DavidP

I've noticed other threads mentioning trying to ski smooth, so I thought I would share this story. In June 2014, I was in the market for a new ski. At that time I was about 50% running 35off at 34mph. Andy Mapple was in the Houston area so I did a demo set riding the 6.1 with Andy in the boat. After a couple of (I thought) smooth 32s we shortened to 35 and I got 2. While sitting in the water, he could tell I was bummed and here's what he told me - which no one ever told me before (my wife was videoing in the boat and kept the camera rolling):

"Don’t try to be smooth. OK that sounds kind of funny, but being strong, quick and aggressive and a sense of urgency from the apex of the turn…your pulls should always start from the apex, not around the buoy, pull always from the apex. An aggressive skier will make a pass look smooth. If you try to be smooth, you’re reacting slow and then things go away from you. When you see the pros and you see them run passes, josh it’s so smooth and so early, it’s because they are hitting it hit hard…quickly and where they need to and that becomes the result…is a smooth looking pass. 35off you’ve got to hit it, smooth will happen. It will look smooth if you do it right, but don’t try to manufacture smooth."

I proceeded to run the next two passes at 35 and purchased that exact ski. So as the new ski season approaches and I get back into skiing shape, I will replay the GOAT's words and focus less on being smooth and more on hitting it hard where I need to.