SkiPost Newsletter

Dear SkiPost,

I am an intermediate level skier-though I have skied for many years. At a recent clinic, I was videotaped in both skating and classic styles. The images of me revealed a very stiff legged bottom half and un-relaxed top half. This despite years of hearing about he need to relax and ski on bent knees and ankles. Can you suggest some drills or exercises or visualization (or therapy or medication) to improve fluidity of motion, relation of upper body musculature, proper knee & ankle bend

Thanks!

Hello,

Last weekend I was teaching some classic technique to a few people who weren't the most experienced. This problem seemed to come up more than once with them too, but it was hard to relay the information to them without letting them see what they were feeling. So, you have taken the proper first step in seeing your body position - now the question is how to correct it.

One visualization exercise I gave these people was to imagine a string was tied to the back of your spine at the base of your skull. This string would support your body weight if you were to relax. The result will be your shoulders roll forward, your chin tucks toward your chest, your knees relax, and then your ankles are allowed to bend. Everything is headed forward as it is on its way down (if you allowed yourself to fall). When you are in this neutral position your body should be well supported by your skeletal structure, and will not have to rely on your muscles to hold you up as much. If you rely less on your muscles you will experience less fatigue over time.

Now, in that 'hanging' position pay close attention to your feet. Where is the greatest amount of pressure? It should be on the balls of your feet (this assuming your ankles are bent correctly). The last visual with this exercise would be to imagine another string tied to your bellybutton with a weight hanging from it. The weight should touch the ground between the balls or your feet if you have put yourself in the correct position.

Your best defense for a stiff lower leg (or less-than-desirable body position in general) will be to ski more without your poles. If you remove your poles for 1/2 hour and can feel your quads burning like they've been injected with Tabasco sauce, you are spending too much time in the back seat and not enough time flexing at your ankles. Skate and classic ski without poles. You can't fake classic skiing if you don't have your poles - you will HAVE to get in the right position if you want to go anywhere.

There are many pieces of information there, and I hope at least one of them can be a helpful exercise. Continue with the video, because this will allow you to see what you are doing right and what you can continue to work on.

Happy Holidays,
Justin Easter
Subaru Factory Team