mschoewe

"If we had eggs, we could have ham and eggs, if we had ham." - Shit my Dad said...

I have only used this site for ski reviews or fin settings in the past... I just posted a dissertation on how I am now approaching my skiing comeback. I thought this was about me at first! Haha Whew!

Thank you Ed... I was questioning my sanity even though it's working for me. Just today I took a tip from Waterski Mag post and plugged it into my visual clip tied to "Drop" where I finish with my hand and hip meeting simultaneously to the handle. For those who think 4 Keys is too many. I tried pairing "Lock-Out" and "Up-n-Down" cuz it happens fast out there! (with Down now finishing with outside hand and hip meeting the handle) I fully agree with you Ed, with each individual making it their own (words / visuals) because afterall it's your reality. This really does work... thanks for the feedback one and all. Horton, come to find out, I posted this in the same spirit this site was designed for as you mentioned. I was looking for input and got some good stuff in return... thx everyone! This is my new foundation for skiing and coaching from now on. After hardly skiing for 5-6 years it's been feeling like I had a stroke or something? At age 55, getting back to where I was has been a struggle. I'm going to sleep better Ed. Thx for the confirmation... Is "ZO" Zero Off?

I set out to NOT focus too hard on any ONE thing throughout the pass, but to start a sequence of 4 segments and maintain it. It is new to me and I too have always taken the traditional bandaid approach that everyone has responded with because it's the accepted method. Coming at this subconciously is working and although it sounds complex, emulating the elite skier in 4 segments (experiences) builds the sequence from start to finish. "Practice until you don't get it wrong" from the first LOUD to the next LOUD (Gates - 1 - 2), then build on from there only after you meet a higher standard or build new COMPLETE habits. If you master Gates - 1 - 2 (or LOUD x 2) like a 2 buoy course, you have a high probability of repeating it. Then ski a perfect 4 buoy course, then all 6. Avoid wasting energy after you fall apart and don't practice bad technique just to run a pass!

At first the 4 words don't quiet the mind, but after extended repetition the words go away and are subconciously triggered and more muscle memory / image driven like a film clip almost. So my mind quiets, and thinks in generalities or non-specifics but more of creating the (not typical post-it note tips) overall movements of 4 areas of the pass times six. Your right, at first it was hard to carry the sequence far, but using a video of overhead skiing to learn them, I have them popping into my head now, and without me thinking about it (call it second nature). I made it a habit subconciously and unleashed greater capacity and with a quieter mind, believe it or not... Keeping a consistent sequence was hard at first (4 post-it-notes) but then it became ingrained without me even really thinking about it, and it carried way more benefit then focus on just one thing (post-it-note) that distracted me from the big picture. It groups correct technique together to get an end result without Person 1 involved. I think you are doing something similar with spotting the buoy to keep your eyes level. It comes with multiple benefits as well. My 4 words trigger 4 experiences ( as you put it ) and that is now on my "Person 2's" shoulders.

I told Terry Winter: "I can help more of your Mens 4 & 5 skiers with 3 words than your lessons do." He said; "and what's that?" DROP 20 LBS! He said: "you're probably right..."

Todd... I'm not sure if you watched either or both videos, but what you have described might not get you to "flow" and you would grow bored since your "challenge" was below your "skill"? I think open-water skiing is grossly under-utilized for learning proper technique. Overall, stay out of the post-it note method of learning. Seek the "quiet mind" with detachment from end results (running the pass). Don't analyze the DARK, just turn on the LIGHT! I heard a wise coach from New Zealand say: This is a sequential sport, your problem isn't always where you think it is just because it showed up there." I approach it as a sequence, starting from my pull-out onward through the course... I agree with you on practicing starts until you can't get it wrong! I was at Ski Paradise and Gordon was telling me about practicing "Gates 1-2" until you perfect starts. You can do a bunch of them with your allotted energy vs. tiring yourself out scrapping away at the course practicing bad skiing. When I make a mistake, I quit, because the rest of the pass is all a waste of energy and practicing bad skiing(forming bad muscle memory). Focus on the process... not your end result or bad habits (crawling), begin new (correct) habit from the start (walking). So your "perceived" mistake (symptom) doesn't get the focus or bandaid (post-it-note) because your correction belongs in a prior area you habitually get wrong but don't realize.

