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| Q&A: Slalom Pro Mike Maysey (2489 Posts)
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Trucks
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On 1/15/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
Eddy-
The TTC was designed as an attempt to bring more traction to the rear wheels, which they do nicely. I also like them because they turn slower than the trucks I use on the front. Another thing the TTC does is brings the rear wheels forward about an inch, which lands my back foot over a little more meat of the deck surface so I can get more leverage on my deck. (I don't use the TTC for my tight slalom set up.) Some do use it for TS, and some really like it for that. I haven't developed a taste for it in tight yet. Maybe I will. I always experiment with my set ups, so should everyone to find what works best for them.
Most of the time I use a harder wheel in front. Sometimes however, the course or surface or temperature or whatever will make it necessary to put a soft wheel all the way around. At the Worlds for instance, I used soft wheels all the way around on both days because I wanted as much traction as I could get.
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Wheels!
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On 1/15/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
GeoMetro-
I'm not sure where the cheapest place is to purchase Avalons. I know they're available on the Turner Downhill site as well as Solid Skate and Longskate. You might want to just do a search on Google for Turner Avalons and see what you come up with.
Trimmed vs. Full Lip-
I ride the full lip (sharp) edged wheels for giant slalom, when I'm going to be really laying into a turn and holding it.
The cut lip versions I ride for standard slalom. (If the course gets too tight, I throw on some Cambrias.) They seem to react better to quick direction changes.
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Trucks
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On 1/15/2003
Eddy Martinez
wrote in from
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I noticed you use the TTC trucks on some of your boards. Are there some advantages using these trucks. Do you use a hard wheel in the front and a soft wheel in the back of your board.
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Chain Link Motion
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On 1/15/2003
Claude Regnier
wrote in from
(66.185.nnn.nnn)
Correct me if I'm wrong. What you are saying as per the timming of body movement is key. Each part of the (required) componemts must act like a chain link (shoulders,arms,hips, knee's, ankles and board)(yes I know john but I'm not stating all of 'em 'k) they should and must move together. Down one side and up the other.
If one link moves out of sequence it disturbes the Rythym and flow causing a break in the action (momentum Building) of gainning or maintaining speed.
The chain link analogy is something I used in coaching hockey and found that it works similarly in instructing most sports.
Sorry and I hope it helps. You're also probably right about the uphill work helping you the most.
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Wheels!
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On 1/15/2003
GeoMetro
wrote in from
(206.168.nnn.nnn)
I am new to slalom and I have to buy my equipement. Where is the cheapest place to buy Turner Avalons, since those seem to be the wheels of choice? On the Turnerdownhill site it says you can buy "sharp" edges or "trimmed" edges, what's the difference? Thanks!
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Drills?
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On 1/15/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
John-
I forgot to answer the second part of your question.
Early on in my slaloming...I found a really good spot to practice that had a great surface and very gradual slope. I used to set cones on that thing and skate quite a bit. I would set a tight course and run it down the hill. I would turn around and push into the bottom of the course and pump up the slight incline. I would concentrate of throwing myself up through the gates, all the time accelerating up the hill. I think I can attribute my top end speed to that drill. Chasing PD around certainly played a role in my early slalom development as well.
Something to consider, for all you slalom skaters out there who want to go faster. Find out who lives near you in the pro class and skate with them if possible. Or even find a top ranking open racer, some of those guys have great technique and shouldn't be overlooked. (Of course, you open guys know who you are and you BETTER be racing in the pros next season.) Anyway, when I started skating with PD, I was average. I learned from watching him and I learned from asking him what he saw me doing and if it can be improved. Get the idea?
Make time to skate with your local pro or someone you look up to, if you can. You'll be glad you did.
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I hate to spoil the fun with a real question....
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On 1/15/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
John-
I feel like I should be asking you questions!! But since you asked, I would have to say I really don't know.
Come to think of it...I've watched the Worlds DVD a few times and tend to watch myself and other top 10 guys on slow mo...(DVD is so cool for looking at slow mo.) I think it might have something to do with my shoulders more than anything else. I was watching myself compared to Ransom. The two of us really move our arms from our shoulders. If you watch the plane our shoulders create. We don't just stick our arms out for counterbalance, we are generating speed and literally pulling ourselves along with our arms. With this movement of our arms, we tend to twist our torso also which propells the board as well...I think. I don't think a lot of other guys do that, or at least it's not as obvious when they do. I think this swing might have a kind of pendulum effect. Kind of like swinging on a swing set.
I also notice some other things after looking closely at slow mo...syncronicity is key to me moving through cones quickly. Getting your upper body syncronized with your lower body. Making your body move in one motion, not having your arms doing something independent of your legs.
Of course, you all know, I am no expert and this is only my opinion.
Hope this helps...at least a little.
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I hate to spoil the fun with a real question....
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On 1/15/2003
John Gilmour
wrote in from
(68.160.nnn.nnn)
Some people have extremely fast acceleration froma slow start- Levene
Others have good acceleration in the Midband - Mollica
You have really good top end speed....so
Howd 'e do dat?
Do you feel it is the arms, back, torso, legs, hips, bicuspids, primary incisors.
How did you develop a fast pump in such a short period of time? Drills?
