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Stee 
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Post subject: Worth doing level 5&6 at MK?
 Posted: Dec 28, 2011 - 04:44 PM
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First post: Nov 30, 2011
Total posts: 150
Location: Surbiton
Status: Offline
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Just wondering if anyone’s gone for level 5&6 at Milton Keynes or equivalent at Hemel? If so what did you think?
Currently I’m debating whether more time on the recreational slopes is going to help me progress much without any guidance. Conditions were bad last time I went and I was getting some heel lift in the rental gear, so ended up linking very very slow turns and edging along the icy stuff. At the end of the level 4 lesson I was bombing it down in comparison!
Maybe going in the morning would be different though! And Santa bought me some nice new boots too 
Advice appreciated, and would deffo earn you a beer! |
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winterfunman
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Post subject: RE: Worth doing level 5&6 at MK?
Posted: Dec 28, 2011 - 07:18 PM
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First post: Apr 20, 2008
Total posts: 8914
Location: BANSKO ..........Bulgaria
Status: Offline
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Blade_1889
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 08:26 AM
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First post: Oct 06, 2011
Total posts: 50
Location: Mansfield
Status: Offline
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I think any extra lessons can't hurt and they aren't expensive.
I did the learn in a day course at Tam, then practiced at Cas. By coincidence I ended up mainly going on the fresh traks days where there are coaches on the slope offering free advice, which helped me.
I feel I have made good progress, but I am still thinking of giving level 5 or 6 a go as I don't want to pick up any bad habits and a more formal lesson would probably help with that, hopefully making slope time on my own more productive.
You say you got boots for Christmas, did you try them and loads of other pairs on before someone bought them for you? When I bought my boots, there was a massive difference in how some of the other boots felt. Your boots might feel comfortable, but how do you know if you have nothing to compare them to? |
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Stee
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 08:43 AM
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First post: Nov 30, 2011
Total posts: 150
Location: Surbiton
Status: Offline
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We went to get the boots fitted, took hours trying different shapes and sizes. I had them heated and shaped to my feet and now they feel like slippers!
I guess I can always do the level 5 lesson have a break and get back out there for an hour of working on what I just learned Just a train to MK then the walk is balls from Surbiton 
God I wish we had snow in Surrey, just want to be clocking up snow time! |
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dunx
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 11:10 AM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 9314
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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As I understand it, level 4 means you can snowboard. You just need some practice to gain confidence and develop technique. What those levels 5 and 6 lessons do, is iron out any bad habits you may pick up honing that technique and to fine tune your riding a bit. Well worth it I'd say.
When I learnt (on Hemel dryslope in hardboots back in the day), I was linking turns fine after 90 minutes and that was it; off to the mountains. But, I was doing it using upper body steering, rather than foot steering. Took a whole amount of time to break that habit. We were just taught different in black and white times... badly (aka like many French Ski Schools still teach you). |
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SCUK Editor • Me on Facebook • Neverland
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Stee
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 11:48 AM
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First post: Nov 30, 2011
Total posts: 150
Location: Surbiton
Status: Offline
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Just out of interest, when you say upper body steering, do you mean just pointing your body where you wanted to go or swinging around?
I wasn't swinging around, but used facing where I wanted to go and foot peddles to get the turns in. Should I be able to cruise without kinda turning at the hips first? |
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Tiberius
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 12:28 PM
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First post: Oct 17, 2004
Total posts: 9416
Location: 10 mins from Cas
Status: Offline
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Yeah, but James Bond had only just invented snowboarding when we learned Dunx
In fact I still have a tutorial DVD at home that teaches you to 'point' where you want to go...and it's American not French. |
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The Disclaimer:
Tiberius is a socialist. His views may not necessarily be supported by his owner.
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Tiberius
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 12:34 PM
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First post: Oct 17, 2004
Total posts: 9416
Location: 10 mins from Cas
Status: Offline
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Stee wrote:
Should I be able to cruise without kinda turning at the hips first?
Yes, lower body only. Twisting the hips and or shoulders are both older methods of turning, and all they do is cause the foot peddeling movement that actually turns the board, no matter wich method you use. |
_________________
The Disclaimer:
Tiberius is a socialist. His views may not necessarily be supported by his owner.
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dunx
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 12:44 PM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 9314
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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I was taught to steer by imagining I was holding a tea tray in my hands and offering it in the direction I wanted to go. I'd make a great freestyle butler
@Stee... Lots of threads on SCUK about foot steering, so check those out as it's been done to death. |
_________________
SCUK Editor • Me on Facebook • Neverland
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Tiberius
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 01:03 PM
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First post: Oct 17, 2004
Total posts: 9416
Location: 10 mins from Cas
Status: Offline
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| Actually quite funny, I taught myself in Romania, and to stop myself falling over so often I put my hands in my pockets with the rather dubious theory that it would stop quicker if it hurt more. Hence pointing was never part of my technique...in fact I didn't really have any technique |
_________________
The Disclaimer:
Tiberius is a socialist. His views may not necessarily be supported by his owner.
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Stee
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 01:46 PM
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First post: Nov 30, 2011
Total posts: 150
Location: Surbiton
Status: Offline
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Sounds like lessons are the way forward then! Now is when we'd develop bad survival habbits.
It's not too bad though, a friend of ours who's done a few weeks in france still edges down since he never took lessons and can't heel side turn :p Feel like Terje next to him  |
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_Steve_
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 03:22 PM
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First post: Dec 13, 2011
Total posts: 41
Status: Offline
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I was talking to the instructor at MK after my 4th lesson and he said it wasn't worth doing level 5&6 and that the snow coaching is a much better deal.
If you can make it on a wednesday from 10-1 you can do the snow coach thing where you get 3 hours, 2 of which with an instructor who can show you every thing they do in 5 and 6 lessons. all for the 30 quid.
Costs half as much as doing the lessons plus you get an hour after the instructor has left to rip it up by yourself. I did that twice and learnt looooaaads! |
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Stee
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 03:30 PM
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First post: Nov 30, 2011
Total posts: 150
Location: Surbiton
Status: Offline
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_Steve_
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 04:16 PM
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First post: Dec 13, 2011
Total posts: 41
Status: Offline
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Looks like they've changed it up a little and its only 2 hours, but yeah thats the kiddie. I try and get down there for the 3 hours for 30 quid too which is a bargain and really good for me as i work shifts
The guy that did it the 2 occasions i went was a really cool and knowledgeable dude too which made it all better |
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_Steve_
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Post subject:
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 - 04:19 PM
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First post: Dec 13, 2011
Total posts: 41
Status: Offline
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Oh and yeah it was empty, 4 on the first time and maybe 6 or 8 on the second. So no more than a usual lesson really.
They used to do it with up to 20 though, not sure if thats still the case and the dude did say they tend not to get more than 10 people but its something to be aware of |
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