The Tip To Rip

By Chris Rossi - 2002

     The hardest part of making a change is the first step. For better or for worse, it is human nature to resist change. How many of us make the decision to sit on the couch rather than hit the gym? I had my gym membership for eight months before I started to use it! That first step in the gym was terrifying, but that feeling doesn't last long. Where am I going with this, you ask? It's time to take the first step in changing your slalom turns.

     For years we have been taught to ski on the tails of our skis. It's only been in recent years that skiers have started to utilize their entire ski for more efficient turns, although there are exceptions like Andy Mapple, who's been winning for years with this style. Most of our past world and national champions perfected the art of tail turns. Does this make it right? No. Just because your best friend jumps off a cliff doesn't mean you should, too! Advanced skiers have developed great balance along the way and can ski in almost any position. But that doesn't mean you should always imitate those positions especially in the case of tail turns.

     Tail turns exert excessive force on the body. By pushing the ski forward at the finish of the turn (straightening your legs), your body falls out the back. Your center of mass shifts to the tail of the ski, causing the tip of the ski to come out of the water. If the rope weren't there to catch you (requiring excessive muscle use), you would definitely fall over. The more the ski comes out of the water, the more it wants to flatten. This sacrifices edge hold, which ultimately sacrifices balance. This is the main reason why tail turners ski poorly in adverse conditions, suffer from chronic back and other health problems, and, worst of all, tend to plateau at levels much below their potential. In sum, tail turning is the hardest way to run the course.

     We must now ask ourselves why we ski. The answer: Because it is a fun time! Let's learn to make skiing more enjoyable by using the ski design to our advantage. Think of your best passes through the course or your most enjoyable cuts across the mirrored lake. What's the first thing that comes to mind? Wow! That was easy and fun! Efficiency is a feeling that is unmistakable. It's what brings that smile to your face at the end of a good pass, and it's what Tip to Rip is all about. Now that I've got your attention, here is a basic guideline for tip turns.

     After you've crossed the wakes and made your edge change, allow yourself to ski out to the buoy line. There is nothing real technical about this stage; just hold onto the handle with both hands and let the ski swing from cutting edge to turning edge. Once you have crossed the buoy line (the minimal width you need to clear the buoy), let go with your outside hand. This starts a slight weight shift forward. Ninety-percent of skiers start their reach too early, sacrificing width and leading to inefficient tail turns. When you do reach, you should reach in a more forward direction. This helps keep your momentum going out, which maximizes your width and more importantly, sets your body for the next stage of the turn.

     The only other thing to remember in this stage is to keep your head and boydy facing the course. IN the pre-turn, you should look for the upcoming buoy. This helps your brain make quick judgments on your speed and direction. These judgments ultimately lead to the type of turn you will make. If you see that you are early and fast coming into a buoy (when everything feels so right), you will turn differently than if you are late and slow (when it feels so bad).

     Now that we have let go and begun the reach in a balanced position, the next stage is fun. As you extend the handle out away from the upper-body, extend the ski away from your lower-body, which feels similar to standing up. This helps to roll the ski more on edge, and it places the middle-to-front of the ski into the water. Because you took a good picture of where you were in the course during the pre-turn, this stage should be based more on feeling than seeing. Too many skiers focus too long on where the buoy is, instead of where they are in their turn. This is why free-skiers tend to have smoother, more efficient turns than course-skiers. Free-skiers feel their turns rather than see them. When you have skied out (extended) as far as you can, you are perfectly set for the next stage.

     This is where Tip to Rip comes into play. The best skiers finish their turns with the ski tip in the water. Mapple has mastered this technique and many more are following suit. More ski in the water results in a more efficient style. Basically, skiers who adhere to this style are using less energy to make better turns than the skier who hammers a hook turn and ends up with the ski tip pointing out of the water.

     At the widest point (apex), you are fully extended, your handle is out in front of you, and your vision is down course. Now we just need to make a slight weight shift forward, which places the tip of the ski in the water. Bending the hips, knees and ankles, while keeping the body up right and centered over the ski, does this. Snow skiers use the same technique when carving turns.

     There is no rotation involved with a turn of this style. Vision stays down course (No Head Turning!). Just let the body fall (sliding sensation) back into the handle and let the legs slightly crush underneath you. As you feel the pull strengthen from the boat (start of the cut), extend the arms and let your body weight fall away from the edge of your ski. Your upper-body should feel similar to hanging off a pull-up bar, not like pulling up on one. Let your hips drop low and let your arms out, but make sure that your hips are low and centered over your feet, not behind them (butt back). The more edge you placed in the water out of the turn, the farther your body will be able to get away from the ski through the cutting stage. The name of the game is maximizing angle with as little effort as possible! So remember, for more efficient turns and increased angle, it's Tip to Rip.