Style and alignment

Something which has puzzled me and I haven't really seen it addressed is the need for skis and boots to be set up for the stance width of the skier. I wonder if this is a problem for skiers trying to widen thier stance and finding thier skis start catching inside edges.

Stance width should be addressed at boot fitting, but I wonder if skiers understand the significance of this part of process. I would be interested to know what cem's thoughts are on this and how bootfitters have dealt with the changing styles in skiing.

As ski bindings still have no canting built in and most people do not have thier bindings canted, how is it that people with a wide range of stances are able to ski on the same equipment ?

Trencher

Interesting, but has never concerned me. I understand that you are dominantly a wide stance skier. I am dominantly, but not exclusively, a closed stance skier.

Do you recall Pavel making the point that he will ski with closed stance, but given icy or other adverse conditions, he would operate with an open stance. That is pretty well how I read it.

A wider stance makes for easier balance control.

Also, the human body has good muscle memory and technique memory. So, as we all continue along our path of ski/board technique learning, our bodies learn minor nuances that implant and overlay over our cognisant learning.

Concious learning and non-concious learning.

So, this logic is leading to a point where I would surmise that to set up for a wide stance would neither be an advantage, nor a disadvantage. Whatever set-up you had, the body would "learn" to deal with variances.

Dave Mac wrote:

So, this logic is leading to a point where I would surmise that to set up for a wide stance would neither be an advantage, nor a disadvantage. Whatever set-up you had, the body would "learn" to deal with variances.

But that is really what I was getting at. Only in a given stance width will any set up give flat skis and natural leg position.

Actually my stance width is not too wide for free carving, but I am trying to keep it wider for racing. Do I need different set ups for each ?

Trencher

OK. I get your point Trencher. I was presuming the traditional debate. :shock:

I guess if you are discussing racing then set-up is a given anyway? Back in the way-back-when I occasionally skiied in the local league races. Set up involved which colour hat to wear. :)

Carving I just don't really dig. I can do it, but can't figure out why I would want to, it just makes deep trenches, Trencher. :!:

Trencher, are you using plug shells for your race boots?

I have seen Dynamic Balancer's but not been on one. AFAIR cem had one in his workshop last year, but I can't remember the name of it :oops:

bandit wrote:Trencher, are you using plug shells for your race boots?

I have seen Dynamic Balancer's but not been on one. AFAIR cem had one in his workshop last year, but I can't remember the name of it :oops:

No, My best performing boots are Dolomite FX1s from a few years ago. They have a very narrow last, medium flex and 15mm of built in lift.

Trencher

With my limited understanding of boot technology, if you are not using plug shells, then any alignment correction can really only be a + and not - as you have no sole material that can be planed.
Or summat...hopefully cem will be along soon :lol:

So going back to my original question. If the boots haven't changed and the bindings are not normally canted, how has it been possible for the average skier to go from a feet together stance to a wide stance and still have flat skis, given the limited cuff adjustment ?

It is just a general interest question.

Trencher