just average. Just pracitce your skiing once you can rip up the moutnain and learn to appreciate the technique and skills makes skiing awsome and makes you respect other people al ot more
Dec 24 2011 7:58PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
its all about muscle memory and just having the air sense to know exactly whats going on.
Dec 24 2011 9:51PM
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bob.marley
Posts: 102 - Karma: 33

OK, so it won't be anytime soon I will be able to throw 360's that at least have somewhat style like a safety grab or at least not so forced and not smoothe???

I talked to someone who has been able to 360 for 2 1/2 years and his 3's still look dorky and like he just learned them.

Dec 24 2011 10:32PM
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joelski
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 736
it is really fun to experiment with riding switch and butering and stuff because there are a lot of small good looking tricks that are quite easy for instance switch butter 360
Dec 25 2011 12:33AM
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CalebT
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 765
i just have to say, i love your sig.
Dec 25 2011 1:07AM
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128368798788
Posts: 0 - Karma: 1,167
Dude seriously start shredding the mountain doing everything, moguls, super-Ging the blue and greens, and hittin the B/C. That's where you're going to develop your skill and then transfer that to park.


Then, when you get good at just shredding, transfer it to the park and when you transfer it to park, start with box rails or 180's anywhere or off little kickers. Ask anybody on here, the first step is BY FAR the shittiest, but starting low and just making baby steps is how your going to build somewhat of a technique and, more importantly, self-confidence. Then eventually after you can just slide a box, start turning your body 90 degrees then snap it back for a landing or go switch. and just keep doing those little things. It's all about baby steps. sliding a box turns into spinning on a box, 180's become 360's and so forth.

REMEMBER: People are always going to make fun of the new guys. don't let it get you down. YOU are YOUR BIGGEST critic.

"fall down 7 times, get up 8!"


Dec 25 2011 2:56AM
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bob.marley
Posts: 102 - Karma: 33
Ok but how do pro skiers become pro skiers? Is it more being balzzy or time on skis? Right now I could really care less about rodeos and all that. I think that would just be sick to be good enough at 1's and 3's to be able to have style like the 5's in this vid: https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/353941.0/BC-Boys-6?t=6 I don't know who they are but they look sick
Dec 25 2011 11:11PM
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40oz.
Posts: 1758 - Karma: 555
Click for larger image
Dec 25 2011 11:59PM
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Whaley
Posts: 712 - Karma: 24
Side booters FTW
Dec 26 2011 12:08AM
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