Member of the Month

hi_vis360
November, 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!

I need some help

profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Help me out here guys, thanks.

I am new to terrain park skiing. I've skied for like 8 years but this year I started park so I am just a beginner. I can do some stuff, but I've noticed a problem.

I can slide boxes, but lately I've been slipping out A LOT and it is really hurting my confidence and making me not want to try, I've been getting really bruised from slipping and hitting my hip or tailbone, and tips on not sliding out? Sorry if I sound like a loser, I just started and love it and would like some help.
Dec 16 2013 3:56PM
72 6
profile picture
Ali_Dibden
Posts: 1966 - Karma: 1,688
To be honest taking hits is a major part of progression but if there was something that can be done to help you can think about putting a good proportion of your weight onto your front foot, though you are thinking about it that way your body will instinctively even out your weight distribution and allow for you to slide dem boxes.

Hope that helped
Dec 16 2013 3:59PM
2 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Thanks man I have also heard a wider stance can help?
Dec 16 2013 4:02PM
2 0
profile picture
mnskier.
Posts: 157 - Karma: 61
Wider stance and stay forward
Dec 16 2013 4:05PM
10 0
profile picture
Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,133
Definitely. It allows your weight to be more variable.
Dec 16 2013 4:07PM
2 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Ok thanks the only problem I've had is slipping out, everything else is good just it happens very often and need to fix it
Dec 16 2013 4:09PM
2 0
profile picture
RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
9 times out 10 when a beginner park skier falls on a rail or box it's slipping out by not leaning forward enough

widen your stance, think about having your feet shoulder width apart, and lean forward, maybe more so than you think you should, even on flat rails (exaggerate it even more on down rails). the wide stance will help this position feel safer, as will the natural tendency of your front foot to to angle up a little bit

also make sure your skis are completely parallel to the rail, do the full 90 every time. as you get better you will be able to be more sloppy about that but right now it's key for you to get a wide, perpendicular stance on the rail and to lean forward. nothing sucks more than slipping out on a rail and this is the antidote to that
Dec 16 2013 4:15PM
5 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Thanks. It's really more down boxes and narrower ones, I learned on a fairly wide one and could do it well but now on skinnier ones (still not too slim but still) I've had more trouble for some reason. But yeah I think I am not leaning forward enough and letting my skis get ahead of me
Dec 16 2013 4:20PM
0 0
profile picture
RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
yep, no matter what youre doing but especially rails, don't let your skis get ahead of you until you have the chops to reign em back in

if you were fine on flat and wide boxes, then pay particular attention to what i said about having your skis fully perpendicular to the rail, that causes a lot of slip outs especially when leaning back. so get a nice aggressive stance and lean forward all squared up and youre good to go
Dec 16 2013 4:26PM
2 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Thanks man I'll try this
Dec 16 2013 4:41PM
1 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Any other advice?
Dec 16 2013 5:24PM
0 0
profile picture
Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,133
Front ski should be angled up, but that should just happen without you trying. Usually, I keep more pressure on my uphill ski than my downhill ski, but it's kinda up to you, as long as it's pretty much neutral.
Dec 16 2013 5:32PM
2 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Thanks for the help so far!!
Dec 16 2013 6:09PM
1 0
profile picture
elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,556
Well when sliding a narrow box or a rail, the key to staying on is all in the shoulders. Keep them completely sideways and spot the end.
Dec 16 2013 8:59PM
2 0
profile picture
-WZ-
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 6,582
I still slide out all the time at i know what you mean about it hurting your confidence. anyways heres some tips that helped me
1. Convince yourself that you can and will do the rail
2. Pretend youre holding a heavy suitcase and its weighing down your downhill side (helps a ton for downrails)
3. Look towards the end of the rail (this was the biggest thing for me)

Dec 16 2013 10:50PM
4 0
profile picture
FroesenSkeeze
Posts: 638 - Karma: 673
1) Confidence

2) Wide stance

3) Keep shoulder height parallel to the angle of the rail (If you drew a line going through your downhill shoulder to your uphill shoulder, that line would be parallel to the rail.)

4) Repetition. You have to develop your own balance point and feel for the rail. Advice can only go as far as understanding the theory of it.
Dec 16 2013 11:41PM
4 1
profile picture
RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
to begin, i'd def advise hitting rails that let you come straight on, just because coming from an angle necessitates more edge control that you obv don't have at this point. so just practice getting on straight tons of times, and you'll get used to cradling the rail under the balls of your feet, and then eventually you will have no problem coming on from an angle

great advice in here.. i forgot to mention what the other dude said, look at the end of the rail! your body goes where your head looks
Dec 17 2013 9:42AM
2 0
profile picture
Gr0mo
Posts: 707 - Karma: 3,663
make sure you sliding with your dominant side. I used to go left foot forward because I spin right and i assumed that would be my dominant side to spin onto a rail. Turns out i am MUCH better with my right foot forward. It only took me a year to figure that one out ha
Dec 17 2013 11:02AM
0 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
And when you are looking at the end, do you face your shoulders that way or just your head?
Dec 17 2013 3:44PM
1 0
profile picture
John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,165
All these tips. I was learning unnatural stuff and don't slip out going unnatty now because as long as you commit to the even balance, you can feel if you're slipping and adjust.
Dec 17 2013 3:49PM
3 1
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Yeah I think committing is where I am going wrong
Dec 17 2013 5:34PM
2 0
profile picture
RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
mostly your head
Dec 17 2013 7:15PM
2 0
profile picture
caderobinson
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 4,770
If your falling it means your trying, which obviously means your going to improve. Dont be afraid to fall, but at the same time be smart when progressing.
Dec 17 2013 7:30PM
1 0
profile picture
thedanimal
Posts: 490 - Karma: 180
I'm not a very good park skier it I can slide rails fairly well. I went throughthrough last year, what you're going through now. Everything about what you have to do physically has been said. But mentally try to be confidant and when you eat shit have a laugh with your friends or with a fellow skier in the park. It will make it more fun for you And good luck !
Dec 18 2013 12:35AM
0 0
profile picture
GlackAttack
Posts: 83 - Karma: 234
While your learning it might not be a terrible investment to look into hip pads, I had them and still use them occasionally and they help a lot and give you more confidence knowing it wont hurt too bad when you fall.
Dec 18 2013 3:47AM
1 0
profile picture
Freeheel4real
Posts: 909 - Karma: 95
It's not really worth it, park skiing kinda sucks.
Dec 18 2013 3:55AM
0 4
profile picture
John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,165
Commitment is the key to everything. The motto is: "Commit or Eat Shit."
Dec 18 2013 10:30AM
2 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Thanks, I'll look into some.
Dec 18 2013 5:39PM
0 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Park skiing sucks? Why would you have a NS account if you think "park skiing kinda sucks"?
Dec 18 2013 5:40PM
1 0
profile picture
KingTaco
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 2,829
make the mental distinction between turning sideways to stop and turning sideways to slide. ive never seen a person go for a box first try and not slip back and fall.
you fall back because when you turn sideways and think you might fall, you resist reaching the end of the feature, your weight leans toward the lip causing you to fall that way. You truly have to want to get to the end of the feature. be light on your feet (like having a good touch in soccer. dont land heavy) and slide effortlessly to get there. Wanting to get to the end of the feature will lean your weight in that direction and your slides will be smoother not falling back as much.

trust me on this I skied with true beginners all last season, and i figured this shit out myself after eating it millions of time
Dec 18 2013 8:16PM
3 0
profile picture
iceyboyz
Posts: 116 - Karma: 150
Gonna work on all of this
Dec 20 2013 7:50PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)