After an initial wobble (1st video clip) Amy was at ease in the deep snow and could relate to the security generated with the dynamics (including hip angulation and control of body rotation)
Fortunately Amy’s skis could pivot while floating in the soft snow.
Learning a new way to ski, one that highly accentuates independent leg action, we had to bring focus on using the adductor muscle of the inside leg and its role in narrowing the stance. (2nd video clip)
Mattis Intersport in Val has 161cm “Stance 90” Salomon skis for hire! (The 90 stands for millimetres ski width underfoot.)
All round skis need a double rocker (tip and tail) and not too wide or narrow under foot – The “Stance 84” may be a better piste ski and as it has a different construction from the Stance 90 it is much lighter – which helps the “swing” part of pivoting.
(Advanced Body Management)
The hips can only be properly relaxed when the shoulders/upper torso are turned into the new turn.
When this is done the entire posture can fall into place automatically.
Beginning from the feet upwards…
- Toes lifted upwards slightly (not “gripping” with the toes)
- Feet slightly everted ( turned outwards) inside the ski boots
- Pressure mostly on either outside edge of each foot and/or balls of the feet (no matter what ski edge is in contact with the snow) It’s the shafts of the boots that hold the skis on their edges – not the feet!
- Outside leg fully extended through the turn
- Inside leg flexed
- Leg adductors pulling together (under tension – knees not allowed to collapse inwards)
- Pelvis tilted to “neutral”
- Soft and flexed at the hip joints
- Outside hip joint pulling backwards (counter rotating the pelvis to the direction of turning)
- Feeling the core at the centre of the physical action (as well as being the centre of mass)
- Upper torso turning in the direction of the turn – even leading with the the uphill arm (punching) across the skis during the turn transition. (not the arm that would make a downhill pole plant!)
- Coordinate the “punch” with a push/skate from the uphill leg.
Same ridge – different day…
