Two new things were introduced today – “Everting the Feet” and “Feet Forward Technique” – which are explained in the appended modules below. “Feet Forward technique” is used in preparation for steeper slopes once we quit the nursery slopes- but this also intensifies feedback from the skis and a feeling of security even on gentle slopes.
Ellie and Erin are doing well skiing parallel through their active use of dynamics and when the slope gets too flat switching to full on skating step turns. This is good to see!
The adults are trailing behind a bit due specifically to being much heavier than the girls – causing them to accelerate much more when they point their skis downhill due to the weight overcoming friction between the ski bases and the snow. All objects fall at the same speed due to gravity – but other factors like friction have a major influence in changing this. This extra acceleration can cause anxiety, tension, panic and a loss of control until the tools for using turns are clearly absorbed and automatic – hence a lot of patience is required initially and repetition on gentle slopes.
Natalie’s route to developing dynamics has been to move the centre of mass into the turn centre by using the inside ski as a brake and pivot point – the weight of the body always being on whichever ski is most downhill (this changing from one ski to the other automatically during a turn). The use of dynamics is now becoming visible when going parallel on the flatter parts of the slope.
Peter’s route to developing dynamics is Kamikaze style – which as long as he doesn’t accelerate too much is working fine and generating visible dynamics (disequilibrium). Focus being on properly engaging the outside leg (extending/skating) and relaxing the inside leg. When the acceleration is a bit too much all feeling and coordination go into automatic lockdown – or sometimes into a rescue “braking snowplough” which is much preferable.
Both Natalie and Peter are getting there just fine – patience and persistence required!
Everting the Feet
When the skis are parallel the feet still “diverge” (as if skating) inside the ski boot – each foot being turned outward (everted). This obviously isn’t visible. This is to combat the tendency to twist the foot inwards to”turn” the ski directly -a mistake which flattens the ski and causes loss of grip.
Feet Forward Technique
“Feet Forward Technique”… gives security through the start of a turn on steep terrain by tightening the turn radius.
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 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.