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Written by Trent Finlayson
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Tuesday, 20 March 2012 13:44 |
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How hard a skier needs to go at the entrance gates is a common concern. The answer, however is variable.
Like anywhere else in the course how hard you need to go as you approach the first wake is directly dependent upon how much speed you were able to finish the previous turn with. The more speed you carry through the finish of the turn, the better your alignment will be at the turn's completion. Greater speed allows you to ski further through the turn before the load on the rope begins to engage. This will allow your trailing hip to come under the rope, leaving you neatly stacked. Less speed at the finish of the turn will see the load begin to build before you have properly aligned with the rope. From here you will have to increase your intensity to keep your direction into the wake.
The more speed at the finish of the turn, the later the load will build. As a result you will have more space to achieve proper alignment. This will allow you to go easy into the wakes because your body position is less vulnerable. Being slower through the turn's finish will cause the rope to load before you are properly stacked. This will force you to go harder (exert more energy) to keep from losing your direction. Simply going easy, or being 'light on the line' is great in theory, but is only effective when you have used your speed to achieve proper alignment.
For more information or to book a clinic with Trent, contact RadaRskis.com
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 March 2012 17:33 |
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I Take Speed (into the turn) |
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Written by Trent Finlayson
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Sunday, 18 December 2011 00:00 |
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.JPG) "I had way too much speed into the buoy."
This is a common complaint form skiers, and while it is not totally incorrect, I stress, you can not have too much speed. You can however have the perception of too much speed.
A loss of direction as you leave the second wake will put you on a direct track to the buoy. This poor line into the buoy will give you the feeling of too much speed, even though your actual water speed is not excessive. Maintaining your direction as you leave the second wake will allow you to swing wider, and therefore higher on the boat. The faster you are going as you leave the wakes, the higher up on the boat you can potentially swing. This path, while requiring greater speed, will give you more time and space at the buoy and afford you the feeling of less speed. In turn, maintaining your speed will allow you to return to the handle with less pressure on the rope. The larger the disparity between your speed the boat's speed at the finish of the turn, the quicker and harder the rope will load. It may be a matter of simple semantics, but it is important to differentiate between speed, and the perception of speed. It's a matter of accurately addressing your goals, and ensuring you are correctly assessing your sensations.
Merry Christmas Ballers.
Peace.
To set up personalized instruction with Trent, contact him through RadaRskis.com.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 17 December 2011 11:12 |
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Written by Trent Finlayson
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Sunday, 22 May 2011 00:00 |
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Mechanics are crucial, but in the end, even the most technical approach to the course will be fruitless if you interrupt your rhythm.
The problem is this: when you are faced with a mistake in the course, (wheelie-turn, tip-grab) your natural inclination is to increase your lean behind the boat in an attempt to arrive at the next buoy as early as your approached the previous. The problem is, an increase in leverage behind the boat is going to cause misalignment as you leave the second wake (the straight line formed from your rear ankle, trailing hip, handle and trailing shoulder will be more difficult to maintain.) In other words, you will likely get separated causing you to run a straight line into the turn. Regardless of your turn, it is important to keep your rhythm and intensity the same from your first pull-out to you your final turn.
1. The ideal intensity will leave you feeling balanced over your attack edge. Not cutting.
2. If you feel a spike and subsequent release in pressure, you know you are leveraging too hard against the boat.
3. By thinking in terms of rhythm, you will be far less likely to pull too hard, or too long, regardless of how early or late you may be in the course.
4. Early or late, remember, the fastest route from A to B is a straight line. Therefore, simply relax, align, and keep your rhythm consistent, even after a botched turn.
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Last Updated on Monday, 23 May 2011 19:53 |
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Written by Trent Finlayson
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Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00 |
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"Lower your handle."
I've heard it before, and there's a good chance you have too. But, come on. There's a 5.7 liter Indmar powering down the lake, and you're expected to push the handle low? Good luck. Even if you have super-human lats and succeed, you and your coach may be missing the point.
What really needs to be lowered is your anchor point, or where your pull is being directed. I describe your anchor point as the point at which your arms separate from your torso. If your arms leave your torso at shoulder height, your anchor point is high. If your arms are running down your sides, your anchor point will be low. Obviously, the latter is the more ideal, but again, how do you get your handle that low?
Your handle can't move while the rope is under load. Therefore, it is not where your handle is located that's important, it's how your body is stacked in relation to the handle. To have your handle low in relation to your body, you must simply have your hips high to the handle. This begins before your gate pull-out. Standing alongside the wakes, pay attention to where yours begin to leave your body. If it is at chest height, stand taller by ensuring your hips are high, over your feet. This will bring your chest up, and your shoulders back. Because your handle doesn't really move, it will now be lower in relation to your hips. The lower your arms leave your sides, the more the pull will be directed through your entire back, making you stronger and more balanced in your cut.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 April 2011 18:58 |
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Wide...It's the New Early |
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Written by Trent Finlayson
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Friday, 28 January 2011 00:00 |
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Running an early line into the buoy is fine, but no matter how early you are, straight-lining into a turn will force a sudden change of direction and rapid loss of speed at the ball. Skiing outward from the wakes to the widest point possible will ensure the sort of fast, flowing that allows you to set and maintain angle, and leave you feeling light on the line. Skiing wider is simple. You just need to delay your separation from the handle for as long as possible.
As you separate from the handle during your edge change, your anchor point raises, meaning, the handle gets higher in relation to your body. As the pull transfers from your entire body, to your shoulders alone, you will tip in towards the boat. This is when you will begin to run parallel with the course, killing your outward direction. The later this happens, the wider you will be.
As you leave the wakes, ignore the turn and the buoy, concentrating instead on maintaining your connected position (hips close to your handle, arms close to your sides) all the way to the buoy line. This will keep the pull low, through your entire body, as you change edges, ensuring you are not tipped inside your desired path.
Premature separation (it even sounds bad) is usually caused by either cutting too hard into the wakes, or by simply ‘preparing’ for the turn too early. Allow your turn to be the simple result of proper outbound direction through delayed separation.
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Last Updated on Friday, 28 January 2011 13:18 |
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