What the mountain can teach a skier, freeskiing with U16 coach Ben Brown
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- čas přidán 7. 01. 2024
- Freeskiing with U16 athletes and Ben Brown, US Ski and Snowboard coach of the year. A broad range of skiing topics covered - counter, square, weight distribution between skis, rotary drills, pole plants, turn entry and exit, and more
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I'm just really impressed with how fast Deb can ski those bumps while holding a GoPro in her hand and filming in front of her face! That's a way harder way to ski!
Love when you said that one of your "...favorite things in skiing is getting out of balance and the playfulness of getting back into balance." What a take on what can feel scary or stressful. Have fun with it, pay attention, and have fun learning from those getting-into-balance situations.
Ohhhh, so "bad" counter - when it comes to maintaining a carved turn - is one where we purposefully turn our upper bodies away from the direction of our skis to try to create edge angle at the start of the turn.
"Good" counter comes naturally by letting your skis move independently of your upper body, utilizing the stored energy to help move and start the next turn.
So the difference between "good" and "bad" counter is in timing and intent.
That is SO SUBTLE. 🤯
Thank you thank you thank you, Deb & Ben!
Every time your shadow appeared you are holding your camera in front of you in one hand and carrying both poles in the other .. blasting through crusty bumps completely in balance. Ben's joyful skiing is also great but he had both poles!!. .. btw, it made me go back and watch you, wearing #15, and Coop in Sarajevo, skiing completely ski to ski to a Gold Medal in 1984. My old Dynastar "chicken heart" 207's were my favorite skis so many years ago bombing around Squaw and Alpine Meadows. .. how skiing has changed both technically and athletically but you remain at the top of your game. Thank you for your lifelong commitment to our sport!
Thank you
Deb is my go-to prior to my annual ski trips. Nothing beats getting out there, but binge watching her vids is helpful
You've mentioned the playfulness of catching your balance in more than one video, and that rings in my head all the time while I ski.
Great!!!!!
You said it at 9:31 - read my mind with "My legs are burnin" Great video, Deb.
Wow deb yes they all amazing skiers but you keeping up holding a gopro take a bow I'd love to be 1% as good as you every vid is so positive thank you mark
As instructors we could do drills to try and change movement patterns all day. I learned more about my own skiing just by skiing bumps and trees throughout my instructing career than I ever did on a groomer. Making adjustments and recovery moves to find where your body really needs to be because if you don't, you're gonna get thrown! That being said, I have learned a ton on groomers and taken those skills to the bumps. Love watching these racers rip GS skis through the bumps and crud, that takes it to the next level!
You need diverse experiences to master all conditions. Skiing the worst snow in the worst weather manage all the crusty conditions, bumps, super steeps takes constant presence on the mountain most don't have time for. Groomers are the best place to put it all together before and after each excursion into the crap. You soon find off piste is just plain mostly bad snow... avoidable when superior conditions exist on piste.
Super interesting and fun. Ankle flexion is a key idea he mentioned a couple of times. You’ve talked about that before Deb, but I’d love to see more videos talking about this. I like what he said about pushing the hands forward, I do find that’s a great way to recover when I get out of balance. This video says a LOT about the need for versatility.
Ben's fluidity is impressive, let alone his pop and rubber legs. Awesome.
The mountain is absolutely the greatest teacher!! I love your discussion about playfulness 😊
Such clean, simple language. Thanks Deb and Ben! Fun interview and pragmatic tips!
Thanks for sharing some inspired cinematography!
Perfect turn vs. Fun & Playful. A very well-rounded exposure to our sport. Lovin’ it!!!
This gets me pumped, from the skiing to the conversation on the lift! You can learn a lot about skiing from just this one video. Nice work, Deb & Ben.
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Ben Brown is a fountain of knowledge and ski wisdom. I paid attention to his spoken words; he knows that of which he speaks, plus he is very fun to watch! ( A playful skier as you mention Deb. ) I am PSIA full cert. and the only confusion was his mentioning “ squaring up” to the fall line which I interpret differently, but you cleared that up Deb. Great fun video! Thanks. Edit: I ordered a mug for my morning coffee.
Love it!!
As a former US Ski team mogul skier from 1982 he is right on!
Love it!!!!
What a great line on that last run! As always Deb, you and the people you showcase are really impressive!
Thanks Deb and Ben! Free skiing is good for racers, coaches and instructors too!
I remember riding up chair 2 at Alpental and watching Andy McClean when he was a coach for Team Alpental Snoqualmie free skiing with his students during lunch. He ate his lunch on the chair and had a bunch of his students join him. On this particular occasion he was taking them out to jump some small cliffs into the Edelweiss Bowl. Balance and recovery!