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Q & A BTW
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On 1/15/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
If I don't answer your question, feel free to email me
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Practice
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On 1/15/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
Jake asked, "What is the things to practice for training as an open rider?" You should practice anything you think you might see in a race. Set your courses harder than anything you are likely to find in a race. This way when you show up on race day you'll be over-prepared. Don't over train. Listen to your muscles. If they are sore, don't go hard. Ride a bike sometimes. I ride to work and home almost everyday. Living in SF, there are hills which lends to strengthening the legs...the motor of the slalom board.
"Flatland pumping 3x a week?" I would do this once...can be boring unless you have a slight incline that you can run down then back UP.
"Then hills 3x a week?" I would do this twice, again don't overpractice and tear yourself up. And don't burn out on the sport. I know I've done that before. Burned out on mountain bike racing back in the 90's because I just did it too damn much. 100+ miles in a week on a mountain bike will kick your butt. But that's another story...
"What is the most effective practice for racing?" For me, set a course. Run it. Move it. Run it. Move it. Run it. Don't lock into one course, try to keep everything different everytime you practice. There are elements you'll want to throw in, like curves, hips, offsets, stingers...and some of those cones that have your body going one way while your legs and board go the other.
See you at the races...
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practice
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On 1/15/2003
jake t.
wrote in from
(64.236.nnn.nnn)
Hey Mike,
What is the things to practice for training as an open rider?
Flatland pumping 3x a week?
Then hills 3x a week?
What is the most effective practice for racing?
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Bombs
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On 1/15/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
Prince-I'm glad you asked that.
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Cone Placement
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On 1/15/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
Leo-
They are both techniques I use to measure and mark courses...if I measure. Often times, I don't measure. I just drop some cones, test the course, make adjustments, skate. When I pace courses off, I usually start by taking about 6 or 7 paces (heel to toe) and then as I move down the hill I start taking two big steps with one pace offset, then three big steps and a couple paces out...get it? If this doesn't answer your question, email me direct and we'll figure it out.
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Bombs
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On 1/15/2003 Prince
wrote in from
(64.4.nnn.nnn)
Hi Mike,
1. Why does everybody have a bomb?
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Cone placement
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On 1/15/2003
Leo
wrote in from
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first want to say that this is a niice forum, like forums more interactive.
now, i used to place my cones by marking spots and measureing the distance with 2 large steps, but when i used a measuring tape and marked 6'oc , after i placed the cones i felt the course to be really tight (not what i recall from the CSC at G2) whats the best thing to do when placing cones, measure from base to base to have a real 6' distance or measure from topf of cone to top of cone to have less cone distance due to the widht of the cones?
leo
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Offsets
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On 1/14/2003
Mike
wrote in from
(205.184.nnn.nnn)
One more thing Eddy, start with your offsets not so offset. If you make 'em easy, kick 'em out some more.
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ReDrilling Production Turners
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On 1/14/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(205.184.nnn.nnn)
Hamm-
Stretch wheelbase...the board is still very stiff.
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Offsets
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On 1/14/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(205.184.nnn.nnn)
Eddy-No, I don't think so. When I go skate, I set my cones, test ride at slow speed, adjust if necessary. Repeat.
Eventually, you'll have data base in your mind so when you look at a surface and a pitch, you'll just 'know' where to start setting your cones and then work from there.
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SP
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On 1/14/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(205.184.nnn.nnn)
well DICK--
1.)yes
2.)Sarah Lawrence Grads
3.)yo mama
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re-drilling production Turners
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On 1/14/2003
Hamm
wrote in from
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Mike,
you mentioned once that you 're-drill' all your decks, and that the board your raced @ Worlds GS had the trucks pushed out as far as they could go. Were you trying to adjust the flex or lengthen the wheelbase? or both?
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Offset
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On 1/14/2003
Eddy Martinez
wrote in from
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
Mike is there a set rule for the amount of offset that is placed on 8ft cones,12 ft cones,15 ft cones and 20 ft cones or is pretty much up to the individual who is setting up a slalom course.
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Quicksilver SetUp
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On 1/14/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
Joe-
If I had a Quicksilver I'd set it up with GullWing split axles and some Krypto C62s. Risers would be flat since those old GullWings have good angles for turning. That's just the first set up to come to mind.
I know GBJ has one of these boards he really likes, you might want to ask him what his set up is. I also know Jack Smith has one, or did, and he may be able to offer some input as well. I don't have GBJ's or Jack's email handy, but you can probably find it if you do a search on 'GBJ' or 'Jack Smith' in the search function on this site.
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Quicksilver
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On 1/14/2003
Joe
wrote in from
(149.225.nnn.nnn)
Dear Mike,
what do you think is the best setup for an old Quicksilver ?
trucks, wheels and what's about wedging or just the old original grey raiser pads ?
Joe
www.SlalomEuroRacing.com
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Being a PRO
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On 1/14/2003
Mike Maysey
wrote in from
(66.236.nnn.nnn)
As a matter of fact Simon, it's better than they said it would be being a slalom pro. I never shave on game day. Ask Mollica about shaving the body for less wind resistance. You know how busy I am, and yet you mock me!!
Back to my IMPORTANT work tasks...: )
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Being a Pro!
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On 1/14/2003 Smokestack
wrote in from
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Mike,
Is it really as good as they say being a slalom pro?
And, do you shave before a big race? Facial, or full body to cut the air more cleanly?
Thanks in anticipation for finding the time in your busy racing schedule to answer these questions!
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