by Brad Jacobson
On November 14th and 15th, 2009 at Mt Hood, I had the opportunity to ski with members of the PSIA – NW Divisional Staff for early season training, which was an incredible way to start the year. I gained new insight of the skiing and teaching concepts, and a clear picture what the Regional and National staff is working on for the upcoming year. During the course of the weekend, I was able to solidify my existing knowledge, and came home with a new understanding of the concepts and creative new ways of presenting the information to students and colleagues.
The first day my group had the opportunity to work with Chris Thompson founding member of the PSIA-NW Technical Team and PSIA-NW Examiner. Chris has a fun and unique approach to coaching, through encouraging each individual to use self discovery and group discussion. I asked Chris to describe what he focused on during the weekend, and this is what he wrote:
“As decided at Technical Team training, we focused on stance, alignment, movement and flow. We stayed in the “open parallel” mode, to hold the speed down more than anything else. We actually didn’t do any exercises but worked on each other’s skiing through changing mental focus and body awareness. To facilitate group involvement we skied in a non-structured rotating line most of the time with an integral part of the goal to be able to observe and comment on peer performance. As we worked on our skiing, we related this back to how we disseminate this information to our staff ensuring understanding with new and returning staff members. I made a strong point of sharing what we did on Friday (at Examiner Training) with both groups so they understood that divisional staff skiing focus and attainment was very similar. We continued to come back to DIRT (duration, intensity, rate and timing) as we focused on stance[ing]; directed movements; pole swing timing; parallel legs/skis; inside half leading outside half; skiing into/thru/out of counter; timing pressure thru transition to ensure maintaining a parallel attitude and good carve.”
It was great to hear it directly from the source, a member of the staff involved in developing the education material for our region. Their goal is to keep the information easy to understand so that we can all share it with our guests in terms that they can relate to, so that skiing is more fun and less complicated.
“Stalancing,” a Chris-ism, refers to staying in balance while in motion using stance as a tool. The center of mass should always be over the feet, while achieving this can happen numerous ways, and often we as instructors get tunnel vision thinking the only time a skier is in balance is when there is shin to boot contact and hips are up over the feet.
Chris had our group drop into a tuck and then asked us where our hips are, and then where our center of mass is. The answer was our hips were behind our feet and our center of mass is over our feet, perfect balance. There are numerous possibilities of body position to achieve the desired result of center of mass over the feet and we as teachers should be aware of the center of mass and not just that “perfect pose” that has defined balance for so many of us for so long.
Another point brought up was that instructors can overemphasize shin to boot contact, doing this may lead the guests to being over-flexed for too long restricting the ability to properly use their ankles which Dave Lyon suggested is one of the most important joints in skiing, if not the most important. Chris said that as we move through turns we should be using the entire circumference of the cuff boot to maintain balance, and this is OK as long as the center or mass stays over the feet.
Chris encouraged us to use flexion and extension as a means of “moving forward” and the activity of opening and closing joints while we move into, through, and out of a countered position. Using a stance foundation, and not staying there, the body is constantly moving, being proactive and reactive to stay in balance while in motion i.e. “Stalance.”
After skiing on Saturday Dave Lyon a member of the PSIA National Alpine Team and a coach for the PSIA-NW Technical Team, he prepared an indoor presentation to the entire group, focusing on what the National Team is currently developing, “Fundamental Skills Concepts.” Below is the outline of the National Team’s Fundamental Skills Concepts.
Fundamental Skills Concepts
Great skiing is characterized by the skier’s ability to have a positive, selective effect on any of the skills at any time, as defined by:
- Alignment of the Center of Mass with the intended line of action.
- A consistent stance width throughout the turn.
- The use of the ankle joint to adjust aspects of fore/aft and lateral balance.
- A strong inside half. The inside half of the body is raised and ahead of the outside half.
- The ability to anticipate changes in your environment both mentally and physically.
- An effective pole swing which complements the movements of the body.
Rotary Movements
- A stable core that facilitates simultaneous steering activity of the legs.
- Skiing into and out of counter.
Edge Control Movements
- Progressive and simultaneous edge release and engagement.
- The use of inclination and angulation to determine edge angle.
