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Gotta have it…Anticipation

 

Gord Reid Ski Tip

There is so much to say on how the pole plant effects your skiing; your timing and coordination, and of course, whether you’re “stylin’ ”! We’ll touch on a point in relation to getting the most from your skis with consistent anticipation involved.

One of the great things of shaped skis is how easy it is to round out the turns – even as the radius gets smaller. Just remember though, you don’t want to fall over the skis too far each time. Sometimes you just get turning and it feels so good to follow the skis right to the end. But remember each time you link a turn you have to aim your body towards that new turn, or anticipate.

When we say anticipate you might think of the mental process of thinking ahead, but maybe you can also think of a movement – as you anticipate, you orient your body towards the next turn. So – you got a turn going and it feels so good just to go with it, you’re into it, you’re leaning in the direction of the turn, and you want it to last forever, but you know in a moment you have to turn the other way. So you think about turning that way and as the skis turn this way you begin to move (direct) the upper body towards the next turn and come over the top of the skis.

Something that can help you do that is just to move the pole plant. Don’t put it towards the tip so much, you want to bring it back a little farther down hill. That will help bring your upper body towards the right direction of the new turn – that’s anticipation.

Gord Reid would suggest an exercise of doing a “double pole plant”. Not only does this position your body for the new turn, it forces the body to move forward and up (neutral position) in anticipation for the change of direction. Your pole plant signals the start of a new turn…relate that to using the turn signals in your car- in anticipation to changing the direction of your car.

When you feel your timing is off, get back in the rhythm with the double pole plant exercise.

So try to remember you have to anticipate in every turn, not so much for a big turn but, lots for a little turn. 

I think it will help you!

 

 Gotta Let the Ankles Work…

”Bendz zee ankles – to bendz zee knees”!

Gord Reid Tip  

Too often we come across clients that really crank up the buckles on their ski boots. In that most of these folks have properly fitted boots, they need understand they are interfering with the necessary action of a major component in their skiing balance – the ankles. This is most obvious with young ski racers, that’s why they look so cool leaning forward when they are stationary!

The two lower buckles of a properly fitted boot have little use other than to keep the snow out, thus you need put emphasis on the important ankle buckle as the remedy to holding your heel down. ”Disengaging” the top buckle is the first remedy to a student when it’s apparent they are using it as a crutch and in such, not getting the range of motion to have a proper base of support. Cranking the top buckle is actually creating extreme problems in their balance and mobility.

I came across an article written by  * Glenn Allen of Master’s coaching fame and the “go-to” equipment expert at Sport Chek Polo Park. It reinforced some advice Gord Reid offered long ago that I’m reminded of every time I clamp those chunks of plastic to my feet... “Tighten up to loosen up”!

 

Here is Glenn’s written observation:

 “By far the majority of skiers make the mistake of making their boots too stiff for their body to balance or buying boots that are too stiff in the wrong places in the first place. This is clear at all levels of skiing. In 2004-5 some members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team did some on hill training in boots that were totally devoid of a cuff (the upper of the boot). This was in order to realign their points of reference for balance and practice balancing on their feet instead of leaning on their boots. In other words they trained with zero stiffness around their lower leg to improve their balance and to rediscover awareness of their foot on the ski!”

In that ski turns are initiated firstly with the most major joint - the hip, the smaller joint being the ankle need come into play to offer the most important requirement in skiing – balance. It is next to impossible for the mid-joint involved - the knee, to move forward in completing the lower body elements to having a proper (balanced) base of support, without that flexion of the ankle.

Try it without your boots on…Flex the knee forward without your heel leaving the floor. You can feel the effect the ankle has in keeping your stance balanced. Now, do the same by lifting the heel. Your balance is now off and the tails of your skis will be skidding. Jamming of too much shin pressure on the front of your boots puts too much weight forward and the heels will lift from the foot bed of your boot…putting too much weight forward.

You should always feel your shins to the front of the boots, but there must be some range in the amount of fore and aft pressure, in order for those joints to respond successfully laterally.

Today, I still adhere to Gord Reid's advice. I constantly, as you must, adjust and find my balance by using that fore & aft flexion in the ankles.

Surprisingly to most, with the proper use of the power strap, I’ve never made use of the top bucket. Roll up my pant leg…never buckled, ever.

My suggestion, as is Glenn’s and was Gord Reid’s,  is that you try skiing with the boot at all times and in all conditions, in the softest position possible to achieve better balance.

Not only makes for mobility,  which in turn makes for better range to varying terrain and conditions, but also makes ski boots even more - wait for it…comfortable!

October 15, 2009

* Glenn Allen is Shop By Appointment Snowsports Specialist

for Manitoba for Sport Chek. Email for appointment : gallen54@hotmail.com.