Develop your skiing - Skiing made simple

Too many people are trying to teach people to ski, look good and do every movement perfectly when we should be making people more aware of their balance.When we are balanced we can do what we want to do with our skis; turn/change direction and steer them wherever we want to. So here is my idea about skiing to help the new future skiers and instructors adopt a different approach.

I feel skiing has become too many words and ideas and people are trying to invent new and wonderful ways of skiing.

Why, Where, When and How do we turn/change direction?

Toby at home 1968

We go straight down, left and right - but why, where, when and how do we do this?

Why do we need to make turns and change direction?

Beginners: Beginners make turns to avoid objects and turn because the instructor tells them to turn.

Intermediates: Intermediates make turns to control themselves and their speed.

Advanced: Advanced skiers make turns because they like the feeling of movement and to allow them selves to ski all over the mountain (to be able to turn/change direction at any time, anywhere, anyhow, in any situation).

Mogul Bump Skiers: Bump skiers turn so they don't take off, and get thrown out of control.

Fun Carving: Fun carvers turn/change direction because of the profile of the ski and its a great fun feeling making round shapes and looking at ones tracks in the snow.

Racers (Slalom, Giant Slalom and Down hill): Racers turn change/direction to get around poles/gates to get a time and beat others.

These are some of the reasons skiers turn.

Where and when do we make turns and change direction?

Beginners: Beginners make turns when everything goes as planned often haphazardly.

Intermediates: Intermediates turn/change direction when it gets too fast for them on steeper slopes, or to perfect a new turn/movement.

Advanced: Advanced skiers' turn/change direction to adapt and be effective in different situations, terrain and snow types and to stay in balance.

Mogul Bump Skiers: Mogul Skiers turn change directions so as to follow the most appropriate/effective line through the bumps for maximum speed whilst

staying in contact with the ground.

Fun Carving: Fun carvers are constantly trying to turn/change direction.

Racers (Slalom, Giant Slalom and Down hill): Racers try to turn change/direction early so as to get the best line through the course to achieve the best result.

How do we make turns and change direction?

Beginners: Beginners turn/change directions at slower speeds on flatter slopes relying on a wide base/arrow head for balance. They use this as their base of support to stand on. Turning whichever foot is already pointing in the direction they want to go. Thereby pointing with their arrowhead, travelling in the new direction, standing centred over their base of support.

Intermediates: Intermediates use a blend of a wide base/arrowhead and a narrow base of support, skis more matched parallel, to change direction, skiing on steeper slopes (terrain and speed of skier determines when skis become matched in turn).

At the start of the turn they are travelling at slower speeds using their wider base arrowhead to help point change direction and in middle to end of the turn their base of support becomes narrower and more parallel, as speed increases so aiding balance and making steering easier in the latter part of the turn. Using the supporting leg/ski more effectively, to their ability to control and steer their speed.

Advanced: Advanced skiers ski with a narrower base of support with skis more matched, skiing at faster more constant speeds. Using their supporting leg/ski more through the, whole turn/change of direction makes them more effective in the steering of their skis. A more constant base of support allows them to react and be more adaptable in the different situations all over the mountain.

Mogul Bump Skiers: Bump skiers use the terrain to their advantage depending on their speed. They use the convex or concave shapes to help turn/change direction depending on the speed they are travelling at.

Fun Carving: Carvers use the profile/shape of the skis to make their turn, plus they are able to play with the amount of tilt of the ski.

Racers (Slalom, Giant Slalom and Down hill): Racers use a blend of all of the above. Trying to get the maximum benefit using the least amount of effort.

What do we need to do, to turn/change direction?

What do we need to do, to do this?

Beginners: (What is hard for beginners? Balance and turning. What causes this? Speed too slow, not enough movement to keep in balance)

Beginners' goals: Turning/changing direction, skiing down shallow slopes in control and using beginner's lifts.

Intermediates: What is hard for Intermediates? Balance and turning. What causes this? The speed is too fast with too much excessive movement using the whole body.

Intermediates' goal: Ski parallel in control at faster speeds.

Advanced: What is hard for advanced skiers? Adapting to different conditions. What causes this? Not skiing at optimal speed for the condition; factors change all the time so optimal speed has to change all the time. Not looking ahead in order to anticipate the up coming situations.

Advanced goals: To be free to be able to turn/change direction anywhere anyhow any time and in any condition, at any speed.

Mogul Bump Skiers: What is hard for bump skiers? To staying in contact with the ground and skiing the most effective line.

Mogul bump skiers' goals: Choose the right line, ski the optimal speed and flow while staying in control.

