Let me see if I can summarize some of the main focuses of the clinic thus far. The emphasis of the course has been improvement in our own all-terrain skiing, but the fundamentals would apply to our students, taking into account their skill level, of course.
JF's primary emphasis was twofold: 1. Being over, and balancing on, the new outside ski before starting down the hill, then letting gravity and the curve of the ski do most of the work (most skiers rush the start and fall inside, usually with upper-body rotation, and never establish a stable platform underfoot). 2. Effective upper/lower body separation.
Much of the first day was spent balancing over the new outside ski in suspension, using a lifted inside half, instead of mashing down on the outside ski or forcing the skis to "turn," which often translates to braced, forced, or out-of-balance skiing. JF emphasizes being planted firmly on the entire footbed, including the heel, rather than driving forward into the cuff of the boot, which he feels restricts movement. (Jonathan suggests using a dorsiflexed foot at all times to help pull the foot down into the footbed.)
JF also emphasizes using just enough counter to allow full range of motion. His basic rule of thumb is to be looking along the outside edge of the outside ski throughout the turn, with the navel facing just downhill of that tip.
At the transition, there is a committed shift of the center of mass across the skis, establishing all weight on the new outside ski early. Rather than lifting the new inside ski off the snow, however, he suggests staying more two footed as the skis start downhill on their own after they flatten (increases stability). The radius of the turn is then determined by how much, and how long, the new inside foot unweights, i.e., a slight lift with short duration will result in a shorter turn; a higher lift with a longer duration will result in a longer turn. Both JF and Jonathan emphasize not bracing and pressing down on the outside ski. Both suggest a more supple outside leg, with weight on it resulting from the lifting of the inside half and shortening of the inside leg. Both also suggest cocking the inside ski back under you to eliminate excessive tip lead that restricts the angles available from the legs. (This was also suggested to me by Deb Armstrong at a high-performance clinic last year.) We used the stork turn exercise to help us feel that sensation (inside tip in the snow as you start downhill, inside ski pulled back under you with the tail lifted out of the snow).
Jonathan took over the second week and built on the foundation laid by JF. His emphasis was what happened from the time the skis were pointing downhill through the shaping/finishing phases.
A major emphasis was allowing the foot to flatten progressively through to the end of the turn. One side note was the importance of a footbed that allows movement of the foot, as opposed to a footbed that locks the foot in a set position. (Harald Harb is keen on this also.) Simply allowing a progressive flattening of the foot and a collapse of the arch though the shaping phase creates a smooth, supple connection to the snow and a beautifully progressive turn shape. We used the drill wherein we face across the slope holding position using the rolled-over inside edge of the outside ski. In the functionally counted position advocated by JF, we roll over the outside foot until the skis start to slide. We then progressively roll back that outside arch by pronating/flattening it until the slide is arrested. We began slowly and smoothly, then added a more emphatic end to the rollback. That feeling of simply allowing the foot to roll over to flat at the beginning of the turn to allow, rather than force, the skis to release into the new turn, combined with the sensation of progressively flattening the foot through the shaping phase to the end of the turn, was clearly felt.
Another exercise Jonathan used was the "Schlopy drill." This effectively put us into the functional counter JF wanted and really made us feel what is is. For those not familiar with this drill, you start by traversing with your downhill hand pushing in against your downhill hip. Your uphill arm/hand reach toward your downhill ski tip. As the skis turn downhill, shift the placement of your hands to the opposite sides. Quite effective!
Youtube has illustrations of this drill and videos of JF and Jonathan skiing. If you go to "Jonathan Ballou Medium Turns," you should be able to see a clear illustration of his emphases in his own skiing.
OK, enough of this. Back to the slopes!