Park skiing age

Anguz_liTry a safety grab, basically just tuck in the air and grab the bottom of your skis. Basically like a Canon ball into a pool.

GaperGodLiving in MN its easy to get in laps because we have tow ropes. Good luck!

CrazeIm 25, here is a link to Windells adult camp.

http://windells.com/freeski-camp/freestyle-ski-adult-camp/

michael.hsu.5059Yup, my problem is I don't have my speed dialed in yet so I don't get much air time most of the time to do even simple grabs.
I wish I was 16 again lol. Feels like I realized a huge hobby wayyyy too late.

michael.hsu.5059Anyone know if CoC or Momentum at Whistler have similar setups?

michael.hsu.5059Nevermind, just saw Momentum has adult ski programs too. Not sure about CoC but it does look more impressive.

michael.hsu.5059Yup, my problem is I don't have my speed dialed in yet so I don't get much air time most of the time to do even simple grabs.
I wish I was 16 again lol. Feels like I realized a huge hobby wayyyy too late.

BoardSideDownYour speed will come with practice, it takes time for everyone to know how fast to hit certain features.

In regards to going to a summer camp, I wouldn't (if I was you), but I'd check out alternative routes. A lot of resorts have freestyle training available throughout the season. Also, you should be able to find a couple cool guys that would take the time to give you a pointer or two on the hill.

Also, Jake Muller has some pretty solid and in-depth videos on how to do entry level tricks.
https://www.youtube.com/user/mullski10/videos

michael.hsu.5059Hey thanks for the tips! I have checked out Jake's videos before and they're great, but like I said my progression is slow. I don't really know how much progression I *should* be getting out of how much time I spend on the slopes (~15 days per season), but it's slow each time and I feel that it has to do with age.

One question about Jake's videos though...he talks about how when doing 3s (or any spins etc) you do not turn your head at all - you should turn with your shoulders with your face looking straight ahead. But I've repeatedly seen videos and posts both here and youtube and other forums that you "look over your shoulder" to spot your landing. So who's correct? I honestly think the latter feels more natural especially in the beginning when you need to get a feel for where the landing is sooner so you look over your shoulder. Maybe you stop turning your head after you practiced so much you can "anticipate" where the landing is?

BoardSideDownIn regards to going to a summer camp, I wouldn't (if I was you), but I'd check out alternative routes. A lot of resorts have freestyle training available throughout the season.

CyanicenineAge isn't what's holding you back, your number of days on snow is. 15 is not really enough. I feel like I don't even have my ski legs back until 10 days in. I didn't start skiing until I was 26, and while I'll probably never throw 1080's, I can at least clear the pro line jumps comfortably at my mountain with solid grabs, and throw 1's and 3's off the small stuff. Age is just a number, there are tons of guys throwing down in the park well into their 40's and 50's. They won't ever be X-games competitors but they can still look stylish and continue to progress in the park.

michael.hsu.5059One question about Jake's videos though...he talks about how when doing 3s (or any spins etc) you do not turn your head at all - you should turn with your shoulders with your face looking straight ahead. But I've repeatedly seen videos and posts both here and youtube and other forums that you "look over your shoulder" to spot your landing. So who's correct? I honestly think the latter feels more natural especially in the beginning when you need to get a feel for where the landing is sooner so you look over your shoulder. Maybe you stop turning your head after you practiced so much you can "anticipate" where the landing is?

michael.hsu.5059I've thought about just getting a single-day lesson with a personal coach on any of the local mountains. They specify that teaching freestyle is available for private lessons, as opposed to grouped lessons. It's very pricey just for 1 day (~$450) but if close and professional training can get me over the progression trench I appear to be in, then it might be worth it and it certainly is cheaper than committing to a longer summer camp program?

