Starting Out With Park

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsQAXx_ao0

JUST DO IT

Watch anything from Nimbus. You don't have to be in the park to be a sick skier. And if you fall in pow your not likely to smash your melon as hard.

depends on why you're scared. have you ever been hurt?

Just realize that pain is a part of progression

what tricks are you trying to learn and what fears do you have of them? i was afraid of backflips and not committing and landing on my head. i decided to throw it one day on a backflip booter and committed and had no second thoughts and landed it.

in the words of the late great chris logan "takes me a minute to get my balls up and let em drop, just toss em over the shoulder and go for it"

I don't know that fear is something you really get over, you just have to learn to overcome it. For me, I still get scared a lot, but I focus on the successes I have had in the past and hope it doesn't go poorly when trying something new. I think you'll surprise yourself :)

itswillis21depends on why you're scared. have you ever been hurt?

I've definitely been in silly skiing accidents, but also my brother broke both of his femurs and his tibia and my mom shattered her tibia. The worst that has happened to me were concussions and broken wrists from snowboarding. I've been around so many ski related injuries.

get used to your unatty side on rails early. Don't be embarrassed to try new stuff and have fun.

dub post but tramps and summer setups are amazing for progression.

when i first started skiing park i didn't do anything except regularly slide rails. i did that for a whole year just to get comfortable with the features and my surroundings. even by casually riding and hanging out in the park you'll probably make tons of friends which always helps.

so my advice is to just take it slow and don't worry about hucking dubs in the first month.

Park skiing is all about finding the balance between progression and safety. Find the right balance, and you will get good without getting hurt (for the most part). The progression aspect is all about finding the balls to do something, while the safety part is all about not going too far out of your comfort zone so far that you get hurt.

you gotta realize your body is pretty strong, get some hip and tailbone protectors

When I drop in, my mind is completely blank. I have almost no thoughts except for "get to the next feature".

When it comes time to drop in, you should not be thinking. And it should be that way until you are done with your trick/run.

I do alot of visualization/meditation. It's very helpful. I find it very helpful. Then I can run through the steps of a trick as I'm doing it.

start small. Alot of ppl just huck stuff and get hurt. The key is progression. Start with wider boxes like "dance floors" and just session it over and over and over. once you get comfortable with that move up to thinner boxes etc.

Same with jumps, start small. Also see if there is a place around town that has foam pits and tramps. If there is, then practice your tricks there before bringing em to the hill, because consequences of falling are alot less in a foam pit.

Go to Snogression. Learn tricks on tramps, take them to the foam pit, then you should feel a lot more comfortable than you do now. Plus the guys there know there stuff

Goals are cool, but don't let them become obstacles.

You want to throw sick tricks, but you're not there, and you're scared to get there.

Don't worry about anything crazy. Hell, don't worry about anything. Like my man Timon and Puma said, Hakuna Matata that shit.

Just go through the park, do some stuff you're comfortable with, even if that's just 50/50ing some small boxes and straight airing jumps.

Terrain park skiing is all about muscle memory and air/rail awareness. The more you do it the easier it gets.

Don't worry about throwing double corks, 810s off etc. Just get in there and have fun. Maybe you've never slid a box sideways. Get in there and try it. Maybe you'll fall a few times. Maybe you're landing them but they're super sketchy. Just take each little success and build from it.

None of us were good when we started. Hell, after several years off my skis, I'm garbage on them. That said I bought a pair again 2 years ago and had a blast. IT was my first time skiing in 7 or 8 years, maybe more. I wasn't even sure how to hit a rail. I was sketchy as fuck on everything including just linking turns.

I'm still garbage, I have 0 sponsorships, but I had a great time everyday and could see my improvement.

Ski with friends. Hike a flat box together. Push each other to learn a new trick. Just have a good time.

If you want to straight air every jump in a jump line, every day forever, and never grab, and never spin, do it. IT that's what feels good, fuck anybody else. As long as you're not ruining the features, or snaking people, do what you're feeling.

That's what it's there for.

Also check the lady gabber forum for pink names. Might be able to get some good advice in there.

Idk what the hell I'm saying but just have fun out there and don't think too much about it/or take it too seriously.

