Unit: Skiing and Snowshoeing Skiing

Transcription

1 1 Unit: Skiing and Snowshoeing Skiing Although the word "skiing" was originally used as a generic term for traveling through the snow on two long boards, the sport has evolved dramatically to include many different types and styles of skiing, attracting a wide range of skiers with a variety of interests. There are many skiing options, from casual recreational skiing to racing to backcountry challenges. Skiing Types and Terrains There are many types of Skiing that occur over many various terrain types, from flat, cross-country trails to steep backcountry slopes. A few include: Cross Country Skiing (also known as Nordic or x-country skiing) Cross country skiing dates back to the days when transportation options were few and far between. The origins of cross country skiing back to 6300 BC. In many cases, this type of skiing was used by mail carriers, such as Father Dyer in Breckenridge and John "Snowshoe" Thompson in the Sierra Nevada Range. Cross country skiing can be divided into two styles: The classic cross country skiing involves a gliding, straight ahead movement. The skating style is characterized by its V-shaped glide, which bears a close resemblance to the movements used in roller skating and ice skating. - Cross country skiing does not use chair lifts. - A cross country skier's heel is not attached to the boot binding. Alpine or Downhill Skiing Alpine skiing involves going downhill. In most cases downhill skiing is lift-serviced skiing. The heels of the heavy, plastic Alpine ski boots are attached to the ski boot binding. Alpine boots come up higher on the leg than cross-country ski boots. Alpine poles are shorter, and the skis themselves are wider. Since downhill skiing involves using a chair lift, it more expensive sport than cross country skiing. Freestyle Skiing Freestyle skiing includes several sub-disciplines of downhill skiing, including mogul skiing, aerials, halfpipe, and snowboarding. Freestyle is often performed in terrain parks, which feature a variety of jumps and various obstacles over which skiers perform tricks and stunts. - Mogul Skiing - involves skiing over a series of large mounds of packed snow (bumps). - Aerial Skiing - descend a hill, without ski poles, toward a steeply ramped jump and perform flips, twists, and somersaults. - Snowboarding -while technically not "skiing," snowboarding is an evolution of traditional downhill skiing. Boarders cruise down the hill on a single, wide platform with both feet attached to bindings, riding like a surfer on snow. - Halfpipe - skiers drop in and out of a half-circle scoop in the hill like a pendulum, performing acrobatic jumps and stunts high in the air on each successive ascending swing through the pipe. Ski Racing Ski racing is another Alpine discipline which involves stiffer ski boots and course-specific skis. Most common types of races include Slalom and Giant Slalom.

2 2 Backcountry Skiing Backcountry skiers do not use ski lifts. Instead they hike up the hill or venturing into areas not maintained by ski resorts. Given that there is no ski patrol in the backcountry, skiers often carry avalanche safety equipment. Telemark Skiing A cross between cross country and Alpine skiing. It is usually performed on a downhill slope. Like cross country, in telemark skiing the heel is not attached to the ski boot binding. The movement looks like a series of lunges traveling down the slope. Skis Equipment Selection The ski you select should be as long as the wrist of an outstretched arm held above the head. Skating skis are usually shorter. Skis are constructed so that they can spring like the arch of the foot. This arch on the ski is called the camber and it distributes the skier s weight evenly over the ski. The front curled ends of the ski are called the tips and the straight ends are called tails. Poles The pole should fit snuggly under your armpit when the tip is placed on the floor. Poles should be much longer for racing. When grasping the pole, the hand should pass up through the strap and onto the grip. Boots Designed for your specific type of skiing. Should be comfortable. Your toe should not touch the end.

3 3 Skills/Technique - Diagonal Stride (also known as the Kick/Glide) Basic ski stride Used for flat terrain and small inclines. - Double Poling More common in racing or in combination with the skate technique. A powerful technique used to gain extra speed. - Herringbone Technique To go up small sloped hills. Skis form a V with tips wide and tails close together. Use your edges to grip the snow. - Side-Step To go up steeper sloped hills Step with the higher ski then follow with the lower ski. Use your edged that face uphill into the snow to get grip - Snow Plow Going down hills Tips together and tails apart Use your edges to help slow you down

4 4 Turning Techniques Tail Turn - The tail turn is the most common way to turn. - Lift the tip of the ski, and step around until you are facing where you want to go. - Keep the tail end of the skis and a least one pole in the snow, especially when you are turning on a hill. Tip Turn The same technique as the tail turn, but in this turn the tips stay together and the tails are lifted for the turn. Kick Turn The advantage of the kick turn is that the skier can turn around very quickly, and on narrow trails, in only two moves. The key is using the poles for balance and picking which foot to use for the first step. - Begin by planting your right pole near the tails of your skis then plant the left pole near the tip of your skis. - To begin this first "kick around" with the right ski, use the knee to start lifting up the ski tip. - Then kick your foot forward and up to help set the ski tail in the snow out in front of you. - Now pivot the tail away from you and let the ski swing the 180 degrees into the new direction. - Now both skis should be facing the new direction. Bring your left pole around and you re ready to ski.

5 5 Falling How to Fall Properly - Try to relax. Tensing up the muscles increases the chance of injury. Don t try to fight it move naturally. - Don t put out your hand or arm to break the fall. The urge to brake with your limbs leads to damaged shoulders and broken collarbones. If you can, try to absorb the impact by rolling into the fall. For example, if your arm hits first, try to bend the elbow and roll onto your shoulder or hip. Getting up from a fall The first step is to get both skis parallel with each other. If they re tangled together, roll over on our back and lift the skis in the air to get them parallel then set them back down on the snow. 1. Release the grip on the poles to use the hands and arms for support (31a). 2. With the skis parallel and perpendicular to our body, begin to crawl forward until both feet are behind and our knees are on top or side of each ski (31b). 3. Get to a kneeling position by sliding one foot forward (31c). 4. Plant our poles into the snow and lift ourselves up Ski Wax Kick wax is used for cross-country skis. It is designed to help your skis grip and glide easily over the snow. The better the glide the faster you will go with less effort. Nordic classical skis have both glide and grip zones. Only apply wax to glide zones on the ski. Do not apply wax to a grip zone because this is counter-productive. Kick wax is selected based on temperature and snow conditions.

6 6 Two types of wax are: Hard wax - Hard waxes are the most popular choice. - They work best when snow is fresh (crystalline snow) and not yet hard-packed. - Most are color-coded according to their optimal temperature range (from approximately -25 F to +35 F). Klister - These are for warmer conditions, when snow has repeatedly melted and refrozen, and become slushy. - Their stickiness makes them stick ti the snow. Some skis are "waxless", having a fish-scale like texture to prevent back sliding Snowshoes 3 types of Snowshoeing: Recreational: For use on gentle packed powder terrain. Backcountry: For use on challenging and deep terrain (steep climbs, descents, etc.) Racing: Short and ultra-light snowshoes designed for speed on packed trails. Types of Snowshoes: 1. Bear Paw oval in shape, lacking tail for use in thick woods and hilly areas advantages: maneuverability disadvantages: slower than other styles and not good for deep snow 2. Michigan (Maine or Beaver-tail) tear-drop shape, upturned toe, and a narrow tail for use on trails or open woods advantages: versatility, will work fairly well in most situations disadvantages: clumsy in thick woods or in very deep, powdery snow by far the most popular design 3. Alaskan (Trail, Yukon) extremely long and narrow, greatly upturned toe, and narrow tail. for use in open areas and deep snow best for most racing advantages: handles deep snow, very fast, and tracts well over long distances disadvantages: poor maneuverability

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