Hi,
I've been trying to get higher hops lately.
I think that the way to learn how to hop higher is to start with a great
foundation technique: still standing. Since you guys mentioned trials,
this technique will enable you to save energy from not having to do a
billion correction hops before getting on to something--and your lines
with look more smooth and clean. You'll be able to concentrate on the
more accurate and technical aspects of the sport.
Then I'd say that I've been trying a little Zen-like mantra with my mind
for the past couple of weeks. I tell myself to make my feet weightless.
That instead of me trying to pull not only the uni up, but also the
lower half of my body, when jumping (seat-out hops), that my legs help
with the process, and flick up on their own. As you get stronger,
this'll help with bigger ups where pre-hopping might be required (some
can hop high without pre-hops), but you'll have to tuck the uni up under
you to get extra height.
Also I kind of zone out in another way. When I'm trying for a hop
that's higher than all of my previous hops onto a ledge (or what have
you), I try to make the hop clean without thinking about doing it. It's
hard to explain. All I know is that if I begin to realize, "this is an
inch higher than I've ever done," for example, I'll starting dwelling on
that fact, and soon the inch, mentally, becomes a mile. I'll also think
about falling off and injuring myself, or something fatalistic and
dramatic going wrong with the hop. It's good to know your limits, and
stay safe...but there's a point where you have to control your own fear.
Store all of the uncertainty in the subconscious, unless you really
think what you're trying is something far beyond your own limits, where
you can't push yourself to go through with it.
Hope this helps,
Evan
--
TrialsUni - Urban Trials Rider
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