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January, 2025

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Confidence to try new tricks?

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deeznuts.
Posts: 173 - Karma: 429
I'm more of a backcountry skier myself but I got myself a pair of park skis this year (line chronics) because I wanted to get into park skiing a bit more. Right now all I can really do is hit some jibs in the park, normal flat boxes and some small-medium jumps. I've been doing straight airs with some small grabs, and I can do the odd 180 off small rollers and the little jumps off to the side of the hill. To be completely honest I don't think i'm ballsy enough to try much more than I already am doing. Does anyone have some tips for me to get my confidence up to try some new stuff and progress in the park?
Jan 1 2014 6:33PM
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Thadius.Castle
Posts: 1436 - Karma: 250
Unless you got them for a steal, the Chronics may have been the wrong choice for you. They are more of a intermediate-advanced ski.

But to answer your question you just have to get used to the idea of falling, and getting back up. A lot. And the possibility of getting hurt is always there.
Jan 1 2014 6:37PM
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deeznuts.
Posts: 173 - Karma: 429
I got them at a discounted price, what would you recommend as a good beginner park ski?
Jan 1 2014 6:57PM
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ManicMaverick
Posts: 68 - Karma: 66
Hey OP, I'm sitting in the same place as you, because I just started skiing park more this year. The thing I've come up with though, is pick a trick you want to learn. For me, it was a basic grab and sliding a box. I worked on both until I got them down. Now I want to perfect my 180's, and learn a mute grab. Just look around for videos and guides for what you want to do, and start piecing it together. For example, to learn the mute I'm first going to get comfortable crossing my skis in the air, then throw the grab in (our jumps aren't huge, so there's not a lot of air time). Just my $.02. My goal by the end of the season is to throw a 360 mute grab. We'll see if I get there.
Jan 1 2014 7:01PM
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deeznuts.
Posts: 173 - Karma: 429
I'll try that out! Thanks for the advice and good luck with the mute 3
Jan 1 2014 7:03PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
He can be an intermediate-advanced skiier without being good at park. Same way you can be a great park skiier but suck at skiing the rest of the mountain.
Jan 1 2014 7:09PM
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ManicMaverick
Posts: 68 - Karma: 66
Thanks man, good luck to you too. Here, check out this thread, it's a guide to different grabs and shows you how to do them:

https://www.newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/349988/

Also, go to youtube and look for the "K2 School of Rockers" videos. They're kinda cheesy sometimes, but they do a decent job at explaining how to do different tricks, and they start from straight airs. There's three of them.
Jan 1 2014 7:10PM
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NoTalent
Posts: 27 - Karma: 37
If you see someone in the park do a trick you want to learn, ask them for tips. Every park skiier/snowboarder i've ever met has been super cool and people are generally really stoked to help you get better.


Jan 1 2014 7:14PM
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Thadius.Castle
Posts: 1436 - Karma: 250
I'm talking intermediate-advanced in the park. Its a ski that will do more for you, if you can continuously push and it go big.

OP: Start with some boxes. Try to get a lot of box slides in before you do start doing rails. Same way with jumps, work your way up. You're going to have to do things that you aren't necessarily going to be comfortable with at first. But like I said, get used to the idea of falling.
Jan 1 2014 7:15PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
I'm aware, but that doesn't mean much in terms of what kind of ski you want. It's not like a park ski designed for more advanced park skiers makes it more difficult for a beginning park skier to learn how to do, say, a 360. Sure, it does more for you if you go big than a beginner park ski would, but it's not like you can't use it to not go as big.
Jan 1 2014 7:25PM
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Thadius.Castle
Posts: 1436 - Karma: 250
Yeah. You make a valid point. My line of thought that was if OP didn't get a deal and paid the full $500 for them, he could have gone a different route and gotten a good price point ski that would be more responsive and cater to his needs/ability level.
Jan 1 2014 7:29PM
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
Hey op,

So I was and still am in the same position. I used to sit at the top of a flat bar for 20 minutes only to ski into it and pussy out and end up just going over the side of the jump haha. That was when I was either skiing alone or with someone who sucked. I thought "oh I should map it out in my head more what I should do", so I did. I would think about the movement, and practice it on my backyard setup... But when it came to the mountain I would always undercommit and I couldn't apply the skills I had been accumulating. So I thought "Alright what will push me to say 'fuck it huck it' more?" and the answer lied in people who were better than me. So I kinda socialized my way into a crew of guys who were absolutely sick, like throwing dubs and stuff, and I was already super into filming so I would film them. So when I wasn't filming I'd lap with them. And just their presence made me throw what I knew how to do more. Ya know? So in my experience, ski with people who will push you (aka people who are better) and don't over think it and accept, "hey I might get hurt, but that's part of it".

Hope I could help man.

Good luck, just keep trying.

