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| Q&A: Slalom Pro Mike Maysey (2489 Posts)
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Pumping
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On 5/16/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(65.234.nnn.nnn)
Hey John, Thanks for dropping by...I think a video clip is a great idea. Adam, what do you think?
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We're here to "PUMP- (clap) YOU UP!"- hanz and franz, SNL
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On 5/16/2003 John Gilmour
wrote in from
(209.6.nnn.nnn)
I learned to pump from tic tacking. Hey Mike how about asking Adam N to put up a video clip of the progression of how to pump? After all- this is the "ask the pro forum"....and I think this is the question most newer skaters to slalom want to know the answer to.
First show a clip of tic taking- then show the movement of the arms hips and legs- then show how this transistions into a pump.
I gave up tic tacking when I was 10 when I raced a kid who could pump faster than I could tic tack. Transitioning over to pumping took a few days on really turny flexy gear.
First I learned to just pump- then I learned to pump in circles- then I learned "the gearing" of pumping and how to switch gears from low end to mid end to high end speeds. I learned how to pump from a complete standstill once I got better at it.
By the end of the month I was pumping pretty fast.
Mike-If you do nothing else with this forum- do this. A video clip would help get a lot more people racing- and you should showcase your high end pump- one of the fastest I have seen.
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Tic Tac
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On 5/14/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(67.192.nnn.nnn)
Hey ToddC
I skate some of the parks around here from time to time. I don't recall seeing many if any of the younger kids with the 'tic tac.' I only called it that because that's what we used to call it in 'my' day. Like it was sooooooo, long ago right? hehe
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tic tac
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On 5/14/2003 toddc
wrote in from
(209.178.nnn.nnn)
Mike, good note on learning to pump. Back when I learned to ride 75-76, tic taking, or what we called "kick turning" formed the foundations of "knowing how to skateboard". If you could kick turn, you could ride. That led directly into an interest in slalom (the adaptation you mentioned) bank riding, freestyle and bowlriding for most.
Do the young guys tic tac anymore as a beginner move or did the ollie change that too?
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mollica dvd
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On 5/14/2003 hc
wrote in from
(207.212.nnn.nnn)
http://www.turnerdownhill.com/mollica-dvd.html
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dinky town
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On 5/14/2003 hc
wrote in from
(207.212.nnn.nnn)
hey mike, i grew up in south San Jose, lots of kids skated in my neighborhood in the mid 80's boom, but i only saw one kid, a surfer, rode the sidewalk of my street with style, he would pump in and out of driveways like he was pumping a wave.
the image of his smooth pumps have always stuck in my mind, but it had to take another 15 years for me to eventually discover slalom. But i am glad i know how now.
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Pumping...
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On 5/14/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(65.234.nnn.nnn)
a little story just occurred to me...
I was able to pick up pumping rather quickly. I think I can attribute it so my days riding 80's style street skates. (And watching PD...but I talked about that in my last post.) As a kid, I always wanted to be a surfer. Problem was, I lived over 30 mintes (by car) from the beach, so I was basically stranded. Standed in a dinky little one horse town on the central coast of California called Templeton. I had no choice, I skated. When I skated, I was a surfer. In my town, there weren't any parks, no ramps, no pools, nothing...there were short hills to bomb and get speed wobbles. There were parking blocks, curbs, a gazeebo, a couple banks, and a cannon(yeah a cannon). Anyway, my friends used to roust me for skating like a surfer. They say, "You're flowing, dude." When I'd slash a grind off a curb. Anyway, a lot of times, rather than pushing with my foot or kicking, I'd 'tic tac.' I imagined I was riding down the face of a wave. Now, if you 'tic tac' you'll eventually start to push your weight into it. Soon, you'll find yourself staying at the same speed or even speeding up. Get good at that. This is the motion you'll use when you're pumping on your slalom board.
