Some points that were covered during the holidays, that you might have missed.
You learned the high speed step turn and were encouraged to use the step turn rather then the snow plow for going around corners. Look for that worn skied in grooved step turn that only goes the length of your ski. There will likely be 2 or 3 of those on a corner. Use them and think attack and accelerate out of the corner.
On some sharp 90' or more severe corners, there maybe painted areas where it is fair game to skate. Keep in mind you cannot not skate in the Birkie, unless it is so indicated.
Double pole as much as you can, everywhere, unless it is no longer practical.
When using the running herringbone, use a flat ski and kick wax, and not the edge, until you absolutely have to use an edge. A flat ski is faster and will not wear the wax off as quickly.
On a side slope as you are climbing, you can edge into the hill if need be, when using the the running diagonal side step or the diagonal.
Keep the your hands low and plant the pole baskets a bit further back, when using the herringbone. Keep the shoulders over your ankles and the head up. if you lean to far forwards you will slip. Recover the skis under your body, and do not get too wide. Watch your ski tips, and do not let them get caught in the snow edges.
You also learned where to look for grip. You must think, think, think, about where the grip is, and where the glide is. Jump out of the tracks and try the pole tracks or where the snow was protected from the sun. There are 9 areas at least, to look for grip and glide on a double set of tracks. Check out all the areas and remember that there are many factors that could change your evaluation.
Some of those factors would include sunshine, wind, how much it has been skied in, humidity, cloud cover, temperature change, more snow, blowing snow, grooming of the snow, your ski structure, how much wax you have left, dirt, leaves, pine needles, ice, etc., etc. Do NOT ski on automatic pilot. Know where the best snow is, for any given ski movement.
Do not follow blindly where someone else is skiing, because their skis could be totally different set-up for grip and glide.
Going downhill you were reminded to push your knees over your toes, hands stay low, shoulders over the ankles, stay in the ready position.
Do not let your hands go high or let your legs straighten. Remember the image of holding a tray in front of you or the bicycle handlebars.
When you are turning, keep the shoulder over the downhill edged ski, with the hips inside the edged ski.
If there is a hump on the uphill caused by the groomers for skaters, keep the belly button in the centre of the hump. Once again use a flat ski and not an edge unless needed.
Try not to muscle up the hill with the upper body, when climbing in the diagonal. At a certain point and only you will know it, go to half herringbone or jump out of the tracks and try to find grip doing the diagonal, before going to a running herringbone.
Remember to double pole, and single kick double pole uphill before going into the diagonal. The speed of the snow will determine what you use. One day it maybe double poling, the next day herringbone!?
Increase your tempo on the uphills! The hills on the Birkie course are roller coasters and are not more then a minute of climbing, so apply more energy accordingly.
Try to carry as much speed into the uphill as possible.
When and if things go south on you, it is better to have a controlled fall, rather then a wipeout. Do not take chances, it is better to be safe then sorry.
Sometimes you have look some distance ahead, both on the trail and in your skiing life.
In the old days we were always told that most racing courses are a third up, and third down, and a third flat. However 50% of your time is spent climbing, so you must do a lot of hill climbing. I wait for other research to tell me that the % of climbing time has changed. The courses and skis are far faster now so we will see.
Next week the hill learning will continue.
Go ski, have fun, be safe!
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