The elusive V2
Last night I was out at Elver Park helping Dave put on the Madnorski weeknight races. I was doing registration so I didn't really have time to get changed, get my skis and get in the race. However, in the end that ended up being very lucky as one of the Madnorski ski instructors offered to give me a private lesson as he had just finished doing the free group lessons Madnorski offers.
Oddly enough he suggested we work on the V2. I laughed when he said that since I didn't know how to V2. I did try to figure it out last season but it just never clicked for me. I guess that Don likes a challenge as he was determined to teach me. Amazingly I actually started to get it. I'm not saying I have a great V2 but I finally have the skills to build up to a decent V2. Dave was pretty amazed as I've been struggling to learn that with not a lot of luck and mostly a whole lot flailing around. I'm excited as the V2 is such a great skill and is an important technique if you want to go fast and fly on the flats and up little hills. If I can get proficient it will speed up my time at a flat race like the Mora.
It's amazing how you can struggle with something and then one day someone says something to you and it all clicks into place. Last night talking to Jim Holmes I remembered how that was for me when I was first starting out skating. One day someone finally told me to stop skiing off my toes and ski off my heels. That was an epiphany that totally helped make it possible for me to really ski. Jim had someone tell him that last night and I think it will really help him progress.
So yeah, there's skiing in Madison and it's awesome. There might be hope for winter after all!
For more on what the heck is this VI and V2 stuff read a simple description in Outside mag online.
Trying to learn the V2? What worked for me was to ski slowly but pole fast and not worry about extending the arm way back. I think I was way too worried about arm extension so I could never understand how people could pole that fast. I stopped worrying about that and I started with short, quick pole turnover. I will slowly work up to more arm extension as I get more comfortable but I was getting better even just last night. It's not pretty but it is the V2.
Oddly enough he suggested we work on the V2. I laughed when he said that since I didn't know how to V2. I did try to figure it out last season but it just never clicked for me. I guess that Don likes a challenge as he was determined to teach me. Amazingly I actually started to get it. I'm not saying I have a great V2 but I finally have the skills to build up to a decent V2. Dave was pretty amazed as I've been struggling to learn that with not a lot of luck and mostly a whole lot flailing around. I'm excited as the V2 is such a great skill and is an important technique if you want to go fast and fly on the flats and up little hills. If I can get proficient it will speed up my time at a flat race like the Mora.
It's amazing how you can struggle with something and then one day someone says something to you and it all clicks into place. Last night talking to Jim Holmes I remembered how that was for me when I was first starting out skating. One day someone finally told me to stop skiing off my toes and ski off my heels. That was an epiphany that totally helped make it possible for me to really ski. Jim had someone tell him that last night and I think it will really help him progress.
So yeah, there's skiing in Madison and it's awesome. There might be hope for winter after all!
For more on what the heck is this VI and V2 stuff read a simple description in Outside mag online.
Trying to learn the V2? What worked for me was to ski slowly but pole fast and not worry about extending the arm way back. I think I was way too worried about arm extension so I could never understand how people could pole that fast. I stopped worrying about that and I started with short, quick pole turnover. I will slowly work up to more arm extension as I get more comfortable but I was getting better even just last night. It's not pretty but it is the V2.
posted by MadCross at 9:42 AM
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