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Not having fun on the hill?

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bob.marley
Posts: 102 - Karma: 33

So this is my 3rd year skiing and I am 15yrs old, ski at Snowbird, and I usually get around 30 days per year. I just thought I would progress a lot faster than I have and I haven't really gotten much better since last December, I have gotten better I am a better skier and do bigger stuff, but still I can't even 360 yet. I just seem like a lot of the times up on the hill I don't have any stoke and then I ski badly and then I never can push myself, I only fall maybe once or twice a day even on snowy days.. Does anyone else feel like this? I know kids up there who've been on skis for 1-2 years and they are already doing big 360's that do look good and that sort of thing but I can't figure out why I haven't progressed more. It's easy for me to imagine what I will try the next day when I'm at the house thinking about skiing but actually up there I get very nervous and defensive for some reason and can't figure it out.

Anyone have this?

Dec 24 2012 9:12PM
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~~~~~~~~
Posts: 2345 - Karma: 2,104
drink while skiing.
Dec 24 2012 9:17PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
all i will say is that it's really not about what you can throw down. i really can't do much man. i fuckin straight air the jumps nowadays hahaha, i basically gave up on spinning cause i sucked at it. maybe i'll try to revive my sad attempt at spinning this season. but anyway, maybe just work on your rail game. for me, it's just fun to cruise around, hit rails, butter, hit rollers, do whatever you gotta do. don't put too much pressure on yourself. laugh and have a good time, and in the long run, nobody really cares if you're good or not, and if they do, fuck 'em.

practicing on a backyard setup can help though, and when at the mountain for jumps (and rails), confidence is key. wear a helmet and try what you're comfortable trying. practice makes perfect.
Dec 24 2012 9:19PM
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bob.marley
Posts: 102 - Karma: 33
Sounds good thanks!
Dec 24 2012 10:03PM
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Plankton
Posts: 3226 - Karma: 6,840
just practice on something small, ski with your friends, and have fun!
Dec 24 2012 10:08PM
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FroesenSkeeze
Posts: 638 - Karma: 673
Sometimes you just have to do it. Think about the reward. Stoke comes after you stomp something. If you're feeling demotivated, I say that's reason to push yourself even more. Fear of injury is restraint that holds back most from progressing. However, that fear also makes the reward even greater. Imagine yourself stomping that 360 over a table. Envision it and make it happen in spite of the fear. Wouldn't it suck if EVERYONE was doing the craziest shit because they couldn't get hurt? It would get pretty boring. It's the risk that makes skiing an extreme sport. Good luck out there!

Also, get some good music and fellow riders for extra adrenaline!
Dec 24 2012 10:18PM
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walrussteeze
Posts: 327 - Karma: 212
I'm in the same boat. Well kinda, I always push myself to ski bigger, better lines everywhere else on the mountain but not in the park. I think it has to do with confidence because generally if you slip off a rail or fuck up the landing of a 360 its going to hurt more than if you fall skiing powder or moguls (assuming you don't fall face first, tomahawk, or hit trees, rocks, etc). Also i think progression occurs sporadically, for example I learned to do 1's and some 3's last year and im still at that point. So maybe one of your next days you'll have a breakthrough if you say fuck it and Huck it. What helps for me is when im going to try something new I don't stand above the feature psyching myself out of it.
Dec 24 2012 10:28PM
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BigDog
Posts: 711 - Karma: 814
You just have to surround yourself with the best people. That's what it's about, as mentioned, having fun. Sometimes I like skiing with people who are way better than me and we feed off of eachother. Find a group thats really supporting and its the best way to get you amped. Or just find a crew that you can take lap after lap with just getting good turns and lots of laughs.
That's a good ass day in my book
Dec 24 2012 10:50PM
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nine50seven
Posts: 576 - Karma: 686
tip that an instructor told me when i was first learning 3s was to find a point on the horizon or down the hill and try to find it as fast as you can and then keep your eyes on it. landed it the first time
Dec 24 2012 10:55PM
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Randy_Marsh
Posts: 253 - Karma: 35
for the 360, do a few 180's then just send it off of a side booter. I bet you land it first try. After that you'll be stoked because you landed a trick and can try it off of a bigger jump and get some grabs
Dec 24 2012 10:56PM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
you're being a bitch. stop being a bitch.