Fun Carving: What is hard for carvers? To steer throughout the whole turn/change of direction, while Maintain constant pressure.

Fun Carvers goals: Control pressure and steering turns/changes of direction throughout cross over.

Racers (Slalom, Giant Slalom and Down hill): What is hard for racers? To increase acceleration whilst turning/changing direction and skiing around the poles.

Racers goals: To be able to ski the most effective line around the poles/gates.

These are just some of the goals skiers at different levels want to do achieve. There are lots more goals one can work towards.

Things that all skiers need

There are three main factors that we are going to focus on.

The beginners' first problem is the balance, then the turning/changing direction and lastly the steering of the skis.

The better we get, the faster we ski and we get more confident as our balance improves but then turning/changing direction and steering start to become harder.

Balance, turning/changing direction and steering must be introduced to skiers at all levels, using different activities to gradually develop the skier.

To be able to stay in constant balance

Balance

The problem for the skier is balancing over their skis while moving/sliding and keeping in balance. This is the beginner's main problem but by the intermediate stage it starts to become less of a problem where technique and the way one skis plays more of a role on improving staying in balance.

To stay in balance one needs to make constant movement of our ski joints (ankles, knees and hips) when the movements are at the right time, right amount and in the right place to keep us in balance while keeping our body/hips travelling at the same speed as our skis.

(Whatever speed we are travelling at, slow or fast our movements have to be constant with the speed we are travelling at to be able to stay in balance to turn/change direction). We use our ski joints as shock absorbers to take in the pressure and use it to our advantage to help us in our turn/change of direction to help keep us in constant balance with our hips over our feet. (Balance is when we can move any part of our body at any time, anyhow, whenever we want to).

Optimal speed

This is the speed where the turn/change of direction is at its easiest, movements are free, and we are in balance while in motion. It is where we ski at the appropriate speed to achieve our goals at our own level. The optimal speed will change as we improve our balance, turning/changing of direction and steering in our own skiing.

The shape of the turn/change of direction is important as well. This also influences our optimal speed through the turn/change of direction. Choosing the most effective line (sliding, gripping or carving) and shape for the speed, terrain type of snow and our ability is important, so we can ski at an optimal speed for our ability while staying in balance.

We make movements adjustments to stay in balance all the time. We try and use constant movements at the same speed at which we are moving down the hill at, and we try to keep our body going moving forward with our feet to stay in balance over our feet, so that we can turn/change direction and steer our skis throughout the turn/change of direction.

Factors affecting our balance

POSITIVE FACTORS

Centred over skis
Appropriate size of base of support (Matched or arrowhead)
Movements (The right amount at the right time)
Appropriate turn shapes (At the right speed for the terrain)
Constant snow type (Firm grippy snow)
Constant terrain (Bumps or open marked slopes)
Sliding at slow speeds
Carving at faster speeds

NEGATIVE FACTORS

Hips to far back or to far forwards
Narrow base of support (Feet too close too wide)
Movement (Too much too little too soon)
To tight or to long (for speed, terrain and snow)
Changeable snow types (Deep snow, slush and ice)
Unpredictable changes in terrain forms (Concave, convex)
Sliding at fast speeds
Carving at slow speeds

The main positive factor affecting our balance is where our hips are over our base of support while we are in motion.

Sliding on your skis makes balance harder because you are in motion. As the skier slides forward in motion, small adjustments must be made to keep the hips (centre of mass) over their centre of support to keep them in balance. All movements that are too much and too quick will throw the skier out of balance (as the centre of mass will no longer be in the ideal position).

The length of the skis and the width influences the base of support of a skier. The skier can also change the size of the base of support to create a wider or narrower base of support.

How and where we hold our arms and hands is an important factor at all levels of skiing they help to keep our balance while in motion. They stabilize our body and help us win back our centeredness over our skis/feet and keep our balance.

Arms and hands should be to the side, and forward in front of the body. They act as a balancing pole.

FACTORS AFFECTING SKIERS PROGRESS

Slope
gradient
Equipment
Terrain
Snow and weather conditions
Type of lift
Group size
Mental approach
Physical fitness
Age
Quality of instructor
Momentum/ speed

To turn the skis

In different situations we can turn/change direction by changing our edges and turning our skis with aids to help us.

Aids to help us turn/change direction

Pressure: Pressure transfer from one ski to another creates a strong turning action of the supporting leg in the turn/change of direction.

Cross-over: By crossing over our skis this helps us flatten the skis and there is less resistance making them lighter so turning/changing direction is made easier as is the change of edges as well.

