Harald Harb: How I Unlocked the Secrets of Expert Skiing World Cup Racing, Coaching, & Demo Team
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- Опубликовано: 7 авг 2024
- Join us for an exclusive RUclips interview with the skiing maestro himself, Harald R. Harb! Born in the picturesque Austrian Alps and raised in a family deeply immersed in alpine adventures, Harald's journey in skiing began at the tender age of 3. Fast forward to today, and he stands as a leading authority in the skiing world, dedicated to transforming the way we approach the slopes.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:53 Early Influences
5:29 Junior Racing
10: 28 Canadian Ski Team
27:20 Pro Racing
29:05 Coaching Career
50:10 PSIA Demo Team
1:00:58 PMTS
1:07:15 Alignment
1:21:34 Success Stories
A Distinguished Skiing Career:
Harald's passion for skiing blossomed into a remarkable career. From teaching skiing at 15 in the Laurentians to earning two medals at the Canadian National Junior Championships by 18, his trajectory was set for greatness. At 18, he raced in his first International World Cup event in 1968, proudly representing Canada until 1971. Harald clinched the "Overall Eastern Regional US Pro Championships" in 1973, solidifying his status as a skiing icon.
From Racer to Coach:
Transitioning seamlessly from professional skiing, Harald ventured into coaching in 1973. He served as the Head Coach at Stratton Mt School from 1975 to 1979 and later founded the Mt Washington Valley Educational Foundation in North Conway, New Hampshire. His coaching journey continued in Alaska, where he directed a school for skiers, led the Alyeska Ski Race Program, and formed the Alpine Alaska Program from 1986 to 1992.
Innovations and Entrepreneurship:
Harald's contributions extend beyond the slopes. He was selected for the US National Demonstration Team from 1992 to 1996, and in 1998, he founded Harb Ski Systems. As the President of the company, Harald has been at the forefront of ski innovation, authoring three best-selling ski books since 1997, including "Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing." He is the mastermind behind the PMTS Direct Parallel ski teaching system, Harb Carvers, and Ski Boot Canting plates.
Author, Instructor, Entrepreneur:
Harald's impact on skiing education is unparalleled. His instructional prowess is complemented by Diana Rogers, a former Aerospace Engineer and his partner in Harb Ski Systems. Together, they have published best-selling books, including "Anyone Can Be An Expert Skier 1 and 2" and "Harald Harb's Essentials of Skiing." Their instructional videos, DVDs, and online content have revolutionized ski learning.
Ski Camps and Specialty Ski Shop:
Since '99-'00, Harald and Diana have been running instructional ski camps, offering sessions for skiers of all levels. Their Dumont, Colorado ski shop, established in '02-'03, specializes in boot fitting, equipment customization, and alignment, catering to skiers seeking the best in carving skis.
Join the Revolution:
Don't miss this golden opportunity to delve into the world of skiing mastery with Harald Harb. Subscribe now and discover the secrets to becoming an expert skier, directly from the man who has revolutionized ski education.
#SkiInstruction #PMTSDirectParallel #HarbSkiSystems
Connect with Harald's products and services: harbskisystems.com/
RUclips:
/ @skiwhh
About Your Host Peter Stone:
Creator of the Big Game Mindset Method, Stoney is a former ski coach and masters racer and now invests his time as an international athlete mindset coach and mentor. He's coached and mentored thousands of clients face-to-face for over three decades. Clients include billionaires, Hollywood Producers, CEOs, and athletes of all abilities looking to bring out their Big Game. Peter spends his days researching and writing about mindset performance coaching, self-coaching, and mentoring. He is also a devoted dad, skier, and golfer.
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Grab my free Big Game Method Guide + bonus free training here: www.biggameacademy.com/guide
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Hey Team, Peter here from Big Game Academy. We have more videos planned for you with Halrad Harb, the world's best ski coach. However, I am currently unavailable to film these as I am recovering from a few fractures from a training accident in April 2024. Hope to get the green very light soon to return to work and then it will be all systems go. My accident had nothing to do with skiing, by the way.
What a fun and great interview. I’ve done many PMTS camps. Once I first saw a video of Harald ski it was the light bulb going off: that’s how I want to ski.
I had a guy stop me a week ago and compliment my skiing. All due to PMTS. Put an extra smile on me that day.
That's great to hear. Well played! Harald sure does put a lot of smiles on lots of skiers around the globe!
I was one of Harald’s first students. Because I wanted to ski the whole mountain. While I probably don’t follow PMTS exactly, it’s all I think about when skiing where I do - the most challenging terrain at the Beav, Abasin, Aspen Highlands. Particularly, the importance of balance, hands, and the inside foot. In fact what I admired most about Harald when we first met 26 years ago was his hands. No one has done more for ski instruction than Harald. You can learn PMTS for free, because of all the content he’s put out over the years. If you’re new to skiing or you’re looking to improve, PMTS is it. In book 1, Harald said it all - “Skiing well is about learning to balance on your edges”. If you follow PMTS you learn to balance on your edges. Once you do you can ski anywhere on the mountain with aplomb. BTW. I’m 64. I live in Eagle, CO. I get after it, I make it look easy. Thanks Harald.
