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You may already know how to ski just fine. If you’re in looking for a new pair of skis and it's been a few years, you'll notice some differences in the shape of skis from being virtually straight to an hourglass shape. Ski technique has changed somewhat too with the new hourglass shape of the ski. This change in technique is called "Modern Skiing". Yes, some things have changed that help beginners learn to ski faster. The basic fundamentals of good skiing will never change. Listed below are some fundamental skills all skiers should master. |
| Balance |
Skiing requires an athletic stance: nowadays feet are shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, arms forward, body aligned in a singular plane at all parts of the turn. Stand in the center of the ski with pressure on the tongues of your boots. Your body should never be stiff, yet not too relaxed. Allow smooth adjustment for changing conditions and terrain. Some skiers and snowboarders over the age of 35 may apply WD-40 to their hips, knees and ankles. |
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| Movement |
As mentioned in "Balance", movement should be smooth. A good turn does not require flailing your arms or throwing your hips from side to side. There is a lot of bad advice out there about arm placement. Swinging your arms around will cause the loss of balance. |
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| Angulation |
| The three joint groups: knees, hips, and ankles must all work together to achieve the perfect carve. For good ankle flexion, choose a boot that's not too stiff. Some boots are adjustable. Throughout the turn, you should put pressure on the tongue of your boot. Skiing in the bumps, you'll need more angulation to effect the turn and maintain balance. |
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| Slipping vs. Carving |
| Carving requires forward movement along the perimeter of the arc. Often, slipping will produce rooster tails, snow flying from the down edges from the ends of your skies. |
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| Rebound |
| After carving a turn, your skis will have acquired energy. They will want to jump into the next turn. Instead of falling into the back seat, move forward into the next turn. Simultaneously, use your hips, knees, and ankles to initiate the next turn. |
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| Weight Transfer |
| While in school, I had an art history class studying sculpture where the professor stated that weight transfer was discovered by the Romans. The ancient Egyptians sculpted figures were stiff, sometimes with one leg forward. Roman sculptors were able to create the human figure with a weight transfer by shifting the hips, bending the knees and a curving of the spine.
In skiing, don’t stand stiff like an ancient Egyptian sculpture. The downhill ski/leg should dominate and lead the uphill half of the body throughout the turn. More equal weighting (along with equal angulation) will use the ski’s side-cut and help you maintain a balanced stance. |
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| Control |
Who is in control, you or your skis? Often I see a new skier on the trail who was probably brought by a friend. He’s skiing without making a turn, arms way out and the look of terror in his eyes. You can’ just stand on your skis and ride ’em. You have to lead the way. Modern skiing is all about gripping with the edge. If you become lazy, tired or frightened, you'll tend to push the ski's edge out ahead of you, resulting in sitting back. And if you sit back with weight shifted back, you increase the odds of falling on your rear. |
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