How do I ski a flush?

[MLBfreek35]

I have seen the pros just pass through those flushes like it's nothing, just turnturnturnturnturn but I can't do that. Maybe it has something to do with my skis (Not SL skis), but is there any technique I can work on to get through the flushes a little faster?

[Skidude]

I started the racing season on rec. skis, and they suck!! There is a good chance it is your skis. Another thing that helps me is take very small turns through the flush, and only block gates with one hand. If your looking to buy new skis, get rossi world cup 9s. They are amazing.

[Richard G]

If you are an advanced skier, focus on the next gate and steer your skis around the gate using your thighs. Imagine you are standing on a slippery floor in you socks with your feet shoulder width apart. Now twist your legs using your thighs. You should feel your hip sockets move together. This twisting action changes the direction of your skis on snow. You have to trust your equipment to do its' job while your are looking at the next gate. A good exercise is to ski trees along side a run as a very slow speed to get a feel of looking ahead and changing direction.

[Brittany]

I have always suckd at slolam, but how I learnd how to do flushes is to tighten your line, straighten out in the flush, my coach always told me to take it really close and edge less than you would on a regular turn. It may also be your skis; it probably doesn't help you much in SL if you're on GS skis or twin tips or something. Good Luck!

[Danielle1836]

long skis can make flushes treacherous so definetely look into purchasing a pair of skis specifically designed for.for a flush, the key thing is dont make TURNS! its all about slightly tipping to make it through. we all know ski racing is about the shortest line and the biggest mistake i see beginners make when they ski flushes is that they try and turn through it. no-no. some great drills to practice the quick tipping from side to side to quickly make it through a flush is ski on one ski. it may be challenging at first but you'll get the hang of it. set up a row of feather dusters and just start by slowly gliding thru on one ski using your boot to help you balance. concentrate on tipping and having as little side-to-side movement with your skis as possible. continue progressing until you can ski it on one ski without touching your boot down.like mentioned before, don't cross-block in a flush. just use one arm to brush the gate aside if it is in the way. sometimes it may not even be necessary.good luck with slalom, i hope you dominate!!

[Snap P]

its simple to go through a flush.a flush is basically straight ,you need little turns through themalso keep one hand up for cross blocking the hole way through it might feel weird but it is faster but if you don't want to cross block them just do little tuns as fast as you can and for ski's atomic is the way to go they have a 58% win recred this season the people who race atomic got 7 of the 10 discipline globes atomic rocks good luck man

[SkiBabe]

Yay, a racing question! GS is more of my area of expertise, but the only reason I manage to place in slalom is the speed I gain in a flush. The key is to set up high on the gate before the flush, so you can get the straightest line possible. The idea is, instead of turning, simply step through the flush, picking up your inside ski. There are some pretty wicked pictures of me, inside ski off the snow and so close to the gate that my dad immediately began to lecture me about the dangers of tipping a gate. (Which I have a tendency to do, with embarrassing regularity) This point is also where you should be standing nearly vertical, moreso than any other point in the entire racecourse. I always crossblock because it is too hard to stay off the gates in a flush, and I hate getting hit in the face. My friends laugh at the bruises.Everyone knows that straight skis in skiing mean going faster than making turns. So flushes are often stratigtically placed just before the flats, and the very next gate is often a tight cranker. The combination of a three-gate flush and a hairpin turn often causes many racers to brake abruptly, then suffer through frantic pushes and skates in the flats. Be super-prepared for that cranker and glide straight through it. The flats should be smooth sailing after that, but keep crossblocking and staying on the gates; don't get too comfortable. One race, I had a fantastic first half of my run, absolutely murdering the headwall gates, came screaming fast out of the flush, handled the hairpin, relaxed and then got caught on the third-to-last gate and nearly had to hike it. I prefer to shin the headwall gates, and crossblock the flats and flushes; stick with what you're comfortable doing and remember, I'm no expert at slalom. ;-)