Howdy, and thank you for sharing your positive experience skiing with Harald and I am glad to hear your skiing is still trending in the right direction thanks to the work you continue to putting in. It takes work to understand and then adapt Harald's efficient skiing movements but once you 'get it' the magic of skiing the mountain as you wish (rather than as the mountain wishes) is truly life changing for those of us who love our skiing.
I had the chance of skiing with Harald in Vallée Bleue Québec, when I was teaching at the ski school. By a stroke of cheer luck, Harald came and ski with us. He immediately saw what I couldn’t do physically. He put his shims under my boots and bingo my problems were resolved. For years, instructors were telling me to be more on my edges and I simply couldn’t do it. After meeting with Harald, things changed and for the first time of my life, I felt invincible on skis. I will never forget my meeting with Harald. He is a down to earth guy with full of knowledge about skiing. I don’t know if I ever said thank you to him directly, but I certainly do now. Thank you for your insight and fortitude.
Love it. This was a similar experience for me. it's like a whole new world of possibilities opens up, in a instant if your alignment is out and you met Harald or his team and you get back on track! You go from struggle street to 10 feet tall and bullet proof on skis!
Very interesting, but what was the problems with boots or what?
Just saw this. Skiers come in effectively three alignment categories. Aligned, knocked kneed, and bow legged. Aligned are the lucky ones as their knees are in a neutral position and they can stand on a flat skis in parallel and in balance with their muscles in co contraction so they have full mobility and full balance. Abut 20% of skiers are naturally aligned. Knocked kneed skiers natural alignment means their knees are tipped in when standing in parallel, and so they don't ride a flat ski in parallel because their knees fall to the inside and it's much harder to balance and the net result is the ski wants to drift out and away from under you when turning. The way to address this is with a laterally stiff ski boot, a supportive footbed and often with some canting - high side inside under the ski boot. These changes confirmed on snow will bring the skier into optimal alignment and their muscles back into co-contraction and in balance when skiing in parallel. The Big Benefit here is with optimal alignment you can now relax the stance leg in transition and it and the ski will keep tracking the way you want. When skiing misaligned you cant relax in translon as the ski wont do what you want and will drift out and away from you. As skiing is such a balance sport this misaligned drifting out kills your ability to ski efficiently. Bow legged skiers knees are tipped to the outside, so it usually treated in the opposite way to a knocked kneed skiers. Rotary boot, support foot bed and hight side outside canting under ski boot. So ideally to ski better - Step one is to optimise your alignment and then you will be in the best position to keep working on Harald's dynamic balance skiing movements that lead to efficient skiing where you get to embrace gravity rather than fight it at every turn!
And if you had asked Harald his present age-that would lead to a whole new level of astonishment. Never get tired of watching Harald and Richi Berger ski. Timeless elegance.!
There is something magical about watching skiers who have mastered the mountains. I'll ask Harald some specific questions about his age and how he maintains such an incredible level of skiing.
Never forget about Jerry Berg. Jerry was in Lito's video that Harald mentioned. That's Jerry launching off of Steeple Chase at Highlands. Rest In Turns, Jerry.
Thanx to this video I have finally met a phenomenal skier. Started skiing in my late 20s in 1960. Learned from Mcculoughs “wrong spelling of course” How To Ski book, and got my level one CSA in 1964. The thing is I could never ski well until I heard about and got the books from Harald Harb. With parabolic skis and Harb’s books I have never looked back. Thanx Harald.
It's amazing what happens in terms of positive results when you find your winning formula in skiing and you stick with it!
A really special guest! Great Harald!⛷💪
Having had the pleasure of knowing Harald for almost three decades, I still learn so much every opportunity I get to speak with him. He's a living treasure trove of skiing insights. Let us know if you have any specific questions you want me to ask him next!
Peter, thank you for this interview. Harald, I've been a fan since I transitioned from "pencil" to "shaped" ski's in the early 2000's. Your books and video's on the Primary Movements Teaching System (PMTS) were a revelation. Having skied and raced since the '70's there was much to learn (actually re-learn) and your instruction was and is THE ticket. I've been a Harb evangelist since then, much to the chagrin of my PSIA-certified friends. You are THE standard for putting complex movement into simple, executable instruction. I hope interviews like this grow the minions of Harb followers exponentially! Thanks for all you've done for alpine skiing!
Thanks and really well said! Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and explorations of skiing improvement and when you find something that works so well like Harald's stuff - you don't need anything else!
Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinions and for some, althernative methods may be preferred. Regardless of the school, instruction that calls out easily understood movements at the base of the kinetic chain works well for many. PSIA has done a great deal to promote skiing. But alternatives should be welcomed, expecially those as comprehensively documented as PMTS. And, IMO, Harald's skiing appears effortless and, to me, beautiful. That matters to me.@@BigGameAcademy
Likewise, same era, after 15 years hiatus. I took a PSIA lesson and was frustrated, wondered if it had to do with the instructor or the system, found Harald Harb's first book and dove right in. It made a lot of sense since I'd read Witherell in the 70s. I thought Harb's analogies to other sports, his emphasis on balance and stance and alignment, the big toe/little toe edge activities -- all very effective, simple tools and phrases and images that worked extremely well for me.
