Mr. Harb,
Hello.
I am the father of two boys—(12yrs and 8yrs)—who are both competing in formal alpine racing programs this season. They both started skiing at age 2 and have been involved in formal developmental skiing programs at our local hill for the last few years.
I did not grow up skiing, and only took up the sport recreationally in my mid-20s—(43 yrs now). However, I am trying my best to help the boys develop, maximize, and own their skiing technique so that they can progress in the sport.
Fortunately, I stumbled upon your PMTS system last spring, and since that time I have been studying it intensely with the boys primarily using three of your books—(Anyone Can Be An Expert Skier 1 & 2, and Essentials of Skiing). The boys conceptually have the six essentials “memorized,” and particularly understand them within your clever framing of the essentials in order of their ascension up the kinetic chain. This season we are working on putting the PMTS essentials into practice. We began the season with tipping, and we are now working on flexing the free ski and extending the stance ski.
My older boy, who prior to PMTS exclusively focused using all of his might to stand on his outside ski as the only thing that mattered in a turn, regrettably developed an overall wide skiing stance as a result. We are trying to correct that since my understanding of PMTS is that the stance of the legs should achieve good vertical separation between the skis, while simultaneously maintaining minimal/decreased horizontal separation above the knees, because that position directly contributes to the power of the force transmitted to the stance ski in that that position essentially creates the effect of a structural/rigid cross-brace.
However, beyond conceptually picturing good vertical separation between the skis with minimal horizontal separation above the knees—(i.e the prototypical World Cup athlete position of the stance knee almost or actually touching the free boot), we are struggling with a specific drill/s to focus on that will address this issue in a way that provides direct/tactile feedback.
Inserted below is a link to a photo of my older son last weekend showing the horizontal stance gap we are trying to address, and if you are able, we would most appreciate your thoughts?
Thanks for all that you do!
Adam
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cx24ckdgs5j35 ... 2.jpg?dl=0