water ski coaching
Sometimes you just gotta keep going!
One of the things I have always focused on with slalom skiing is technique. There are two major reason for that in my opinion: 1-Proper technique makes for less work (so more efficient), and 2-Proper technique can prevent injury (so longevity of career whether hobby or job).
Over the years with my won skiing I have had seasons/years where I focused heavily on this, but I have also had seasons where I really just tried to “give it hell”. I have had success with both and failures with both. These trends in my training have invariably followed trends in my overall attitude toward life.
I say all of this in order to step out of my typical coaching character for a moment. Being a coach that spends a lot of time preaching the value of proper mechanics married with great rhythm, I think it is important to admit that sometimes you just gotta go for it. When you have been skiing for years and know your way around a slalom course no matter what level you ski, you need to occasionally recognize that you are good enough to run a PB on any given day while skiing on what you might call and “brutal” form of autopilot. I see my competitors do it quite often and even find myself getting pats on the back for “looking great” and having “beautiful technique” only to go home with something like a 15th place finish. These experiences along with my more honest training partners have insured over the years that from time to time, I just ski the pass and keep skiing no matter what happens. We have watched Andy Mapple (the legend) ski through several mistakes for years and literally crush his competitors. In fact 98% of the pro skiers who run 39 and go deep at 41 aren’t making it pretty when they get to their max pass.
I was sent the video below by my good friend and occasional training partner Srdjan Dragic. He sent it to me to pound home the idea that I was good enough to run 39 even on my worst day (a fact I am not altogether aware, but if he says so…). Anyway, watch the super-sloppy 39 I run below (well, I lost the handle at the exit gates) and tell me you don’t agree that it doesn’t always have to be pretty (pay no attention to the fact that someone tried to do me a favor at six ball with the boat…but perhaps a little late). Enjoy, and when you’re done…just go ski for a set or two!
“Dropping the hips” versus COM in desired direction of Travel…Dispelling the myths!
So it’s no surprise that at this point in the evolution of slalom skiing one of the biggest things I coach is for people to learn to move efficiently…with little to no waste or energy or direction. I speak a lot about moving in a positive direction versus a negative direction. This means you not only need to move across course, but with the boat as well. Without getting into the heavy details, the idea is that your center of mass should fall in the desired direction of travel rather than away from the boat or to the tail of the ski.
This is where I feel like I get misquoted as do many coaches and skiers…inevitably 9 out of 10 skiers say, “…yeah I understand about dropping the hips and everything…” or something to that effect. The funny thing is I purposely avoid the word “DROP” when referring to the hips at all costs.
Here are some different definitions for the word. The first four are exactly what you shouldn’t do and the fifth one is similar to what creates efficient positive movement, but again the definition suggests that the word would normally be followed by “down”. Nevertheless, I believe the word really tends to carry a connotation of a negative movement and should be avoided in describing our ideal movement through the turn and across the course.
drop [drop] noun, verb, dropped or dropt, drop⋅ping.
| 1. to fall vertically; have an abrupt descent. |
| 2. | to fall or move to a position that is lower, farther back, inferior, etc.: to drop back in line; to drop to the rear. |
| 3. | to squat or crouch, as a dog at the sight of game. |
| 4. | to cause or allow to sink to a lower position. |
| 5. | to move gently, as with the tide or a light wind (usually fol. by down). |
