Compare and Contrast

[webbdawg99]

I saw this pic of Asher and knew I had a very similarly timed photo from a tournament last weekend. This is my 2 ball at 38. I have my thoughts, but would like the feedback of others on what I should be focusing/working on/thinking about to improve my offside. Thanks!

 

 

[Steven_Haines]

You look really comfortable! All I can see is that your hips are back a little more than Ashers. But otherwise, that's a great looking 2 ball at 38!

[eyepeeler]

Will Asher is incredible. Will Asher can go to any lake, anywhere in the world and run 3+ at 41. Will runs about 17 more buoys than you do. That makes Will about 17 buoys stronger than you. Short answer, you have to get stronger to improve your offside.

[SkiJay]

You have better spray =)

[webbdawg99]

@eyepeeler 3@41=117 4@38=106. 117-106 = 11

 

I'm not sure I agree with your logic. Especially since you have no idea how "strong" I am. But assuming you're correct, glad to know he's only 11 balls stronger....not 17.

[Brady]

@webbdawg99 I have to say that Will's hair is a bit dryer than yours. Other than that, I would give my right nut to have just one ball like that EVER!!! You are the man....wet hair and all!

[Than_Bogan]

Anybody who can spot a technically-important difference between those photos is a way better coach that I am!

[Brady]

@Than_Bogan, with that said, which of the two would you rather have on your beach volleyball team? (Keep in mind that Will is supposedly much stronger than Adam!) :)

[eyepeeler]

webbdawg I know exactly how strong you are. You went to Regionals and ran 4 @ 35. Will Asher can go ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, in ANY CONDITIONS and run 3+ at 41. Skiing is all about strength.

 

[webbdawg99]

@eyepeeler Yep, minus my broken ski at Nationals, one of my worst tournament scores of the season. My average is 106.17. What's yours? Care to tell me your max bench, deadlift, squat, press, and real name while you're at it?

[Craig]

http://twistedconservative.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/keep-calm-and-don-t-feed-the-troll-48.png

 

[swc5150]

Respectfully, I disagree that it's all about strength. Just look at Nate for example.

[Rpc29]

@eyepeeler‌ I'm pretty sure that 90% of the skiers in the top 100 can out lift Nate in the weight room, but who's on the podium every weekend? Strength is a component of skiing, but certainly not the only one.

[PurdueSkier]

Its not all about strength. One of my favorite pics.

[Chris Taylor]

So running the course is all about strength? Well I have a 300# bench a 460# deadlift 380# squat 225# press yet I am not anywhere near 38 off!!

 

[webbdawg99]

I expected more from you @SkiJay and @Than_Bogan!

[Jordan]

*** Skiing is all about strength.****

 

I would say it's 90% technique and maybe 10% strength.

 

Just look at some of the great women and junior girls skiers...not particularly strong but unbelievably proficient.

[Bruce_Butterfield]

@Webbdawg99 2 subtle, but very important differences;

 

1. Your com (mainly driven by shoulders) is forward of your front foot, throwing off your balance. Will's pic is fully stacked with shoulders and hips directly in line over his front foot. You need to drive your hips forward and shoulders back if you want to match Will.

 

2. Your inside shoulder is farther down (toward the water) than Will. You will be amazed at the difference bringing the inside shoulder up 2-3" will make.

 

I'll also add my $0.02 on the strength argument. Strength to weight ratio is the critical fitness measure slalom skiers should focus on. However, the heavier skiers are at an additional disadvantage due to the revenge of zero off. Lean and mean is today's optimum slalom physique.

[A_B]

Looks pretty darn good, but the next couple frames are the money shots. The pros finish the turns so much better (at 36 mph) and get the ski under the rope and pointed in the right direction before the hookup. That determines how you put more rope in the boat, not brute strength.

[zippin_2]

you have the wrong foot in front?

