Look Nevada I think.
They worked well with the turntable heel.
They worked well with the turntable heel.
I nominate this as "Best Post" on the Ski School forum for this season.
What hasn't been pointed out yet is that I have rarely seen anyone able to actually switch up between a flexion release and an extension release in their skiing. I'm talking about regular Joes, not ski instructors. Our brains get wired into specific timing for skiing, so being adept at both requires a high level of skiing skill that most skiers don't possess. Thus, if you have to choose one release pattern, there's no question what I would recommend; a flex to release can be used everywhere, in any condition, and at any time. That cannot be said for an extension release which can often lead to skiers to "shopping" for a turn in difficult terrain.
In steep and narrow terrain i also up extend, more of a hop turn though.So the reason why I say it doesnt work in gullies and by gullies I mean pretty narrow and steep gullies, is because the middle part is the lowest, and if you lowest at the lowest point, its hard to absorb the high point which is actually the sides.
Also on truly steep terrain like in this picture
you can bet I am extending to make sure my transition is unweighted, a caught edge could hurt or kill you .. or in something like this chute
the thing is IMO you should just learn to go from turn to turn all different way and disassociated the edge change with flexing or extending, and learn to do it weighted and unweighted. In actual all mountain skiing Ill use what ever works for what best suits that particular turn.
We work toward practice runs where we actually change up between the 3 release patterns every 4 turns. Extend both legs for 4 turns, flex both legs for 4 turns, flex the new inside ski while extending the new outside ski for 4 turns. Then repeat.
I read this this morning and tried it a couple of hours later in some turning to spring snow. It's great, I loved it and yes I could easily switch between the three releases. In that snow the two footed flex worked best, but it was illuminating to do it this way. I like isolation drills. Sometimes I'll have students do 4 turns with their turns coming from flex and extend, 4 without any F/E - all coming from rotary, then 4 combining the 2 foci.
Also slows you down to help control speed.powder changes things, Flex to release works better, also tends to take away the fall consequence
In my experience, I have seen most skiers take "seasons" worth of work to learn how to properly flex to release (along with flex to engage) and lose the extension (up move) in their skiing.
In my experience, I have seen most skiers take "seasons" worth of work to learn how to properly flex to release (along with flex to engage) and lose the extension (up move) in their skiing. I would need to see video evidence of skiers who are accomplished at these two types of releases and able to seamlessly switch between them in a single run. Until I see such evidence, my own personal beliefs and observations will stand unchallenged.
It all depends on your standards. You're obviously saying that a flex to release is not "proper" according to a very detailed defined set of criteria, and that any deviation from that standard is not "properly" flexing to release.
However a release which is triggered by a flexion move is flexing to release. Period. Basic movement. No scorecard.
I'm pulling up my legs, there is no extension. I feel no need to prove it to you via video, but for others reading, it ain't so hard to experiment with.
Let the folks who set the rules worry about whether you're doing it right.
Careful with that one - I've seen many that start to flex at the end of the turn, but just before releasing and switching the edges, push slightly or just stop flexing. That's not a flex to release, even if it starts with a flex, as the when it comes down to the final edge disengagement, it's still a small hop that gets one off the edges...However a release which is triggered by a flexion move is flexing to release. Period. Basic movement. No scorecard.
The issue with why it takes long to master it is not, in my experience, about doing it a couple times at will - I don't suppose that's terribly difficult - but to own it and make it part of your every day skiing, if so inclined, I.e. sustain it in a run top to bottom... the first thing that happens is usually going a lot faster than usual with the quads on fire