Pressure Control Movements
- The use of flexion and extension movements to manage pressure.
- Effective manipulation of pressure along the length of the skis.
- The ability to influence pressure by increasing or decreasing edge angle.
- Pressure being directed toward the outside ski.
Dave joked that really the #1 goal in skiing is to not fall down, which makes perfect sense to me. Dave went over in detail each bullet point explaining exactly what each phrase in the Fundamental Skills Concept is saying.
Chris commented, “It was great to have confirmation on our (PSIA-NW Technical Team) goals through Dave Lyon’s presentation of where the National Team is headed.”
The second day of training my group skied with Nick McDonald Head Coach of the PSIA-NW Technical Team and PSIA-NW Examiner. Nick talked about the importance of early pressure and commitment to the new outside ski creating a smooth, fluid transition from turn to turn. He also emphasized the importance of an effective pole use that complements the movements of the body.
Nick spoke about the NW Technical Team’s observations from video taken at PSIA-NW divisional staff training last Spring, and determined that what made the biggest difference in good to great skiing was a smooth transition from turn to turn; the primary attribute of fluid skiing was commitment to the new outside ski with pressure early in the turn.
Nick guided us in a drill making slow and controlled pivot slips concentrating on the transition from one pivot to the next. He recommended pressuring the new outside or uphill ski during transition. The result was a much more smooth and fluid transition. We then moved on to linking slow open parallel turns, concentrating on early pressure. I noticed changes in the smoothness, and flow in my own skiing after these exercises, and something that I will continue to work on throughout the season.
What Good Pole Use Looks Like
Chris, Nick and Dave all agreed that great pole use skills complement great skiing and bring it all together. Effective pole use can enhance all of the skiing skills (Balance, Edging, Rotary, and Pressure) as well as fore-aft and lateral balance, timing of progressive body movements for appropriate edging, moving into and out of counter and timing of flexion and extension.
Fore-Aft and Lateral Balance
Skiing with hands out in front of the body and slightly out to the side ready for the pole swing helps move the center of mass over the feet for fore-aft balance, and the hands held out to the side creates better lateral balance and then you are ready to move. As you move through the turn a pole touch or plant will help the skier re-center after the forces of the turn have pushed the skier to the heels. Planting down the hill at the end of the turn, gives the skier strong lateral balance by creating angulation and increased pressure on the outside ski.
Timing of Progressive Body Movements for Appropriate Edging
With a consistent pole swing through the turn, the skier can use the movement of the pole swing to time the progressive movements through inclination and into angulation to determine needed edge angle.
Skiing Into and Out of Counter
If the skier keeps his hands out to the side and plants in the direction of the new turn (strong inside half), he will naturally ski into and out of a countered position. The act of planting the pole in the direction of the new turn or down the hill, the skier’s torso is open to the fall-line allowing the lower body to rotate or turn under a quiet and stable upper body.
Timing of Flexion and Extension
Depending on which pole plant is necessary for the terrain, a blocking pole plant for challenging terrain, or a gliding pole plant for easier terrain, the pole plant times the extension. On a blocking pole plant the plant comes before the extension and at the highest edge angle to help redirect momentum and establish a solid base for ultimate balance. On a gliding pole plant the plant comes after the extension and before initiation of the new turn. This pole plant can also be used to create more acceleration with a quicker extension which is common in ski racing.
When Not to Plant the Pole
When you are carrying higher speed in medium and long radius turns, pole plants can be eliminated because they are no longer necessary and potentially dangerous. Instead of planting it was suggested that subtle movements with the arms and wrists can help in the timing of body movements.
It was motivating spending the weekend at Mt. Hood with the PSIA-NW staff. I definitely left with renewed energy, and excitement to share with my athletes, guests and the staff at Mt. Bachelor. I also received feedback on my own skiing during the weekend that I will continue to work on throughout the year, skiing with a purpose while focusing on developing new skills.
The PSIA-NW Staff has a ton of energy and enthusiasm and I look forward to skiing with them again. I would recommend to all skiing professionals to take advantage of the opportunity to work with the PSIA -NW staff, it’s a great way to increase your knowledge and share that knowledge with confidence.
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