There are two forms of crossover where our body hips crosses over and forward over our feet, and the cross under where our feet cross under our body hips. This depends on many factors; speed, the steepness of terrain, type of terrain, type of snow, the radius of the turn and the ability of the skier.

Pole plant: The pole is a turning impulse for the turning/change of direction; it helps support the crossover in the turn/change of direction the changing of the edges, and to stabilize the body. It is an aid for balance and rhythm as well.

To steer the skis

Turning blends into steering when the edges start to cut in and grip and steer the ski through the turn/change of direction, depending on the speed we are travelling at. The slower we move the later in the turn/change of direction the skis/edges start to cut into the snow and grip/steer. When we move faster, then the skis start to cut in earlier in the turn/change of direction and steer/grip us.

When steering in the fall line, one has to be able to control the skis as they accelerate.

Steering out of the fall line is the hardest part of the turn the skier must have a good control of pressure to control the edging to steer the skis.

When we tilt our skis onto their edges through the turn/change of direction the pressure/tension increases up to twice ones body weight and more. The radius, steepness, terrain (bumps), speed, snow types and type of skis (fun carvers, race carvers, all terrain carvers and free ride skis) all influence the steering pressures created in the turn/change of direction; one feels this through the legs and the whole body. The larger muscle groups of the body, the pelvic muscles, allow us to take in a lot of this pressure build up.

In shorter turns the legs do more of the steering. (Our feet/skis cross under the body) The upper body stays balanced over the feet. Weaker skiers ¢ will become tiered more quickly. Grippy short turns create a very sudden build up of pressure making balance over ones feet harder in the turn/change of direction.

At faster speeds our body crosses over our feet/skis; this is a greater test our balance for the skier.

The supporting ski (outside ski) and the inner ski, both have got steering qualities. The supporting leg/ski (outer ski) has better, more effective steering, feeling, and balance through the whole turn/change of direction while the inner foot/ski gives us a stronger edge grip but less feeling through the whole turn/change of direction, and less feeling for balance encouraging catching of the edges in the turn/change of direction. There fore a very fine feeling is required when steering with the inner foot/ski at the right place, right time, and the right amount in the turn/change of direction, to create effective steering through the turn/change of direction.

While steering the skis they can be turned across the direction the body is travelling at or be steered in the direction the body is travelling at. In the first case one skids and in the second case one carves. Carving while steering the skis through the turn/change of direction at higher speeds, makes us more stable through the turn/change of direction.

All factors are changing through the turn/change of direction.

Terrain
Snow types
Gradient
Speed
Weather

The skier must react to the changing factors all the time in order to steer the skis effectively, and stay in control whilst using the pressures to their advantage in the turn/change of direction.

It is important that we are centred over our feet/skis, in order to get the most out of the modern skis of today.

Centeredness over our feet/skis requires all of our ski joints to bend (ankle, knee and hip).

With our hips over our feet, hands forward of the body and our body moving forward with our feet, while we are in motion, means we can stay in balance, turn/change direction and steer our feet/skis and ski in control whilst having fun!

Known >< Un-Known
Easy >< Harder
Flat >< Steeper
Slow >< Faster

By making things harder and moving out of our comfort zone, we can become more aware. We move from known to unknown, easy to hard, flat to steeper and slow to faster to raise awareness.

When we are made aware of the 3 factors balance, turning and steering at our own level of skiing and ability, we can start to become a more effective all round-controlled skier.

Balance/turning/Steering = Control and Fun

Summary

Skiing hasn't changed since the times of wooden skis and cable bindings. We still have to be in balance, turn, and steer our skis to turn/change direction while skiing. The only thing that has changed in skiing is that more people think that they are the inventors of skiing trying to talk turns instead of just getting on with it and having fun sliding down the hill and turning/changing direction any time, any where, how they want to in any white stuff called snow.

An older instructor (Toni Seelos) once said to me, “why do we make everything so confusing for our self when we are just doing 3 things with our skis?” I asked him what he meant as I didn't understand him. He answered me, “we go straight down, left and right.” My answer was “oh ya!” And to do this we need to be well balanced, turn and steer our skis, so let ¢ s just have fun and do it!

"I didn't invent balance; I just give people a good time, while having fun in balance, and feeling in control while moving and changing/direction, turning any time, anywhere, anyhow, and in any WHITE STUFF!"

Toby Fishel 2001

“Skis are designed by experts to do a job, it is just the person standing on them that stops the skis from doing that job”

Graham Bell 2000

Toby Austria 1968

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