[webbdawg99]

@Bruce_Butterfield Thanks for the insight. Your point of shoulders forward is a different take on what I was thinking. I was thinking hips more up, more stacked, but didn't think that maybe shoulder position being too far forward was also a contributing factor. Also, shoulder angle and head angle seem to be more dipped as you mentioned. I need to think about how to move forward over the ski without leading with the shoulders or trailing with the hips.

[A_B]

Think about following the ski a little more, which will help keep you more centered. The squaring of the shoulders is just lift the off arm a little for balance. The one thing that I am always in awe of is how much these guys push the ski around the turn and out in front of them. I think stay stacked, centered, etc., but then I watch these guys walk through 39 and the glaring thing to me is how they finish the turns, then wait for the boat to pick them up. Seems like I am always fighting to get the ski from behind me. When I do it somewhat right, it is a big difference. Amen on the light weight part!

[Wish]

..would like the feedback of others on what I should be focusing/working on...

 

@webbdawg99‌ i agree with your sentiment re @SkiJay‌ and @Than_Bogan‌.

 

Let me try.

 

Both you and Will look the same in terms of body position and your location with respect to the buoy. The differance is obvious. You're not skiing in good lighting and from the looks of the horizon, you're skiing up hill.

 

:smiley:

 

Seriously, all I've heard is great things about your skiing progress as of late...look out BD tour.

[zippin_2]

check that...you have a different foot in front. not necessarily the wrong one.

just my way of saying "looks good to me".

by the way it was nice of the D3 guys to hook you up at nationals just so you could ski.

[webbdawg99]

Let's not press the fast forward button @Wish! I still have almost 12 months of 36 mph skiing....and a list of unaccomplished 36 mph goals!

[gsm_peter]

According to my limted knowledge.

To me, It looks like Will's ski has completed more of the turn pointing inbound and your ski is still pointing a little bit outbond.

But this is maybe a small differens?

[A_B]

Will looks like he is getting paid to ski, Webb looks like he will ski for food...

[gregy]

I set in the boat with KC sking through 41 off last May. Like AB says angle. I've never seen anyone get that much angle. Nate seems like he gets even a little more. Seeing it from the shore or even boat videos does not do it justice. I think one of the things that sets Nate apart is he gets the angle without letting the ski get out in front of him. He finishes the turn with tons of angle with his body open and COM moving forward.

[The_MS]

@Webbdawg99 To me, Willy looks a lot better.

[webbdawg99]

Insightful @MS

[SkiJay]

@webbdawg99 Sorry to disappoint with my feedback. I actually meant it as a compliment because you look good. While I agree with every word of @Bruce_Butterfield‌'s feedback, there's more than one way to round a ball, and there's a lot more riding on the position you are in when the load hits.

 

Case in point, here's a pic of Jamie Beauchesne at about the same point in the turn. Unfortunately, it's not from the same angle, but at this point in time, his feet are clearly beating his hips around the ball. There's no question his hips caught up in time for the load, and I expect so did yours.

 

 

 

[Bruce_Butterfield]

@webdawg99, several ways to think about it. Try:

 

1. leading with your inside hip

2. bringing your inside hip up

3. bringing the inside hip forward

4. rotate your hips counter clockwise

 

All different ways to think about the same motion.

[Drago]

Will is just a little less concerned with going the other way. That's why his shoulders are more level. He is still putting his momentum/energy into his ski and you are "falling" inside--we are talking hairs here. Very small difference

[webbdawg99]

Does anyone have any "dry land" drills they use to simulate advancent of body position through the offside turn?

[Drago]

@webbdawg99‌ :all mental. I've been there and now I'm not even close. Confidence. "Announce your presence with authority". (What movie?$

His hair is better, too ;)

[gregy]

A well know coach had me stand next to the engine cover in my slalom stance while holding onto the tower. Then lean in with the hip at the same time twisting what would be the inside hip forward.

[webbdawg99]

A tower on a slalom boat? Blasphemy! :#