Video clip 1: Retracting both legs then extending both legs
Video clip 2: Retracting downhill leg then extending uphill leg
Varying the timings used helps to adapt the body to a greater range of movement and greater dynamic range overall.
Advanced Dynamics
Hanger Turns
While leg retraction is the fastest way to get the body across the skis from one turn to the next sometimes instead it is necessary or preferable to direct the body across the hill – where using the downhill ski to complete the turn then becomes desirable.
Visualize a motorbike going into a turn and coming down low to the ground then back up out of the turn to complete it. Then visualize doing all of that on the outside ski of a single turn on skis – letting the ski lift the body up and out of the turn and finishing going across the slope with the skis now flat on the surface. Sometimes the entire turn transition into the next turn can also be carried out on this downhill ski – this being named a “Hanger Turn”. Basically this entails a complete commitment of the centre of mass directed laterally to the skis and downhill.
Moguls/Bumps (Compression Turns)
Here’s a useful video showing proper compression turns at an advanced level. (Warning! – The drills used to “teach” in the clip are mainly inappropriate and fail to show the pivoting nature of bump skiing. However the advanced dynamics used by the demonstrators are correct.)
Competition bumps skiers have their feet close together and many people swear by a “two footed” platform off-piste. This works because both skis pivot always on their uphill edge. The feet are always kept downhill of the body and so are the knees. Using the adductor muscles of both legs pulls the skis together and strengthens the stance. It’s important however to always orient the body on only one hip – preferably the outside one. The hip is the biggest joint in the body and it is very close to the centre of mass. Any confusion around this area leads to confusion everywhere. Motion starts from the centre of mass – so use your outside hip in the turn – pulling it backwards during the turn – to get your reflexes working and your core muscles protecting your back the most efficiently possible.
For bumps the two ski pivot prevents the feet from diverging off in different directions – and it gives two edges for controlling speed in what is after-all a braking form of turning. The overall stance is similar to off-piste but is part of a “compression turn” which has it’s own page here for reference (or soon will have). Avoid resorting to pushing out the heels – it’s always a pulling inwards that’s required.
Introduction to Carving
- while standing still reach one leg out to the side with the ski on edge and then pull it inwards scraping the ground
- now do the same while sliding forward and maintaining some pressure on the extended ski (on gentle and wide terrain)
- the ski will carve an arc with no skidding
- as speed increases the other leg – acting as a stabiliser – can be gradually drawn closer to the extended leg by actively using the adductor muscles
- the main principal exploited here is the direct tension of “pulling” – relating to the analogy of spinning a ball on a string above your head – the only force on the ball is the string pulling inward. Here our centre of mass becomes the anchor pulling the “string”. However – with a bit more speed the “centripetal” force towards the centre comes entirely from the carving ski pushing you inwards.
- the upper body is held over the inside ski – with the belly button centred over the ski and facing the ski tip. Looking down you should see the inside ski midway between your arms.