Working on using the upper body in dynamics (From the feet upwards)
(Stacking up the body appropriately for dynamic skating)
- outside edge of foot/ski – uphill ski
- pulling inwards with adductors – same leg
- pulling hip backwards (stretch between lower ribs and pelvis) – same leg
- rotate bust alone indirection of turn (stretch again between lower ribs and pelvis) – same leg
- punch across skis (downhill) laterally with uphill arm
- throw the ski pole forward with the punch (optional)
We worked a lot on close stance – pulling the adductors together and with the legs working in unison instead of independently – including using pole planting for accurate controlled slow dynamics.
In the deep snow photo below look how the centre of mass is crossing over the skis into the next turn but the skis remain on their uphill edges… (ie – a carved turn would instead have the skis strongly edged)
Take a look at the two Olympic champion skiers in the photograph below.
Killy’s image from the 1960s has his chest facing downhill whereas Noel’s image from 2022 has his chest facing forward. What Killy is doing destroys your lower back and is probably why he never went on skis again after he stopped racing.