I've been a believer in PMTS since reading that book. And yes, it did in the 00s cause a lot of PSIA indigestion.
I later got Lv I in PSIA, about a decade later. But I would use PMTS ideas when teaching in the 2 seasons I did that.
@@MrDogonjon HAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!
@@MrDogonjon We're not going to argue. But I have proof. See my comment above. I worked with a young guy at Beaver Creek who became the best I've seen since. We did it all by watching Harald's videos and studying from his first 3 books. This young fella then taught his son PMTS. His son isn't a teenager yet, he rips. I'm now teaching it to my son. My son has great balance. I've talked with instructors at Aspen who refuse to teach PSIA anything. Instead they teach PMTS, they just don't tell anyone.
Peter many thanks for doing this. Skiers need to know about Harald and the work he's done. Please interview him more.
In my first comment I mentioned that skiers can learn PMTS - which rephrased is race technique for all-mountain skiing -- for free. It's true.
I used to ski with a young guy at the Beav "Beaver Creek". At the time he was a good hack, really good at all the wrong moves. He skied on big fat skis and boots that weren't right. He could go fast. But when it came to skiing the tougher runs on Grouse, he'd struggle. He'd compliment me on my skiing, ask me how I learned to ski the way I did. I'd tell him about PMTS and Harald.
First he started watching Harald's videos. Then he bought a pair of SuperShapes. Then he went to Harald's shop, got his boots setup. We'd practice PMTS, video each other.
I'm not a coach or an instructor. I've just followed PMTS over the years. I'd watch the videos with him, point out where he was weak. As I recall his biggest problem was counterbalancing and he wasn't releasing his inside/free foot to start the turn. So we'd go back and watch Harald's videos, frame by frame. Then use PMTS exercises to correct the problem - like shuffling, javelin, or the weighted release.
It wasn't long, 2 seasons max, before his skiing completely changed. The last I skied with him (we had a little disagreement), there was nobody I knew or saw at Beaver Creek that was better, including the instructors. I haven't seen anyone who's better since. I should mention that this skier has metal rods in his back to correct a birth defect.
My old friend learned PMTS for free. Meaning, he didn't have to pay for ski lessons or a ski coach. I think his only out of pocket expense was buying Expert Skier 1, 2, and Essentials. Harald doesn't get enough credit for changing instruction.
In your interview Harald mentioned John, who skis at the Yellowstone Club - the "YC". The YC is a private ski area for the .0001%. I had the pleasure of skiing with John once at the "YC". Thanks, John. Harald mentioned John is skiing well. That's great, I'm happy for my old buddy John. But what Harald left out, is that John has more money than gawd. He's spent thousand$ with Harald. John has his own ski rack at the YC, full of skis! 99.999% of skiers don't have the luxury John has. We don't have the money to buy skis for every day or condition. We put our boots on in the parking lot. We can't afford a private ski coach.
As I say. IMO the biggest contribution Harald has made to ski instruction is that one can learn PMTS all from Harald's books and videos. Right now on Harald's site the total cost for Expert Skier 1, 2, and Essentials is less than $100! Skiers who learn PMTS really only need 1 pair of skis.
The PSIA ruins skiers from day 1 by teaching them the wedge and wedge like movements. But as Harald wrote on his blog, they are starting to use tidbits of Harald's terminology. Now they're saying "tipping" instead of steering. Tipping comes from "lift and tip", what Harald demonstrated in his first book. I don't give the PSIA any credit for this, no one else should either. Because they're still leaving out everything else Harald teaches. As Harald once said, "The worst thing you can buy at a ski area is a ski lesson".
One more. I think skiers make the mistake of wanting to ski like Harald, or look like Harald. I don't want to look like Harald - I'm much better looking than him, I'm taller. LOL. Instead, skiers should concentrate on using the movements Harald teaches.
So please. Keep telling the world about Harald and company. It'll be a great day when all never-ever skiers are taught PMTS.
Thanks again, man
Thank you for your comment. One of the best parts about mastering Harald's efficient skiing system is once you master the understanding and the movements, you are instantly 'qualified' in a sense to help others around you with their skiing as well, as your story demonstrates. I have enjoyed working with 100's of fantastic clients over the years and Barb and Sue were some of the standouts as we still catch up. We were at lunch last year and they were telling me how many people they have taught Harald's system to - and the numbers are amazing! Harald gives so much, and then his community gives so much as well, it's a wonderful thing to be a small part of as well. We are definitely doing more interviews, stay tuned!
A wealth of knowledge right here. He's totally right about boot fit and the shops, no clue.
Thanks for this, we plan on going deep into boot fit and alignment in shorter form videos.
