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WATERSKI Magazine
The beginning of ski season has arrived for most people who are willing to brave the climate conditions depending on where you ski. Even though it might be cold, it's a great time to think about some of the important keys to enhancing your technique. If you start the season off with a strong foundation, you'll be one up on your competitors come mid-season. A critical element of technique for all ability levels is elbow position. Having your arms against your body puts you in the ultimate accelerating and decelerating position. If your arms are out during acceleration, you won't get the proper angle. If your arms are out during deceleration you'll have nothing to reach with and at the same time you?ll be pulled narrow into the buoy. So, with that in mind, during your first few sets back on the water think about keeping your elbows against your body until you reach.
The 5 Things All Great Skiers Do
1) Technique: All great skiers constantly work on improving their technique.
2) Timing: Along with technique, timing is also critical. Once you know how to do things right, it then becomes important to do things at the right time.
3) Equipment: The best skier in the world, Andy Mapple, tests skis on a daily basis. What he learns on one ski he implements into the next, constantly testing what-ifs.
4) Mental Conditioning: It is a critical factor in great competitive performances. Knowing how to keep a positive mental attitude and control the body's natural fear responses is critical.
5) Physical conditioning: It's imperative. You must be far more fit than the task at hand requires. Look at the fitness of Andy Mapple, Kris LaPoint and Chris Parrish. The more fit you are, the clearer you can think with a much higher degree of power.
Steve Schnitzer is a five-time national champion and senior world slalom champion. For world-class instruction, he can be reached at 561-670-4075 or e-mail sschnitz@mindspring.com.
