Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Starting out freeskiing this winter!

profile picture
DBfreeski
Posts: 2 - Karma: 13
I'm 17, been skiing since 4. I quit racing and now I wanna move into freeskiing. But I'm scared of nasty injuries. How should I start out? Should I get body armor? DO THE FALLS ON KICKERS HURT?
Nov 5 2012 2:36AM
3 0
profile picture
ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,455
It only hurts if you fall. Start small and work your way up. You don't need body armor (if you can afford it, why not get it though), but definitely wear a helmet. Most importantly, don't mind the rest of NS or people on the mountain who will make fun of you.
Nov 5 2012 3:10AM
0 0
profile picture
LIL_WAT
Posts: 1900 - Karma: 475
Yes. Start off small; get your 3's down first and the rest should come naturally. Have fun.
Nov 5 2012 4:37AM
0 0
profile picture
NewEscuelers
Posts: 1210 - Karma: 10,960
even though they tell you to ignore hate, that can be hard to do. so heres what you shouldnt do to avoid hate:
Gaper tuck
Sit on landings/jumps
Bomb through park, this works sometimes, but if anyone's waiting to drop, let them drop
Have fun
Nov 5 2012 6:41AM
0 0
profile picture
Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
No.
Nov 5 2012 6:42AM
0 0
profile picture
niskyallstar
Posts: 114 - Karma: 233
See what you want to focus on, some rider love jumps, some riders love rails. If you like jumps go to your backyard with shovel and build yourself a small kicker to learn things on. If you like rails, go to lowes and pick-up some pvc and build a rail. Get used to tricks with your friends so when you get to the mountain you are more confident. +K please
Nov 5 2012 7:45AM
0 0
profile picture
Ali_Dibden
Posts: 1966 - Karma: 1,688
Glad you want to enjoy our fantastic sport, wear a helmet and have fun!
Nov 5 2012 9:06AM
0 0
profile picture
milk_man
Posts: 5252 - Karma: 5,983
The biggest kicker they have at the ski area i go to is a 30 foot gap. i fell on it a couple times last winter and it didnt hurt at all. it just shook me up a bit lol good luck man!
Nov 5 2012 9:44PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
As everyone else said, learn the basics. Get your pop down off a jump - racing teaches you to absorb lips, but this is drastically wrong in jumping.

Work on small features and get real comfortable. Work your way up to the big stuff, and then repeat for various tricks.

In terms of staying out of the way, just always stick slightly to the side of the inrun/outrun of a feature. I'm sure if you've been racing you'll have a sense of not standing in the centre of a race course, so this is same dif.

I wore pads for a while with rails, as some of the falls there won't kill you but they sure as hell will sting. Of course, couple of bruises from rails is a badge of honor.

The most important thing when doing rails is make sure that your feet are always wider than shoulder width apart. Most racers will attempt to hockey stop on a rail, and this will lead to falling back and getting the rail either in the hips or ribs. Both suck regardless of pads.

Feet shoulder width apart on rails, proper pop on jumps, and success in the halfpipe means you got 30 hits in, not 3.

Nov 5 2012 9:49PM
0 0
profile picture
BlackCupid
Posts: 1533 - Karma: 9
Racing is scarier and more dangerous than freestyle skiing. You shouldn't have anything to worry about.
Nov 5 2012 9:50PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)