Everyone did really well today – having overcome each and every obstacle that presented itself over the three mornings. This is great for the children as it lets them see how satisfying it is when persisting and overcoming your perceived limits.
The only new technical information given today was about how to tighten the turn radius by pushing the outside foot forward during the turn. Please note that this skill makes a huge difference to security once you get onto steeper slopes than we skied on. Here’s some background information…
Feet Forward Technique
“Feet Forward Technique”… gives security through the start of a turn on steep terrain by tightening the turn radius (applies to skis running forward across the slope and not to “pivoting”)
Pushing the outside (uphill initially) foot forward during the turn. The foot never gets in front of the other foot – it just tightens the turn instead.
The exercise is (usually) practised with skis off and standing in ski boots. For this static exercise we use ski pole support with the body faced downhill with the uphill foot pointing across the hill and the downhill foot pointing downhill and the heel jammed into the snow. The uphill boot is pulled over onto its inside edge and pushed forwards in a natural arc.
Here is some video of exactly the same action in ice hockey training. In skiing the direction of travel would be straight downhill instead of straight ahead on the flat ice.
Pole Use
I explained that for now the ski poles are only for stability and pushing along the flats. The real reason for poles however is never taught in ski schools – it’s for turning from sideways travelling skis. This type of turn is called a “pivot”. The pole is used – firmly planted in the snow downhill of the skier’s body and it controls the movement of the skier’s centre of mass. There is a full explanation of the subject for those interested here: Pivot This is a braking form of turn -the skis are not sliding forward across the hill and this is what’s required on very steep and narrow terrain.
Christmas tree – far side of Tignes dam today…
The Grande Motte – highest point (3,653 metres above sea level) of Tignes seen today – high winds.