Try this out...get on your street board. I prefer a big board. I've got a Deathbox Jay Adams that is very similar in size to the boards I grew up on in the 80's. Anyway, take out your street board and start to 'tic tac' all over the place. Once you figure out that motion, I suspect it might take a few sessions of 'tic tac'ing. Now, get on your slalom board and take that motion you learned while on your street board to a flat parking lot or a slight incine and start making turns on your slalom board but use the motion you learned on your street board. Visualize yourself 'tic tac'ing but keeping your front truck on the ground. Shouldn't be too hard since most slalom boards have no tail. So, loosen your trucks a little and go for it.
Hope this helps a little more.
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Pumping
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On 5/14/2003
Hamm
wrote in from
(63.175.nnn.nnn)
Mr Sidlo, I find it interesting that you speak of the Circle Technique. Continous pumping in circles of different radius' is something that Maurus Strobel taught Marc DuPaul. By learning to pump in a circle, you inherently learn how to double-pump between gates/cones. Its something that I don't practice near enough. Oh thats right, I don't practice at all...............
I think its easier to learn on a gradual slope. Take a couple rides down the slope so you know how fast your going. After you get a feel for your max speed going straight down the slope, start making little mini or 1/4 continuous carves back and forth off the fall line. After a while you should find yourself going faster than when you just went straight. If you don't, then tighten up the turns/carves and put a little 'flick' in your ankles and you will. Before long you'll find yourself pumping uphill!!!
Remember that pumping is a 'Full-Body' exercise: as your upper body goes, you lower half will follow.( i learnt that from Chaput)
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learning how to pump...
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On 5/14/2003 psYch0Lloyd
wrote in from
(198.160.nnn.nnn)
Michael Jung: Mike Masey and Hung Chang have a very good point. Watching other people in action would serve as a very good start to learning the techniques. Trying to learn it on your own will prove to be very difficult but not altogether impossible. The worst thing you could do is to learn the wrong technique and have to dispose of all of your preconceptions only to have to relearn it correctly, as you should have done in the first place. And always take someone’s statements about pumping with a grain of salt, what works for him or her might not necessarily work for you.
I have had to “discover” pumping on my own because nobody seemed to know about it in my area as I was growing up. I found that by going over little bumps on the sidewalk I would gain some momentum on the other side. When I used that same “roller coaster” method to kick out of a turn it occurred to me that I was deriving some energy from this motion. Going over to a larger flat area I started to scoot around in circles. First going toe-side (facing toward the inside of the circle) then going heel-side (facing out). You can push yourself to start then try to kick out the turns sliding your front wheels on the ground at first until you get the hang of jamming through the turns without lifting the front of the board. You will find that you can go on continuously making circles this way for a long time. Next try to connect the circles so they form a figure eight, one with you going toe-side and the next with you going heel-side. Don’t worry too much about technique at first you will derive your own style in time. Overthinking the whole process can be more of a hindrance than is necessary.
I know of the article on the web you speak of, that guy really went overboard in nomenclature department. He made something so simple and fluid seem complex… articulated in the language of dance. If you ever saw this guy in action you would understand what I mean.
Take a moment and cruise around with the awareness of how the board reacts to your actions. It will come to you and you won’t even have to try. Crouch down and carve a little, have fun as if you were a kid again. Don’t be so hard on yourself and the pump will reveal itself to you a little at a time.
Knucklehead Racing Team
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Pumping
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On 5/14/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(63.110.nnn.nnn)
Hichael, take the words of HC...the way I learned primarily was watching and trying to imitate. Don't take this the wrong way, but I or anyone can explain to you all day long how to pump. The best thing to do is watch, attempt, watch some more, attempt again...and so on. Where do you live? Maybe you could come out and skate sometime and you can watch and learn from guys like Clayton Scott, Sully, Ravich and maybe even me.
It ain't easy, but then again if it were too easy it would be boring.
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video
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On 5/14/2003 hc
wrote in from
(207.212.nnn.nnn)
michael, nebulous? know how you feel...
spend some money and pick up kenny mollica's video (coverage of past year's fcr races)
watch and learn.
hc
geocities.com/sk8sanjose/pump ing.html
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Underpants
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On 5/14/2003 Formerly went commando...
wrote in from
(149.2.nnn.nnn)
I realized I always needed to uhh..."adjust" things when I was getting ready in the start box, so I put on some tighty whities before the Friday night pre-gathering race, and found that my concentration was improved, as well as my overall comfort level. From now on, at least at the races, it's underpants for me!
