Slalom training and speed tests on our French ski instructor course

Last time we caught up with Ryan and Adam on our French ski instructor courses, they were really starting to get a grip on their race training. Their new race skis had arrived in and it making a massive difference to their times in training. Over the last couple of weeks the focus has moved to a more competitive level.

The main focus of this course is to pass the “Test Technique” slalom speed test, which is no mean feat! To help the guys deal with the pressure of the test, they’re now going to take part in weekly races against other local clubs.

The first race was on our home turf at the Chantmerle Stade de Slalom. Here’s how Ryan got on:

“After warming up we headed to the start gate, I was number 18 and the first of us Brits to go. It felt pretty nerve racking as it was the first time we had proper racing bibs and there were a lot of people there watching who I’d never seen before.”

Before I knew it I was at the start gate looking down the mountain. As soon as I passed through the first gate thought the nerves were gone, as well as any thoughts of what the people watching thought of my skiing, I was just concentrating on what was ahead of me and trying not to crash or miss any gates. The first half of the course wasn’t very steep and felt quite good, until I went around the corner and it dropped down a lot more and the turns got sharper. By this point my legs were already on fire but there was no point worrying about any pain I was in until I crossed the finish line. The second half didn’t go so well as I found myself skidding around the sharper turns and I knew I had lost a lot of time.

I finished the run more out of breath than ever in a time of 52.95 seconds which was 12 seconds off Valentine’s time, so still nowhere near the fastest but a lot closer than last week and only 4 seconds off the pass time, if this had been a test. Adam was number 26 and  managed to get a pole in the face during the second half of his first run which he said threw him and so missed the next gate and fell over, so DNF for him.”

Over the day, the guys all put in four runs and overall did really well.

After a weekend break, it was back to slalom training in Chantemerle. Today they had the bonus of video footage, which is always a great way to iron out your technique, and especially when perfecting the finer details of race training. Here’s how it went for Adam:

“The final track filming was exciting but a little daunting as we knew that we were not going to look good. Was a really cool system you just did your run, skied straight over to the hut and your run was straight on the screen. As I guessed did not look too good but pretty much what I expected, I would describe my skiing the same way as my golf swing, stiff and wooden. I know what I need to do but its just so hard to get your body to relax when going at speed. Vincent told me what I needed to work on next time so I focused on that. When I saw him he said it was better but I knew that it was far from my best.”

“After lunch We went up and down a few times and at the top the gates I said to Jo, ‘so how long does it take before you stop looking like an idiot’. She said about ten years, can see what she means but think she was just being modest. She said that she finds it’s just all in the head and that if you think your good, feel like you’re good, imagine your good and you can do it. So I gave it a go and was probably one of the best runs I put together all day. She said it was the best I had looked as well. So hopefully got a trick up my sleeve which I need to bring out more often.

“Was a really good day and definitely progressed and am looking forward to the next timed race!!!”

The next day was really windy and most of the chairlifts were closed, but there’s no break on this course, as they all hiked up to the start of the course and put in a filmed run. Adam and Ryan were a little disappointed with how their run went for them but unfortunately it was the only chance they had to get on film that day. Later in the bar Vincent and the other instructors went through the footage:

“We arrived a bit late and they were already watching our instructor, Jean-Christophe’s run and showing us all how it should be done. After that it showed a couple of the guys who are up there with the best and we saw that everyone has their faults, a lot of faults it seems. Not getting low enough, too much shoulder movement, skidding or sliding round poles, the list went on. It grew closer and closer to our runs and we were dreading it, if the guys who are pretty quick didn’t look very good, how were we going to look!? As it turned out we were right that we looked pretty awful but we both had the same problem a lot of the time. There was no angle in our bodies, from head to toe was a straight line, when the hips and shoulders are supposed to stay vertical whilst the legs bend and turn around the poles. Our arms were moving too much too and you could see at the end of my run my frustration as I punched the final pole in anger. Both of us had one good thing to think about though, Vincent told Adam that the effort he was putting in and the way he attacked the course was very good and he gave it his all, now all he needs is the right technique, with myself, Vincent paused the tape on one of the turns and said that it was very good, it was the only turn that was very good and he said that if I can do that 25 more times then I’ve got it, simple!!!

Another very challenging and tiring day, especially with the walking, but we have both seen what we’re doing wrong now and can focus on that tomorrow and hope to start changing things.”

Stay tuned for the next instalment from our guys in Serre Chevalier.