My Week With Trent

[Horton]

I spent a lot of time last week with Team Radar member and WSM Assistant Editor at Large (something like that) Trent (T$) Finlayson. Unfortunately I only had Trent watch me ski for 3 sets all week.  So I can only speak to a fraction of this slalom method. What I can tell you is that every one who skied with him was very impressed.  I would absolutely jump at a chance to ski with Trent again.

As for method: (this is my interpretation so I apologize to Trent in advance)
Trent seems to be among those who feel we are beyond the “New School” vs  ”Old School” thing.  His focus with a number of skiers was water speed control.  Starting at the gate pullout he emphasized maintaining water speed by moderating rope tension and load.  He talks a lot about gates  - thinking that if you carry enough speed and are in position at one, the rest of the pass will follow.

One of the things he said that I never thought of (DARN IT) when a skier has issues with alignment, the cause maybe lack of water speed. It makes sense that a skier that breaks forward would do so because slower water speed = more drag.

To my surprise, Trent had me counter less on my gate.  My understanding is that by trying to counter too much on the way out (RFF) I was losing alignment.  By keeping my hips less countered (shoulders still rotated to the right on the way out) I am now in a more stacked position.

In short: Hips and handle together as much as possible. Don’t overload. Stay stacked.

Fun Week.

[Tuney]

Right on. Trent is actually from my lake and I am hoping he comes up here this summer.

[Old MS Accout]

Is it lack of water speed or to much and not enough at differant times in the course? Too much speed and lack of speed can both cause issues.  

If you have a radar gun on you from 2-3 ball, that speed should read the same for your pull in towards the gate ball.  

[lakeaustinskier]

We are fortunate enough at Aquaplex (Austin) to have regular coaching sessions with Trent since his training lake is located in close proximity. We all know that just because someone is a pro skier - that does not make them a good coach. Trent is a good coach beacuase he is a good communicator. After all.........he has the gig with WSM.

 

I am not an expert in slalom theory or technique, however, Horton's observations about Trent's philosophies on speed are very accurate. If I can do the gate correctly (like Trent tells me to) I have lots of angle and speed into one ball - but with very little load.

 

Speed is not a problem - speed with load and bad angle IS a problem.

 

Hips and handle together.............come around the ball and connect the handle back to the hip (stacked) while still maintaining that speed.

 

I would also agree about the new school versus old school comment.

[waterskicorey]

We have had Trent at our lake a couple of times in past few years and he has done a great job. Not only is he a great coach but also a great guy, very friendly. He will be at our lake, with the Fraser Valley Water Ski Club, in Abbotsford B.C. on July 10 & 11, and we still have a few spots left. If anyone is interested please send me an e-mail at waterskicorey at hotmail dot com or check our web page www.fvwsc.org under clinics for more info. I am looking forward to skiing with him again.

[Horton]

Another thing about Trent that stuck me is - This guys really really loves to ski.