It is known among some old-time skiing instructors, the advent of snowboarding sport is probably one of best things happened to skiing industry and sport; it stimulated the development of shaped skis and reinvented carved turn techniques.
Shaped skis are nothing new, they have been done even in wooden ski days; only this time the "shape" has been made better and shorter. The "shape" is formed by the sidecuts that are a part of the arc of the turning radius of the ski, so it makes turning easier. The modern synthetic materials also make it possible to make ski fatter and shorter (typically, 15 to 20 cm shorter,) than conventional straighter ski. With shorter length and easier to maneuver, shaped skis are generally a better performance ski.
Come along with the shaped ski, the reinvention of carved turn techniques, which is also nothing new, it has been used by higher level skiers all the time. Only this time the "shape" of the ski generates a turning energy that makes carving so much easier and pronouncedly. Carved turn reinvented itself.
For decades, the downhill skiing scenes are dominated by a technique so-called "pole and shove," (pole for balance then shove the tail to change direction,) style of parallel turns. The techniques are sharpened somewhat as well as the equipment being improved, however, the basic turning techniques have not changed since the invention of lock-heel bindings.
In a closer look, a parallel turn proceeds in four definite phases: (1) pole-planting, (2) unweighting, (3) weight-shifting, and (4) traversing. A parallel turn begins at pole-planting, to initial the turning; unweighting to facilitate the switching of edges, thus changing direction; weight over to reset the edges so the skis run; then traversing until the next turn. A parallel turn follows a rather rigid routine, and the pole-plant gives the parallel turn a distinct "beat," which gives parallel skiing a "hopping" appearance.
However, a carved turn, on the other hand, requires an edge pressure to initiate the turn, a pole-plant would diminish the effect of such attempt. Thus, more carved turners start to forgo the pole-plant and go directly into a turn by shifting weight onto the turning edges to facilitate the turn; the no pole-plant carved turns start to appear across the ski slopes. Some eventually give up the poles altogether and the free-hands skiers start to make debut on the skiing scene.
Without pole-plant, a carved turn is executed by shifting weight directly onto turning edges and pressing the bowing reverse camber to carve through the snow. As ski crossing the fall-line, it stars to travel uphill, the reverse camber flattens, and the edges pressure diminishing. A "roll" on the ankle downhill-ward to switch the edges, shifting weight again, the next turn follows. The carved turns flow with gravity without the apparent "hopping" of the parallel turns. With their big GS-style turns across the groomed corduroys, carved turns are starting to change the scene of all-mountain freeskiing.
However, don't get oversold by carved turns, unless you are a racer or high-G addict, as carved turn is only one but turning technique; the foundation of all-mountain freeskiing remains in the snow contact. "Flatbboarding," to ski the board flat, will give you more control area, which gives you more ways to ski thus more maneuverable.
In contrast to the conventional parallel skiing, which uses poles to fight gravity to [up-]unweighting, ski without poles, the "flatbboarding" technique flows with gravity and utilizes down-weighting/unweighting techniques to change edges and to generate an angular acceleration for the turn.
By riding both skis relatively "flat" to the slope and equally weighed, a skier, squarely facing the fall-line, can travel fairly straight. The turning is done by shifting more weight to the inside of the turn; the weight difference between the two skis will cause the skis to change direction, so the skier turns. When a higher rate of turning is desired, then more edge pressure is added by moving the hips (where the center of gravity is located) into the turn even more.
Turning to the reverse direction can be initiated whenever the uphill ski gains control of the balance. Turning begins by "rolling" the ankles instead of "pivoting" as it does in parallel skiing. Rolling the ankles so the edges engage snow sooner, the edging is done a lot quicker, so is the turn.
By turning uphill to slowdown and turning downhill to speedup, minute slipping and skidding for track correction before it veers out of the intended course, flatbboarding flows continuously with gravity like riding a roller coaster track.
As you cruise down the mountain, riding on flatbboard, shooting its smooth esthetic line sweeping through the slope, fast, silent, eerie, yet, exciting as well. Is that not what thrilling of ski all about?