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having trouble learning how to pump
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On 5/13/2003
Michael Jung
wrote in from
(204.210.nnn.nnn)
I've read directions on how to pump and i've tried visualizing it before each run, but i'm not sure i'm doing it right at all.
I was wondering if there were any video clips you would suggest watching, or if you had any words of wisdom to offer. (the article i read was nebulous at parts)
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I don't wear either
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On 5/13/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(63.110.nnn.nnn)
I wear compression shorts under my baggies. They really cut down on that inner thigh rash that tends to crop up on hot days...
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Go Faster
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On 5/13/2003 What to wear?
wrote in from
(199.2.nnn.nnn)
Mike,
Will boxers or briefs make me go faster?
Boxers in a GS couse? Briefs in a butt wiggler?
We all know about Nature boy Kenny.
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Red Pants!
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On 5/12/2003
Miko
wrote in from
(66.81.nnn.nnn)
Well John... did you wear them? The are a FAST color! (methinks Judi's bustin' yer chops there bro.)
Had a nice hybrid session in glorious weather with John Kim and "the new guy" Andrew Hoover. (yet another UCSC guy with a Landyachtz Race III. Popular board with the college crowd I guess?)
Then we hit it up to a carving hill for some free-riding. It's great to be meeting a few more Santa Cruz riders!
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GGP
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On 5/11/2003
Judi
wrote in from
(63.249.nnn.nnn)
John,
I'll show up if your wearing those red sexy sweat pants! You would of been streaking fast last weekend at the Gravity Fest. Our old skate site looks pale in comparison now. See you next week, lets skate together before Breck! Tell Molly Hi.
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ggp x 3
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On 5/10/2003
Ravitch
wrote in from
(63.207.nnn.nnn)
Clayton
1. get your ass out of bed - we are doing a 8am sunday session - with a special guest driving up from the south bay
2. then you can have your 12 noon session - I will leave you cones if you stop by ggp before I leave at 10:30
3.maysey picks up the slack and sets a tight course at 4pm.
Full day of fun at 37 feet above sea level.
Ravitch
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ggp
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On 5/10/2003
clayton
wrote in from
(130.212.nnn.nnn)
thinking of hitting the park noonish. see you all there
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GGP Sunday
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On 5/9/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(65.234.nnn.nnn)
Crew, looks like I'll be able to make it to the park around 4pm on Sunday. If anyone is still around, I'll be skating there for a while. I'm planning on setting a true tight course in preparation for the tight in Breck which is suppose to be on the order of 5.5 feet and maybe even tighter.
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Gravity Fest
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On 5/9/2003 Julius
wrote in from
(199.2.nnn.nnn)
Mike,
Go check out your picture on yunkerphoto.com
That cone is flying it's way over to L.A.
Man that was a fun hill ! FAST.
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Fit to Be Tied`
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On 5/9/2003 Spy TV
wrote in from
(63.110.nnn.nnn)
Slalom Pro Mike Maysey seen recently in and around San Francisco wearing a TIE. You gotta see it to believe it!
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Criddler
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On 5/9/2003
mike maysey
wrote in from
(63.110.nnn.nnn)
Miko, I'm ON for Breck. Got my flight taken care of so far. I don't think I'll be skating at Shoreline...I'm planning on starting a weekly gathering up here in the city a couple times a week. I just gotta find a spot to do it.
JG, hit two cones, no penalty...hit three, DQ. I picked as did others, two cones to hit on every run. I know Richy did the same.
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The Criddler stikes again!
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On 5/9/2003
Miko
wrote in from
(66.81.nnn.nnn)
Hey JG! Are you talkin' to ME? 8-)
Still stoked, and did criddle a bit, but I think bragging rights end about 1 week after any given race... enjoying it while I still can!
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Don't do the crime unless it lessens your time
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On 5/9/2003 JG
wrote in from
(209.6.nnn.nnn)
yer a smart little criddler aren't you? Now that's a thinking man talking- good skating.
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