Louis
Jan 1 2014 8:06PM
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-WZ-
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 6,582
This is really good advice, tbh im still shit at park but when i lap with friends that are better than me i always seem to perform better. i find that you always push yourself more than you would solo.
Jan 1 2014 10:28PM
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JahLiam
Posts: 2321 - Karma: 7,828
Find a skier better than you that you kind of know, but you don't know too well, then when they are doing tricks, you will force yourself to try new tricks if you don't want them to think you're a pussy. I do it all the time
Jan 1 2014 10:32PM
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-WZ-
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 6,582
this has resulted in so many crashes for me lol

but its definitely a way to learn new shit
Jan 1 2014 10:54PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Visualize everything.
Get used to falling, the more you fall the better you get at it. Soon falls will rarely hurt.
Jan 2 2014 12:51AM
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slt.shred
Posts: 176 - Karma: 198
sometimes when i approach a feature ill talk shit to it in my head. ex) "im gunna fuck you up rail" helps with confidence, if im nervous its guaranteed i wont commit thus i eat shit
Jan 2 2014 12:54AM
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Dode
Posts: 349 - Karma: 1,052
Listening to music that gets me pumped up has always helped me as well as skiing with people who are better than me because they give you advice and seeing them throw down will make you want to as well
Jan 2 2014 1:02AM
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cyberginger
Posts: 574 - Karma: 7,083
My plan:

1) Use some music to get pumped up. Hand motions, dancing whatever, get pumped, don't focus on the trick yet. clear your mind. Example song:



2) Visualize the trick. Maybe look at a couple of pov or trick tip videos on the lift. Understand what you are going to do, and how you will do it.

3) If its something difficult/ dangerous, Its good to have someone on the knoll to close the feature is you eat shit.

4) Send it. You might fall. If you do, Repeat this process.
Jan 2 2014 1:24AM
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E-fry
Posts: 601 - Karma: 2,171
Listen to your favourite music and drop before you have time to think too much.
Jan 2 2014 2:55AM
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Mr.Gaga
Posts: 2021 - Karma: 542
Cocain.
Jan 2 2014 2:56AM
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David6
Posts: 141 - Karma: 177
I'm in the same boat as you OP, threads.
Jan 2 2014 3:01AM
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EvanMeyer
Posts: 3826 - Karma: 3,509
Are you retarded? thats like saying the skateboard deck you have will make you better at skateboarding. The ski you have has nothing to do with HOW YOU PERFORM.
Jan 2 2014 3:14AM
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majortapper
Posts: 108 - Karma: 51
aye, listen to the music played in your favourite ski edit and pretend you are in that edit and eat shit and die.
Jan 2 2014 3:42AM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Nothing wrong with his skis....He just has to keep at it.
Jan 2 2014 11:46AM
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Substitute
Posts: 1378 - Karma: 2,275
Just don't think about the potential injury. It won;t happen anyway.

Learn spins by just jumping up and spinning in your house with no skis/boots on. I learned all of my spins that way. I can do a standing 720 in sneakers.

Anyway, do 360s like 50 times at home then go to the hill and throw your arms around. (you'll look like an idiot but your learning) Then just look over your shoulder and keep looking. Spot the jump when you get half way around. keep looking for the knuckle and then once you see it open up and get ready to land. You might land backseat the first few times but don't let that scare you.

If your skis are the right length and are center mounted you will be fine.

Good luck man
Jan 2 2014 1:16PM
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
The 58's are fucking amazing, got the free decals they gave out a while back

but yes, good tips as well
Jan 2 2014 1:30PM
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MontanaMuggin
Posts: 444 - Karma: 1,642
So since the first day my mountain opened id been trying this urban handrail, I wouldn't fully commit or anything. And yesterday my friend told me to try getting on normal besides urban, I was scared as fucks me the first 2 try's I just went off the side of the jump but we hiked it. The 3rd I just said fuck it and I did it! And I was insanely stoked and the feeling was great. And that got me stoked and gave me confidence to try more tricks because you feel so good once you get it. And after that I actually tried lip on and front 2 out on the same rail and nearly got them both so I felt amazing. You have no idea how good you will feel once you start getting it! Sorry for the long post, but good luck
Jan 2 2014 3:39PM
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deeznuts.
Posts: 173 - Karma: 429
Thanks for all the advice guys!

if anyone was wondering my chronics are 171's and I'm 5'10-5'11. I chose that over the 178 because i knew i was newer to park so a shorter ski would work to my advantage.. was that a good decision?

Also I consider myself an advanced/expert skier outside of the park, I ski just as fast in the trees as I do on groomers with no problem at all (mainly because I'm an ex racer of 12 years). I can handle speed just fine but once i get to combining it with a kicker or a rail and throw in some spins I completely pussy out haha. I'm just gonna grow some balls and try some shit tomorrow, it being my last day in aspen.

Btw if anyone's in Aspen, CO skiing shoot me an inbox or reply to me on this thread and maybe we can meetup and take a couple runs!
Jan 2 2014 5:54PM
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quizbot
Posts: 56 - Karma: 27
Someday you'll get older, have a job, realize if you break yourself off you won't be able to eat.

