If you don't have the line… you won't have the time!

Winner: fastest average speed... but consider this...

• Peak Speeds:
  • Some skiers may achieve the faster speeds through some sections of the course by comparison to other racers but may not be the fastest overall
• Maintaining speed:
  • Skiers that have fastest top speed may not be able to maintain relatively high speeds throughout the entire course. Thus affecting the average speed

What is race line…

• The best choice of route to achieve fastest overall average speed
• Depending on your:
  • T – Technical (skill level)
    • ABC's: Agility, Balance, Co-ordination,
    • Fundamentals: movement control, general motor skills
    • Skill level: Initiation, Acquisition, Consolidation, Refinement, Create Variation
  • T – Tactical (right choices)
    • Start, line, turn shape used, etc.
  • P – Psychological (courage)
    • Commitment, metal preparation, getting into the zone, doing it
  • P – Physical (strength)
    • flexibility, speed, strength, endurance, reaction
  • E – Environment (terrain, surface, weather, atmosphere)
    • Wet, cold, hot, dry, windy, noisy, away slope, plastic, snow
  • E – Equipment (right equipment, prepared correctly)
    • correct skis & boots, sharp & waxed, poles, helmet, gloves, etc. have you got them!

'Round' Line...

• Overview
  
  • Round & Conservative
  • Pressure in the skis deflecting the COM AROUND the gate
  • A progressive and smooth change in direction
  • LOW level of risk

• Type of racer
  
  • Younger / inexperienced skier
  • Lesser skilled skier
  • Poor finisher; increase finish rate

• Summary
  
  • With the very rounded line the skiers Centre of Mass (COM) travels much further than with a more direct approach.

'High' Line...

• Overview
  
  • More of turn above the gate & time to initiate
  • Pressure on the skis deflecting the COM mainly ABOVE the gate
  • A progressive and smooth change in direction
  • LOWER level of risk

• Type of racer
  
  • More experienced racer
  • Requires greater skill, timing, early initiation
  • Difficult part of a course… big offset / short distance
  • Faster when used with a comma shape turn
  • Consistent and solid performance

'Deep' Line...

• Overview
  
  • Rounded & often described as late
  • Pressure on the skis deflecting the COM mainly BELOW the gate
  • Turn started by the gate
  • HIGH level of risk … but can be rewarding

• Type of racer
  
  • Skiers on wrong line
  • Mistimed turns
  • Inexperienced
  • Some skiers with poor guarding
  • Can't afford to skid
  • Associated with 'J' shaped turn
  • Can be used to great effect by the experienced racer

'Rounded' Line in General...

• Low level of risk... high finish rates
• More ground covered
• More across the fall line... loss of speed
• Average speed on the slower side
• Generally allows use of fairly static linking
• Can lack energy and drive

'Direct' Line...

• Overview
  
  • Results in high peak speeds
  • Difficult to ski like this with out making numerous mistakes
  • Difficult / near impossible to do over full length of a course
  • Any mistakes made will affect the overall performance & average speed
  • High degree of risk

• Type of racer
  
  • Experienced racers
  • Very skilled skier
  • Athletic, agile, strong skiers
  • Need to be precise
  • Ability to switch in and out of this type of turn style
  • Can be associated with 'J' and comma ',' shaped turns

• Summary
  
  • Skiers Centre of Mass (COM) travels much shorter than with the rounded line approach. Effective use of the fall line

'Direct' Line in General...

• Higher level of risk
• More ground covered
• More in the fall line
• Average speed faster... if course completed
• More dynamic linking of turns
• Requires energy and drive

Turn Definitions

1. Initiation
   
   • Has crossover or crossunder transition
   • Indepenent leg action
   • 'Glide Out' & 'Glide In' phases
   • Initial projection and inclination of body and legs into new turn
2. Execution
   
   • Just use ski side cut
   • Angulation, upper lower body separation
3. Completion
   
   • boots, legs working similtaneously and symmetrically

• Release, Stack, Attack
  • Get to your release point, release the pressure and start to role the edges
  • Transition on to your new set of edges for the new turn by allowing your upper body to flow towards the apex of the next turn
  • Stack up your leg bones at the correct angle to enable both ski edges to engage with the snow to create the appropriate turn, get it right first time
  • Progressively pressurise the skis appropriately for the turn and terrain
  • Attack the race line, not the gates

'Choice' of Line...

• Will depend on how well you...
  
  • Initiate, execute and complete the turn
  • Remain in balance and
  • Control pressure on the skis
  • By flexion and extension
  • Allow the legs to rotate with appropriate tilt
  • Ability to do the right turn in the right place

Controlling the transition between turns…

• Enables you to setup the turn:
  • Centred flexion and extension is critical
  • Timing is critical
  • Application of appropriate ski tilt and pressure is critical

• What I see sometimes:
  • Poor or to little pressure control
    • not enough, too much, flying off the arc,
    • skidding, sudden loading
  • Loss of balance
    • Falling off the back, no projection
  • Lack of timing
    • slow, rushed - often caused by delayed, too slow transitions between edge sets.
  • Lack of flexion and extension control
    • limited range, static, too much down, too much up
  • Inappropriate guarding
    • Over reaching, excessive body rotation, punching the gates, stiffening up, timed to the gate not the turn

Leg 'Flexion and Extension'...

• Leg Flexion
  • A coordinated and controlled movement by bending of the ankle, knee and hip joints whilst keeping in balance
• Leg Extension
  • coordinated and controlled movement by straightening of the ankle, knee and hip joints whilst keeping in balance