I've been on HH Tux camps for the last 5 years. Every year my skiing improves in a major way. At his camps you get the instruction but also the much needed boot fitting and alignment work which is important if you want to be able to balance on both edges of the ski. Great interview.
The Tux camps always deliver! What are some of the biggest breakthroughs you have had at camp?
Cheers Jeet.Goran from Hintertux Yellow bag room.You realy progressed with PMTS!
As bystander, not beeng in camp I noticed several strengths in Jeet's skiing.
His upper body was very disciplined ..He was holdig his CA while delying BT engagement.Very dynamic skiig despite poor visibility for most of the time.
@@GorskiNunavut Thanks Goran. I now remember talking briefly on the slopes. Hope your doing well
I watched the whole video and I have basically everything (books, DVD's, eVideos) Harb/Diane published. I really owe my skiing to him.
EDIT: I purchase everything his company comes out with even if I don't need them, because that's how much I feel I am indebted to him. Everything added up is still cheaper than a private lesson around here.
Agree 100%. There are 1,000s of skiers owing plenty of thanks for the work of Harald Harb. Is there one thing that stands out that has helped you the most?
Unless you grew up skiing, the hump to get past that intermediate beginner is huge. It's unfortunate to say, but Harb has kind of faded away in today's RUclips celebrity/influencer age. With so many people bad-mouthing him online without justification, most new (adult) skiers simply miss out on the chance to explore the beauty and simplicity of his method. It's probably because his followers have experienced so many amazing moments that they come across as zealots and that usually ends up rubbing most people the wrong way.
I learned to REALLY ski as an adult at age 41 after the 2 lightbulb moments with Harb's PMTS. 1) Flexing/relaxing the stance/outside leg to let gravity pull me over to transfer (or to get to the float stage) and 2) focusing on my inside foot to start the release (lighten tail, roll, tilt, press toward outside/ stance foot) to truly get out of the wedge and get into narrower stance skiing. That's it! Then it all comes down to learning how to balance on your outside/stance foot using angulation/countering (counterbalancing/counteracting), arms/poles control (home base position), assuming you have good proper athletic stance (I think Harb calls it the skier position) and the correct equipment set up.
Within 1/2 season, I went from a so-so skier to one of the fastest carvers on the slope (at least it feels like it). The truth is that I spent more time "studying" about skiing than anyone else while not on the slope.
I think there are lots of good materials and teachers out there, in fact, way too much information and details that will only confuse a typical skier who doesn't want a Master Degree in skiology. Harb focuses on you finding your own balance and will get you carving the fastest, but once there, that's when the lifelong journey of learning how to ski really begins. You'll find out that the fine tuning you learn later (fore/aft/up/down/alignment, quick edge sets and "steering" *aghast* in short turns, absorption in moguls) will fit right into the framework Harb has built for you.
All of us are a product of our surrounding, culture, education, and background, so my ultimate take on my Grandmaster Harb is just that -- he is a grandmaster. He is that old kung fu master with white beard at the mountain top. It's his way or get out of the temple. He's not there to lead a small discussion group for academic purposes, he is there to show you the way, but the enlightenment with years of Zen meditation under the cold waterfall is up to you.
@@puregsr This is good. You nailed it. I forget the exact HH quote, but it's stuck with me since. It's from either his 1st or second video. Goes something like this: "Skiing well is about learning to balance on your edges". All the exercises and what HH teaches lead up to a skier being able to balance on their edges. From there, they can ski anywhere on the mountain.
I have been diligently studying the PMTS techniques in March this year and put it into practice in Niseko for the past 2 weeks and I can honestly report I had the best 2 weeks of skiing of my life. I was very confident about the lower body moves but so glad I bought the Upper Body movements video which really gave me the full picture and I just loved the drills in that video. The beauty about PMTS is that it really does work in ALL snow conditions - powder, moguls, crud, slush and wind affected conditions . I am waiting for 11:00 pm tonight to enroll in one of your Hintertux camps for next year. I also bought your 2nd book for expert skiing. And I really enjoyed listening to the above interview . Thank you again for your passion in helping us all to become better skiers and enjoy this wonderful sport more and more 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for your comments and great feedback. It's awesome skiing powder with Harald's efficient movements and as you say it works in all conditions. I hope you got your spot, and all the best for Hintertux...
Harald's books got me from being a total Jerry to leaving behind railroad tracks. You're a legend, dude!
Well said. Agree 100%! He's a living legend!
Fantastic interview, listening to mr Harb is absolutely brilliant so much knowledge and experience.
Thank you we appreciate your feedback and we are inspired to do a lot more...
I grew up at Tremblant too. You must have been one of those guys I watched from the chair of the Expo blasting down on Yellow linered Lange boots and VR17s. I was a hand me down Strato guy and ex Ski Hawk. 62 consecutive years on snow now and Georgian Peaks beer league racer.(We Got Ice) Hope to be sliding down ski hills till my last days. Cheers.
My first race was the Taschereau Downhill and Slalom in 1966. I remember starting with the number 153.
I was fortunate enough to ski with Harald in the early 90s at mammoth Mt at our PSIAW spring convention. I believe he was on the national demo team then. Although it was a stormy day and half the Mt was closed we had a great time.