i'm not saying that to be a dick, i'm saying it because i've seen tons of people get frustrated at not getting better at something when they're being pussies and not sacking up and hucking their meat. next time you go skiing, do a 3. doesn't matter if you fall because you're a pussy and until you learn to fall and get back up you'll always be a pussy.
you don't progress if you don't push yourself so start trying tricks. i'm not saying go try to do a dub but do something you aren't comfortable doing and keep doing it until it is comfortable. skiing with people who are at the same level or a bit better than you helps a lot because you give each other ideas for tricks and compete to learn stuff first or do it cleaner
Dec 24 2012 11:02PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
I don't think I have ever had a painful tomahawk, even on hardpack.

Tomahawks are the awesome haha, most unexpected, hilarious, and sometimes fun crash ever.
Dec 24 2012 11:06PM
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-Robert
Posts: 2000 - Karma: 1,491
This is my second full year of park skiing and I have a snowboarder friend that I ski with alot. He's pretty good and somewhat pushes me and my other skier friend to try stuff. Last year he pushed us and we landed 3's and it felt awesome. So far this season(on my 3rd day of skiing) we kinda pushed eachother and we both were doing frontflips. We were so stoked and it was awesome! What I'm tryin to say is to try to find some people that are better than you so they will push you. Also, whenever you're trying something new, don't think about it and don't tell anyone you're trying it. The more you think about it, the less likely you'll be to try it.
Dec 24 2012 11:18PM
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DeRizzo
Posts: 3827 - Karma: 3,485
To be honest, I started to try shit when my friends called me a pussy and what not. That was great motivation. Anyway, also push yourself to at least try something. KEY: Do not be afraid/pressured by other people. I'm not even great at park, but trust me, it looks sooooo much better when people try things than just skip the feature.
Dec 24 2012 11:27PM
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CoachJabroni
Posts: 350 - Karma: 338

i feel like this but dont let it keep you from having fun... or you could always do wut i did and start smoking weed

Dec 24 2012 11:29PM
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Dochaladai
Posts: 47 - Karma: 16
exactly...helps forreals on big scary tricks.
Dec 24 2012 11:29PM
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johnnyBuz
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 1,270
A) this

B) skiing is just like any other sport. Some people are naturally athletic (like myself) and can pick up a new sport at the drop of a hat. Other people are uncoordinated buffoons that struggle to tie your their shoes.

If you aren't naturally athletic, it's going to take you longer to progress. If you are, maybe you just aren't pushing yourself hard enough. Every day I am on the mountain I think to myself "if I fuck this up I could seriously injure myself really bad." If you don't have those thoughts you probably aren't pushing yourself and won't progress as fast.
Dec 24 2012 11:51PM
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callmeteo
Posts: 367 - Karma: 321
Watch out, this guy's naturally athletic.

I've seen fat guys to skinny guys, people on the school bowling team to lacrosse players all find success on the mountain. Just go for it man, and listen to the advice everyone else in this thread is giving you.
Dec 24 2012 11:57PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
Quit skiing and take up smokin crack
Dec 24 2012 11:58PM
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johnnyBuz
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 1,270
Would you like to refute my point with some semblance of an articulate, logical thought?

To deny that some people pick up skiing better than others is to admit mental retardation. Skiing does in fact require athleticism, balance, and most importantly, balls.

Not sure what point you are trying to prove but gfys.
Dec 25 2012 12:01AM
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Puzzled
Posts: 4267 - Karma: 4,448
Don't listen to him, he's a towel.

Feel yourself kid, feel your skiing, you'll know when its time to throw something new into your mix. Skiing is 90% mental. Don't let some big ego kid fuck it up for you.

I hope that made sense /drunkpostmerryxmas
Dec 25 2012 12:01AM
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johnnyBuz
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 1,270
Did you even read his post? If you aren't willing to take yourself out of your comfort zone you aren't going to progress. I have the tiniest ego imaginable on the slopes. I know my abilities and my limitations but I'm always willing to push myself.

