I wish I would have never posted in this thread as it's clear I didn't express myself well. Yes, I've been to a tech comp, but it was years ago. I've also had an old German acquaintance go to Japan to race when they had a nascent pro dual format circuit and went the tech route following the money and ended up being featured in some Ski Journal type vids in the early/mid 90's. (Gundy Thoma)
Let me attempt to clarify. First, yes, these guys and gals are great skiers. If the money were in racing, some would have done very well there. In the cases of both Korea and Japan, historically, tech comps have appeared to be the primary driver of ski technique and discussion. In Europe, the US, and Canada, they aren't a part of ski culture but some like Richard B have been embraced by the Japanese tech world. That said, there are fine athletes in other glissading disciplines in Japan. Some of the absolutely best telemarkers I've ever skied with are from Japan. Bump skiing is a big deal, and as mentioned in another post on this thread, snowboarding, nordic jumping, and nordic combined are very much at world class level. I think I've also said, but perhaps not clearly enough, that the Japanese tech comp world has had a large and interesting influence on guys like Paul L, Reilly M, and Tom G., and with cheap airfares, Japan has had a huge positive influence on the Australian ski world. (And I do agree that the Japanese tech skiers are great bumpers!)
What I will say is that tech comps seem to create a stylized 'kata' form of skiing that creates it's own weather. The extended arms (that seem to be required) are very much about compensating for the use of inclination through the entire arc (medium and large radius turns), and along with often quick, sharp retraction moves, to help everyone move over the old outside ski. Many ski with the shoulders and hips following the direction of the skis across the hill which to me creates blockage from travelling down the hill. Now does all that mean I wouldn't love to ski with Takao Murayama, pick his brain, and try the stuff he talks about? Not a bit. I've been through a bunch of Japanese tech video to both watch and listen. He's an amazing athlete who can ski pretty much however he wants. Skiing is skiing and it's all great stuff. None of my critique of tech ski culture was intended in disrespect, but in my initial flippant reply, it came off as such and somehow wound up in some nasty weeds that deeply saddened me. I own that.
On a last note in retrospect of my experience in Japan, I can say that the technical achievement drive and hierarchy in alpine skiing I experienced with friends working on their level certificates while greatly admirable, were IMHO detrimental in many other regards. In my observation, many lacked versatility. This wasn't the case for a friend on the Japanese demo team who clearly told me that skiing comps is sort of it's own thing. He could do whatever he wanted on snow, and he was kind enough to ask me to coach a couple of telemark camps with him . If I had a 100 yen coin for every deep powder ski day friends missed because of needing to stand inline to take a clinic that the clinician clearly missed the opportunity of the day, I could buy you a fantastic dinner in Tokyo with an open bar tab. Final form took precident over opportunity, and form impeded versatility (function) of many people I knew who were very good skiers working incredibly hard to get better. I know this is changing in Japan. Murayama's skiing and discussion tells me as much, and to repeat, some of the women in the Japanese tech scene are amazing and SHOULD get more attention in the ski world. My critique doubtlessly can be applied to PSIA, but PSIA isn't the primary driver or focus of ski technique in the US. In recent years has become more of a clearing house and distillery of ideas common to all disciplines of sliding on snow. The Japanese tech/instructional ski world appears to be undergoing changes as well as I see clear differences in their skiing at Bansko vs. Innsbruck as displayed at Interski. I thought the Bansko sessions were really interesting!
Now admittedly, I don't know a ton about what's going on in Korea. I don't speak Korean, so I can't follow the discussion as acutely. There's some older video shot by Yaz Kawasaki (CSIA/CANSI) of CSIA and KSIA skiing together at Whistler. Have a look. It's pretty interesting stuff. I'd also say to do a comparison of Ted L's and any one of the top KSIA folks arm movements and snow/ski interaction. Also look where the KSIA guys are looking and what it does to their alignment and directional travel. And yes, terrain and snow conditions do influence focus. I do admire the athleticism of their demonstrations, but my thought was that for preparing for PSIA L3, it would be pretty easy to misinterpret and trade complexity of upper body movement for efficacy of focus on what the skis are doing on the snow. When I wrote the reply you quoted, I didn't have time and was simply frustrated. I shouldn't have been and should have not posted at all. I had a bit of time this morning, and hopefully have given a more clear explanation. If not, it's probably best that I bow out of future instructional discussion.
We distill* and take what we need when we can from where we are able, and most importantly, when we're ready.