Love it!!!!!
I LOVE Deb Armstrong videos! Playful indeed!
Wow wow wow real people real effort real fun thank you Deb🎉
Ben represents the essence of free skiing here imho - one should never be static on skis.
Love hearing him talk about ankle flex! Not hearing that much in my circles
Where is your circle? And have you watch many of my videos. Ankle flex just may be the most common thread.
PNW... I've always been an ankle flex guy but the guys I hang with don't talk about it much. I do watch alotta your videos!@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong
9:08 I think we all make sounds like that when we are skiing something that is a bit more challenging, but, for me, it can happen without the extra challenge of filming another great skier. Nice work, Deb. Also, Ben’s commentary is great. Adding challenge like that terrain is a great teacher. Some of my favorite terrain to ski and very satisfying when skiing it feels good through the run. And what wonderful ski conditions, so typical here in the NE. 😮 Hope you get more snow. We have a bunch (12”+) of wet stiff coming that should be of a different challenge. Looking forward to it.
Ben has mastered gravity. How is he floating like that. Thats crazy!
The double dippy section throws most of us backwards. I replayed that section a few times. Praying for more soft snow soon. Thanks, Deb. This was fun to watch.
Love your videos
Love your content and enthusiasm, Deb! Great information and you make it easy to understand. Pole plant is key, and being playful and having fun! Thank you for this video!
Another amazing video and tutorial. My skiing has improved tremendously from your videos. Way to keep the interview on point and simple. You are the best my friend.
Been a fun week at The Boat😀. Im always looking for ya when Im out on the mountain. Your videos have been a huge help for me. Keep up the great work.
I learned to ski moguls from Tommy Moe. You don’t ski the moguls; you find the best spot to launch from and fly over as many moguls as possible while finding the best spot to make the next turn to launch over more moguls. That way you don’t have to make all those turns and you can get through the moguls sooner. It’s the technique of a downhiller for sure.
Very fun
my u10 sons coach had them freeskiing on their gs skis yesterday then this video came out, so cool
Awesome to hear that even you gets some breathing when skiing.
Btw. Interesting video.
This was awesome and so much fun. You killed it Deb. Great job with the GoPro in one hand poles in the other hand drill. Perhaps that should be a new exercise with your peeps.
Ha!!!!!👍👍💪💪
thank you for working so hard to make this amazing video, it looks so much fun and playfun on moguel. It really makes me want to try moguel next season. unfortunately, there is no moguel like this in Newzealand😢
Thanks!
Appreciate it. Thank you🙏🙏
Deb was huffing and puffing on that one,,,
Fab. ❤
Love this so much, such a huge fan - I have your hat! And I wear it every day. I'd love to see some footage of you Deb at Aspen Highlands, or somewhere with big moguls and a steep grade, Im getting to where I can ski some of the temerity runs (double black, steep, big moguls, and sometimes pretty tight), but those moguls that are as tall as me really scare me, and I could use some pro-tips - Your Ques are SO AMAZING!!!.
I've gotten where I can do them 1-3 turns at a time (which is something), but linking those turns smoothly is what Im really after, how to manage that pressure better, and really extend into the top of the turn to decelerate, and take my foot off the gass at the bottom - not sure from a technical perspective really what the "right way" is at the bottom of them, and how to get a smoother path at the bottom.
I'd also like to know what grades are a DNF zone vs what isn''t, as I don't know how to make that judgement call, so I've ruled out some runs all together (like the steeplechase) - erring on the side of if it looks remotely close to a DNF, I stay well clear of it. Not sure if theres a rule of thumb that only the best of the best know, or if its so dependent on snow conditions that there is no general standard.
Seeing some footage of you, would be a godsend. Tho no pressure, I'd rather you don't do that if its not really very doable while filming. I know you're like a god on skis, but It would literally kill me if due to the filming you got hurt or something. (Im assuming that adds a lot of burden to the process).
Thank you❤️❤️❤️❤️ great suggestions 💪👍🙏 more coming😉
I wish I could hold a GoPro under that condition 😳 I find filming someone else is a great way to practice after being comfortable with the terrain 😅
Helmet mounts are your friend. It also adds to the joy of getting others into skiing, since while they practice on a slope you're comfortable with, you can practice your camera work!
Really appreciate your channel. I recently did some skiing with my boots unbuckled and it was HUGE for me learning to be more balanced and engaging my feet. I'd like to see if you find the drill helpful as some think it's dangerous. I don't see the danger on easy terrain. Thanks!