I think it sounds more complicated in theory than it is in practice. When on the water for me it has expanded my (Person 2) awareness overall starting the sequence right. It works to open up your subconscious and quiet your mind rather than the opposite when you focus on "one thing". Mimicking ELITE skiers on 4 cues (subconciously tied to "L.O.U.D.") unleashes "Person 2's" power, that then flows into your technique. For me, that is far, far, more beneficial than spending years putting a bandaid here and a bandaid there (Person 1 or Post It note) with your mind too focused on one thing, which shuts out your subconscious (Person 2). This is a proven theory started 40+ years back that is powerful in learning ANY sport on ANY level, still today. When you commit to this over a sustained amount of time (12 sets), you are opening up and trusting your subconscious (Person 2) that is habit forming in a good way. I challenge anyone to try it for a couple dozen sets and report back. Watch this video about learning theory: If that video sparks your interest, watch the origin of this learning theory on a 1974 Harry Reasoner Report showing absolute beginners learn to play tennis. AMAZINGLY POWERFUL! (Plug LOCK - OUT - UP - DROP in place of BOUNCE - HIT)

LOUD is for replacing PLOW for sure! Visualizing and emulating correct form of another cued by one syllable words has increased my consistency. I skied only 50 sets over the last 6 years so this was needed to recall techniques I once had. The biggest benefit is each word represents a little film clip burned in my brain. My job is to act the part... Fake it 'til I make it my new habit.