As far as the head injury, I feel you. I've had far too many myself and it's really starting to impact things. I don't shred super hard in the park any more, but I LOVE being in the park. Even if I'm just 50/50ing rails and straight airing jumps, it feels great.

Seriously, just get in the park at the start of the season if you can. Sesh a small flat box/small jump and get the feel for everything. Work up from their and just keep having fun.

Hey I live in PC too and haven't hit a box yet, but I'd like to start skiing some park this year. Hit me up if you want someone to fail with.

Key to safe progression is progressing with mind.

Alot of people tend to just huck themselfs having no idea what they're doing wich will possibly result in one or more injurys.

Start of by going to a place with tramps. Do some spins and get the ability to control how far and fast you're spinning. Then get someone to spot you on a backflip. After some time you should be ablw to throw them perfectly . keep progressing towards corks and other flips/spins. This will help you to raise your air awareness significantly wich will later help you out in the park.

Jumps
For the progression in park you should take it step by step. Start off hitting small jumps with a good pop from the lip. Work your way up too bigger jumps if you feel like it and always follow someone in on your first hit if you don't know the speed exaxtly.

Spins
start doing some small 180 of small jumps or sidehits with a solid pop.

Once you got them down you can start trying 3's. An major issue alot of people have with 3's is that they wont pop and keep their skis facing forward the whole time. Ride into the jump with slightly angled knees and once you reach the takeoff get your skis about shoulder wide apart and be patient. You want to initiate the spin slightly before you pop. So set the spin with your shoulders and start to extend your legs. Once you reach the lip you want too have them fully extended and therefore get a nice pop of the lip wich will prevent you from catching an edge.

At first you will be possibly landing backseat , what helps with this is pushing your shins against the toungue of your boot a bit.

Once you got your 3's down you can continue to bigger spins in the same way or get some grabs with them.

3's on bigger jumps can be quite scary at first but just be more patient and carry the rotation more out. Set it slightly with your shoulders and hips and keep looking over your leading shoulder till you spot the landing. Geting a carve of the lip can help too for bigger kickers.

Flips

Flips are really scary to try for the first time. Luckily Airbags, Foampits, Waterramp or pow jumps help to minimize the risk of hurting yourself( even when landing straight on your head ) significantly. Find something like this near you or build an pow jump.

Before you try your first flip you have too think of wich flip you want too try.

Backflips: Backflips are quite scary too try at first but you can see your landing really early making it easy to controll your rotation and stomp them perfectly. Messing a backflip up can hurt quite abit tho( not really in pow if it's deep enough). They're also key too alot of other tricks.

Frontflips:
Frontflips basicly feel the sam as an front roll on a small jump and arent too scary. Also you cant really hurt your self if you try a front roll at first. Not many tricks build up on frontflips tho.

Lincolns:
Quite hard to get arround and easy too mess up
Some say they are key to learn flatspins wich didn't apply for me.

Once you made your decision it's time too find or build an jump suiting your decision.
Backflips
For backflips the jump should have alot of pop wich will help you too get the rotation arround. Airbag jumps usually fit the needs quite well since they are often quite steep.

Now it's time too go and just send it. Hit the jump a few times before and get a feel for it. Maybe even do a 3 or two if it hasn't too much pop. Approach the jump beinf self confident and have someone pumping you up. You must be totally sure you'll stomp it. Visualize the rotation over and over for days. You already stomped it on tramp and can definetly get it. Even if you wont totally land it you most likely wont hurt yourself since you did chokse an safe place too try it.

Once you are ready too go approcach the jump with and active position. Don't let your body become loose. Hold that tightness and once you come towards your jump bend your knees again. Start looking back once you're at the midle of the kicker( depends on size, you'll feel when it's time too). Extend your legs and set it like you did on tramp. Luck behind you till you can spot the landing. Since you already gained alot of air awareness on tramp you'll be able to adjust your spinnig speed too just land perfectly.

Frontflips
For frontflips the jump should be quite flat at first. Find an side hit into pow or build an small pow jump without alot of pop.

Try some front rolls at first in pow or soft snow. Put you're weaker foot to the front and your stronger one too the back. Lean back and lift your leading foot up a bit. Take the momentum from the back and put the leading foot back too snow while starting too push yourself up and forward with the back foot. Put your hands infront of you and roll of to your back. Do this with little speed.

