I was amazed.
This marking period I really have been kicking it into gear and this Talk really went to show the hard work I had put in.
My inspiration for the talk began as I watched about 3 TED talks a night for all of spring break. That's about 20 talks. All of them had one huge element that I had never shown in a presentation before, something very simple. They all showed power and control of their ideas. The goal of my presentation was to own it; I wanted it to be mine.
I am imitating the O'Neill K. rubric
Time-
When running through the presentation at home I ran a little long most times (6-7 minutes), but when I present, I always end up leaving something out by accident. I would assume my presentation was over 5 minutes but not into the 6:30+ range.
Visual Components-
Since the rubric said for me to drive the presentation not the slides, I tried to limit my pictures and diagrams. I felt like the pictures and diagrams I used truly aided the presentation, but did not distract. Also, the videos I put in for my product could have been filmed a little bit smoother, but that wasn't me; I apologize.
Content-
I believe my content was strong and evenly balanced. I tried to let the crowd learn about fear just as much as snowboarding. I researched a lot including psychology, rotation dynamics, and snowboarding technique. There was definitely enough content given in my presentation, but I probably could have described things a little bit more.
Organization-
As I've seen in multiple TED Talks, they speaker usually has a full circle ending. I liked this concept so I threw a full circle ending in with a chronological sequence of events. I feel as if this was the best way to build a little suspense whether I landed the 360 or not (and that is not open for debate).
Delivery-
I think my delivery went well. I always end up speeding my words when I present. I tried as hard as I could to depress that a little bit, and I think I did a good job. This project was a little bit different in that I actually had genuine emotion for the subject. I hope this showed through. Some emotions I felt I was displaying were confidence, fear, embarrassment, and a smidgen of cocky-ness. That's the way I am!
Following the TED Commandments-
Like a normal human, I may have not reached some commandments. I don't think I made anyone laugh or cry, but I did show my inner self. I showed my embarrassment and frustration as well as my happiness. My dream was pretty big; I want to rid the world of fear! Could you imagine how successful we would all be?! I also brought a tiny bit of another speakers talk into mine with Jeremy and the NIKE logo. I also didn't read my talk. I knew from the start I was not going to use note cards. I just looks unprofessional, and everyone knows: when you look good, you feel good, you play good (present well). I wrapped up the talk in a good amount of time and was ready for the one question I had so I think I did pretty well overall but could have been funnier.
To be completely honest this is the best project I have ever done. I loved the concept and the presentation. I believe deserve a 27.5/30, I hope I earned it.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Jose (the self proclaimed crazy Frenchman from Quebec)
When I arrived in Whistler Blackcomb I signed up for the Ride Tribe. It is like ski school, but its for snowboarders who aren't beginners.
My instructor for the first two days was Andy. He was fun, but he liked riding the alpine, (the high part of the mountain) so there was any time to practice rotations and spinning. Then Jose came along.
Jose is self proclaimed crazy Frenchman from Quebec that uses a doll (he also claims its an action figure) to teach some cool stuff. The third day we spent the entire learning how to spin. Surprisingly, the doll he named Terje (after the pro-snowboarder) helped tremendously.
I explained to him the progression I put together and he molded it slightly to his liking.
Since I already could do flat-land 360s, he suggested that we start the morning by doing jumps. All mornings that is all we did whether it was in the park or on the side of the run; we hit jumps everywhere.
The purpose of this was to master the pop or ollie. The pop or ollie highlights the board's contained energy. Once your front foot leaves the top of the jump, you lean on the tail till it bends, and then you release it to get your pop. He said once we perfected the ollie, spinning would become 100 times easier.
After lunch he decided we were ready to start spinning
This biggest thing he emphasized was the setup carve in the approach. He told us to be almost spinning by the time you get to the lip or the top of the jump. He showed us this by making us go off the jump at an angle. By doing this were pre-winding more than we would normally would. This was very helpful. He also mentioned to look over the shoulder and explode the shoulders at the take off.
At this point spinning was getting easier and easier.
This entire day was a 10/10. Jose is the man and he will never be forgotten.
"What did the snowman say to the other snowman? Does it smell like carrots over here? No! It tastes like rocks" -Jose (one of his priceless jokes)
My instructor for the first two days was Andy. He was fun, but he liked riding the alpine, (the high part of the mountain) so there was any time to practice rotations and spinning. Then Jose came along.
I explained to him the progression I put together and he molded it slightly to his liking.
Since I already could do flat-land 360s, he suggested that we start the morning by doing jumps. All mornings that is all we did whether it was in the park or on the side of the run; we hit jumps everywhere.
The purpose of this was to master the pop or ollie. The pop or ollie highlights the board's contained energy. Once your front foot leaves the top of the jump, you lean on the tail till it bends, and then you release it to get your pop. He said once we perfected the ollie, spinning would become 100 times easier.
After lunch he decided we were ready to start spinning
This biggest thing he emphasized was the setup carve in the approach. He told us to be almost spinning by the time you get to the lip or the top of the jump. He showed us this by making us go off the jump at an angle. By doing this were pre-winding more than we would normally would. This was very helpful. He also mentioned to look over the shoulder and explode the shoulders at the take off.
At this point spinning was getting easier and easier.
