I read the CARV footbed sensor thread and it seems like it could be a useful tool, but the resulting data would not be helpful to me since I don't know what the goal is, in other words,
I think I read that Mikaela Shiffrin said something like "Only perfect practice makes perfect skiing," and personally I cannot "perfectly practice" if I don't know what the goal is. On the flip side, I have heard it said that "Practice does not make perfect, it makes permanent." So,
Where in the Boot Should I Balance?
We skied hard at Alta/Snowbird for the past four days including yesterday which had a delightful foot of new powder with crust underneath off piste (and on hard snow primarily on groomers the prior three days). And we are now at Deer Valley. (All IKON pass.)
These last four days I have been working with a Squaw Valley Level III long-time friend in our core ski buddies group who was coaching us how to ski flatter, feet-together, two-footed, equal edging, equal weighted, more forward, knees slightly bent, heels back, always in balance and ripping -- somewhat regardless of steepness and terrain.
I have surmised that when I can do it, this method results in less overall physical stress on my body than my one-footed, outside-edge-to-outside-edge, flex-to-release, lateral carving style, which I have been trying to perfect the last 15 years.
I like this two-footed skiing method allot, but it is definitely a different type of skiing than edge-to-edge skiing and requires fore aft and lateral balance which our goal is to achieve by as little friction as possible.
If you saw our friend skiing, you would definitely know that he is a Level III cert.
So my question is: Where in the boot should my feet balance?
1. Where and when on the footbed?
2. Where and when on the cuff?
3. What type of ski are you talking about? Wasp waisted tip to tail cambered carver or 100cm tip and tail rockered ski?
When you answer, please describe the type of turn you are referring to -- i.e., a carved turn or a flatter ski steered turn or a pivot type turn* -- and to what phase of the turn you are referring.
(*BTW, I am not sure that a pivot is really a type of turn at all but rather a redirection of the skis to which a linear or turning force is then added...)
Related: I am wondering if my purchase of RC130 flex Lange boots was best for me at my new 193-195 lbs. naked, 5' 10 3/4" height. However, despite their apparent stiffness to me, I have been working on keeping constant cuff contact wth at least slight cuff pressure, and then adding more cuff pressure to bite the tips during turn initiation. I consider that cuff pressure to be a form of "balance," so please include that in your discussion too.
I am feeling what I think is anterior compartment syndrome pain (outside lateral to the shins not shin bang) as a result of my new relationship with the cuffs. A doctor we are skiing with says I could be cutting off blood circulation, but I think I am just not used to using cuff pressure. But for the first time I have been able to flex my boots, so I will continue to work on cuff pressure. What do you think? For what type of turn and what turn phase?
And I am practicing balancing on the ball of my feet to the front of my arch. And trying to prevent my balance from moving to my heels at the completion of my turns. What do you think? For what type of turn and what turn phase?
P.S. @LiquidFeet must be bored because she encouraged me to post this thread. My guess is that she ordered a whole bunch of popcorn to watch the fireworks.
P.P.S. If you think this is a stupid question, just remember what my PSIA Examiner told me during my Level II cert. exam: "Remember Tim, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people asking questions..."
I think I read that Mikaela Shiffrin said something like "Only perfect practice makes perfect skiing," and personally I cannot "perfectly practice" if I don't know what the goal is. On the flip side, I have heard it said that "Practice does not make perfect, it makes permanent." So,
Where in the Boot Should I Balance?
We skied hard at Alta/Snowbird for the past four days including yesterday which had a delightful foot of new powder with crust underneath off piste (and on hard snow primarily on groomers the prior three days). And we are now at Deer Valley. (All IKON pass.)
These last four days I have been working with a Squaw Valley Level III long-time friend in our core ski buddies group who was coaching us how to ski flatter, feet-together, two-footed, equal edging, equal weighted, more forward, knees slightly bent, heels back, always in balance and ripping -- somewhat regardless of steepness and terrain.
I have surmised that when I can do it, this method results in less overall physical stress on my body than my one-footed, outside-edge-to-outside-edge, flex-to-release, lateral carving style, which I have been trying to perfect the last 15 years.
I like this two-footed skiing method allot, but it is definitely a different type of skiing than edge-to-edge skiing and requires fore aft and lateral balance which our goal is to achieve by as little friction as possible.
If you saw our friend skiing, you would definitely know that he is a Level III cert.
So my question is: Where in the boot should my feet balance?
1. Where and when on the footbed?
2. Where and when on the cuff?
3. What type of ski are you talking about? Wasp waisted tip to tail cambered carver or 100cm tip and tail rockered ski?
When you answer, please describe the type of turn you are referring to -- i.e., a carved turn or a flatter ski steered turn or a pivot type turn* -- and to what phase of the turn you are referring.
(*BTW, I am not sure that a pivot is really a type of turn at all but rather a redirection of the skis to which a linear or turning force is then added...)
Related: I am wondering if my purchase of RC130 flex Lange boots was best for me at my new 193-195 lbs. naked, 5' 10 3/4" height. However, despite their apparent stiffness to me, I have been working on keeping constant cuff contact wth at least slight cuff pressure, and then adding more cuff pressure to bite the tips during turn initiation. I consider that cuff pressure to be a form of "balance," so please include that in your discussion too.
I am feeling what I think is anterior compartment syndrome pain (outside lateral to the shins not shin bang) as a result of my new relationship with the cuffs. A doctor we are skiing with says I could be cutting off blood circulation, but I think I am just not used to using cuff pressure. But for the first time I have been able to flex my boots, so I will continue to work on cuff pressure. What do you think? For what type of turn and what turn phase?
And I am practicing balancing on the ball of my feet to the front of my arch. And trying to prevent my balance from moving to my heels at the completion of my turns. What do you think? For what type of turn and what turn phase?
P.S. @LiquidFeet must be bored because she encouraged me to post this thread. My guess is that she ordered a whole bunch of popcorn to watch the fireworks.
P.P.S. If you think this is a stupid question, just remember what my PSIA Examiner told me during my Level II cert. exam: "Remember Tim, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people asking questions..."
Last edited: