Beginners SKATING
Both skiers had some limited experience of classic ski teaching so it was important to discus and clarify the differences between that and the teaching they were about to experience. Many people think that the only difference is language – semantics – but the reality is that the physical instructions are exactly the opposite. The origin of the major confusion lies here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictitious_force
For those with some skills already there’s no need to go back to zero – the teaching will retain any existing positive attributes the skier might have already developed.
Skating exercises were used to put in place the underlying ski management (skis diverging and falling forward and to the “inside”) and the link to natural dynamics.
Basic beginner lessons were used in order to communicate clearly what it means to focus on the movement of the centre of mass and disequilibrium. This “Beginners” link goes to a full page where all the beginner exercises are documented…
Dynamics
This “Dynamics” link covers the exercises we used to explain the “Magic Wall” – the invisible wall that holds you up when you accelerate your Centre of Mass against it.
Skiing can be condensed to one simple rule
You have one job – to fall over – and the skis have one job – to lift you back up.
The “Magic Wall” is really the countervailing force from the ski deflecting your trajectory in the manner of an angular acceleration. You need some speed for this to happen – just the same as when riding a bicycle. Until ready for this speed the Braking Plough is used as a temporary prop…
Braking Snowplough (Modified Plough)
We had to use a plough to be able to generate competent autonomy in such a short period of time. The difference with this plough is that it’s not important what ski the weight or pressure is on – what’s important is that the centre of mass moves in the same direction as with dynamics. In this case the inside ski of the turn acts as a brake for the first half of the turn and keeps your speed under control. Gradually the plough is narrowed and higher speed enables the skis to provide stable turning (countervailing force) – with the turn shape/completion providing all the control.
Skating Timing
The “down/up” timing of skating was introduced to begin to make the legs more active. Skating timing is the basic natural timing for skiing – a “down/up” pressure cycle during an arc – using the outside ski in the whole turn. Skis are manufactured to work with this timing and there is a resonance associated which amplifies the leg movement and centre of mass movement. This “down /up” pattern matches the upside down pendulum motion of the body/Centre of Mass.
Turn Completion Dynamics
We were able to use the skating timing for developing turn completion – getting the centre of mass to come out of the turn over the downhill ski – enabling a smooth flow and rhythm. This timing is the “fail safe” mechanism for off piste skiing in tricky snow conditions. Remember – the ski’s job is to lift you up so allow it to do so when ready to exit your turn.
Notes:
- Gravity provides propulsion even on the flat when walking, running, skating
- Plough and skating are both done from the hips not the knees
- When turning stand on the balls of the feet and put some weight on the front of the ski boots – so that you feel the ski fronts pulling you into the turn
- Finish each turn to get control before starting the next turn
- Push against the magic wall even harder in the second half of the turn – until speed is under full control – then use the force built up to lift you out of the turn over the downhill ski
- Focus internally on your body – feet (pressure), hips, centre of mass (movement). Make it into a moving meditation – all about the forces you feel in shaping and completing turns – being in control and relaxed. Control gives you freedom – even though that sounds like a contradiction