Also that park skiing shouldn't be a feasible thing to a person if your not under healthcare of some kind. Doing otherwise is just a idiot move.
Jan 2 2014 6:34PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
pull your balls out of your torso. Just go fast, hit jumps, do tricks, and stomp landings. Quit being such a pussy. It's not that difficult.
Jan 2 2014 7:02PM
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lamppost
Posts: 277 - Karma: 201
i know this psychologist and i got onto the topic of this with him during a conversation and he said if you take 30min and visualize yourself doing the trick the muscles affected during the trick make microscopic movements so naturally, if you would do this more often it would come more natural and you would feel more comfortable. think of yourself in the 1st person point of view to feel comfortable with the trick and in the 3rd person point of view to analyze what you would do wrong.
Jan 2 2014 7:45PM
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jibberty
Posts: 156 - Karma: 124
1) Fall a couple time! you will realize that it's not that bad so you will not be scared about falling and it's probably the only point why you don't progress quickly.

2) ride with people that are confident in the park. You will ski a lot better!

3) Be confident! If you're not sure if you want to do the rail or something, then you will fall. If you're confident and focused on what you're doing 99% of the time you will got it.

4) GO HARD OR GO HOME!!
Jan 2 2014 8:51PM
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Gnaruto
Posts: 521 - Karma: 435
DONT BE A PUSSY
Jan 2 2014 9:12PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52146 - Karma: 168,473
Click for larger image

Click for larger image

Click for larger image


If you roll with all 3 of those together you're golden. Music def helps. Some green if you're into that. Starting on a feature that isn't intimidating. IT you want to try a 270 on find something low to the ground and relatively short. As you get more comfortable with the trick progress to larger features. That's probably the easiest and safest way to learn.
Jan 2 2014 9:13PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Work on your pop. It seems so simple but it's such a huge part of park skiing, especially jumping. If you aren't committing to popping off the lip and bringing your knees up, you're not going to be balanced in the air.

Try taking a few laps and just straight airing jumps to work on giving yourself a good pop right as you reach the end of the lip. Concentrate on forward pressure in your boots and landing with your weight centered over you skis. Once you feel balanced and in control in the air, start bringing you skis up further and begin grabbing. Also, always bring the grab to your hand, never reach.

A lot of people skip this step (I did when I started learning) and it really throws off your progression. Take it one step at a time and before you know it, you'll gain a bunch of confidence and air awareness, making trying new tricks way less intimidating.


As for rails, just keep hitting them and hitting them and hitting them. I wouldn't even focus on spinning out of them until you are completely confident in your ability to slide end to end while keeping your balance and popping off (emphasis on the popping off).

When you get to the end of the rail, really focus on popping high off the rail so when you begin to spin your 270s, 450s, etc, you will have plenty of time to turn your head and spot your landing.

Swaps and spins on will all come with confidence. Give these things time and before you know it you'll be slaying park.
Jan 3 2014 12:27AM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Double post, but quoting this for emphasis.

I was watching a guy in his late 20's the other day throw rodeo 5's and 7's with some fucking crazy grabs. Every now and then, he would be no where close to landing these things but would casually put a ski down, nonchalantly sit down on the landing, and slide to a stop. He would then get up and walk to lift line completely unscathed. It just goes to show if you work on air awareness and falling correctly, you can botch the hell out of even the harder tricks with minor to no injuries.
Jan 3 2014 12:39AM
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deeznuts.
Posts: 173 - Karma: 429
Great, great advice... thanks! Definitely going to work on my pop and take some falls to get used to it. Thanks so much
Jan 3 2014 1:11AM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
No problem. Have fun with it man.
Jan 3 2014 1:13AM
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nine50seven
Posts: 576 - Karma: 686
Just don't be the guy that pussys out be the guy that will try anything that's enough motivation for me
Jan 3 2014 2:15AM
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jordangaebel
Posts: 365 - Karma: 92
Everyones gotta learn man.. I remember when it took me a month to over come the fear of 270's/360s/bigger grabs. But after you get the basics down then everything should come very easy and fast.
Jan 3 2014 2:25AM
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SteezNutz
Posts: 71 - Karma: 1,591
Progress at your own pace brother, don't be scared either, if your skis and everything are set right, youll be fine.
Jan 3 2014 3:02AM
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tvonny
Posts: 209 - Karma: 660
threads
Jan 6 2015 5:22PM
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johnnyBuz
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 1,270
Super threads
Jan 7 2015 2:04AM
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Dobber
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 9,832
Super duper threads
Jan 7 2015 11:27AM
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gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,550
DiabeetoDouble post, but quoting this for emphasis.

I was watching a guy in his late 20's the other day throw rodeo 5's and 7's with some fucking crazy grabs. Every now and then, he would be no where close to landing these things but would casually put a ski down, nonchalantly sit down on the landing, and slide to a stop. He would then get up and walk to lift line completely unscathed. It just goes to show if you work on air awareness and falling correctly, you can botch the hell out of even the harder tricks with minor to no injuries.


this pretty much. were not talking about skating or bmxing where falls actually hurt. more likely than not it will feel like your falling on a slip and slide and will be fun. theres no reason not to try rail tricks unless there is significant possibility of nutting and same with jump tricks unless you have no idea how to do the rotation in which case jumps can actually fuck you up.
Jan 7 2015 1:41PM
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