MA Just for fun.. Squaw, 4-16-2012 - Page 3

Less blocking is a good way to imagine this but no blocking would be an even better way to imagine how the dual paths concept works. I know it's a tired statement to say if you block on the steeps, then you block everywhere. It might not be more than a momentary thing but it's there. That's why the huck the potato sack move exists in the first place. As a corrective move (occasional not habitual) it has value, if it's your default transitional move, then you need to look at what you are doing with your stance through the shaping phase. No static stances is another tired phrase but especially on steeps we need to avoid static stances.

Shifting gears a bit, it all comes down to confidence. If you believe you can finish the turn well, starting it well becomes a lot easier. When doubt creeps in it manifests itself as hesitation and (you guessed it) blocking. O.K. that sounds like a commercial, or my personal agenda but IMO it's incredibly important to discover the line between confidence and doubt before you get into situations where you suddenly and unintentionally enter the "yikes" zone.

Anyways, back to the mechanical arena, a quick exercise to discover how much you block is to go to the beginner corral and do some one footed releases. Notice I didn't mention any re-engagement. It teaches us to simply release the edge and go where the ski takes us. BTW, the ski should slide directly down the fall line and if a traverse creeps into this drill you really aren't releasing the ski. In my experience, the most common cause of this unintentional traverse is a static core position. Said differently, it's not just a leg release, the body needs to move with the ski and for that to happen you need to actively move it over that ski.

Hope that makes sense,

Ski well!

$.01 from the hackskier/non-instructor,

Looks ok dchan...you made it down alive!!..we ALL get better from somewhere.  Static upperbody/hips often leads to anything but dynamic balance...and often leads to the overworked & somewhat stiff joints/legs -thing...which kills the ability to relax and add angulation and inclination...--> shows by the leaning into the hill, with one's upperbody..at best..over your uphill ski.  More forward intent with balance...it's much more relaxing, in the long run, to command the skis what to do and where to go..and also helps in determining what rotation is actually needed as you'll work with gravity more than fight it thru muscling.   That all probably loses a lot as far as being technically succinct I know..;-)  

Good to see someone skiing actual snow though in April..

from Dchan:

Thanks JASP

My understanding of the Toppling is just that. Not so much an "active throwing" of the COM down the hill but more a gentle subtle tipping of the weight through the transition. Less blocking or a little be more "offensive" through the transition without the "active" tossing of COM into the new turn.

Long leg short leg.... Yup. As Gibbs would say.. "working on it"
Trying to use both hips and legs together to accomplish this. " Not too much, not to little, just enough."

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I used to see it exactly that same way - "allowing" the CM to flow down the hill, ie i was more inside/downhill leg retraction, focus on the short leg

At a recent clinic the leader said he thinks more about the long leg, ie getting on the big toe edge of the uphill ski as early as he can.

This did wonders for my skiing, especially my stance.  My being "upside down" early and standing on that long leg, i could keep

much better stance width and greater edge angles earlier in the turn.

This was on groomed moderate terrain, but nonetheless the focus to more active long leg (instead of more passive short leg)

was a real "ah-ha" moment for me.