Carvers MA

[RyanAllen]

I don't agree with your assessment of Marcel's recent carving video he posted.

Well, that's okay. Disagreements make the world go 'round. But, I'll say this - I would rather my free skiing resembled yours than his.

[HeluvaSkier]

Well, that's okay. Disagreements make the world go 'round. But, I'll say this - I would rather my free skiing resembled yours than his.

Talking purely aesthetics, with a little coaching/input and the desire on his part to do it, he'd make anything I do look like amateur hour after a day or two actually working it (though I appreciate the compliment). I've seen what ~30 point athletes can do in a few days... I can only imagine what the GOAT could do if he wanted to do it. The brilliance is still there in his lazy free skiing, trust me.

[ErikCO]

The brilliance is still there in his lazy free skiing, trust me.

That was my thought on that video. He was basically playing around, having fun, not paying much attention to anything. It was actually kind of refreshing to see! He actually seems to still enjoy skiing for the joy of skiing (unlike, it would appear, Vonn at least based on her most recent interview). And I'm totally confident that if he wanted to, he could make his aesthetics look exactly the way many on this forum would ideally like to see with very little effort. All the essentials that made him such a superb racer are still there. But the video wasn't a tech demo. It was free skiing just for fun.

[RyanAllen]

Ugh. Okay, please disregard my comments about Hirscher. Maybe I should edit the post - it seems to have derailed the broader point I hoped to make.

[oggy]

I saw a video recently of Marcel Hirscher freeskiing. It wasn't pretty.

What's the video? This one?

Take a look and let me know if you have any suggestions or questions.

To be perfectly honest, the only nit I could pick in the video was that it looks to me like you could be tipping a bit more to finish the turn But do bear in mind that I have absolutely no idea how carvers work or how it feels to skate on them. As for the "internal cues", I guess it's highly personal. For me, recently I mostly feel good about turns where I'm very deliberate about where my balance is - but I guess that cue is about as unactionable and fuzzy as it gets.

On a different note, just wanna say that your progress on carvers looks amazing. It'd be great if you posted some carver and on-snow comparison to the last season once you hit the snow, I think it will be very motivational for the rest of us!

[dougtee]

hi ryan, are you still sticking with the same labeda wheels?

[RyanAllen]

hi ryan, are you still sticking with the same labeda wheels?

They're excellent wheels, and wear slowly. However, I just switched to Sovereign Speed Black Ops 85A's because they come from a small shop that specializes in skate wheels, are a bit less expensive, and I like black. So far I actually like them a little better than the Labeda's. Slightly better feel on the pavement and the wear seems pretty good so far - maybe just a tad softer.

https://skateparts.net/collections/fron ... ey-fitness

[RyanAllen]

I'm intending this to be my last update before hitting the snow. Decided to test my skills on the steepest hill in my repertoire of venues. It's about a 5% grade and speed control is challenging. My goal was to tip quickly through transitions with a deeper flexing movement - like Harold's Speed Control on Steep Slopes video - to get to my new edges before the high-c part of the turn, and then spend as little time in the fall line as possible. The pavement was getting wet by the time I setup and I could feel the carvers sliding a bit, so I was in cautious mode!



Overall, I had a great time on these things this year. They taught me a lot and over time I began noticing more subtle feedback from various senses - but always confirm with video!! Speaking of video, I've watched so much now, with slo-mo and freeze framing, that I feel like watching the world cup is way more interesting. It's easier to spot when a racer is out of balance, or has goofy alignment.

I'm planning to make a season montage of my progression on the carvers and hopefully tie that together with on-snow video soon.Thank you to everyone offering feedback and encouragement!!

-Ry

Edit: I just put this year in review together!

[willwingpang]

Hi Ryan

Your roller carving has come on leaps and bounds from your first YT video to latest. Fantastic! I can only look on with awe.

If you are still Harb carving before you go away to some beautiful snow laden slope, regarding quieting your hands, may I suggest no pole planting, just hold out the poles with the tips flared out at 45 degrees, from release, through transition, during engagement, right up to the apex.Repeat that turn after turn after turn.When you flex to release, when the old stance leg shortens, your pole tip will tap the ground.

[RyanAllen]

Thanks Will! I like your suggestion and it's good to hear from you. Hope you can get back on the snow this season!!