Once you got this down you're ready too take it to frontflip. Do the exact same thing going faster pushing you off the lip of the jump. Once you're back foot leaves the ground grab your knees and tuck. You'll spot your landing on your side. Once yoh see it or feel like opening up extend your legs and be ready too stomp your first frontflip.

Rails
start hitting boxes straight at first. Once you feel comfy get up too a slightly angled flat box and stand sideways on it. Slightly bend your knees and look to the back of it. Keep your wheight central over your skis .

Got it?

Then hit the box with some speed. Don't go too slow since it will be harder too hold balance. Keep your weight central and you'll suceed.

Same thing goes for down boxes you just have too shift your weight more down .


If you got some more questions just hit us up!

Don't think about it. Just go out and ski. See something you think you can hit? Hit it. Get comfortable hitting it. Play it by ear. Don't tell yourself you need to do A, B then C. Just do what feels right. Get a good group of people to ski with to keep the stoke levels up and the rest will come with time.

Beginning of last year I'd have been terrified to spin on to anything. Now I feel pretty good with it. You might be scared of stuff now, but as you progress they'll seem easier and more attainable. You just gotta get out on the mountain and see it for yourself.

Have a couple brews to relax and curb the nerves

Progression is everything. Start small (180s on small jumps, slide boxes and maybe some small ride on rails). Once you get down the basics to jumps and rails start trying to try some new, harder tricks. (180s on bigger jumps, if you feel comfortable a 360 and on rails just continue getting comfortable with all kinds of rails). Basically I could go on step by step, but what I'm trying to say is take it slow, get comfortable and try not to think about injury. Commitment and fear are the two biggest factors in skiing imo, not skill.

The way I think of it is, if I get hurt it'll likely be going big and I'll probably knock myself the fuck out and not feel it til later.

In all seriousness you want to respect the fact that you can be hurt in the park and then learn to have confidence in your skill, without being cocky. Then you won't even fall. Also knowing that you have to fuck up to get better helps.

Whiteout_Key to safe progression is progressing with mind.

Alot of people tend to just huck themselfs having no idea what they're doing wich will possibly result in one or more injurys.

Start of by going to a place with tramps. Do some spins and get the ability to control how far and fast you're spinning. Then get someone to spot you on a backflip. After some time you should be ablw to throw them perfectly . keep progressing towards corks and other flips/spins. This will help you to raise your air awareness significantly wich will later help you out in the park.

Jumps
For the progression in park you should take it step by step. Start off hitting small jumps with a good pop from the lip. Work your way up too bigger jumps if you feel like it and always follow someone in on your first hit if you don't know the speed exaxtly.

Spins
start doing some small 180 of small jumps or sidehits with a solid pop.

Once you got them down you can start trying 3's. An major issue alot of people have with 3's is that they wont pop and keep their skis facing forward the whole time. Ride into the jump with slightly angled knees and once you reach the takeoff get your skis about shoulder wide apart and be patient. You want to initiate the spin slightly before you pop. So set the spin with your shoulders and start to extend your legs. Once you reach the lip you want too have them fully extended and therefore get a nice pop of the lip wich will prevent you from catching an edge.

At first you will be possibly landing backseat , what helps with this is pushing your shins against the toungue of your boot a bit.

Once you got your 3's down you can continue to bigger spins in the same way or get some grabs with them.

3's on bigger jumps can be quite scary at first but just be more patient and carry the rotation more out. Set it slightly with your shoulders and hips and keep looking over your leading shoulder till you spot the landing. Geting a carve of the lip can help too for bigger kickers.

Flips

Flips are really scary to try for the first time. Luckily Airbags, Foampits, Waterramp or pow jumps help to minimize the risk of hurting yourself( even when landing straight on your head ) significantly. Find something like this near you or build an pow jump.

Before you try your first flip you have too think of wich flip you want too try.

Backflips: Backflips are quite scary too try at first but you can see your landing really early making it easy to controll your rotation and stomp them perfectly. Messing a backflip up can hurt quite abit tho( not really in pow if it's deep enough). They're also key too alot of other tricks.

