Video
Clip 1: Pivot drill
Clip 2: Short Swings drill
Clip 3: Short turns
Today started with a non stop run from top to bottom of the Face de Bellevarde. The Face is only worth skiing when freshly groomed and in good condition. I didn’t stop so that Derin wouldn’t have the opportunity to hesitate at the steep sections. We then played around in shallow off piste with good snow where I wanted Derin to safely begin to realise the work still required to get the most out of her skiing.
Our focus for the rest of the day would be short turns – which Derin now recognises is most in need of further development. The technique is based on the skis sliding more or less sideways.
Skis have two ways of working
1: Sliding forward and leading to free flowing dynamics when interacting with the centre of mass of the skier. The skier moves relative to the perpendicular to the slope and always gets directly onto the inside edge of the new turning ski . (Racing, Carving, Freeride, Difficult off piste snow, Economic and efficient easy skiing)
2: Sliding sideways where the ski also interacts with the centre of mass but where dynamics are controlled by a firm pole plant. The skier moves relative to the vertical and always on the uphill edges of both skis – this being a “braking” form of skiing to control speed and line. (Bumps, Couloirs, Braking skiing, Short turns controlling speed, Narrow corridor).
Side Slipping
Derin worked on using the centre of mass – like a joystick – to control side slipping. Sure enough she was overly tentative with this so it was definitely the right direction to be working on.
Pivot
I explained to Derin that the pivot exercise is simply a drill – designed to shape skill and raise awareness of the use of the centre of mass and the role of the ski pole. It can be frustrating but you are never expected to actually ski like this – just to gain skills that apply to short turns etc. You should be able to ski on one leg and turn quickly!
We completed out pivot drills by using bumps with the ski tips in the air – for swinging them inward during the turns – then slide slipping down the backs of the bumps – controlling speed. This is how you begin to learn to enjoy bump skiing.
Short Swings
Our final drill was the short swing – jumping while managing to swing the tips of the skis inward. I used to drill 500 consecutive jumps (daily) with immediate springing back up from the landing – this is how you find efficiency.
Short Turns
Derin’s Short Turns (braking skiing) are good because she is managing to initiate each turn from the uphill edge of the uphill ski – swinging the ski tip downhill with a good degree of side slip. She was actually doing some of this spontaneously before but now is more aware of the mechanics. The line is kept narrow and speed controlled with a good rhythm. Her upper body appears to be “facing downhill” but she has never been taught to do this – it’s actually an emergent phenomenon of getting the everything else right. That’s exactly how it should be!
Today’s views…
“Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising 4,807.81 m above sea level. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus,”
“The Grande Casse (3,855 m) is the highest mountain of the Vanoise Massif in the Graian Alps in the region of Savoie, France. It is located in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, near the village of Pralognan-la–Vanoise, which is about 25 km southeast of the nearest town, Moûtiers. It has a steep 600 m high north face.”
