Upper and lower body separation

"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. 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.

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.

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