How do I end the dreaded intermediate rut? (Telemark question)?

Question

Let me give you a little bit of background: I have been freeheeling for five years, and generally go skiing about 8-15 times per season. I ski mostly in the midwest which hurts me when I want to ski the steep and deep but am always trying to fine tune my skiing. I recently shortened my poles which really helps keep my hands in front of me and helps me stay in an aggressive stance. I know this question is kind of vague, but I'm hoping for a wide range of answers and hopefully there is one tip that will give me that eureka moment to take me to the next level.

Answer 1

tele is just like walking down stairs.

imagine

step out with first leg

other leg knee bends and stays planted until leg is stepping out to the next stair

pretend you are wearing a tight mini skirt while you ski

I like my poles long (unless sking bumps) get ajustable poles

That way I can reach way out and then ski around my pole plant

tele is a beautiful dance. dance aroud those pole plants on the groomers. play with different styles.

shallow knee dips to deep knee dips

a full bag of tricks for the steep and deep

steep and deep is easier with short fat skis

deep knee dips will keep you from tipping over.

commit to turning Your legs will have to be stong

hike alot. this will make you one with the ski and your legs stong

Answer 2

I guess my best suggestion might also be the most obvious... do a tele clinic or take a lesson.  I think this is the best way to get a tall glass of fresh perspective.  You'll be able to see and practice new concepts, which will be a lot easier than reading someone's guess at how you can improve.

It's nearly impossible to give you specific suggestions without seeing you ski, since I can't see what might be keeping you in that 'rut.'  But here's some generic ideas:

1.  Weight training - strengthening all of the muscles you use for tele skiing can really help build confidence while you're on the hill and take your skiing to the next level.  I found that this helps me immensely.  A lot of times all you need to ski more aggressively is a little more power.  If I had to recommend one exercise it would be squats, though a lot of reps of lunges with low weight and even bikes or stairs will help a lot too.

2.  Drill  yourself on the hill.  Practice things like sideslipping on something steep.  Pick a specific line and then try to ski it.  If your problem is keeping forward in an aggressive stance, hold your poles horizontally out in front of you and practice keeping them perpendicular to the fall line.  Do lots of little games like this with yourself and you'll build your confidence and hone your skills.  Make up drills!

3. Ski more!  It's hard to get better at anything only doing it a dozen or less times per year!  I understand your frustration with your terrain and maybe you can't get out more than that, but that's the best way to learn.  In particular, try to ski several days in a row.  This will help build your muscle memory for tele skiing.

4. Make the effort to get to more difficult terrain.  You can practice as much as you want, but there's no substitute for the real thing.

Good luck!  Hope this is helpful.

Answer 3

One thing I've been working on all season has been short turns. I was watching some guys at Windham last year ski a really icy slope and they never got more than five feet off of the fall line. I was awed. These guys were tiny and didn't seem to have a problem dropping one turn after another...I do. I'm not that fast. I figured it would be something to work on at a later date.

I started working on it this season. I'd find the steepest slope I could find and just focused on making a quick turn and stopping. Then I'd turn the other way and stop again. Just like I did when I was learning on the green dots a few years ago. Just now the knee bends are deeper and the edges are biting in a bit more...especially on the ice. I'm up to 3 linked turns on average...on steep ice. After that I usually blow it and slide or get too far away from the fall line for the purposes of my exercise.

I wish I could offer more info. The only thing else I can add is to just pick one thing you want to work on each day and stick to that. Keep going back to the basics everytime you go steeper.

Good Luck!