Postby toyletbowl » Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:19 am
Hey Tazz
here's a few tips that may help. finally got some snow recently, so jumping with skis is much easier on snow than ice. landings suck on ice if you screw up. here's what i use for gear and it works great. K2 enemy twin tip skis with a flysurfer psycho 9.5 or slingshot B series. definitely like the psycho better while riding and jumping is awesome once you get the timing down. set up sucks at times if the bridle has any twists in it, but that's my problem. anyone have any suggestions for winding the lines clean? the twins work great for riding switch and hold an edge really well without being too turny.
having power is the key and speed definitely helps. the more power, while in control, the better. so if your cruising with the kite at 10:30 or 11:00, what works for me is to crank the bar hard and fast to send the kite in the opposite direction. If you're really overpowered, be careful and don't be too aggressive. At the same time, I try to edge hard and almost touch my ass to the snow. as soon as i feel the pull, i start to bring the kite back in the other direction to get it overhead again. then as i get close to landing, i bring the kite forward so i can land with some speed and the kite doesn't collapse(sp?). So a visual on the timing thing for takeoff is to see yourself cruising at speed but not edging to much, just enough to keep your ground. then the second you crank on the bar, drop you ass to the snow and wait for the pull. now it's time to enjoy the view and do your tricks. ride on.
i've been getting only about 8-10 feet, but 2,3 maybe 4 seconds hang time with really soft landings. thank you psycho. more snow, more height is my guess.
on takeoff, if your balanced in the center of the skis, you'll land perfect. if you're in the backseat on takeoff, that's how you'll land. obvious? maybe, but still good to keep in mind.
i have a skiing tip also to help with edging and holding the power. the majority of skiers ride with downwind or outside ski edged alot more than the windward or inside ski. so one ski is edged a ton while the other is just hanging around not doing much and hardly edged. the knees are almost touching, but the skis are far apart. this works ok, but try this the next time your cruising. try to keep your knees and skis the same distance apart. with that inside ski, keep tipping it on more and more of and edge and the outside ski will match its' angle. this is really powerful once you get used to it and get it dialed in. it also takes the pressure off of one skis and helps with leg stress. modern skis are made for skiing on equal edge angles. if you try it, let me know if it works.
...........ride what you like, like what you ride................
bob