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Effective and ineffective pressure management

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Lateral weight transfer is a component of pressure management. It can happen progressively or abruptly, depending on the desired outcome.

• Smooth and flowing transition
• Not much snow spray
• Joints progressively flex and extend
• Skis flow evenly and smoothly over the terrain
• Skis bend progressively, with the entire length engaged

Maintain the "strength in length" of the outside leg during the highest loading portion of the turn unless yielding to the influence of terrain and snow conditions or releasing the turn.

Tactics, terrain, speed, snow conditions and turn shape will alter the timing, intensity and the amount of weight distribution along the length of the ski and foot to foot.

Pressure management incorporates aspects of fore/aft adjustments as well as lateral movements.

When pressure control is lacking, the skier looks as if she or he is fighting the terrain rather than working with it.
• The skis and skier get bounced around by the terrain.
• The skier is mostly on the back or front of the skis throughout the turn rather than balanced in the middle of the skis.
• The legs do not exhibit flexion and extension in response to changes in terrain.
• The legs do not exhibit flexion and extension in response to forces in the turn.
• The pole plant is erratic in timing and direction.
• The upper body is flailing and undisciplined.
• Breaking at waist and hips
• Lots of vertical movement
• Skier forces the start of the turn
• Diving into the turn (possibly with the shoulder)
• Ski comes off the snow
• Skidding in the bottom of the turn
• Skier braces with the outside leg
• Skier hangs on to the turn too long
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