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Kristin
10. Control Your Pull
I find that when people start trying the course, they pull too long in front of the buoys. That causes slack when you try to turn, the handle pops out of your hand and you fall. Understanding when to stop edging is very important. Holding an edge all the way to the buoy generates so much speed, the skier quickly gets out of control. By letting up on the edge well before the buoy, you get your speed under control and you can make a good turn. – Mike McCormick
11. Check Your Gear
Before you hit the water, take a good look at the rope. Breaking a rope during a slalom run is a good way to break a rib. You want to make sure there is no fraying around the knots or other weak spots in the line. It’s good to inspect the handle, as well. Look at the grommets where the rope attaches to the handle. Double-check the ends and make sure they are still in good shape and dry rot has not set in. Beyond a visual inspection, determine how many sets you put on the rope last year. If you used it frequently over an entire season, then it sat in your garage all winter, getting a new rope is probably the best idea. – Russell Gay
12. Start Strong
To master the course, the first thing you need is a solid foundation. Look at your balance and stance to make sure you are in an athletic position. Square up your shoulders, hips, knees and ankles over the ski. In addition, make sure your head is over your hips. Keep your body lined up in a solid position and pointed in the same direction. Your muscles work together when you ski, and if you are too extended, you are trying to compensate with something else. A strong core position is the most basic part of skiing, but it’s also the most important. To work on your core position, try free-skiing. It’s hard to fix problems in the course because there is so much pressure, and everything gets pulled apart. You see the buoy, go a little crazy and pull a little harder, and there goes the technique. I find that when you free-ski, you can go at level three out of 10, fix the problem, then go back to the course. – Cory Pickos
