Your ski experience on the mountain is influenced by a wide variety of internal and external factors, all of which lead you to become a happy contented off piste skier or on the flip side, an under confident scared off piste skier.
The majority of good skiers, those of you who've developed a level of understanding of ski technique and control on piste will find and know that as soon as you take the next step into ‘the off piste zoned areas’ your game can simply fall apart fast.
The biggest truth about your own ability is that you have plenty of skill and talent to tackle and handle the whole off piste thing with a heap of confidence and more, knowing how is one of the biggest secrets in my arsenal.
My first off piste experience was during my first ski holiday to Serre Chevalier, France. I remember it well, Jacques was my moniteur, a leisurely sporty skier with a rampant sense of adventure in his bright red outfit.
Whilst following Jacques I dived into the off piste at any given opportunity. I was always on his heels, totally exuberant and forever knocked about. I was pulled down, covered in snow and my whole self confidence took more than a few blows...
I understand the difficulties, it took many disciplined and focused attempts over the years to come to understand where the real control lay.
The big changer that led me to get to grips with this almighty off piste challenge and become a master, leader and expert was partly down to two things.
Firstly it was ‘Experience’, more of which I required and am ever acquiring (important).
Secondly it was my understanding of the most important part of the turn that leads to real control of speed, the turn completion phase.
I want you to do the right thing, you owe it to yourself to take control of your speed and gain more experience.
Simply enjoy your skiing where ever it is you go and remember that when you go off piste, if you don’t consider the terrain as a new ‘experience’ and if you don’t ‘complete’ your turn that little bit extra in the curve then your speed will become an issue and too much to handle.
Best wishes,
Martin Mckay
About
Martin Mckay is a fully qualified BASI Alpine Level 4 ISTD instructor, coach and teacher and holder of the full French equivalence BEES 1er degré ski alpin. Martin has passed the much respected Test de Capacité and is based in Val d'Isere, France where he runs skimckay.com
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