Today the only new subjects introduced were “Feet Forward Technique” (explained below) and side stepping with the skis parallel and on their uphill edges, down a slope that’s too steep for skiing.
Everyone understood the “Feet Forward” action and Isla in particular made strong use of it.
Although getting stronger and learning rapidly and competently Isla is not going to bridge the gap with Grace and Mya in the next few days. Grace and Mya have benefited from being constrained to repeating ever more demanding drills – but that’s not a whole lot of fun for them and they need now to apply what they have learned through skiing at higher speeds that relate clearly to “dynamics”.
Backward skiing is the best way to get people to use the fronts of their ski boots! When it comes to using a snowplough backwards you quickly discover that the only way to turn is to push the outside foot backwards – and simultaneously use the same leg to push the whole body into the turn.
Isla needed to be helped off the chairlift (Boulevard) for security (always sat on my right hand side). It’s obvious that something as physically demanding as skiing is new for her and she feels rapidly overwhelmed – but she is good and full of potential. Reflecting on my own youth I was outside much of the time on roller skates and from about age 11 at the ice rink – and had started bicycling at age 2 (with pedals). Bicycles work with the same physics as skis!!!
For Grace and Mya we alternated descents between “Feet Forward”, Skating (inwards) through the turns, Backward skiing and finally trying to ski more parallel with the adductor muscles of both legs active and hence a narrow stance for the applied dynamics.
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 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.