Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for your interest in the Skiing Concepts. This document has evolved over several years and several versions, as we are constantly striving to be clearer. We’ve spent some time this season creating a technical worksheet that could be more easily applied to all facets of alpine skiing, i.e. Front Side Carving, Big Mountain, Park & Pipe, etc. These are Fundamental Skiing Concepts that hold true regardless of the application or snow condition. It’s below. The wording may change as we evolve and clarify, but the message will not. Enjoy!
Thanks,
Eric Lipton
Alpine Team
FUNDAMENTAL SKIING CONCEPTS
Great skiing is characterized by the skier’s ability to have a positive, selective effect on any of the skills at any time.
• Maintain a consistent Base of Support
—- manage stance width; tip lead; and a parallel relationship of the skis
• Continuous movement of the Center of Mass in the direction of travel
—- allow the core to move with the Base of Support
• Maintain fore/aft and lateral alignment between the Center of Mass and the Base of Support
—- relative to gravity and turning forces; the “line of action”
• Manage the rotational relationship between the upper body; hips; and legs
—- “strong inside half”
• Mentally and physically anticipate changes in the environment and forces acting on the CoM
—-“balance in the future”
• Control the distribution of pressure along the length of the skis
—- flex in the ankles affects the degree of bend required in the knees, hips, and spine to control fore/aft movement of the CoM
• Direct pressure from outside ski to outside ski
—- independent flexing and extending of the legs controls lateral movement of the CoM
• Manage the overall force acting on the skis/skier
—- Flexion and extension in the legs allows for absorption or resistance of forces
• Inclination and angulation adjust edge angle and direct alignment to the outside ski
—- independent flexing/extending in the legs; and rotational movements in the legs, hips, and spine produce tipping of the body and skis
• Progressive and simultaneous adjustment in edge angle
—- coordinated movement in both legs combine adjustments in edge angle with movement of the CoM to maintain alignment
• The pole swing affects edge engagement
—- timing and direction of pole swing affects movement of the CoM; to increase (maintain) or decrease(release) edge angle
• Stability and Discipline in the core enable steering activity in the feet and legs
—- upper body provides an equal/opposite force for the legs to turn against
• Steering in the legs results in a countered relationship between the upper body; hips; and legs
—-“ski into or out of counter”
• The legs steer independently
—- the rotational action in each leg is independent of the other, even if the result is simultaneous
• The pole swing/touch affects rotational movements of the body
—- timing and direction of pole swing/touch can be used to generate or block rotational movements in the upper body
