Is it me?

Pablo Escobar wrote:

These two images seem to emphasis the inner ski tip lead, does anyone have a link to a comprehensive discussion on this topic?

Noooooo :shock:

Though I do believe that snowheads has a page or two devoted to the phenomenon :D

:wink:

Pablo Escobar wrote:

These two images seem to emphasis the inner ski tip lead, does anyone have a link to a comprehensive discussion on this topic?

Let's have one here :wink:

The second of the two photos is taken from behind, and exaggerates the inner ski lead. The first photo would be a good one to discuss. What could be done to reduce inner tip lead ?

There are three contributing factors to inner tip lead. Hip (or body) counter, the distance between the skis during the turn, and the angle the legs are inclined. The last factor is not something that can be changed. People need varying degrees of hip counter in order to angulate. Inner tip lead is often a sign of excessive hip counter. In this case, the hips show little counter. A framing (legs not parallel), will show up as excessive distance between the skis, and cause exaggerated inner tip lead. Lastly, the angle the legs are inclined produces inner tip lead as result of the limited flex of the ankle in a ski boot. It is unavoidable as the inner leg has to be flexed during a turn.

The real issue, I think is what ski, and edge pressures changes as a result inner tip lead. If the inner ski is actively pushed forward during the turn, it will result in loss of edge pressure at the front of the ski. Actively pulling back on the inside ski will keep the ski tip and edge engaged. So while it may not be apparent, the inside skis is being actively pulled back in these photos.

Pabs, I'm glad you mentioned it, I just love to think about this stuff :D

Trencher

After reading Trencher's post, I need to go for a lie down :shock:

Of course, if he used poles like regular skiers, things would be different for sure )

Do you find when you are really inclining-->angulating towards the end of the turn that if you have a small error it becomes more pronounced?

It is something I am quite conscious of and can fix but it is a lot easier for me just to correct whatever mistake I am making rather than go in to too much detail (for me).

Pablo Escobar wrote:Do you find when you are really inclining-->angulating towards the end of the turn that if you have a small error it becomes more pronounced?

It is something I am quite conscious of and can fix but it is a lot easier for me just to correct whatever mistake I am making rather than go in to too much detail (for me).

For sure, the forces are greater, and so any movement that causes instability, or reduced edge hold will have more effect. I think it one of the reasons you don't see many people hanging on to their turns too long, and in part why instruction models discourage it. However, that's where the fun is (at least for me).

The problem I see happening most with people carving (at the end of the turn), is that they allow their speed to increase, especially if the slope drops off a little more. They then loose the balance between speed, skis inclination angle, and the properties of the ski (radius, but also stiffness). As the skis start to feel chattery in the second half of the turn, they release earlier, and end up building even more speed.

Trencher

Thanks for that, I really like railing a long turn especially if you can use the turn to try and preserve as much of your speed as possible (especially with powder turns) but it is almost too easy to lose most of your momentum if you get carried away :lol:

Do you get to ski much powder Trencher? If so, do you adapt your technique appropriately for it?

Pablo Escobar wrote:
Do you get to ski much powder Trencher? If so, do you adapt your technique appropriately for it?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: that's what snowboards are for. Oh wait, you do it with two snowboards on your feet :lol: I get to see so little powder that it's been easier for me to just do it on a board, than spend time figuring it out on skis.

Trencher