If you aren't progressing you either haven't mastered the previous skill or you are too much of a pussy to push yourself. Keep telling him to "wait till it feels right" but if you spend your whole life waiting around your girlfriend will be fucking the QB and you'll be askin yourself why you haven't progressed in 3 years.
Dec 25 2012 12:07AM
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Puzzled
Posts: 4267 - Karma: 4,448
I don't share your view on freeskiing, but you refuted your own argument.
Dec 25 2012 12:10AM
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Puzzled
Posts: 4267 - Karma: 4,448
Once you are master of your comfort zone, you'll naturally want to switch it up and add some variation. No need to push yourself because you saw some kid throw 4 swaps on this down rail. Fuck the mold, do your thing.
Dec 25 2012 12:13AM
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OGoriginal-gaper
Posts: 354 - Karma: 86
just be great full you get to go skiing and just try tricks most of the time you stack and it doesn't hurt when your trying tricks because your only doing them on 20ft jumps
Dec 25 2012 7:04AM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
As a former coach I can tell you that skiing is completely a mental game, you can have all the muscle and balance in the world but if you don't make havin fun your number 1 priority when you go skiing, you won't have as much fun and you won't progress as much. The only person you should be competing with is yourself! I've seen kids learn stuff crazy fast because they have some encouragement, not because a coach possesses skiing secrets or anything like that. So next time you go to the hill, SMILE, do fun tricks, and don't take it so seriously! I ski the best on the days when i dont care if i do anything cooler than spread eagles and daffys. Less thinking, more skiing. And if you want to spin, remember: shoulders level, eyes up, and be patient. Hope that helps : )
Dec 25 2012 8:53AM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
My advice would be to stop worrying about that park shit especially if your spending most of your time up at alta and snowbird. Instead go and ski some crazy lines with some tight chutes and cliffs. You don't need to spin off a cliff to make it look good.

If I see someone ski a nice line with a 20 footer or even a 10 footer in it without stopping I'm more impressed than seeing someone do a 540 over a 35 foot kicker in the park.
Dec 25 2012 9:02AM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
Lines like the ones in upper cirque, Jaws and those other chutes along with gad chutes and upper wilber bowl just to name a few
Dec 25 2012 9:06AM
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schu2122
Posts: 247 - Karma: 24

damn was trying to get inb4 the quit skiing comment

my advice just chill. for me progression just comes naturally without trying to push myself on shit i dont feel comfortable on

Dec 25 2012 10:15AM
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blindside
Posts: 5619 - Karma: 1,199
Come to terms with falling. You seem preoccupied with it mentioning how many times you fall a day.. You shouldn't be keeping track of this. Falls happen to everyone from pro to beginner, and they are integral to skiing and progression.

So, try some stuff, take some falls, learn that going down isn't that bad 99% of the time, and just relax on the hill. Once you know what the worst that can happen is you'll be less apprehensive and stressed.

Also, try listening to music if you don't already, and visualize (like you already do) while your ski music's playing.
Dec 25 2012 10:16AM
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wasatch_rat
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 2,951
heres how that works. when you pussy out (no offense) your brain rewards you for taking the safer route. you then condition yourself to not take chances, because your brain plays up the fear and minimizes the reward from trying, because thats the habit it is in. if you go for it, your brain will reward you with some excitement, even if you fall. as long as its not too bad of a fall, you will feel proud of yourself for going for it, and realize that the trick really isn't that sketchy.

usually on a day where i learn something that truly scares me i learn a whole bunch of other stuff as well because i'm jacked up on the confidence and excitement. so make a specific goal for your next day, stay optimistic and have fun, and keep working at that goal until you get it. it may take 3 or 4 or 10 tries to land your 360, but after overcoming the fear and going for the first one you will find every other one a lot easier to commit to, and once you do i bet you will ski everything else a lot better too.
Dec 25 2012 10:53AM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,361
You are really new to the sport. Dont worry about tricks. Instead worry about the fundamentals. You said youve become a better skier over time so focus on becoming the best skier you can be and the tricks will come when you are ready.