Skiing with Harald is something special, thanks for your comments.
I've skied with Harald, Pete..Scott, Marty in Fernie and Australia. Came across Harald book and Vid 24-25years ago. Totally transformed my skiing when I decided to go see him straight away that season. What a journey it had been...
Great interview.. hope for more. If you think Harald skis fast...get a ride of him ...😂
Pete...pmts instructor Max James Bond" 😅 in Fernie..Canada
How many of us are in Head Supershape skis ??
Hey Jeff, it's always fun grabbing some turns together. Have fun in Niseko next week. Let us know how you go!
Five years on Head Magnums , fantastic.
My Head e-Rallies continue to teach me things. Never knew what it was like to be pulled into a carve like they do. They challenge me to become a better skier.
That said, I'm a 150#, 5'8" octogenarian who got into skiing at age 67, so there's always room to improve. These skis are pretty demanding for someone my size, age etc., so I slightly detune the tips & tails to get them calmed down a bit.
Harald's instruction books & CDs did help; Diana's recent YT videos have also helped a lot; am now training my uphill foot little toe to get active, starting the transition early.
@bobdavis2689 I'm still on the 2008 Supershape ..warehouse a couple of pairs. But now looking at the Supershape E-original as the replacement.
Harald runs very aggressive edge angles on his skis. I'm like I believe 0.5-0.7 degree base bevel. I'm just run 1deg on the base...2-3degree on the sides.
@@TheJeffatanThat eOriginal is awesome. Got a pair this season.
Thanks Peter, great interview with the master.
Such a coincidence that I'm watching this now whilst on a North American ski trip that has taken me back for the first time to Fernie in Canada, where I met you, Scotty Burns & Max Sherwood way back in 2005 when you were doing PMTS camps there. I really enjoyed your coaching. You also did my first boot fitting & alignment in Sydney.
I note you are wearing a Panorama top, we skied there last week on our road trip from Big Sky Montana up the powder highway to Fernie, Panorama, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke & a couple of days heli skiing.
Earlier today when back in Big Sky we were out doing some PMTS drills.
We all owe a huge thank you to Harald and Diana for providing us with the published PMTS learning tools, the camps and the boot alignment shop.
I was telling someone today that I would never get new boots fitted anywhere else but in Dumont CO at the Harb Ski shop. Which of course means travelling from Australia to Colorado. The fitting & alignment Dianna did for me, with their custom canting sole plates, give me perfect one foot traverse balance. It's then up to me to make the most of all the books/video lessons/RUclips videos etc. The tools they provide are comprehensive & unique in the ski world. The fact you are recording the history/journey of HH & PMTS is very much appreciated.
Hi Ian, great to hear from you. One of the best parts over and above helping skies reach new levels thanks to Harald's alignment and coaching programs is spending quality time and learning about and from quality people like yourself. Thanks for the update and all the best with your skiing...
@@BigGameAcademy I should have added Peter that we all owe a lot of gratitude to the coaches like yourself and all the others that have been so integral in PMTS. 👍
Thanks Ian, greatly appreciated.
Thank you. I was coached for 10 years at Squaw valley masters free skiing program. I improved for sure, but upper lower separation, balls of the feet skiing still evades me. Prior to that I skied with Bob Howard at Mt Rose for 10 years. His crew are bad ass bump skiers. Bob won world champs ballet 1989 and I think podiumed in bumps a couple times. I’ve skied with great skiers but my progression stopped with these knee injuries (ruptured patellar tendon left, tendinitis right). I am moving to Wenatchee in February so my quarter century in Tahoe has closed. My new home mountain will be Mission Ridge. My wife is a pastor so she goes where the lord calls her. I’m along for the ride!!!! I am starting to look forward to the change. I’ve felt stuck for a while. I have a few goals to I hope to implement when I move: skiing technique, better eating lifestyle/consistency, and healthy training consistency
Thank you and all the best for a fresh start at Mission Ridge. It's going to be a great New Year. When you say you have felt stuck for a while do you think that is equipment and set up (alignment) or movements or something else?
Perfect skiing in wonderful style 👍👍👍
Well said!! The best part is it's repeatable. I remember Harald saying to me - when he was younger (not sure how young he was referring to) most days were good days but once he had figure out his full system of movements and alignment and how all of the parts fitted together, now every day is a good day!
Awesome conversation.
Awesome, thank you. Let us know if there is anything you need to know about skiing, and I'll be sure to add it to a future interview for you.
Went to Europe in 1965. Skied Lech and Zurs, I bought new Strolz boots in Lech! Also skied in Chamonix for $8 /day using forfait!
It would be nice to be able to ski for $8 a day today!
hope there is a part 2
Thank you, there is definitely more planned. It's my goal to capture everything that Harald knows so everyone can benefit. Let me know if you have any specific topics or questions we should cover over the next parts.
