Unparalleled Productions Presents
"Free Time"
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Josh "Bones" Murphy has done
it again. This time with a modern telemark instructional video
that covers all of the essentials of today's freeheel technique
and approach. Using a lot of clips from the Unparalleled series
of films and incorporating new footage as well, Bones takes the
viewer from the basics of stance, balance and body position all
the way through to big mountain skiing and backcountry skills
and safety. |
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Free Time includes extensive intermediate
skills tips for better carving, covering pole plants, edging,
rotation, weighting and hand position. Murphy, who handles the
narration chores himself in this one, stresses throughout that
it's "the sum of all the parts that make it work" and
he touches on all of them here.
Moving along to more advanced skills,
Free Time addresses steep skiing key techniques such as edge
control, stronger rotation, constant and fluid motion and Free
Time shows how to use extended pole plants to help the steep
freeheeler get out over the skis and maintain control. From there
Bones covers moguls and tree skiing with some exceptionally fine
tele skiing through nicely spaced Aspens. The bumping is sweet
to watch, with many excellent tips and tricks to help smooth
things out.
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Next up is a thorough telemark powder lesson
with tips on stance and absorption, turn radius and line selection,
freeheeling in varied conditions, and more. What would an Unparalleled
technique video be without segments on speed and freeskiing?
Don't worry, both subjects are covered in detail. Several athletes
we've come to know in the films help out as Free Time includes
a number of trick tips, from 360s, Japan Airs and Mute grabs
to inverts and tele switch skiing. |
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Yes, Bones gets lot's of help throughout
the video with tips from many well known freeheel skiers. Among
them are B.J. Brewer, Lorenzo Worster, Scott Schield, Mike Abarno,
Scott Murray and Molly Douma, who gets off one of the funnier
lines in the video with her powder section tip: "ice is
for cocktails."
The video wraps up with an excellent
all mountain skills segment that, in addition to including big
mountain skiing tips, also incorporates a section on backcountry
safety, advising the viewer to seek out proper training and to
be prepared. There is a ton of information in Free Time, enough
that it will take many viewings to get it all. Bones seems to
barely take a breath as he packs almost more into the 30 or so
minutes of Free Time than can be imagined!
Conclusion:
This is a fine instructional video and a terrific resource for
just about any tele skier looking to progress and develop improved
freeheel skills. Almost ironically, Free Time probably puts on
display more variety in turn style, technique, terrain and approach
than all three of the UP feature films combined. It's a lot of
fun to watch. One can easily imagine skiers eventually turning
down the sound, after absorbing the considerable amount of information
(no small task) of course, putting on some music and just enjoying
the movie. The visuals are rocking, almost like an UP greatest
hits video.
One other thing that struck this old
dog is how fast the video is able to move from the basics and
on to intermediate skills. At first I was a little concerned,
where were the garlands and the other rank beginner exercises
so many of us found necessary back in the day? Then it hit me,
with all the advances in skis, boots, bindings and technique,
a lot of that stuff probably just isn't as important anymore.
Free Time truly sets the standard for a new era in freeheel skiing
instructional videos, it's a powerhouse of tips, tricks and lessons
suitable for all levels.
www.upproductions.com |