nobody learns to parkour before they learn to run. Im your case youre still learning to walk. I didnt try a 360 until i had been skiing for probably 15 years. It will come. This sport is not easy and it will take time. Dont panic
Dec 25 2012 11:04AM
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Stainr
Posts: 1186 - Karma: -1,150
This, dont remember the last time skiing sober...
Dec 25 2012 11:04AM
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seb_hofmann
Posts: 155 - Karma: 1,453
ok im sure this has been said but what helps with me is friends and music. Get a group of friends that are better than you but super nice and willing to help, i always ski with skiers that are better than me so when they throw a huge trick i don't want to be embarrassed so i try something out of my comfort zone, the more you do this the better youll get and your mind will start realizing how rewarding it is to stomp that new trick. music helps me get super pumped up so i really want to try new things but just see what works for you, dont hang around kids who dont want to try anything. sometimes you just gotta huck it and youll realize it wasnt so bad. hopefully that was somewhat useful
Dec 25 2012 11:10AM
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AidanCski
Posts: 420 - Karma: 860
Yeah I kind of feel the same way. Last year towards the end of the season I had a super quiet day at cannon mountain NH and I went from straight airs to 3's in about 2 hours. My problem with not progressing is the crowds. Let's say one day I am thinking to myself I am gonna try a 5 today. Then when I get into the park and there are 10+ kids waiting for each feature I tend to watch and I am too scared to try stuff for some reason that I don't know. When I do get a quiet day I seriously use it to my advantage. I think and hope I will get over this sum,b fear soon.
Dec 25 2012 1:21PM
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GuacamoleMane
Posts: 1421 - Karma: 2,013
this. on a crowded day its seems like everyone is watching and waiting for someone to fail but when ur with your buds just dont worry no one cares for more than a few seconds and so what if some kid thinks ur a gaper fuck him ur just having fun.
Dec 25 2012 1:27PM
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
Good thread. I realised this year I wasn't stoked all the time because my boots were way too big, and after getting a new pair which fit reallly nicely (i'm a boarder) I was doing big cliff drops and fast chutes in Pow and felt way more in control and it felt way more fun, I even ended up doing a Half Cab over a cliff into nice deep slashes. Check your boots fit and are comfy, that could be it. Check your warm enough and you can see with your goggles, and if no to these, get a longer, bigger jacket (Reccomend Orage for Skiers and for Boarders Billabong) and goggles Dragon. Also check your skis feel good to you. You can obviously ski (hopefully haha) so check your Equipment is working as well as you and then you'll ski a lot better. And a helmet is always good, saves your head
Dec 25 2012 1:42PM
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Kebec
Posts: 627 - Karma: 74
Click for larger image

amyways, how i got over it was doing the basics over and over and over again, i built a rail in the backyard and bought myself a trampoline...

but what really helped was doing the basics a billion times and doing every step to an advanced trick slowly...

Go really fast to get big air, press my toes in the front of my boots, jump as early as you can, keep your hands infront of you, look at the landing point, do a 4 point landing and try make as little impact as possible, head for the next jump. As for rails, do the same thing, but jump exactly 90 degrees, look at the end of the rail and hop off while staying calm and balanced.

I also find doing scary things help. I tried a disaster slide before i tried a front swap on that rail...i almost died.

Anyways, hope i helped, i just got out of a phase like that at the end of last year's ski season so i know how you feel.
Dec 25 2012 8:12PM
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Bethune
Posts: 435 - Karma: 26
For me, I just have to be INSPIRED. I often think about just leaving and going home when skiing, but I realize when I get home that I wish I was still skiing. I like to get as much new music before I head up so I can listen to new tunes and that gets me pumped up.
Dec 26 2012 12:17AM
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Transient
Posts: 20 - Karma: 16
For me it's the fear of pain and injury. I used to get so hung up on eating it that I never tried anything. Now I find I half presume I'm going to eat it first try but once you stack it the first time it just amps me to try it again. You realize your not made of glass and you just wanna stick whatever your trying. I dunno, that's my theory 
Dec 26 2012 1:18AM
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Filmore
Posts: 460 - Karma: 861
Last season i went from casing straight airs and straight on party boxes to 7's and 270's off down rails. I actually ended up trying a few inverts too (backflips,rodeos). I think the thing that helped the most was skiing advanced terrain (not park) and practicing OUTSIDE of the park. I skied park for the first time last year, but before hand i just skied regular terrain. Learn to ski, then learn park. Alot of pros did racing before park, and you can tell by seeing how comfortable they are on their skis. It helps you learn skills that make it east to progress, and in the end you have more fun.
Dec 26 2012 2:42AM
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