Rotary Movements

Rotary movements, along with other movements, allow us to initiate a turn and guide skis through the turn

• If your skis are flat they will skid, If your skis are on edge the skis carve
• Beginner skiers use large-scale rotary movements often involving the whole body
• More advanced skiers use rotary movements that are subtle, originate from the lower body, and are distributed evenly throughout the turn

Upper body rotation
Of the shoulders, chest and lower back
Powerful motion but a slow way to turn skis
Turning is restricted by the abs, lower back, pole; as the upper body stops turning the forces are directed downward and the skis turn

Counter Rotation
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
If you turn something, something else must receive and equal but opposite torque

Leg Rotation
Simply turning your legs to make the skis turn
The femur connects to the hip and ball-and-socket joint allows rotation
Legs are powerful and the move translates to the skis quickly

• Proper use of rotary movements requires anticipation (tiger crouching before striking)
• Look in the direction of the new turn while your feet finish the old turn
• The upper body becomes an anchor for the lower body, tension is created, and released into the next turn

Countered stance
Is a form of anticipation, blocks rotary momentum
When the inside half of the body leads the outside half through the turn
“Strong inside half” – the strength and functional tension of the inside half facilities steering of legs