@@BigGameAcademy Peter many thanks. I'm so happy to see all the comments here. Finally, someone comes along with a lot of followers to talk about Harald. This should help get the word out. There's nothing else like PMTS, in so far as instruction. But as Harald will say, all he did is take what ski racers do (Stenmark was famous for using the lift and tip) then apply it to all mountain skiing. If there was a better way to learn to ski well all-mountain I'd be using it. But there's not. All these years later PMTS is so it for me. When I'm off I go off on the side, work on drills. And I'll watch Harald's videos -- my favorite of is still the A Bowl video. A while back I tallied up the views of all PSIA videos (alpine, tele, snowboarding, adaptive). At that time, Harald's videos had way more views than all PSIA videos combined. What does that say? You tell me.
Harald is such a cool guy, he even let me ride with him in his Porsche.
He's the coolest!
@@BigGameAcademy Peter. One thing that's really cool about HH is his politics and how outspoken he is. I love that about him. Harald tells people who he is and what he believes in -- he's been that way for as long as I've known him. Like how he lambasted the PSIA. Or how he'd blast ski forums like epic ski (now skitalk) for blocking discussion of PMTS. No jive. They actually blocked members from talking about PMTS - for years! They're still doing it! This is a big part of the story that should be told. Please ask him about this.
Been a fan of Harald’s DVD and watching this great video brings me this question. Why has no one who been trained by PMTS have not open a business here in the New England states. I bet it would be a huge money maker.
Awesome question. I'll work this into follow ups with Harald. If there are are any entrepreneurial ski instructors or ski school directors out there from anywhere around the world, I'd be happy to help them by sharing how I set up successful programs in Canada and Australia using Harald's teaching system - essentially setting up an independent autonomous mini Harb Ski School Program within a ski school.
I think it's because there can only be 1 ski school desk at a ski area. Or at least it's that way here in CO. The PSIA has a lock. And if you get caught teaching PMTS for a fee, a ski area will have you arrested, charge you with theft of services. True story. When I was teaching my wife at Vail, I yelled out in front of instructors "You sent me the $500 dollars, right"? 10 minutes later security surrounded me at the top of the lift. When I told them it was only a joke they didn't believe me, until I could prove she really was my wife. Then they walked away pissed, because they knew I'd clowned them.
Good to know, I aways teach my friends and my kids PMTS for free, if they are into it, as it's so much fun! And I retired from professional ski coaching over a decade ago. I didn't realize that could be the reaction!
Also had Lange boots, they were cold! and the broke!!
Much prefer modem boots, we are very grateful to you ski pioneers who helped shaped the sport!
Unless you grew up skiing, the hump to get past that intermediate beginner is huge. It's unfortunate to say, but Harb has kind of faded away in today's RUclips celebrity/influencer age. With so many people bad-mouthing him online without justification, most new (adult) skiers simply miss out on the chance to explore the beauty and simplicity of his method. It's probably because his followers have experienced so many amazing moments that they come across as zealots and that usually ends up rubbing most people the wrong way.
I learned to REALLY ski as an adult at age 41 after the 2 lightbulb moments with Harb's PMTS. 1) Flexing/relaxing the stance/outside leg to let gravity pull me over to transfer (or to get to the float stage) and 2) focusing on my inside foot to start the release (lighten tail, roll, tilt, press toward outside/ stance foot) to truly get out of the wedge and get into narrower stance skiing. That's it! Then it all comes down to learning how to balance on your outside/stance foot using angulation/countering (counterbalancing/counteracting
Very well said. and thank you for your comments. My lightbulb moment was in Telluride in 97 after skiing the weekend with Harlad with some brand new perfectly aligned and tuned skis in perfect snow conditions, then I had my last day in Vail (which was magical) and the next day I was back to Australia where I had to wait months to see if I could recreate the magic. It took me quite a bit to get back to that level, as I wasn't on snow nearly as much the next few seasons. The good news is it never leaves you when you get it, but sometimes it takes a little bit, to get it back. Nothing like time on snow to recreate the magic. We'll keep it simple and short moving forward with a single main focus per video to keep the good stuff from Harald coming. Stay tuned for more...
Really enjoyed the video. When should kids that ski a lot (100+ days/yr) start to think about boot alignment?
Thanks
I'll be sure to ask Harald this in a follow up interview, stay tuned.
These old guys; I tell ya'. Just found a recent JF Beaulieu at Interski. He spent a Long time talking about the Inside foot. Perhaps there is hope for the CSIA... even after their coup d'etat.
Let's hope the ski world will be an even better place the more we can share what's in the minds of these legendary skiers and coaches like Harald Harb.
My PMTS teaching system is based to a great extent on using not only the inside foot but the inside half of the body to achieve great outside ski performance. My books describe how to do this starting in 1997 with "Anyone Can Be an Expert Skier 1". Harb Ski Systems was the first to describe these biomechanical approaches to ski movement efficiency.
@@skiwhh I get it. I've been watching and passing HH on when I can. Funny how many old saws I've gone through: 'he tried to make it work'. Wasted my time for the few lessons I taught; in snow-plow and down-up; decades ago when we din't Know.