Thanks for reading,
IS
Shaped skis are nothing new, they have been done even in wooden ski days; only this time the "shape" has been made better and shorter. The "shape" is formed by the sidecuts that are a part of the arc of the turning radius of the ski, so it makes turning easier. The modern synthetic materials also make it possible to make ski fatter and shorter (typically, 15 to 20 cm shorter,) than conventional straighter ski. With shorter length and easier to maneuver, shaped skis are generally a better performance ski.
Come along with the shaped ski, the reinvention of carved turn techniques, which is also nothing new, it has been used by higher level skiers all the time. Only this time the "shape" of the ski generates a turning energy that makes carving so much easier and pronouncedly. Carved turn reinvented itself.
For decades, the downhill skiing scenes are dominated by a technique so-called "pole and shove," (pole for balance then shove the tail to change direction,) style of parallel turns. The techniques are sharpened somewhat as well as the equipment being improved, however, the basic turning techniques have not changed since the invention of lock-heel bindings.
In a closer look, a parallel turn proceeds in four definite phases: (1) pole-planting, (2) unweighting, (3) weight-shifting, and (4) traversing. A parallel turn begins at pole-planting, to initial the turning; unweighting to facilitate the switching of edges, thus changing direction; weight over to reset the edges so the skis run; then traversing until the next turn. A parallel turn follows a rather rigid routine, and the pole-plant gives the parallel turn a distinct "beat," which gives parallel skiing a "hopping" appearance.
However, a carved turn, on the other hand, requires an edge pressure to initiate the turn, a pole-plant would diminish the effect of such attempt. Thus, more carved turners start to forgo the pole-plant and go directly into a turn by shifting weight onto the turning edges to facilitate the turn; the no pole-plant carved turns start to appear across the ski slopes. Some eventually give up the poles altogether and the free-hands skiers start to make debut on the skiing scene.
Without pole-plant, a carved turn is executed by shifting weight directly onto turning edges and pressing the bowing reverse camber to carve through the snow. As ski crossing the fall-line, it stars to travel uphill, the reverse camber flattens, and the edges pressure diminishing. A "roll" on the ankle downhill-ward to switch the edges, shifting weight again, the next turn follows. The carved turns flow with gravity without the apparent "hopping" of the parallel turns. With their big GS-style turns across the groomed corduroys, carved turns are starting to change the scene of all-mountain freeskiing.
However, don't get oversold by carved turns, unless you are a racer or high-G addict, as carved turn is only one but turning technique; the foundation of all-mountain freeskiing remains in the snow contact. "Flatbboarding," to ski the board flat, will give you more control area, which gives you more ways to ski thus more maneuverable.
In contrast to the conventional parallel skiing, which uses poles to fight gravity to [up-]unweighting, ski without poles, the "flatbboarding" technique flows with gravity and utilizes down-weighting/unweighting techniques to change edges and to generate an angular acceleration for the turn.
By riding both skis relatively "flat" to the slope and equally weighed, a skier, squarely facing the fall-line, can travel fairly straight. The turning is done by shifting more weight to the inside of the turn; the weight difference between the two skis will cause the skis to change direction, so the skier turns. When a higher rate of turning is desired, then more edge pressure is added by moving the hips (where the center of gravity is located) into the turn even more.
Turning to the reverse direction can be initiated whenever the uphill ski gains control of the balance. Turning begins by "rolling" the ankles instead of "pivoting" as it does in parallel skiing. Rolling the ankles so the edges engage snow sooner, the edging is done a lot quicker, so is the turn.
By turning uphill to slowdown and turning downhill to speedup, minute slipping and skidding for track correction before it veers out of the intended course, flatbboarding flows continuously with gravity like riding a roller coaster track.
As you cruise down the mountain, riding on flatbboard, shooting its smooth esthetic line sweeping through the slope, fast, silent, eerie, yet, exciting as well. Is that not what thrilling of ski all about?
Thanks for reading,
IS
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