Slick leg rotation

Goal: Dynamic short radius turns
Level: Expert
Suggested terrain: Groomed intermediate terrain.
Author: Suzy Chase-Motzkin
Summary: The difference between short and long-radius turns is how quickly you can get the skis to change direction. This is an exercise to help you change the direction of your skis, while keeping your upper body moving down the flow line.

Photos and Videos coming soon!

IMPORTANT! Understanding our approach and philosophy is important if you'd like to successfully use the drills in Ski Smarts
 ... read more.

Begin in the flow line with the skis hip width apart, all joints flexed comfortably, your weight evenly distributed along the arches of your feet and your hands in front.

Keeping the skis flat on the snow, quickly pivot your feet in one direction. Lead the pivot with the little toe and knee on the side that you are going to point the skis.

When pivoting, it helps to concentrate on getting the inside ski out of the way.

Continue slipping sideways down the flow line on flat skis.

  • The body and the skis should move in the same direction--down the flow line, as if in a corridor.

Slip for a moment like this, then lead with your downhill foot and ski to pivot your skis back to pointing straight down the flow line.

Stay in a straight run for a moment, then pivot your skis in the other direction, keeping your upper body and skis moving down the flow line.

Try this a number of times with a straight run between pivots, working on keeping the action moving down the flow line.

Then, take the straight run out of it--pivot the skis completely from one direction to the other, while slipping down the flow line.

Tips:

  • Keep your upper body, pelvis, eyes, and shoulders focused on a target down the flow line.
  • Get your downhill ski to move into the pivot first.
  • Stay in a flexed stance.
  • Stay loose and flexed with light contact between your shins and the tongues of your boots--stay in the Sweet spot.
  • Work both skis in the pivot equally.
  • If you can't keep your skis slipping in the flow line, it could be because you're not holding the skis flat enough or the body might be facing in the direction of the skis.

Try adding the pole touch:

When your skis are pointed across the hill, touch the downhill pole to signal the release of the downhill foot to pivot. After the pole touches the snow, drive that hand down the hill.

As the skis are pivoted, your other pole swings down the flow line.

Continue these linked pivots with the pole action and get a good rhythm and flow going. Gradually increase the angles of the skis by rolling the ankles and knees into the hill to edge them.

As the skis edge more, they will begin moving across the flow line slightly. Be sure to keep the upper body and pole swings moving down the flow line continuously. Your chest should remain over your downhill foot.

Print this out for future reference and remember to have fun!