As an aging skier, I have, like many of us, heard or read MANY great coaching tips! Problem being, we get on the water and it is next to impossible to to remember just one for more than three cuts. Right? So we hit and miss with our collective wisdom we have gathered from the numerous resources that have influenced our skiing overy the years. As I reach my mid 50's I realize that my brain isn't getting any quicker and the boat speed is not dropping quite yet, so I came up with my solution called "Ski-out-LOUD" to attempt to keep the sequence of correct technique flowing for all six buoys. Through repetition and visualization this works to quiet the brain and awaken the power of visualization through our subconscious and muscle memory. (Before making up your mind, try opening it) I started with visually grouping a position / movement into 4 Key Words that would give me multiple benefits, rather than just one tip (like keep your hips up). Visualization is of utmost importance here, and I'll touch on how to put the right visual in your head so you ski like a pro! Now, your minds eye of yourself skiing is one thing (but not always trustworthy), so actual video of yourself is required to make your own honest assessment and consequent adjustments. Having an "IDEAL" mental image burned into your brain is the key here and I recommend picking your favorite skier off YouTube or Instruction Tape (perhaps or at 1/4 speed at first to pick up on the intricacies of their technique). Since ski practice time is a scarcity, and our aging bodies are limiting, I recommend you find a good YouTube video with an overhead boom shot (Terry Winter has one online I prefer that has you see it from the skier's perspective) to cement this sequence L.O.U.D. in your mind, before you actually hit the water! (practice before practice) Yes, I am suggesting (when nobody is home) to watch and practice saying: LOCK.... OUT.... UP.... DROP (repeat on every buoy) for about 20+ video passes until it flows (real-time) without thinking and the visual images of your chosen skier become burned into memory! I guess I want you to replace images of yourself skiing, because we are better off skiing like them now aren't we? Each word ultimately has to be tied to the ideal visual, and the wealth of knowledge attached to our muscle memories of; when we got it right on the water. (Imagine positive visualizations of ourselves when we looked like we strive to be... and what it felt like when we NAILED IT!) Ultimately, the goal of this teaching technique is to solidify more things that can become second nature to us, or done subconsciously or committed to good muscle memory. So the words that make up the acronym "L.O.U.D." have a few components. Let me describe... BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY GO ON VIDEOS AND MEMORIZE IT FOR YOURSELF! L - stands for LOCK (behind the boat and through the wakes) O - stands for OUT (through the edge change and out to the buoy line creating width) U - stands for UP (preturn and most importantly Counter-rotating - leading up to the next cut) D - stands for DROP or down (pick your preference) finishing with angle, ready to LOCK So let me explain... The benefit of literally "Speaking out loud" (to yourself or in your head) while skiing (I know it sounds odd) is two fold; first you ingrain the repetitive chant of "Lock-Out-Up-Drop" so the words come through your subconscious like they need to (established through repetition on and off the water watch video of a Pro) The words need to associate and trigger subconsciously, much more information (much like a perfect photo of a top skier) which tends to make you emulate what they do. Replicate what they do, as if a camera was on you for a water ski article, and YOU were the one showing perfect technique. Hold yourself to a higher standard, in other words. Don't ski like you! LOCK starts as you cut for the entrance gates (one could argue DROP belongs first but I don't think your first move needs a reminder) and is the body position that has my arms locked against my vest (hopefully relaxed as an extension of the rope) and that tends to bring ones hips up to create a strong stacked body position with shoulders open to the boat. (I try to feel a sideways sliding sensation with my forward mass being my hip and not a dipping shoulder) I also consider it to mean I am locked in a strong lean that gives me the appropriate lean and acceleration through the "work zone" of cutting (trying to not show my age and call it "pulling") The key is visualization first, and video confirmation of yourself developing this throughout your pass. OUT is something that reminds me of what tends to be a common problem amongst skiers who tend to separate their hands/arms from their body during the edge change. That is many times the cause of either going flat towards a buoy and losing angle that we worked so hard to create and now speed becomes a problem and perhaps slack (call that bad rope management). Now OUT is my reminder that I have a job to do still during the edge change all the way to the buoy-line (some styles may differ with line length, etc.) OUT can also mean another advanced skill that I believe from observation of skiers that get into 41 off and skiers who get something less than a full pass at 38 and wonder why? That is shooting your ski OUT (seemingly happens naturally / accidentally, 1 out of 100 times when I load the rope enough and release the energy perfectly to shoot my ski outward passing under my upper body) OUT is once again a Key that gives you an image of yourself either skiing like a Pro, or doing a proficient job of creating width as you approached the buoy, centered and balanced over your ski. UP is to me, striking a counter-rotated perfect pose for the magazine because you are the "gold standard" of the sport and they are featuring YOUR photo. So you better look perfect! (including your ski face - so don't look like you're passing a kidney stone) So, strive to be standing up tall, centered and stacked with level shoulders, eyes down course, chest up and with your hip ready to lead the way for the ideal position that keeps your ski seamlessly transitioning from turn to cut. Reaching down first, and then up, has worked well for countering and keeping balance for me. I tend to think of it as cocked and ready to make my move by dropping in with my hip first. DROP or "Down" (which ever works in your brain and gets you to make your move.) This image of you pulling the trigger on "your move" is vastly important because your ability to create angle that keeps you on an early path, creating time and space, is all riding on you keeping open with your chest, hips up, shoulders level and seamlessly making a transition into your cut without you dropping your butt, dipping your shoulder and stopping your ski from finishing, etc. So you have to package this "move" as it were, into a short clip in your mind that you can duplicate when DROP comes up in the sequence. All while immediately being ready to repeat L.O.U.D. in a perfect position having skied to the handle and finished with angle! I can already hear many of you saying to yourself, this is crap! And for the skiers who have the proper muscle memory established to not need this, fine, you ski too much, get a job! haha But on the other hand, I am seeing this really work to bring me back in the proper sequence with the right Keys and hopefully building good muscle memories (not old bad habits over and over). I am here to tell you, there has never been so much good information available to a skier as now. BUT, what good does it really do you when you have such a limited thought capacity, the fastest moving sport on earth to learn, and it allows you 6 sets per week if you're lucky! (that's a whopping 12 minutes of practise actually skiing, which takes 10 hours at the lake somehow, to accomplish?) I won't even bring up the limited season! So, it's needless to say; capitalizing on your practice is very important! When your pass goes to pieces, don't practice bad skiing (muscle memory you don't want) and waste energy that could be used for another pass or to help your quality of practice overall! Try ski out LOUD... and tell me what you think! The letters L.O.U.D. have expanded my thinking capacity on the water a lot and helped me to focus on my overall skiing so much better because I have connected the right visual images with timing! I encourage you to give it a couple weeks. Skiing is a sequencial sport that requires you do things the right way without any weak links. Eventually by habitually using "LOUD" you strive to become a more proficient skier in your subconscious and most importantly in your muscle memory as you do it over and over... Then shorten the line and start all over again!