GETTING AIR IN THE ALPS

Luckily for us, Will is a qualified instructor (ISIA Snowboard coach passport for Europe, and a level 3 AASI qualified instructor) and so instead of just plodding along doing the same runs, taking long lunches and finishing early to hit the bars, we actually snowboarded from dawn to dusk (well nearly) and really progressed!

It was an amazing feeling to end the week and see some real progress.

Each day Will took us out to his secret spots and really helped us perfect our technique and work on any area we wanted to improve on.

For me it was jumps. I wanted to know the technique behind a really good jump, getting decent air and, most importantly, how to land the jump.

So here goes, SurfGirl’s Top Tips For Getting Air

• First of all visualise yourself completing the jump. Really see it in your mind.
• Go into the jump with confidence and enough speed to get you up and over.
• As you approach the jump, bend your legs and get closer to your board.
• You don’t need to push off the jump. You will be accelerated naturally from the jump. Adding an extra push from you, may throw your body off balance.
• Keep you body aligned, that is keep your shoulders in line with your hips, your knees bent. Only your head is turned to see where your going. This is really important part. Most people tend to swing there shoulders as they jump which in turn throws you off balance and usually results with landing on our backside, or ever worse your head!
• As you hit the jump remember to look to where you want to land, keep you legs bent, stay low and ride it out.
• Confidence comes with practice, so try to keep repeating a set of jumps and keep the technique strong in your mind.
• And just when you least expect it… AIR! Enjoy.

Willy G, our instructor

If you fancy hitting the slopes this winter and would like to progress a certain area of your riding, or maybe you are a complete beginner, then it is really worth investing in some coaching. Will offers lessons from beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders, specific coaching days to perfect any area you want to work on, as well as video coaching and photo packages. If you’re lucky he’ll even bring you to the infamous Irish Bar, Covey’s where he DJ’s on a Monday (http://www.coveysirishpub.com/) – but be warned, if they hand you a shot of black liquid that makes your eyes water just from the smell….. be afraid, very afraid!

Contact:
William Giles
0033 450 897073
www.chalet-loreade.com

Jane gets some air!

Tags: Snow, snowboard, style, surf photography, technique, Travel, winter