There was The A-frame or 'poles as timing mechanisms' or 'hips square' to the skis. The Saws of 'equal weight' and 'Pure Carve for Everything' dysfunction combined with Total Inclination... I tried 'em all.
Now; A Skid Is My Friend and I am a happier camper; frequently draggin' my knuckles with No Dust. ps: RC4 RC rocks!
I thought that a lot of snow and a white landscape were the crix for pleasant skiing and not a five feet wide track through a green landskape.
I am from Idaho. High school 1957. Had Dynamics VR-17! Raced for Utah State. Graduated to powder! Admire your technique. I was too short to angulate?? Thanks
Love it, thanks for sharing!
I had a pair of dynamic VR 17 in 207 cracked edge cool ski
This was great! Is Max still coaching? Where? Thanks!
Max left coaching with us and took up the position as the head golf professional at Fernie which is a full time commitment. This means he isn't ski coaching. You will find him skiing the back country around Frenie and on the hill when the crowds aren't there!
I have had patellar tendonitis since last February due to poor ski choice and moving the bindings forward (like a dummy) and I am taking this season off of skiing. However, I am curious if I can change my technique to avoid quadriceps contraction (being on my heels?). I want to ski like Harold. Looking at him it looks effortless and on the balls of the feet. Any ideas please throw them my way. Thanks
Hi and thank you for reaching out. I'll defiantly be asking Harald in a follow up interview on this so to get his expert view for you. In the meantime I will share a little of my story of overcoming knee injury and how I would do it even better and way faster today. I was forced to retire from ski instructing at 22 years old with severe knee soreness. This was way before I met Harald!. I was skiing very misaligned but didn't know it. I couldn't walk downstairs without supporting most of my body weight on the railing. I had to take 18 months of all sports and I was lucky to work with an expert physiotherapist here in Australia (a US physical therapist) and we created a program to slowly rebuild my knees by avoiding pain working out. I then met Harald a couple of years later. At that time I could ski around without pain but I was still very cautious and didn't try and push into high performance skiing. Meeting Harald I then understood what had gone wrong with my alignment set up and how to avoid that. At that time I would have still rated my knees at 7/10. I started training with Harald and I was so impressed I signed on to sell Harald books and videos here in Australia. One thing led to another and a few years later I launched and ran Harb Ski Caps in Canada and Australia (with Harald and Diana training our team of coaches) kind of forgetting that I would need to start skiing full-time again. It all went well and I kept rebuilding my knees. After several seasons of ski coaching camps, I took up ski racing and I was still taking it slowly each season racing as I never wanted to screw up my knees again. Each season I gained more confidence and in my last season, I won a decent race with a $10,000 trophy! Now if I had to rehabilitate my knees again - I would go straight to Ben Patrick the knees-over-toes guy. Recently, having stopped training anything like when I was racing, and too much time in front of this computer, my right knee started to blow up again first time in 20 years, which was obviously a big concern, and I found Ben's stuff and I implemented it immediately and I got results quickly as there is no pain when you do his exercises or you stop and back off the training to an easier pain-free level. Ben is brilliant and I have sent him plenty of thank you emails for his work. This is me, Peter Stone from Big Game Academy, and no one else recommending Ben Patrick 100%. Here is his website link and jump to the FAQs as he does a great job explaining this as his knees were way worse than mine and his knees are now way stronger than mine. My knees are now stronger than they were when I was at my peak in ski racing thanks to Ben as I only ski a few weeks a year at the moment. Good luck - www.atgonlinecoaching.com/ (Note: we don't make anything from this recommendation)
Thank you for the lengthy response. I will definitely review knees over toes guy again. You are right, the key is not flaring up at all. I have been doing the Flemish guy’s program (can’t remember his name but he’s a patellar tendinitis survivor). He is all about minimal to no flare ups. I accidentally flared up on Sunday because I changed the rom of my isometric leg extension rehab program. I almost went into a freak out. I’m sure you know how scary knee flare ups are. The good news is it’s calming down and ipso facto I am less stressed about the tendon flare. My Surgeon and PT are all about the “2 year plan” when it comes to knee injuries or surgeries. 1 year to heal, 1 year to get strong again. You can’t heal a tendon and get strong muscularely at the same time. It’s taken me 51 years to accept that…
Once you get through the healing phase, Harald stuff in terms of correct equipment and alignment and on snow set up and supporting primary movements is the best way I know of (having done this myself) to ski the way you want. One step at a time and we are here to help. All the best with it. And let us know of your progress or any challenges.
Это движение - встать с дивана
What, no more Dodge boots? Just curious.
Will definately follow up on Dodge boots when we do some ski boot chats... Stay tuned!
@@BigGameAcademy Well no one bats .1000. Harald has missed it a couple times too, like with the carvers. MJ missed a lot of game winners. Remember. You make it into the baseball hall of fame batting .300!
