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Help how to stay forward during skiing

Help how to stay forward during skiing

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Started by Broom in Ski Chatter - 16 Replies

J2Ski

Broom posted Feb-2019

Can any one help or recommend me to someone that can help me. My problem is that i am not skiing forward enough, so when I remember to be forward I have to push myself to be forward, but after a few turns I forget and i am not forward any more, instead of being automatically forward all the time, please help its ruining my skiing and i can't enjoy it and all the pain....

Dave Mac
reply to 'Help how to stay forward during skiing'
posted Feb-2019

Two tips.
Position your arms forward, in a semi-circular way. Keep them forwards. Arms can weigh around 6/8% of bodyweight, but because they are forwards, they operate a disproportionate forward momentum.

Also, do some drills. Find a not so steep slope, preferably with few people. Aim across the hill, arms and body forward. Slightly unweight, then move the uphill knees and hips forward, carving to a stop. because this is a relatively short period, you remain concentrated. Repeat this about 10 times in each direction. Do this just twice a day. You are likely to find this will carry forward into your run technique.

After 50+ years of skiing, I still do a drill session every day, changing the focus of each drill. Toe pressure, calf pressure, angulation, smoothness of change, etc.

Edited 1 time. Last update at 26-Feb-2019

Broom
reply to 'Help how to stay forward during skiing'
posted Feb-2019

Thanks dave for that will give it a try

Dobby
reply to 'Help how to stay forward during skiing'
posted Feb-2019

Dave Mac's idea sounds good. Pole plants work well because they get the weight forwards. The "diving through the door/window" drill works too. Perversely, I sometimes find it easier to get forwards on a steep slope because you ain't skiing it in the back seat...

SwingBeep
reply to 'Help how to stay forward during skiing'
posted Feb-2019

The easiest and most effective way to get your weight forward is to pull your feet back, especially the inside foot. When you initiate the new turn pull back the inside foot and hold it back through the turn. This will keep the ski tips even. If you feel the skis sliding out from underneath you pull both feet back. Pulling the feet back is a key movement in skiing, unfortunately very few skiers have ever heard of it.

Ranchero_1979
reply to 'Help how to stay forward during skiing'
posted Feb-2019

Concur with all of the above - arm awareness and initiate turn with a pull back to help engage dowhill edge all worth keeping in your head.

Trencher
reply to 'Help how to stay forward during skiing'
posted Mar-2019

I've experienced your frustration Broom. Maybe the most crucial factor in fore/aft balance is boot set up. The combination of ramp angles from the boots and binding, together with the forward lean and flex of the boot cuff needs to be just right, if you are to keep your body just where it needs to be throughout the turn. All the drills in the world won't change that limiting factor.
because I'm so inclined .....

Ranchero_1979
reply to 'Help how to stay forward during skiing'
posted Mar-2019

Am not convinced I agree with last point.Needlessly putting boot in maximum tilt and or creating some sort of angle with bindings via a plate puts your body in a needless stress position (shallow squat). You are much better off having a very neutral stance and boots which are soft enough for you to really flex and drive forward during a turn. Can see the point if you're a racer but for people who measure skiing in hrs vs. mins you are just getting tired faster and compounding issue after few runs.

Topic last updated on 31-May-2019 at 22:04