"Upper and lower body
separation," as used in skiing, is when the upper body is kept relatively
stationary, while the legs turn the skis from side to side. In its purest form,
it appears to the observer as if the turning legs have no influence on the upper
body and vice versa--it's as if the upper and lower bodies have been
"separated." In fact, it is specifically because of the interaction
between the upper and lower bodies, that we can achieve this effect.
- For the analytical mind, upper and lower body
separation is a misnomer--let's talk instead about true "counter
rotation"--our holy grail in short turns.
Feel the difference
A. Upper body turning
- This is where your upper body initiates and leads
through the turn.
Traverse facing straight ahead--then twist your upper body
to face uphill as much as possible. Now forcefully twist your upper body down
the hill and keep swinging it as far as it can go (towards your skis' tails.)
The skis will follow your upper body in a turn -- but what a turn!
- Notice the tails of the skis skidding around.
- Notice the hips swinging around to the outside of the
turn.
Did you do a 360?
If you do these gross rotary movements, your skis won't
work as they are designed to. This exaggerated upper body motion was necessary
in the days when skis were made of hickory and responded like dragging furniture
through the ungroomed snow. Then, you needed the extra power of the upper body.
B. Counter rotation turning
First in sneakers
Twist your upper body as far as it will go in any
direction. Now jump as high as possible, by straightening your legs and keeping
your upper body steady--your legs should be fully extended at peak height.
Notice how your legs "unwind" and align with your steady upper body.
The movement of the legs seems separated from the upper body. This is exactly
what you'd like to achieve in short turns--a steady upper body with quick legs.
Now experience counter rotation on the snow
Hold your poles together horizontally in front of you.
While traversing in a wedge, twist your upper body
downhill and past the flow line as much as possible--really wind yourself up
until you almost face your skis' tails. Now quickly twist the upper body in the
opposite direction and keep swinging it as far as it can go. Keep it there and
the skis will gradually turn in the opposite direction. Voila--a counter
rotational turn!
Try linking turns by swinging your arms forcefully from
side to side, but be careful not to lapse into the rotary turns as described
under A.
Extreme traverse
Traverse facing downhill, reaching as far as possible
towards your skis' tails.
Do this in the other direction, holding the twist of the
body. Your skis should be pointed one way and your upper body pointed the other.
- As you're doing this, notice where your pelvis is
pointed--down the flow line.
Link traverses
Next, link these traverses with turns, keeping your upper
body facing straight down the flow line at all times.
- Notice what the body does as you change directions. You
will go from extreme counter twist, to neutral (as you cross the flow line,)
to extreme counter twist.
- Again, notice that your pelvis remains pointed down the
flow line.
Now, try this
Remove your pole straps and ski long radius turns on easy
terrain.
Instead of a proper pole touch, touch both poles on the
downhill side of your skis (down the flow line.)
- Touch the poles gently to the snow, as planting them
firmly can cause problems.
Your poles and the pelvis should remain pointed down the
flow line. Your legs, feet and skis turn from side to side.
Ski for a while doing this to get the feeling of
"countering" between the skis and the upper body.
- Try to maintain a gentle flow as you turn and touch.
