Back arm, what do you do with it?

[roberto]

So what advice do we have for back arm position in the reach.

 

Wave to the crowd? High above the head!

Make a scary monster shape? Both arms high pretending to scare a kid!

Down by your side? Cool and elegant like you just don't care.

Feel your butt as though you have an itch!

Point backwards as though you've just hit a duck saying "did you see that"!

 

I have watched many videos, including our fearless, intergalactic leader, pros's from the Swiss comp recently and have not yet decided where to put it! I am sure their is a right place? Right now I can do any and sometimes all of those in one pass. Thoughts please.........

[thager]

Pull it back like you're drawing a bow.

[Horton]

Less is more

[keithh2oskier]

Keep holding onto the handle and drop the inside arm to help slow the ski down and keep you from falling over.

[lakeaustinskier]

I've heard other people besides @thager make the bow comment. Might work for others - doesn't work for me.

 

Whenever I worry about my back arm I immediately start to ski with my upper body instead of my hips. My upper arm is just along for the ride - nothing else.

[gregy]

A lot of arms flailing about out there. One of those bad habits that starts young. I was told to try and rest your hand on your hip.

[Razorskier1]

I like to flex my biceps with the free hand -- impress the ladies! Seriously, what @Horton said -- minimize movement, maximize balance.

[Murrski]

I think whatever movement that helps keep your shoulders level through the turn. If you look at skiers like the McClintock's or even T-Whisper... you'll see off arms quite high and to the point where it may be perceived as flailing but the more I study their approach the more I think it's their way to balance and keep their shoulders level.

[skibug]

low and quiet

[ozski]

I've never been a fan of the full monkey move. I try to keep my off hand low and still. Limit my upper body movement because I don't have the skills for the monkey thing except for the occasional bit of experimenting around 6 ball to see if there is anything to it. Drop off hand to hip area and ski hip back to handle, keep things simple.

[A_B]

1. when your hand leaves the handle, pull the chainsaw motor with it, which puts your shoulder of that arm more open and pointed to the shoreline, leaving you in a better stacked position.

2. place your hand at your outside hip waiting for you to ski the handle back to it.

3. Try to avoid reaching across your body to grab the handle, focus on #2.

[chris55]

You can do "Hi Mum !!!!! or No don't hit me I wont do it again !!!!

Seriously, the less, the best

 

[chris55]

And I did run the 6 buoys but at 30mph, it was a warm up pass (of course...:-)

[roberto]

Chris, love it! I hope your Mum appreciated the thought.

 

Some great descriptions coming out, Monkey move, pull the chainsaw, all make great pictures in the mind.

 

When I ski, having a mental picture, an image of what I want to do is very effective. More often than not, I ski faster than I think, pictures,shapes are recalled quickly and help me keep matters on track.

 

[ScottScott]

I'll often use my off hand to flip off the wake surfers that just entered the lake.

[BRY]

Best advise right here:

 

2. place your hand at your outside hip waiting for you to ski the handle back to it.

 

Nothing else. Everything else about release hand is a distraction. Just put in on your hip and keep it there till you bring that hip back to the handle. Simple, leaves your mind for important stuff.

[Gloersen]

2nd what @skibug and @A_B stated, however you have to set yourself up early in the pull off the prior buoy to do so.

 

If early into the next buoy with good velocity you can practice technique vehemently, if late you'll do whatever you have to do with that outside arm.

 

The objective; level shoulders at apex, then outside hip to inside hand, stacked, ready to go.