It’s a great drill that racers use all the time. You must be careful as it can be dangerous
❤
I love skiing the bumps and I'm and old goat by now. Besides being in the trees and pow, moguls are the best ever. Give me one 200 yard mogul field and I'll ski it a whole year without ever getting bored. Give me 200 miles of groomed trails and I'll ski 5 days a year, max.
My two cents about moguls, powder, trees, all mountain, free style skiing: It is a whole different discipline. The stance, approach, the philosophy of it is a whole different world.
One can't just put two race carving skis on and go through the moguls like going trough the gates.
I would start with locked knees, heels, and even toes. Yes, some knee lead, balance foot to foot, when needed, or just glide trough with even balance and let the mogul turn you. Do both, some heel trusts in between, some poetry or accident of your own. It is a dance it is like flying, like gliding. You are practically balancing and turning on one point under your both feet that make a single platform. Doesn't have to be aggressive and hard at all.
I would compare carving and gates to car rally racing, while freestyle is motorcycle off-road racing: Paris-Dakar. Which one turns quicker, which one is more nibble, which one is more agile? A car on two tracks or an off road motorbike? And that's the difference and the answer to it.
I agree with your guest when he said that there is not a direct connection between skiing gates and free style skiing. Free style is poetry, racing is hard work and aggressive. I believe you can be good at both, but it's just hard to not fall in love with one or the other, and once that happens it's the end of the other one.
And to clarify what I'm talking about, this is me when I prefer having a dance, and yes, I can be a lot more aggressive, but my point: moguls don't have to hurt: czcams.com/users/shortsa6hr9hQADZ0
I would start with some old Austrian technique and go from there((happy I'm old enough to have learned it at young age): czcams.com/video/jYMCsa0KbN8/video.html
And then, some day you'll probably ski like GOAT: czcams.com/video/_-hudxQmVp4/video.html
And here, some great fun: czcams.com/video/lzQKDslU3Bw/video.html
Do you have a chest mount for your GoPro? I have one for my insta360 and the footage is incredibly smooth. Thanks for another great video Deb!
Yes
@@DebArmstrongSkiStronghave you considered using a 360 degree camera like the Insta360 X3? That way you don't have to aim it. Because it is recording everything around it, you do the aiming afterward on your computer or device, even tracking a person or object automatically. You could mount it somewhere to make it completely hands free, operating it via remote control.
@@nickjsky1 I’ll look into it. Thank you. Have a connection for me??😉
@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong sorry, no connection. I've seen this camera in use on the channel @ThatMountainLife and it looks like it has great potential for ski training videos.
How many times has Ben gone down that hill? Thousands, I suspect. You can see a total fusion with the terrain.
That was his first day on that terrain this year. Not sure about past years😉
GS turns in the bumps….it doesn’t get better than that!!!
I'm really starting to have mixed feelings about my own skiing and abilities because I am someone who hasn't been to a gym in a decade, and who, other than skiing, finds any and all physically taxing activity to be intolerable torture and misery requiring multiple days of recovery time - precluding any ability to form habits around it. I'm in with the 'anyone can ski, it's more about your balance and practice and skill than your stamina, strength, or fitness' mindset, but at the same time its hard to feel like I'm not coming up against an ability wall which is set by my flexibility, stamina, and muscular strength. I'm someone who badly procrastinates on toe nail clippings because I find it painful to twist my body into a shape where I can reach my toenails. And its hard to not feel really bad about myself because of it. A few seasons into this, my love of skiing still fails to manifest in any motivation to expend time or effort off the slopes to increase my physical abilities, and I fear that I simply may never possess the discipline to improve myself in a way which enables me to become an advanced skier.
Those life choices. I get it😉
No one films moguls like Deb.
Counter? What are you 'countering' and why? How much is too much, how much is not enough? Why?
I thought Ben addressed the topic nicely.
Great!!! Glad you appreciate. Ben is awesome
Ye olde overlooked pole plant....... The pole plant. And proper at that; deliberate, focused, integral. It is, as we both know chiefly a timing function, secondly a pivot point, but is SO important. It's never discussed. Most are skiing with poles that are too long, keeping the body too upright, minimizing knee flex. So much resides in them thar knees.... Drive the knees. What's for dinner.....?
Ha
Dinner......? I went the chuck blade roast route ce soir. All kidding aside, proper pole length and pole plant IS critically overlooked. Basic technique physics of skiing has really not radically changed. Equipment has - chiefly skis, but not required basic technique. It cannot without everything going to heck...... Ask any figure skater...... Seriously.
