How Do You Hit Gates in Slalom Skiing?
Your Questions
I’ve been on Mount Snow Ski Team since I was 8, and I still get scared about hitting gates in slalom, I have pole guards, I just don’t think I know how to hit them right!
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09/08/2010 at 6:15 am
Technically, you’re not hitting them, you’re skiing through them. "Hitting" implies that you’re reaching out and forcing the gate out of your way. In actuality, what you want to be doing is skiing as if the gate wasn’t there – your pole guard then acts as a way to deflect the gate from your chosen path.
Don’t worry – its scary at first. Pretty soon you’ll get into it though. Its fun! All you can do is practice, practice, practice.
09/08/2010 at 6:15 am
Ask your coach for more help and advice. That is their job. To teach you how to do it the way it should be done. If they are unable to explain it to you so you understand, ask them again. This is a matter of 2 way communication.
09/08/2010 at 6:15 am
Just relax and ski as close as you can to them. Just pretend they aren’t even there! (but don’t forget to go around them!) Start hitting them when you aren’t going too fast, and then go down the course again and hit them faster and so on and so on until you reach your normal speed. And don’t reach out for them, just hit it almost by accident.
09/08/2010 at 6:15 am
you mentioned you have pole guards. do you have shin guards? you will need em
heres a pic of me skiing slalom in a states race… the photographer was a little late but if you look closely you can see the gate
http://s351.photobucket.com/albums/q447/lovelygabbers/?action=view¤t=dudethiskidisasuckskierohwaititsmeh.jpg
i hope this helps. dont worry its easy once you get the hang of it
ALSO! for your safety you will need a chin guard that attaches to your helmet.. do not use this on your helmet for anything but slalom races/training or (not to scare you..) you could break your neck if you fell
09/08/2010 at 6:15 am
if u have shin guards…just practice gently hitting the gates with your shins and get the feel for it then move on to hitting the gate with more force and then ask your coach how to do it for real