Frontflips:
Frontflips basicly feel the sam as an front roll on a small jump and arent too scary. Also you cant really hurt your self if you try a front roll at first. Not many tricks build up on frontflips tho.

Lincolns:
Quite hard to get arround and easy too mess up
Some say they are key to learn flatspins wich didn't apply for me.

Once you made your decision it's time too find or build an jump suiting your decision.
Backflips
For backflips the jump should have alot of pop wich will help you too get the rotation arround. Airbag jumps usually fit the needs quite well since they are often quite steep.

Now it's time too go and just send it. Hit the jump a few times before and get a feel for it. Maybe even do a 3 or two if it hasn't too much pop. Approach the jump beinf self confident and have someone pumping you up. You must be totally sure you'll stomp it. Visualize the rotation over and over for days. You already stomped it on tramp and can definetly get it. Even if you wont totally land it you most likely wont hurt yourself since you did chokse an safe place too try it.

Once you are ready too go approcach the jump with and active position. Don't let your body become loose. Hold that tightness and once you come towards your jump bend your knees again. Start looking back once you're at the midle of the kicker( depends on size, you'll feel when it's time too). Extend your legs and set it like you did on tramp. Luck behind you till you can spot the landing. Since you already gained alot of air awareness on tramp you'll be able to adjust your spinnig speed too just land perfectly.

Frontflips
For frontflips the jump should be quite flat at first. Find an side hit into pow or build an small pow jump without alot of pop.

Try some front rolls at first in pow or soft snow. Put you're weaker foot to the front and your stronger one too the back. Lean back and lift your leading foot up a bit. Take the momentum from the back and put the leading foot back too snow while starting too push yourself up and forward with the back foot. Put your hands infront of you and roll of to your back. Do this with little speed.

Once you got this down you're ready too take it to frontflip. Do the exact same thing going faster pushing you off the lip of the jump. Once you're back foot leaves the ground grab your knees and tuck. You'll spot your landing on your side. Once yoh see it or feel like opening up extend your legs and be ready too stomp your first frontflip.

Rails
start hitting boxes straight at first. Once you feel comfy get up too a slightly angled flat box and stand sideways on it. Slightly bend your knees and look to the back of it. Keep your wheight central over your skis .

Got it?

Then hit the box with some speed. Don't go too slow since it will be harder too hold balance. Keep your weight central and you'll suceed.

Same thing goes for down boxes you just have too shift your weight more down .


If you got some more questions just hit us up!

Great 5th post, +k. I expect good posts from you

My biggest realisation was that you can't be good at skiing if you're too scared. That thought is what makes me try new stuff.

And honestly, every time I've tried something big or scary and hurt myself, I've still gone home so stoked on trying it. I'd rather try and fail than not try at all. 100%. I tore ligaments in my sternum trying my first under flip 5 like 2 months ago but was SO STOKED that I tried it. And even though I got injured, I'm so motivated to do it again.

Just ride with good homies. That's the key for me.

Josh_Senackeribwww.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsQAXx_ao0

JUST DO IT

DON'T LET YOUR DREAMS BE DREAMS!

Alright i need help on stuff like this too. Like my local mountain is really small and theres not many features. I've been skiing for like 7 years now and i can't rlly do many tricks cause im also really afraid of flips and spinning off big kickers. I can do like reg 3's with tail or safety and same thing with 5's. I can do 7's but not with grab yet but once my mountain opens this year i'll be trying those and i can know i can do them. I can only do like 2's off rails and switch ups but nothing else. Also i can't do switch tricks at all rlly only like 180's and 3's. I did frontflips off small jumps 2 years ago but now i'm really afraid of them. Thats my problems in skiing i hardly have made any progress in 3 years. I feel rlly confident on skis and i control them well but im just really scared of the consequenses like what could happen if i bail. Idk how to get over my fear

Just know, the more you fall and eat shit on a trick, the more satisfying it is when you finally stomp it. I think everyone on here can attest to that.

Whiteout_Key to safe progression is progressing with mind.

exactly, this whole post is on point.

You start small and work your way up. for inverts work from a diving board to a tramp to an air bag, to snow. Once your on the air bag stomping backies moving to snow wont be no big thang!