There are many misconceptions about the sport of mogul skiing, and much misinformation is spread via "instructional" videos and books,
PSIA-based mogul lessons, and the internet. This page will help clear some of those up for you.
1. Mogul skiing
is bad for your knees.
WRONG!!! Our technique is, in fact, quite easy on your knees. Through proper turning
with hip, knee, and ankle angulation combined with absorption and extension, you'll do less damage to your knees than you would jogging
down the street!
2. Certain groups are now informing skiers that our style (sometimes referred to as WC style) of skiing
involves SAB (Slamming & Banging) and is a flat ski technique.
Over a decade ago, World Cup level mogul skiing did infact
involve some level of SAB. However, today's technique is incredibly smooth and-if done correctly-involves no SAB. And
it is certainly not a flat ski technique. In fact, if you read the mogul skiing guide on this site, you'll find that a very
large factor in our mogul turn is carving (mogul edging). The following is an excerpt from the 2006 FIS Judges' Manual
for judging mogul skiing. This is World Cup skiing technique:
"Turns: There are Four Points to Consider
Fall Line:
Skiing
the fall line is considered the shortest way from the Start to the Finish,. To achieve the maximum points for fall line, the competitor
should stay in the selected fall line out of the start gate.
Carving:
In carving action the hip is following the skier's certerline
(hip is not doing side to side movement). Legs should be held together. Turns are controlled by carving, through a combination of
hip-knee and ankle angulation. Carving is the result of correctly-timed weight shifting. The turn is carving when the ski tail is
following the tip.
Absorption and Extension:
The skier should follow the shape of the mogul through absorption from the start until
the top of the mogul. Extension starts right after the top of the mogul. Extension also follows the shape of the mogul. Pressure between
the skis and snow should remain the same during absorption and extension, absorbing as the skier moves up and estending as the skier
moves down. Additionally, the skier should aggressively utilize the moguls to assist initiation of turns, rather than waiting for
the moguls.
Upper Body:
The head should remain still, facing downhill. The chest should also stay straight and natural. Hands stay
in front of the body in a natural position. Pole plants should be light and wrist movement goes forward."
Obviously, it's not
a flat ski technique.
3. These same groups would have you believe that our style only works on intermediate pitches for the average
skier. They think that the only way you can learn to ski bumps is by carving around them and on top of them. They don't
think you can handle our more efficient style.
Actually, you CAN handle our skiing technique, because
it's not just about ripping a fast zipperline. Proper mogul skiing is for everyone. It's for recreational skiers who just
want to be able to make it down a bump run in a decent fashion. It's for recreational skiers who want to be better mogul
skiers. It's for advanced skiers who want to become accomplished mogul skiers. It's for experts who want to rip the
zipperline. It's for pros who want to win the gold in the winter games.
Our technique can be learned by anyone, and
can be applied to any trail of any pitch in any conditions. In fact, it is the most efficient and most widely accepted
form of mogul skiing. Our methods are based strictly on the technique being employed by the pros. Why learn a sub-par
method when you can learn the best method? Our mogul skiing method is best way to ski moguls, and if you can become a good mogul
skier, you can ski anything on the mountain. As Glen Plake once said, "If you want to find the best skiers on the mountain,
you may want to take a good hard look at who is skiing the bumps." Plake was referring to skiers like the ones in his video... world
cup skiers, and people skiing like them. Someone who takes on the task of learning this style will ultimately become one
of the best skiers on the mountain. It's inevitable.
4. Our method of mogul skiing doesn't work on "real" moguls
Some
would have you believe that what we teach doesn't work on "real" moguls. They define these as irregular mogul fields on
steep pitches.
This misconception comes from the belief that skiing the zipperline means letting the moguls dictate your path.
However, this is not correct. In proper mogul skiing, zipperline simply refers to skiing the most direct path down
the fall line. If you learn the our style, you won't ever have to worry about irregular mogul fields, because you'll be
able to ski your straight path right through them. You'll actually find that irregular moguls can be fun!
Our method is
the most appropriate and effective technique for mogul runs of any pitch. As trails get steeper, you simply adjust the radius
of your turns and increase level of absorption and extension for speed control. Refer to the technique guide section entitled
"Speed Control" for more information.
5. This style is only for the young'uns.
Actually, our style is for all
ages. Many believe that only younger people (under 30 or so) really have the ability and range of motion for our technique.
Sure, perhaps a 40 year old won't have the ability to win a World Cup event. But that doesn't mean he/she can't ski with this
technique.
It's not about age, it's about skiing technique. Nothing about our methods should prove difficult
or impossible for any age group. In fact, I've personally skied with quite a few mogul skiers over 50 who successfully
employ the techniques described on this site. Some had been skiing bumps their whole life, others had only recently started.
Most of them rip. I've even seen some amazing mogul skiers over 60 employing this technique.
6. Skiing the Mogulskiing.net style
is only about skiing one line: the zipperline
While the technique is most effective in the zipperline, it is also a technique
for speed control and skiing in any line. The techniques you learn here allow you to change your line if necessary (crazy skier
jumps out in front of you, a renegade bare spot shows up in your line, etc.). When done properly, this technique will most
often take place in the zipperline. But it certainly doesn't confine you to a single zipper.
7. This kind of mogul skiing
is all about speed
In competition, speed is in fact one of the judged components. However, the technique can be employed
for essentially any speed you're comfortable with. It's not a speed-specific technique. It's a technique of turning your
skis and positioning your body. In fact, the efficiency, control, and intricacies of the technique are most obvious when
skiing at slower speeds.
8. There's some magical secret to becoming an expert World Cup moguler
The cold hard truth is, proper
mogul skiing takes just quite a bit more effort than learning to become an expert at any other type of skiing.
It takes a serious devotion and dedication in order to master it. The basics can be learned fairly quickly, but to truly
take advantage of the effectiveness, efficiency, and control that our technique can offer, you truly have to work hard at it,
and practice, practice, practice!
9. Zipperlining isn't "real" skiing
LOL... are you kidding?