Master the Art of 'Floating' in 2024 - Let the Skis Work for You
Your skis, your rules...
Dear Devoted Functional Skier,
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, it's the perfect moment to contemplate personal growth and set resolutions.
For a seasoned skier like yourself, exceptional skiing isn't just about making powerful turns; it's about seamlessly gliding between them.
Let's make it a New Year's resolution for our skiing technique in 2024 to aim for letting the skis work for us, rather than the other way around.
The art of 'floating' can certainly assist us in achieving that goal.
🎩🪄 The Floating Phase: The Magic Between Turns
In the realm of top-notch skiing, there exists something almost poetic – the art of "floating" between each turn. It involves taking the energy from every turn and transforming it into a brief moment of weightlessness.
While your skis remain connected to the snow, the usual pressure associated with skiing mysteriously dissipates. This isn't mere wizardry; it's rooted in the physics of the curvature of the turn and the forces at play.
🛟 How to Achieve Your Perfect Float
The key to achieving a smooth and graceful float on the slopes lies in mastering the transition between turns. To maintain fluid motion, it's essential to release smoothly at the end of each turn. This involves flexing your outside leg to absorb the pressure generated from creating high edge angles.
Beware of the common tendency to "hop," as it can disrupt your movements. Utilizing the flexing technique and gradually contracting the leg helps prevent unnecessary up-and-down movement. This not only keeps you in control of the skis but also maintains their contact with the snow.
Successful releases involve flexing in the outer leg, while extensions or hopping motions can disconnect you from the snow, delaying the start of the next turn.
Execute the flexion in a gradual manner to avoid abrupt movements that can slingshot you into the air. Think of it as unscrewing the cap of a fizzing bottle – a seemingly fast movement that is, in reality, slow and controlled.
A strong core and an athletic stance are crucial. Efficiently absorbing the energy from the turn allows you to enter a state of floating without disturbing your upper body.
Imagine supple legs moving beneath a strong core, flowing like liquid between your upper body, which provides passive resistance, and the terrain.
As you float, the weight of your skis seemingly disappears.
Mastering this technique not only adds elegance to your skiing but also enhances the enjoyment and control of your descent down the slopes. It facilitates smooth transitions from the previous turn to the new one by tilting your skis without overloading.
Achieving a floating state with a flexed release is a distinctive sign of advanced skiing, allowing you to stay in control with your center of mass low and close to the snow.
Let your legs flow like liquid underneath a stable upper body.
🥂 Here's to a year filled with floating turns and personal triumphs on the mountain!
Happy holidays, and cheers to the new year and the magical moments it holds for you on the slopes! ⛷️
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