I certainly don't bat 1,000 either, but I still have my carvers, although I rarely use them up here around Byron Bay Australia anymore as I am in a full sweat just getting my ski boots on up here as it's so hot even in winter! When I was in Melbourne which is much colder in winter we used to get out and about, but I always felt like I dodged a bullet when I would come back in unscathed! The carves really helped me in between seasons around 2004 and 2005, I used them a lot back then!
So watched this for 20 mins before getting bored waiting to hear "the secret". For those who have more patience, what is it?
The secret is being able to identify as a coach (or self identify in your own skiing) the single most important move (SMIM) that is going to take you (or the client) out of balance or you need to work on to elevate your (or your clients) skiing. To be able to identify this you need to be an expert in 1. Movement - Harald teaches the five essentials of skiing plus there is a whole lot more if you want it - I personally also love some of his earlier work around RTE and his instructor manual. 2. Alignment - boot, ski, and liner equipment selection, plus equipment set up, footbeds, canting, cuff alignment, bootwork etc. 3. The mental game - which Harald is an expert in and this is what I have specialized in post ski coaching (with Harald) for regular athletes given I live 1200 miles from the snow now - and I wanted to stay in the coaching space as I love it! Now the SMIM in skiing could be because of movement, alignment, mental game, or a combination of the three. So Harald and I are going to release a series of videos on this channel and on Harald's channel sharing Harald's inside secrets to all of this because his camps sell out each year in 24 hrs, so Harald doesn't have any real competition in this highly competitive space, where most like to keep their secrets to themselves, especially at the World Cup Level, so buckle in everyone for some world-class training. (Editors note: I figured I'd answer this for you - as it's not anyone else's responsibility who is posting positive feedback here to do the heavy lifting for you - so best not ask them moving forward - and this is the last time - from me also. Hint: keep an open mind and put in the time - like Harald has done! As the answers you discover for yourself (from putting in the work) are a much greater gift.
BGA’s note below says it all.
Funny part is that “the secret” you seek involves patience. 🎉
Get the books or DVD/downloads! One can open up a whole new world of skiing.
Most important move in skiing is selling your skis and getting a snowboard with the original sidecut and twin tips that skiing borrowed to make even fun…
To each their own. No sense playing the who’s snow sport is better. Alpine skis, tele, backcountry, snowboard, snowshoes: get out and enjoy the snow. ❄️
YOU KNOW?
October 21, 2023
Remember when people used to intersperse their sentences with ‘like’ as in you know like that, ‘like’ I went to the store and ‘like’ there was no bread and then I went ‘like’ to the gas station and gas was so expensive ‘like’ too much you know?
Well somehow ‘like’ his retreated into the past, and faded into obscurity, fallen to disuse. It has been replaced by a new word or two words. Those two words are ‘you know’. A great plethora of speakers use this lazy phrase to assume that the person they are, speaking to somehow, mysteriously intuits, unfathomably groks the meaning. grasps their content, intent, and thrust. Presenters of every dimension, comedians, talk show hosts, guests, podcast people all this ilk use this same crutch ‘you know’ this and ‘you know’ that.
I propose that the next time you hear someone say ‘you know’ that you reply, “No I don’t know, I don’t understand, please embellish, kindly explain please clarify exactly what you were trying to tell me. I am not a mind reader and the words you speak don’t necessarily lead me to the correct conclusion that I have fully grasped what you’re trying to convey. Understand? Capeesh?, Comprendo?
My goodness even that extremely eloquent Rachel Maddow says ‘you know’. To accompany her there is Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers. They presumptively, confidently, assuredly assume that ‘you know’ will accomplish the understanding or the completion of their sentence. It won’t.
So, all you a great speaker of the world, renounce delete, discontinue this lazy phrase!
I really have to ask the purpose of your post, aside from a rant. It has nothing to do with the subject being discussed.
I am from Idaho. High school 1957. Had Dynamics VR-17! Raced for Utah State. Graduated to powder! Admire your technique. I was too short to angulate?? Thanks
Thanks for the feedback, I especially love to here from racers. Racers are a special breed! Stay tuned, much more to come from Harald!
@@BigGameAcademy I too skied with the VR17 in my early twenties (and the Nevada Look bindings) , They were great on the icy, rarely groomed slopes of the Pyrenees mountains at 205 cm ( I am only 5'7") ! I bought Harald's first book in the 1990s. What a revelation! I trusted him, stuck with the phantom move and one leg dynamic balance and my technique changed in 5 days for the better. Carving with high edge angles became possible. Now in my eightieth year I can carve down the mountain with little effort, which wouldn't be possible with my older, stiffer technique of the ESF (French Ski School). Skiing in Les Arcs a month ago, I wanted for my wife (intermediate-advanced) to take a private lesson from a ski coach. He was a good skier, but He taught her the ESF technique unweighting the skis by extending both legs through transition. I observed him while carving together and we were both doing the opposite, as we should (flexing to release) . How could more extension lead to the ultimate goal of flexing? it's like a stop over in Paris on a NY to LA flight! All my gratitude goes to Harald whom I never met! What an exceptional and intelligent teacher!
Glad to hear you are skiing so well. So much easier working with and using gravity to your advantage rather than having to fight it at every turn!