michael.hsu.5059Hey guys, I am a very new park skier (started near the end of last season). I am progressing pretty slowly because of busy schedules (maybe 15ish days on the mountain per season) and lack of friends in the park scene to motivate each other. I will turn 30 this summer and I'm just wondering if it's too late to pick up skiing in the park? I do very much enjoy it but the slow progression and the lack of chances to progress can be very frustrating.
I am still just doing straight airs off small/medium jumps (knuckling a lot at that) and 50/50 boxes. I have a lot of trouble trying to slide boxes because I just don't get enough air time to clear 90 degree turn most of the time. Not sure if it's because my boots/skis are too heavy or at my age I just can't pop off the ground as effortlessly as I see a lot of younger park skiers do. They barely need to bend their knees before the pop while I basically have to basketball-jump.
I've considered summer ski camps and ski lessons so I can at least get professional help with my progression but it looks like the vast majority of those are targeted towards the younger crowd (between ages 13 to very early 20s). And that just kinda in and of itself indicates to me the intended age for learning freestyle skiing.
Any folks out there around my age in similar situations?

Nobassettsomeone get DominatorJacques in here

michael.hsu.5059I've looked into freestyle training around me (Whistler, Cypress, Grouse, Seymour), but unfortunately I've never found any specific training sessions - not for adults anyway. Vast majority of them, like I mentioned earlier, are targeted towards teens and young adults.

I've thought about just getting a single-day lesson with a personal coach on any of the local mountains. They specify that teaching freestyle is available for private lessons, as opposed to grouped lessons. It's very pricey just for 1 day (~$450) but if close and professional training can get me over the progression trench I appear to be in, then it might be worth it and it certainly is cheaper than committing to a longer summer camp program?

michael.hsu.5059Thanks that does look great, but that pricing is going to put me out on the street after my all-mighty Canadian dollars are decimated.
Anyone know if CoC or Momentum at Whistler have similar setups?

Download-My-AppsHey I'm a freestyle coach based out of Van/ whistler. There are a few adult programs that I know of, as you mentioned they are pricey but as the demand increases more options will be available.

One thing to look into is when (or if) Cypress gets their air bag fixed there will be evening jump sessions open to the public. Where do you normally ski? I'd be stoked to give you a few pointers if I see you up there.

Whiteout_Rails and Boxes
I guess you could easily complete a 90 ° rotation onto a box, it's most likely just a mental block.

Whiteout_Spins
look over your shoulder and stay strong and stable in the air

michael.hsu.5059I think it really is a mental block a lot of times with me and boxes. When I am lining up to a box at a slight decline and I pop onto the box, I instinctively try to land on the box with my skis on edge, like I would on the hills normally when I want to hockey stop or whatever. That's something slowly making progress on.
In terms of doing a complete 90 though, I've watched "professional" tutorial videos that talk about using "counter-rotation" to do the 90 turn. So if you are going to spin to the left, you turn your hips to the left but you kinda turn your upper body and shoulders to the right to counter it and that is supposed to help with the spin. This means that your shoulders are always pointing straight down the box the whole time. While I actually see this a lot on the hills, there are a lot of conflicting posts both here and other forums which say both your hips and shoulders should turn and be perpendicular to the box. So which is right?




Like discussed earlier in the thread this is another conflicting advice I see. In Jake Muller's videos he says you do not look over your shoulder doing 3s, and someone earlier had the same opinion. So again which is right?

Whiteout_For regular 3's i would definetly look over the leading shoulder whilst for cork 3's, 3's with wide safety etc you have to look between your legs. Not looking over your shoulder on your first 3's wich will probably be quite pencil like will end in spotting your landing way to late. The tip i gave with carving into the jump should prevent landing backseat and help with getting both your feet and upper body to complete the rotation.

michael.hsu.5059Ahh got it. I think it'll feel more natural to try and spot my landing a bit earlier. I'll try that, thanks!

How do you suppose carving into the jump prevents landing backseat? I can see that it helps with the spin because you are kinda setting the spin early when you carve? But how does it help with being off-axis?