Effective and Ineffective Balance

EFFECTIVE stance, balance and directional movements


The skier is in balance when they can have a positive, selective effect on any of the skills at any time.
If this is happening the following will be visible:
• Turns flow into the next
• Skier doesn’t have to make a corrective move before making an active move
• Hips are over feet
• Shins are in contact with boot
• Tails follow tips
• Angle of the spine is parallel to the angle of the shin

The entire body is involved and participates in balancing. The focus is on balancing in the future.
If this is happening the following will be visible:
• The hips are centered throughout the turn, promoting a movement forward through the finish and into the new turn.
• Flexing originates from the ankles and is supported by the knees, hips and lower back.
• The inside hand, shoulder, and hip lead the turn shaping and finish, resulting in a countered relationship between upper and lower body. (Relates to the turn size and shape)
• The skier’s hands are in front of the body to aid balance.

Versatile/adaptable stance: relates to the functionality of the feet and the desired outcome rather than a specific measured distance of separation.
If this is happening the following will be visible:
• Angles between upper and lower body are visible. The upper body remains more vertical than the lower body throughout the shaping and finishing phases of the turn, creating body angles which align balance over the outside ski.
• Skis tip at the same angle
• Stance width is constant

The position of the hips over the feet (fore/aft) will play a major role in the parallel relationship of the skis and promote the ability to use corresponding edges. Understand that you may adjust this relationship as you encounter changes in terrain and snow conditions.
If this is happening the following will be visible:
• Vertical femurs
• Skis don’t get away from the skier
• Skier is constantly moving into the new turn
• Quiet upper body

The flexing activity originates from the ankle to support movements through the boot cuffs. Settling in the knees and hips could necessitate a re-centering move, diverging ski tips and/or a sequential edge release.
If this is happening the following will be visible:
• Both skis are bending
• Upright stance
• Ankles visibly open and close
• Upper body stays on similar plane
• Constant cuff pressure in the direction of the turn
• Skier doesn’t have to make a corrective move before making an active move

INEFFECTIVE stance, balance and directional movements

Lack of proper balance and stance makes it difficult to access other skills and learn new movements.
If this is happening the following may be visible:
• Some of the skier’s joints flex too much and others not enough. For example too little ankle flex causes the hips to stay behind the knees, while too much ankle flex causes the skier to be too far forward.
• The upper body is tipped to the inside throughout the turn
• The skier is stiff or static and gets bounced around by the terrain.
• The skier’s hands and hips are behind the feet.

The skier who fails to use directional movements is moving against gravity or away from the turn.
If this is happening the following may be visible:
• The skier moves vertically upward before moving into the new turn.
• The skis pivot or skid as they move through the turn.
• The skier’s outside (downhill) hand, shoulder and hip lead throughout the turn.
• The skier is looking directly at the ski tips or down at the snow, limiting vision.
• The pole swing is directed too close to the tip of the ski or too far behind the foot instead of in the direction of the new turn.

Note: Insufficient forward movement promotes inclination of the upper body and weaker lower body angles. In addition you may see over-pivoting of the skis, late pressure application and a divergence of the ski tips. Avoid pressure control movements at the end of the turn originating from the knees and hips.