This entire day was a 10/10. Jose is the man and he will never be forgotten.
"What did the snowman say to the other snowman? Does it smell like carrots over here? No! It tastes like rocks" -Jose (one of his priceless jokes)
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Video Tutorials
One of the most common ways to learn any basic trick on a
snowboard is through tutorial videos. Now, there are an abundance of them, so I
have to pick and choose carefully, unless I want a 6-year-old telling me how to
spin.
My favorite sources are TransWorld Snow and Sierra
Snowboard.
TransWorld started out as a magazine, but it has evolved
into making productions as well. They also have TransWorld skate, wake, and
surf.
Sierra Snowboard is a professional YouTube channel that
delves into tricks from a rider’s standpoint.
The first video I watched comes from TransWorld Snowboarding 20 Tricks Volume 5. Sage Kotsenburg hosts
it.
Keys:
·
You don’t need a huge jump
·
Approach
o
When you hit the bottom of the tranny, switch
from your toes to a flat base
o
When you reach the lip you want to be a tiny bit
on your heels, but not too much. You do not need a lot of set up carve for
this.
·
Lift off
o
Pop THEN start to turn your board. This
will prevent you from catching an edge
o
Pop off heels
o
Start with turning upper body then have your
legs follow you in the air
o
Turn your head and look right underneath your
shoulder
·
Landing
o
Spot landing at 270 degrees
o
Land toward your toes (if you land on your heels
you’ll wash out)
·
Trick to
the Trick
o
Make the takeoff perfect (don’t pre-spin or
carve too hard)
The second video I consulted was TransWorld Snowboarding FunDuhMentals 20 Tricks. Pat Moore hosts it.
Keys:
·
Pick a small jump
o
Be comfortable with jump
o
Know the jump’s speed
·
Takeoff
o
Be on heel-side edge, but centered over
board
o
Jump with
the jump (don’t fight the force of the tranny)
o
Rotate shoulders at lip
·
In the air
o
Look over your shoulder
o
Commit through blind-spot; do not hesitate
o
Keep the board centered up under you until you
see the landing
·
Landing
o
Stay relaxed!
·
Trick to
the Trick
o
Keep turning your head
The third video I watched was Snowboard Trick Tips: Frontside 360 by Sierra Snowboard.
Keys:
· Approach
o Have enough speed to get to the sweet spot of the landing
o Have a little bit of pre-wind in upper body
o Take off from heel-edge
· Takeoff
o Extend legs
o Square shoulders with board
o Once you lock your core the spin will follow
· In the air
o Head and shoulders lead the rotation
o Keep looking over the lead shoulder to score the rotation
· Landing
o Stare at your toe-edge
· Trick to the Trick
o DO NOT stare at the landing before you takeoff
My summary:
· Pick a small jump that you have hit before
· Approach
o Keep your speed slightly on heel-edge
· Takeoff
o Rotate upper body before lower body
· In the air
o Keep looking over shoulder
· Landing
o Stomp the landing on toe-edge
· My Trick to the Trick
o Fully Commit.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Update 2
So I got to go up to Bear Creek on March 2nd and March 10th.
The majority of the first trip was focused on the flat-land 360s and some straight airs. The jump wasn't that big, but it was very easy to get used to. It was probably three feet high at most with a landing of 40 degrees. Because it was an small easy kicker, we just kept hitting it and hiking back up to avoid the snail of a lift.
Wrap-Up: 7 out of 10. Very good day, but the snow was very slow.
The second trip was centered around the 180. Headed up the lift and found the same little kicker. Since I knew it so well, I figured it would be the best place to start. Now there are two different ways to approaching the 180.
Front side: The positives of a front-side one 180 is seeing your landing the entire time. It is usually the first way to go when learning a spin. This spin requires you to pop off your heel-side of the board opening you hips to the bottom of the mountain.
Back-side: This is harder, in which you are landing blind. Definitely a lot more stylish and you get more respect. This spin requires you pop off your toe-side of the board opening your hips the top of the mountain.
The majority of the first trip was focused on the flat-land 360s and some straight airs. The jump wasn't that big, but it was very easy to get used to. It was probably three feet high at most with a landing of 40 degrees. Because it was an small easy kicker, we just kept hitting it and hiking back up to avoid the snail of a lift.
Wrap-Up: 7 out of 10. Very good day, but the snow was very slow.
The second trip was centered around the 180. Headed up the lift and found the same little kicker. Since I knew it so well, I figured it would be the best place to start. Now there are two different ways to approaching the 180.
Front side: The positives of a front-side one 180 is seeing your landing the entire time. It is usually the first way to go when learning a spin. This spin requires you to pop off your heel-side of the board opening you hips to the bottom of the mountain.
Although the back-side felt more natural to me, I could not keep my balance toward the landing; I would slip out. I ended up very easily doing it front-side. It makes a huge difference when you tweak your shoulders into the position described in the rotational dynamics blog post.
Wrap-Up: 8 out of 10. Super day filled with a little bit of risk taking. Snow was still slow.
http://snowboarding.transworld.net/files/2010/08/radichmtndewjkoiafs360melonseq.jpg
http://img.fotocommunity.com/photos/12025793.jpg
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