Introduction of brakaway gates in the early 1980s had big impact on racing techniques but this time around changes in equipment and technology have revolutionized not only racing but skiing, in general.

Construction, length and shape of skis changed to smother flex pattern that is softer and more proportional from tip to tail than the "old school" skis.  Grater sidecut and higher platforms allowed for achieving greater edge angles and have drastically changed the turn characteristics, and therefore the skiing techniques and teaching methodology.

The basic alterations that allow racers to carve rounder turns at faster then ever speeds include: wider stance, greater inclination, improved centering on the skis, less steering and more arching, improved ski-snow contact and a rounder turn shape.

• Wider stance:
  • Enables a skier to build and distribute pressure more efficiently throughout a turn and a transition
  • Improves a skier's side-to-side base of support and compensates for decreased tip-to-tail support.
  • Allows a skier to increase the incline of the lower limbs, thus greater edge angle required to carve a tighter arc.

         Description/Prescription:

• A common error skiers make is closing their stance at the gate by bringing their outside foot in tight to the gate.  This usually changes turn profile calling for late pressure, which makes the skier turn accross the hill more than necessary and is associated with premature turn initiation.
  • Focus on gaining space for the outside ski at the gate by keeping skis at a constant  width and beginning their turn at the raise line of the gate.

• Greater inclination:
  • New skis hold an edge better and arc more than the previous generation of skis and as a result skiers can increase their inclination.  This allows the skier's center of mass to take a straighter line through the gates.

         Description/Prescription:

• A common error skiers make is standing too high and in too narrow stance to be able to apply enough edge to create the arc turn-shape.  The centrifugal forces push the skiers out of the turn forcing them to pivot and steer the skis to substitute for the lost hight at the cost of speed.
  • Practice extended free skiing work, edging drills and carved turns.  Practice edging through "Railroad Tracks".  Start with flat terrain and execute shallow turns, leaving linked, clean tracks in the snow.  Progress to steeper terrain and increase speed.  A good deal of inclination is required to cut clean arcs in steeper terrain.  Once having some success with this drill refine your inclination and turn shape.
• Another error is the "inside ski reverse wedge syndrom".  Even with proper edging of the outside ski it is often the case that inside ski is "checked out", unloaded and leaving a swiping instead of parallel track.
  • Perform drills that will bring your attention to the "status" of the inside ski.
  • Maintaining a parallel stance (edges, shins, knees) throughout the turn allows for better load distribution and support base to excercise greater inclination and hence carving tighter arcs at higher speeds.

• Improved centering on the skis (less fore/aft movement):
  • With a rounder carving line and more evenly distributed through the turn pressures it is not necessary to use excessive fore/aft movements.  Additionally, today's shorter and relatively softer skis do not support aggressive shifting of balance and chances are the skier would fall over backwards, if attempted.

          Description/Prescription:

• Many times unaware of it, skiers lean back if not as much as to risk a backward fall then to the point where their skis cannot effectively carve through the turns.  Pressures applied to ski forebody play major factor in engaging in and shaping the turn and they can only be exercised with proper centering movements.
  • Ankle flexion and controlling the movement of the upper body and arms is vital for proper balance.
  • Driving the body center of mass forward and across the skis when coming into the turn will improve the shin/boot contact and build the pressure on the ski forebody to engage and arch into a new turn.
  • The use of a double pole plant can help control fore/aft movement and quiet uper body.

• Less steering and more arching:
  • Commonplace in the 1990s was pivoting the skis through the top third of the turn and then apply a quick and forceful edge set to complete the turn.  Today, we see much less steering into the turn as when rolled up onto the edges the skis bend into and through a rounder, fuller arc.

           Description/Prescription:

• Many skiers already using shaped skis still pivot them into the new turn the "old school" way with minimal rolling movement.  Edging and arching is compromised by distribution of the otherwise potent turn energy into the swiping and oversteering movement that combined with abrasive nature of man-made snow are contributing factors to global warming.
  • To reduce these human induced changes and to go faster in a cleaner arc SkiExpert.Net recommends rolling the knees into the new turn with more articulated forward body movement that will let the skis forebody engage early on and bend into and throughout the turn.

• Improved ski-snow contact:
  • Typical in the "old schol" was lifting the inside ski while pivoting the skis into the new turn. Today, the loss of contact is considered undesirable as it tends to delay turn initiation and promotes excess redirection.  Contact is desirable as it allows for more even distribution of pressure maintaining momentum.  It allows for more flowing and linked movement patterns.

• Applying a rounder turn shape with the outside ski:
  • Aim for arcing coming into and exiting the turn with the majority of pressure and bend coming to the ski in the fall line.
  • Much to do with the turn shape has fluidity of movements and a sense of rythm.  Skiers need to learn to project and move their center of mass forward and down the hill throughout the turns in continuous, flowing patterns.

         Description/Prescription:

• Sometimes skiers do not project their line properly and require excessive drifting if not plain traversing in between the turns.
  • For skiers: follow an instructor who will draw a good line for you and ski in rythmic patterns to add fluidity to your moves.
  • For racers: inspect the course thoroughly to stay on the fastest line and minimize the drifting segments in your early or late turns.

Summary:

Working on solid technical skills will bring positive results if executed with fluidity and rythm of movement.  Projecting and moving the center of mass forward and down the hill throughout the turn is a large portion of the blend of skills required to achieve mastery. 

References:

SkiRacing Article by USST Head Coach - Phil McNichol (2002)