SkierSynergy wrote:Just thought I'd keep things interesting. I will throw this out as an educational case study. This skier I know is similar to one presented in a popular publication ? though any similarity is completely coincidental (I know this skier personally). After a little while I will let you know the publication that coincidentally described my friend?s skiing and what it concluded/advised. For now, I?ll just present my friend?s skiing and ask for advice:
The skier:
1. Finds it difficult to control speed.
2. Skis with a tall stance (arms wide, legs tending toward narrow) and finds it difficult to balance -- also tends to get weight back
3. Skis remain flat and lack any edging at the beginning of the turn ? the turn is started with an up movement and whole body rotation, while pushing the skis out to the side.
4. Edge comes on radically at the end of the turn and the tails push out, swooshing snow out from under the skis.
Using your knowledge of movement analysis, answer the following:
A. Why does my friend ski like this?
B. What would you tell her to make the biggest improvements.
I think this is enough, but I know someone will probably bring up the following, so I'll also add:
C. If you really feel the need to ask for more information what would you ask?
I guess the biggest hint is IF she articulates a need to control speed. I would begin to suspect she has been "over-terrained". I would seek an opportunity to find terrain where she learns to seek speed.....a feeling or sense of a ski turn as a time to go faster as opposed to a time to reduce speed.
It does amaze me the number of my clients who, when asked why they turn, state to slow down. I ask why isn't a turn merely a time to go to a desired spot on the hill and why does it have to be a time to slow down.
The weight back can obviously be caused by a variety of issues, however, in this case I would suggest it is related to anxiety.
The rotational issues/tail pushing/lack of early edging are so prevalent in intermediate skiers. I hate to use PSIA terms here, however, what you have described in "our" parlance is classic rotary pushoff. A platform is set with the outside ski. There is little or no release of the old outside ski and in an effort to get the turn finished quickly the old inside/new outside ski is pushed out with a great deal of upper body rotation. The end result is the heavy edge set you desribe.
In PMTS or PSIA parlance figure out a way to initiate movements in the foot to begin the turn, to initiate movement in the lowest portion of the kinetic chain. I often describe this as revving up movements from the base up and ratcheting down movements form the top down.
I think one of the wonderful chicken and egg situations is whether to try and eliminate less desirable movements or enhance desireable movements to fix an issue. I'm of the ilk to enhance the good in an effort to eliminate the bad.
Merely my $00.02