| If you're like many, you may be intrigued by bump | | | | Then lift your toes up, to force your ski tails down. |
| skiing, but a bit weary if you can pull it off. Downhill | | | | Practice this rocking motion back and forth as you |
| skiing well is challenging enough on average terrain - | | | | gently work your way down the hill. We'll get a |
| hit the bumps and everything changes. Experienced | | | | better picture of how this comes into play on the |
| skiers dressed in fancy ski equipment and who "make | | | | moguls, but for now just understand that it's the |
| it look so easy," only adds to our anxiety. | | | | foundation to giving you better control of your skis. |
| Nevertheless, you can learn to ski the bumps quickly | | | | The next activity is Pivot Turns. This can also be |
| and efficiently. | | | | practiced in the home. Pretend you're facing downhill |
| If you talk to the pros you may hear the following: | | | | while focusing on an object on your door or wall. In |
| "All you have to do is keep your skis on the snow | | | | your socks, standing on a towel (preferably on a |
| with absorption and extension. Keep your upper body | | | | wood or tile floor), pivot both feet left, then right - |
| facing downhill and reach and drive with your ski | | | | back and forth - just like you would at a sock hop, |
| poles." Ok.....thanks for the tips! What the heck does | | | | but keep your body (and hips) facing the wall. |
| all this mean? | | | | When on the snow, find a small mound so that the |
| The reality is this - moguls look a lot smaller from the | | | | tips of your ski tails are raised up off the snow. You'll |
| chairlift. When you hit your first bump you may lose | | | | likely be standing sideways on the mountain facing |
| your hat. The second one twists and contorts your | | | | the side of the trail. If you're facing right, flatten your |
| upper body, making you completely out of control. | | | | skis and then pivot your ski boots left until you swing |
| The third bump, smiles, as it ejects you from your | | | | to the opposite direction. The key is to keep the |
| skis, and you land with a thud on bump number four. | | | | focus on your feet. Let your feet pivot underneath |
| Frustrated, but determined, you try again with the | | | | while your upper body remains facing downhill. You |
| exact same results - don't worry - there's a fix! | | | | will fall a few times - that's ok and a normal part of |
| First, don't be discouraged or intimated and avoid | | | | learning this drill. |
| excuses. Ski techniques much be approached with a | | | | This drill is awkward no doubt, but it will wake up the |
| positive attitude and a willingness to learn. If you're | | | | muscles that will allow you to turn when skiing the |
| nervous about people watching you - get over it. If | | | | bumps - so it's kind of important. |
| you think you'll get hurt or destroy your knees - it | | | | When you are confident with both Side Slipping and |
| doesn't have to be this way. While taking a mogul | | | | Pivot Turns, head for the bumps. |
| lesson is good, a one hour lesson isn't going to make | | | | When you look down a mogul run, focus on the tops |
| you competent. | | | | of the bumps. The tops are where you'll turn, and |
| There's an easier way. We can learn to ski the | | | | they'll provide the natural lift of your ski tails off the |
| bumps in a softer line by practicing some | | | | snow. The valleys or troughs are often icy and |
| fundamentals. The notion that skiing more makes you | | | | unforgiving to a beginning bump skier. The tops of |
| a better skier, while true to a point, must be put | | | | moguls are covered with fluffy, soft snow. So, |
| aside. The more you ski incorrectly, the more you | | | | standing on "top" of your first mogul, look left and |
| develop and cement bad habits. One can't continue | | | | right for your next top. Important - you'll see a flat |
| bad habits and effectively ski the bumps. If you do, | | | | ridge that "connects the tops." Ski the ridges, not the |
| you're doomed for failure and injury. What we need | | | | icy troughs. |
| to do first is step back and look at some | | | | Facing in one direction on top of a mogul, use the |
| fundamental exercises. | | | | Side Slipping technique and slip to your next, working |
| There are two primary exercises: Side Slipping and | | | | your way down. This "controlled decent" in one |
| Pivot Turns | | | | direction is a great confidence booster. However, you |
| The first activity to practice is Side Slipping and you | | | | will need to turn eventually as ski trails are only so |
| can begin working this drill right in your living room. | | | | wide. So when you're comfortable and you land on |
| Start by simply standing sideways, as if standing | | | | top of your next mogul, try a pivot turn. Simply steer |
| perpendicular on a ski slope. We'll start facing to the | | | | your ski boots in the direction you want to go. |
| right, as if your left arm was on the "downhill" side of | | | | Remember, you can control your speed with the |
| the slop. Standing in your socks, slowly roll your | | | | Side Slip. As you slide down the front of your bump, |
| ankles to the right so you're balancing on the sides of | | | | you can increase or decrease edge pressure (and |
| your feet. We want to pretend that we're holding | | | | thus speed), while you look for your next top. |
| ourselves in place, with our ski edges, to keep from | | | | This style of skiing is slower and more controlled. It's |
| slipping down the hill. Next, slowly flatten your feet to | | | | ideal for those first skiing the bumps. By Side Slipping |
| the floor. Practice this facing both ways. Now try it | | | | and Pivot Turning you maintain control, allowing you |
| with ski boots on. It will feel awkward - that's normal. | | | | time to get comfortable and build the confidence you |
| Practice in small doses for just a few minute a day. | | | | need. When you are comfortable on the bumps with |
| When on the mountain, do the same thing as | | | | these techniques then think about skiing the icy |
| described above, but with your skis on. Upon relaxing | | | | troughs. Attempting the troughs right out of the gate |
| your ankles so your skis flatten, you'll start to slide | | | | will have you on your but in no time. You'll be |
| down the hill. Let your whole body go with your skis. | | | | discouraged, disheartened, and cold. Skiing the bumps |
| If your ski tips dip forward, lift your toes to balance | | | | does not have to be a barrage of jarring movements |
| and keep them perpendicular to the hill. If your ski | | | | and jack hammering knees. Practice Side Slipping and |
| tails start heading downhill, push your toes down. Play | | | | Pivots turns separately - own them. Practice the |
| with this exercise until you're comfortable keeping | | | | parts - then bring them together on the bumps. It's a |
| your skis perpendicular during the slide. Now start | | | | lot more fun when you can make the moguls work |
| pushing your toes down to force your skis down. | | | | for you! |