Bolter wrote:Agreed that the PSIA movements are flawed but one can progress along the Cert path and be granted the L1,2 and 3 pin. Unfortunately the residual inefficient movements and misconceptions plague this skier- until purged.
Even more unfortunately, they plague the instructor's trusting students. The L1, 2 and 3 pins signify increasing dedication and expertise, but few skiers (or instructors) appreciate that this dedication and expertise are based on misconceptions that promulgate inefficient movements.
The least effective, most physically harmful ski lesson I ever received was a 2-hour private with a PSIA L3. He was recommended and hired to confirm a shop's indoor alignment of new boots. He and the shop both knew I had a previous knee injury, yet both botched the evaluation. For the balance of the lesson, the sum of the L3's skiing guidance was, "See that guy over there. He's a great skier. Try to ski more like that."... Seriously?
Bolter wrote:...the skis need to be angled, edged, tipped, and as soon as some grip is achieved, the inside leg can be flexed and shortened, which gets the body inside, not the feet to the outside."
I've never raced above local NASTAR, never had a minute's race coaching, yet in my first full season of working on PMTS I understand this because I've done it. A close stance with huge vertical separation (brushing the inside ankle rivet up along the outside cuff, calf and knee) helps your tipping, CA and CB move the body waaay inside the stance ski with zero stance leg pushing. This produces High C carving, edge angles, edgehold, and turn radius control that are unattainable in a wider stance.
It's a hoot to slice clean, tight, round arcs on hardpack or ice with confidence and control. If a 61yo non-racer can do this, almost any skier can. They just need to be shown how. Good job trying to educate your PSIA buddies.