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Variations on a theme: Bumps

There are as many different ways to ski bumps as there are different bumps. Here are some tactical and technical ideas to use in your bump lessons.

Funnel
This is a way to work into the bumps and help students transfer effective movements into the bumps.  Start with medium radius turns and progressively reduce the radius of the turn while maintaining good movements. 

On the road
Here’s another way to work into the bumps, imagine the trail is a four lane highway.  Start off by making turns in one lane, then practice moving from lane to lane.

Schmear it
My mom’s family is from New York and they love their bagels with a heaping mass of cream cheese. A cheese knife, spreader or what we call a “schmearer” is a key piece of equipment. The flat blade easily spreads cream cheese or peanut butter.  This tactic uses low edge angles, progressive rotary and an emphasis on a tall stance.

Castles
You can find the complete description of this kids drill here.

Wah Wah

Sometimes you need a really quick, strong rotary movement like a hockey stop. A PSIA-E examiner calls these wah whas. Adding a quick turn to a stop builds confidence.


Turn on the tops

The top of a bump offers skiers the least amount of resistance and the greatest amount of options.

Absorption
Using flexion and extension in the bumps is essential. I like to introduce this, by asking students to traverse small bumps.

TGIF
Tips go in first to maintain contact with the snow.

Ride the rail
Out here in the East we get a lot of long pointy bumps with nasty drop offs. Sometimes the best tactic is to sideslip the ridge of the bump like a rail. It gives you a chance to get past the nastiness and look for better options.

Nail every pole plant
Keep the poles moving shifting from second gear into third abd allow the pole swing to pull you into the turn.

Elbows
Keep your elbows past your ribcage and your hands slightly wider than your elbows.

Add your favorites in the comments.

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