Video before working on dynamics…
Everyone was transferring weight to the outside ski and pushing either one ski or two to the outside – with various consequences. Despite intentional dynamics being missing we had to begin the session working on pivoting due to the slopes being too icy to develop dynamics safely.
Pivot
There’s a complete section on “pivot” with demo videos here: “Pivot“.
The pivot is a braking turn – the skis always being on uphill edges – and this is essential for control on steep terrain, narrow passages and especially in bumps and fresh off piste fall-line skiing. Pivot skills help to develop an awareness of the relationship between the centre of mass and the skis. The motion of the centre of mass operates the skis. Good athletes become aware of their centre of mass – the ice skater spinning around it – the pole vaulter bending over the bar to pass it below the bar etc. For the skier it’s a game of throwing the centre of mass across the skis and letting the skis respond by organising accelerations (changes of direction and speed).
When pivoting from the uphill edge of the ski the ski “swings” into a turn – from the front. It’s important to have the weight forward (ball of the foot and front of the boot) to get the ski to swing into the turn – and to keep moving “inward” on the second half of the turn to so that after the edge change the ski completes the turn.
We used side slipping “joystick control” to help develop awareness of the subtle movements of the centre of mass – and prepare for pivoting.
Everyone did fine in the first tentative efforts of pivoting – it’s always a struggle initially because it’s counter intuitive to move everything inward during a turn.
Dynamics
There’s a complete section detailing basic dynamics here: “Dynamics“
Emily used skating exercises on the flat and a gentle slope to develop awareness of the role of the centre of mass – then taking this into gentle parallel skiing. This is more a proper beginner’s approach – but absolutely NOT conventional “Beginners” and is to be used also for advanced skiers in many circumstances. Skating turns specifically belong to racing – but on flat/gentle ground they teach centre of mass control – when people are made aware of this objective.
Patience and caution are needed for Emily to build confidence – her skating shows real solid potential but she must absolutely not be traumatised at this early stage by trying to keep up with others. Some people need time to adapt – and a good comprehension of sensible fundamentals – others can be generally clueless and still ski (purely through feel) – though they will hit their limits too – very far from the level of their real potential if they don’t work on the same things. In the USA they start off with 10,000 children in racing clubs to end up with a team of 8 through natural selection of those surviving skiing through poles. Those with the best natural potential are extremely unlikely to be in the final 8.