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Staying in balance takes experience. You need to understand what
happens when the terrain or snow changes, and how your skis accel-
erate as you turn down the fall line. The key is always going to the ball
of the foot whenever you think you will speed up. Shifting your weight
from your downhill foot onto the ball of the other foot as you go into the
fall line allows you stay in balance through the turn. If you start the turn
flat-footed, you will wind up in a sitting back position -- definitely not as
efficient as your quads and knees will tell you. When you stay in bal-
ance throughout the turn everything is easy.
It’s important to recognize that leaning forward is not the correction to
the mistake of sitting back. Both positions are out of balance. Shifting your
weight onto the ball of the foot as you start the turn is all you have to do.
It's also important to know that it's OK if your heel lifts inside the boot.
You might notice that I always say 'foot', and not 'feet'. That is because
in skiing, most of the time your body weight is balanced over one foot
or the other, and most of the time it's over the downhill foot. (That's the
foot on the downhill side of your body.) Are you confused yet?
Tuning into Your Body...
The fastest progress is made when the novice skier tunes into their body,
especially the soles of their feet, and seeks to ski in the most relaxed po-
sition possible.
The best skiers have a good feeling for the snow -- meaning that they
are sensitive through the soles of their feet to how the ski is reacting to
the snow. Not only can they feel when they are in balance (because
the ankles are 'soft'), but they can also feel if they are balanced over
the ball of the foot or over the arch (full foot). To take it to the next level,
they can feel, through the foot, when their
weight (pressure) moves onto the first
metatarsal joint, the bony part of the ball of
your foot just behind the big toe. Pressuring
this spot makes everything easy.
Today’s softer flexing ski boots allowmore
foot sensitivity than ever before. Most peo-
ple can feel the exact position on the sole
of the foot where the foot pivots, the first
metatarsal joint, or what I call the perfect
pivot point (PPP).
Actually, on a gentle slope, if you do noth-
ing else but pressure the PPP with your
body weight, your skis will make a lovely
turn. Beginners are amazed at how easy
it is to become a 'foot sensitive' skier.
*
Winter 2012
Escarpment Magaz ine
17
LEARNING TO SKI IS
LIKE LEARNING TO
RIDE A BIKE, FIRST
YOU HAVE TO LEARN
TO BALANCE ON IT
AND TO STEER, AND
CERTAINLY YOU
WOULD NEVER RIDE
DOWN A HILL IF
THERE WERE NO
BRAKES.
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