Jumping on skis simply means skiing over a jump or off a lip fast enough to take off for a brief period. If your goal is to get more air time when skiing at popular destinations like Mammoth Mountain, it’s one that’s entirely achievable with some practice. Below, the friendly team from Mammoth Bound, your top choice for Mammoth ski rental, go over techniques and tips for jumping when skiing.
Focusing on Your Upper Legs & Body
Jumping on skis is different than jumping on dry land, since skis and ski boots limit ankle and lower leg movements. Instead, you’ll need to focus on your upper legs and body. Your knees and hips play a role as well by generating the power needed for jumping on skis.
Springing
There are two main techniques you can use to jump when skiing. The first one is called springing. It involves compressing your body downward in a way that creates the momentum required to get airborne. With springing, you’ll start by bending your knees and hips as you approach your preferred jumping point. Complete the process by:
• Placing the weight of your body over the middle part of your skis
• Jumping upward when you hit the lip of the jump
• Tucking your body as you’re airborne
What’s good about springing is that it doesn’t matter too much if your timing is a bit off. As long as you maintain your center of gravity in the middle part of your skis, you should be fine.
Using the Ollie
The other technique you can use to jump when skiing is to do a trick known as an ollie. With an ollie, you’re throwing your weight backward to get the front of your skis to lift up. This puts you in a position where you can jump upward and get airborne. The ollie method actually requires more accuracy and movements than springing. However, it’s still possible to successfully jump on your skis when starting with an ollie. Achieve this goal by:
• Leaning forward slightly to prepare yourself
• Throwing your weight backward
• Leaning forward again after the tips of your skis lift up when you jump off to provide the force needed to extend the jump
After you jump forward, extend your body fully. You should do this at the point where the back part of your skis reach the lip of the jump. What you’re trying to do here is launch yourself into the air by using the flex that occurs in the backward-facing part of your skis to provide an added spring.
Soaring through the Air & Landing
Regardless of the technique you prefer to use for launch, there are some things to remember when in the air and landing. When you’re airborne, tuck your legs slightly underneath you in a way that extends your knees forward. Also, lean your body forward.
Put your weight over your skis lengthways as you land. Also, straighten your body as you go in for your landing, but still keep a slight bend at the knees and hips. Ideally, you should land lightly on the back of your skis and let your knees and hips absorb most of the force from the landing. As you get off a jump and on solid ground again, gradually move to an upright position as you continue to ski or come to a stop.
Whether you’re brand-new to skiing or you’re learning how to jump on your skis, it’s essential to make sure you have all the right gear when you hit the slopes. Whether they need accessories or ski rental in Mammoth, visitors can rely on the team at Mammoth Bound for high-quality service and great advice from snow sports experts. Drop by our shop or contact us at [email protected].
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