Be it arbitrarily (a) Betsy Snite, the Goitschels, yourself, McKinney, Wiberg, Roffe, Kostelic, Holdenen, Brignone, Shiffrin or the next...... Each individual's (and their fellow competitor's) foundational technique, in the example, which spans decades, IS very, very close.
That said....... The pole plant, pole length and grip is a subject that should be discussed as same is important, but, alas, never remarked. Proper pole plant makes a big difference.
BTW..... Your "falling leaf" metric IS brilliant! Till next time..... @@DebArmstrongSkiStrong
Come on back … lots and lots of fresh powder in Steamboat Springs!
I know!!!!! Headed down to Taos where they also have some freshies😉
7:50 "I kinda kept up...not exactly." Yeah, while holding two poles in one hand (no pole plants!) and GoPro in another. Sounds more like a job for a teenager...yet she does it! Isn't it about time for someone to develop a GOOD camera built into goggles or helmet?
My knees would scream at me if I went near those bumps.
I haven't seen too many mogulers that have reached that level. We call them: billy goats.
Jumpin' and bumpin' with wild abandon. 😂😂
Come collect your tin can! 🎉🎉
"Square to the fall line" (2:48) is a phrase that makes no sense. "Square" and "countered" describe the upper body's relationship to the skis (direction of travel), not the hill or fall line. For example, a GS turn heading 90 degrees across the fall line probably won't necessitate the upper body facing 90 degrees to the skis to face down the fall line, that's extreme. In the lower half of the turn, facing the upper body down the fall line is a *countered* relationship of UB and LB, and is not necessarily dependent on the fall line -- it's dependent on the speed, size, direction, and shape of the turn. Yes, this is nitpicking, but professionals (instructors, coaches, etc.) should be accurate with their words and concepts. Otherwise, some decent commentary.
If you watched the entire video I think Ben covered it very well. I had never heard the term before either. I later asked a follow up question and to me it became very clear. Sorry you are confused. For others his comment is a lightbulb moment. Watch it again trying to understand. It’s very well explained
@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong I'm not confused about counter and square... but many instructors and coaches are. The confusion often relates to them using the hill or fall line as the reference point or target for the upper body, as in "keep your upper body facing down the hill." The amount of upper body counter is proportional, and dependent on turn shape, size, speed, direction, etc., NOT the fall line or bottom of the hill. Another way that some instructors and coaches confuse "counter" and "square" is to describe it similarly to the way Ben does, by saying "Square down the hill" -- that is "countered" in the bottom half of the turn. To summarize, "square" and "counter" describe the upper body relationship to the direction of the skis, NOT to the fall line or bottom of the hill, which is a lousy reference point for body movements in technique.
@@robertlincoln2241 much of what you saying am in agreement with you. The fact that you are not relating to what Ben has to say about upper body square to the fall line through turn completion does not make Ben’s comments incorrect. Ben has coached athletes into positions of the best in the world for their age group. The Austrians wish they have developed the athletes that Ben has been coaching. I very much can relate to what Ben is communicating and I understand counter well. Bens comments are hugely important for people to grapple with. When I watch World Cup ski racers racing Slalom I see what Ben is describing. Anyone telling me or Ben that he is incorrect in what he expresses about counter is odd to me. How Ben uses the terms square and countered are just fine as long as he is clear in how he defines it. In my view Ben has been very clear as to how he is using the terms square and countered and his clarity with the use of the terms translate very well with his athletes.
@@DebArmstrongSkiStrong More emotional retorts, with "Appeal to Authority" fallacies. And you don't seem to accept that "square" and "countered" are opposite terms when describing upper body relationship to lower body in ski technique. If they are opposite terms, then "square down the hill" doesn't make sense because "square down the hill" when skis are turning across the hill is a COUNTERED relationship of the upper body to lower body. You and I don't seem to be arguing the skill of counter, we seem to agree. What we are arguing is your (and Ben's) misuse of the term "square." Square refers to the upper body facing the same direction as the ski's travel, it does not refer to "aiming the body toward the fall line or bottom of the hill." Even USSS defines "Square" as "Skier stance where the hips and shoulders are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the skis." In that case, you and Ben are misusing your terms.
@@robertlincoln2241 not an emotional retort. Yet not in agreement. Two different things. I am not in agreement with you. Terms must be clearly defined by the person using them. Ben is exceptionally clear with his verbiage and his verbiage has an important place to play in the discussion. No question there. I disagree with the point that you are insisting upon. Now that may agitate you but not me😉 No emotion just disagreement