Not bad for a young boy with absolutely no Super G training and on 170 GS skis – with a start position of close to 140 on a course that was not fit to ski on because it was not properly maintained. The loss of a ski two gates from the end was unfortunate – but a bad pothole caused a lurch forwards and the binding did a good job of protecting the leg. (This was not a “pre-release”)
Slalom training took a great step forwards today – at long last it’s in 3D – skis on edge far enough away from the poles to make arcs – inclining and even knuckle dragging – taking the poles without reaching. Now that there is inclination and a 3D line being taken (banked track) the outside leg can be used powerfully (extended) for early pressure and carving before the pole. It takes nerve to use the leg powerfully at the start of the turn – most people back off and pivot or stivot by reducing pressure instead of creating it. Initially during the session Alex’s carved tracks were on the apex (outside of the pole) but as pressure was achieved earlier the carved tracks were visibly earlier – carving the first part of the turns – with less frequent braking between turns. This is how to go fast!
Knuckle dragging with no skis on the snow!
Hit a pothole and lurched forward – binding did its job properly here – course in absolutely terrible condition.
Early pressure – using the ski to make the arc into the turn
Bending the ski – taking a line far enough from the pole to let the ski arc correctly – skiing in 3D instead of on a flat Earth!
