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Articles
written by Seth Stisher and published in Waterski
magazine
The Slalom Rhythm (05/09/2006)
Train Smart (04/14/2006)
Natural Stance (04/14/2006)
DVDs
The Slalom Rhythm
05/09/2006
If you ever feel like you just can't get in sync with the course,
the buoys, the boat or yourself, you are missing one of the most
important aspects of slalom skiing -- rhythm. The way a skier seamlessly
assembles the kinetic principles of slalom skiing into one successful
slalom pass is what I like to call the "skier's rhythm." Although
the pace may change as the boat speeds up or as the rope shortens,
the rhythm should stay the same.
To achieve this rhythm, you may want to spend some time skiing
free of any buoys, any points of reference, any time or speed demands.
By pacing yourself and resisting the urge to rush back to the other
side of the wakes, as well as understanding that there is no need
to fight the boat, you enable yourself to swing back and forth
behind the boat with much less effort and a more fluid ride.
Tips for getting the most out of free skiing:
Start with low intensity and slowly bring the intensity up as
you get a handle on the rhythm.
Focus on swinging back and forth behind the boat with fluid motion,
a tight line and symmetry.
Keep a narrow approach, starting from about 25-30 feet outside
the wakes to avoid turning too aggressively and defeating the purpose
of the exercise.
Make controlled movements with your lower body to initiate the
turns, with your shoulders level and facing down course, delaying
the load on the rope.
Stay light on the line in order to maintain control. Try not to
overload the rope by leaning away too aggressively.
Initiate the edge change at the middle of the wakes, but maintain
your outbound direction to maximum width in order to keep a tight
line.
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Train
Smart
04/14/2006
All skiers talk about technique, ski setup and how to navigate
through the slalom course, but how often do we think about how
we actually train? Here are a few tips to help you get the most
out of your ski time by enhancing your training both on the water
and off.
1. BE HUMBLE WHEN CHOOSING A STARTING SPEED AND LINE LENGTH.
All too often I see skiers starting at speeds or line lengths that
are far too challenging for their current skill level. A good
rule of thumb is to make your fourth pass the most challenging.
This will ensure not only that you are warmed up before you start
pushing the limits of your body, but it allows time to establish
rhythm before your more difficult rope lengths.
2. BALANCE YOUR TRAINING AMONG THE FOLLOWING THREE GOALS:
Tune your technique and improve it. Work on new concepts and hone
any recently established biomechanical movements you've added
to your technique. This can be done on one of your easier passes
and should make up 35-45 percent of your ski routine.
Rehearse rhythm. Feel the constant movement and rhythm of slalom.
Remember that great skiing is not only accomplished by placing
your body in the right position, it also demands perfect timing.
Focus on your rhythm at your easier line lengths (probably what
is normally your second pass off the dock). Practicing rhythm should
make up about 35-45 percent of your time on the water.
Challenge yourself. Push your skiing to its limits: Fight for
buoys, don't accept defeat and run the pass at all costs (within
reason). The important part of this is that it should only make
up about 10-20 percent of your training.
3. TAKE NOTES.
Keep a journal of your skiing performances, noting your efficiencies,
deficiencies, ski settings, water conditions, diet and any tips
your friends or coaches give you. There is no way we can keep
up with all the things we discover about our skiing without writing
them down. Additionally, if you write it down you will have your
own personal reference manual when you get into a slump.
4.TRAIN LIKE AN ATHLETE.
Many skiers look for quick or even magical answers to their skiing
deficiencies. The sad truth is that some skiers are just not
training like athletes. Athletes not only monitor their actual
sport-based training, they also live a lifestyle that enhances
their abilities.
Here are several aspects of training that are often overlooked:
Diet and nutrition. It is not enough to eat a healthy diet (although
it is a great start); to really excel you need to learn to eat
for peak performance. I suggest reading up on nutrition for athletes.
A good place to start might be a book by Chris Carmichael called
Food for Fitness. There are many others out there as well. I will
defer to experts in the field of nutrition for exact details of
how best to accomplish your nutrition goals.
Mental preparedness. Productive training is not all about the
body; you must also train yourself mentally. This is tougher than
it sounds. Try things like visualizing yourself accomplishing your
goals. Learn to zone out all types of distractions. Again, find
a good book or a sports psychologist to help you with this one,
depending on how far you want to take it.
Get fit. Find a gym for the off-season, take some Pilates or yoga
classes, and/or cross train in other sports. However you do it,
make sure that when you show up on the dock you leave your spare
tire at home on the couch, and that you are tuned for peak performance.
Bear in mind that these are just a few ways to get the most out
of your skiing. Don't let any of these things stand in the way
of your enjoyment of the sport, but if you are like most skiers,
the challenge to improve will be more than half the fun.
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Natural Stance
04/14/2006
Do you ever feel that your ski partners are coaching you to do
things with your body that just aren't humanly possible? Perhaps
this sounds familiar: "Get your hips up." "Place
the handle directly on your outside hip." "Open your
shoulders to the boat." It's safe to say that your friends
aren't trying to mislead you about your slalom technique, but what
they're forgetting to tell you is that you need to feel comfortable
on the water. If you feel as though you're contorting your body
into nonathletic positions, chances are high that you're doing
more harm than good.
Like any other sport,
skiing is an athletic activity that requires natural athletic
movements. These movements can only be achieved when your body
is in a comfortable, balanced position. Let's call this position
your "natural stance." To achieve a natural
stance, start by practicing on dry land. Stand (without a handle
in hand) with your feet shoulder-width apart. Flex your ankles
slightly, and have the majority of your weight on the balls of
your feet. Your head should be upright, hips neutral, and shoulders
up and level. This stance is similar to that of a basketball, soccer
or football player in a defensive position, or a tennis player
a split second before returning a volley. It's a very balanced
and agile position.
Now it's time to duplicate your natural stance, but in a slalom
position with the handle tied to a tree. Do not lean back against
the rope; just stand in this same poised position with the handle
low (at or below your waist). Take a mental note of this position
and work it into your muscle memory.
Once you understand the body mechanics of the natural stance on
dry land, you're ready for a run behind the boat. To start, simply
position yourself about five to 10 feet outside the left wake.
Stay up and poised and begin to move back and forth across the
wakes using your lower body (while maintaining a static upper body).
Resist the urge to get really wide in order to maintain control
of your position. Edging from side to side 10 feet outside each
wake is optimal. This is a great supplemental drill whether you
enjoy open-water skiing or ripping up the course.
You will find that the natural stance is your ultimate leveraging
position. Remember that as an athlete you should never compromise
balance, agility or power. Trust me on this one and your skiing
will reach new heights.
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