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- May 4, 2017
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I kind of like them to "scarve" less and less and "carve" more and more through foot and balance awareness. I try to use offensive movements and round turns. Patience and what I call "allowance--allowing things to happen rather than trying hard to make them happen" are important.
I completely agree with the allowance idea which goes hand in hand with patience. There is no doubt that a skier used to foot steering, rotary motions and " making things happen" has a hard time waiting for a carve! I find that, for me, when I feel the mountain push back at my feet, rather than me engaging the mountain, I am making my cleanest and most powerful carves. "Loose" ankles,for want of a better term,between turns seems to make the transitions smoother but there is no substitute for the appropriate, confidence inspiring terrain.
Allowance, Patience. Soooo Important. But what are we being patient for? What are we trying to Allow?
You provided the answer when you succinctly wrote: "when I feel the mountain push back at my feet, rather than me engaging the mountain"
So there is a change that happens and altering our movement patterns to address that change we must. But the change is a "flowing" change. The turning force that develops from the act of carving is progressive. Continuance is not guaranteed. And that is why you need patience and allow the ski to do its thing. To realize that there is life beyond the fall line.
But the one thing that must not change is stance. So starting off one's skiing experience by learning and ingraining proper stance is a fundamental necessity.
The static (standing) stance that a beginner brings to the hill is one based on skeletal support through the heel. Throw in plantar flexion and you enable locomotion. This methodology is great for moving about and standing still but it sucks for skiing. Skiers must now learn a stance that allows them to balance through the arch of the foot and manage that balance through flexion and extension of the ankles, knees and hip joints.
Sounds so simple doesn't it?