In PMTS how does a skier control their speed?
In the counter movement discussion I realized that 'skiing into counter' and the need for high amounts of edging past the fall line are both symptoms and non-pmts views of skiing that relate to speed control. Thus, time for a new subject that hasn't been discussed here for some time.
Look at most skiers on the hill and how are they achieving speed control.
Term definition:
Apex of the turn - this is when your turn and your skis are now parallel with the fall line. Your skis are pointing straight down-hill.
Transistion point - this is where your skis are not engaged in a turn but you are in between your edge change. Usually this point of the turn is where you bisect your intersecting turns.
Given the above two terms you can take a turn and divide it into 3rds for purposes of discussion. The top 1/3 is from the transition point to the next 1/3 of the turn that is the Apex or fall line portion of the turn.
The 2nd 1/3 is the Apex of the turn
The bottom 1/3 of the turn is that last third before the next transition point.
When you read things on this forum about the 'high c' part of the turn that's that top 1/3 of the turn.
Speed control - most skiers exhibit the max g-force of the turn in the last 1/3 of the turn. This is also where most skiers control their speed. These max g forces are used to skid and bleed off speed at this portion of the turn. Once these forces have been used up bleeding off speed their is little force left to propell the CM over the skis at the transition point for the next turn thus the top 1/3 of the next turn ends up being started by a stem or push off.
In PMTS, however, we are taught to move the G-force curve 'up the hill'. Max G's occur when the skis are parallel to the fall line - at the sides of the turn - at the Apex of the turn. After the apex of the turn is where we start releasing. So in the bottom 1/3 of the turn where many skiers feel the highest G's of the turn, a PMTS skier is actually feeling more and more weightless.
This is what I absolutly love about PMTS skiing or skiing with the above attributes because you feel like you are flying down the hill.
So, when a flying PMTS skier is skiing this way what is left for speed control?
Turn shape. Turn shape is used by a PMTS skier for speed control. The rounder the turn, the more complete the turn, the less speed you have. Simple as that.
(not saying you can't as a PMTS skier pull from your quiver a skid in the last 1/3 of the turn to avoid that snowboarder, but it's not the normal way we are taught to do it.)(most skiers do not have the ability so ski with max g-forces at the apex of the turn so we have more options than most skiers)