Use caution with any hopping exercise:
Avoid this if you have or suspect any physical problems. Ensure that your
equipment are properly adjusted.
First on flat snow
Flex your knees to lower the body. With an explosive
action jump up and extend your legs--put enough energy in your hop and your skis
will be lifted into the air.
Do this a few times, focusing on your landing. Make sure
that when you jump, you fully extend your legs, so that when you land you're
able to absorb the landing with flexed knees and ankles.
Now, twist your upper body so it's turned 90 degrees
relative to your skis. Flex down in the knees and leap up--but this time relax
your legs the moment your skis become airborne. If you really relax and truly
get airborne, the skis will unwind to line up with the upper body.
Try this several times until you've mastered the
"unwinding."
Let's go skiing
Always check up the hill for skiers.
While traversing, twist the upper body to face a target
down the hill. Flex at the knees and leap up high and relax your legs the moment
the skis become airborne. Like before, the skis should unwind to line up with
the upper body and therefore face down the hill.
Land and flex at the knees and ankles to absorb the
pressure and then steer the skis to shape the turn.
Do this several times in both directions.
Now link leapers
After landing, your legs should be flexed and ready to
leap again! Now, work one leap into the next without interrupting the flow.
Try slowing down the motion for medium radius turns and
speeding it up for shorter radius turns.
- Keep your rhythm and think of being very elastic.
Print this out for future
reference and remember to have fun!