A Frame

bullpower

置顶吧， 查起来也方便些。

JamesBond

Transitions: Examining
The Evolution of
The Modern Ski Racing Turn






BY GARY DRANOW, 2003

Note: This was written sometime in 2003, since then our understanding has evolved but we feel the underlying motion analysis is still valid. We have added a few notes in parentheses referencing our current nomenclature for things we had not yet full defined at the time this was written. We are posting this as a starting point for the avid student of the Modern Ski Racing Technique detailing our path and thinking process in developing our current methodology we are presenting in our “Level Series” and our “Foundation Series” collection.


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MSRT Transitions Part II: Error Recognition
From the Ridiculous to the Sublime. It is a great exercise to look at the best in the world in video, montages and stills, however, there is one problem. Most of us CAN’T DO IT!

What we can do is work towards it. We can work on the concepts and move closer to the technique in a proper way that will allow all of us to use elements of the MSRT in our skiing to go faster in any course. We may not always look pretty, but we can be technically sound in how we stand on our skis and even more importantly - how we make our transitions.

One way to get there is to have a solid visual image as presented in my last post of what the best in the world look like at each phase of the turn. The next step is to then be able to recognize what you are seeing in other racers when they are both in the “template” and out of it. The ability to see movements that are out of “The Template” is step one. Understanding the cause of the effect that you see is next in importance. Next, and even more importantly, is knowing how to solve the problems that you see. For example, the racer who is falling back and inside as he/she passes the gate could be fixed with something as simple as keeping his/her hands up and in front (the cause being their hands carried low and behind their hips).

The final step is translating what you see in others and applying that to your own skiing. This involves what I refer to in the MSRT as Total Body Awareness. This process involves seeing yourself (i.e. being able to visualize yourself as you ski) in both still photos and (more importantly) video, as well as knowing where YOU are in each moment of each turn, and finally being able to make instantaneous corrections during each turn and each run.

Ultimately the goal is to be “Aware” in the Race Course (where most racers lose sense of time and space) and be able to adapt quickly to the course, snow condition, terrain and your own technique.

A simple exercise to use early in this upcoming season is pick one of your “Zones” (see below) and simply be aware of what is going on in that zone during a free ski run (and I don’t mean EVER looking down at your ski tips!!!). Next run pick another Zone and continue with this process until you are satisfied that you can “feel” each Zone, and can ultimately develop a sense of the relationship between the ‘Zones’. Then take this process into your practice courses or the Nastar course (this is what Nastar is particularly good for).

For a quick reference your Zones are:

1. Head

2. Shoulders

3. Hand/Arms

4. Waist

5. Hips/Thighs

6. Knees

7. Ankles/Shins

8. Feet/Edges

Let’s take a look at some “Real Racers” and identify both their relationship to the “Template” and the probable cause and effect of what we see.

This post was first set up as an exploration of different problems that recreational skiers face. In the process of doing this, I thought that the Good Doctor (Liz) would benefit from looking at these pictures and identifying the problems/effects as well as the way to correct these problems. So, in these examples, I have set out the problem (error recognition) as I see it, and left it as an exercise for the student (Dr. Liz) to figure out the possible results of this problem, as well as suggest possible ways to fix this problem.

Given that, I challenge you to look at the pictures, assess my description of the error being presented, and then assess Dr. Liz’s effect/solution part of each example. Needless to say, this exercise is limited by the fact that these pictures are point-in-time examples – not having video, it is difficult to accurately assess what happened before the picture, and nor can we guarantee the described result – the picture may be of a good skier have a bad moment, or of a bad skier having a good moment. Ultimately, the goal is not to pass judgments on the skiers themselves, but to gain a better understanding of specific situations, and how to address them.

JamesBond

Inside Ski Dominant

This is absolutely the most common mistake of the intermediate- to low-advanced racer. Heck, it even happens to the world cuppers (it did to Schlopy in the montage shown in the post above, except he corrected it in two frames!). Inside Ski Dominant happens in two ways, 1) never rolling to the outside edge of the inside ski (the OLD “A” frame) or 2) Over committing to the inside ski and though you are on the outside edge, getting too much weight on it and losing your outside ski (again, Schlopy in the above post).

Example 1: Inside ski dominant



Error recognition/Cause: Here is the classic “A” frame. The skier has dropped his inside hip and shoulder, accentuated by breaking at the waist. This probably started back at the transition where I guarantee you there was a sequential edge change, and the commitment to the outside edge of the inside ski just never happened. Most intermediate skiers feel much more comfortable bracing on their inside ski while using their outside ski for edging.

Effect: Because of the angle of the inside ski, the ski is skidding, causing more friction (i.e. slower speeds), and will likely result in the skier hanging onto the inside ski longer than is desirable. Because of this, the skier will be late in the transition to the next turn, turning below the gate, rather than above, and will force him to take a straighter line at the next gate (which will likely enhance and compound these problems further down the race course). This position will work acceptably on most Nastar courses but will spell doom on the advanced Master’s courses. It is difficult (if not impossible!) to ski the line necessary to negotiate the speed and offset on steeper terrain.

Correction: This racer needs to get his body squared up and allow the center of mass to move over the outside edge of the inside ski. Not breaking at the waist as severely as seen here will allow the racer to move the hip and shoulder forward. This, in turn, will allow the skier to engage the inside ski, while result in the ability to make an earlier transition to the next turn – in other words, making the turn early and high (before the gate) rather than late and low (after the gate).

JamesBond

Example 2: Getting closer, but still very inside ski dominant



Error recognition: This racer is railing on his downhill ski and will likely get hung-up on his inside ski. Unlike the last picture, this skier has good hands, square shoulders and the racer’s head is fairly square to the torso.

Effect: This will make him late and low in the turn and will delay the transition to the next turn. Furthermore, hanging on the inside ski will create unnecessary friction that will slow the skier down, and will contribute to the delayed transition.

Correction: If he moved the outside hip a bit more forward, the racer could extend the outside leg more, creating even more edge angle on the inside ski, giving him more confidence to roll that inside knee over further throughout the progression of the turn. Again, this is the result of a sequential edge change further back up this turn. Additionally, the racer may be looking too much at the next gate inside of one gate ahead here, however.

JamesBond

Example 3: Getting closer!



Error recognition: This racer’s hands are too low which will keep the racer back on the racer’s heels and she exits the turn. The low hand also has the racer bending too much at the waist and allowing the inside shoulder to counter a bit towards the outside of the turn. She is about to get too inside ski dominant by being over committed to the inside of the turn. Both skis with close to the same orientation to the snow and the inside shin almost in line with the outside thigh.

Effect: Note that this skier is still turning past the gate, and is not yet set up for the next turn – yet another late and low transition, requiring a more abrupt adjustment as the next gate approaches.

Correction: Bringing the hands up and forward will forced her to stand taller (i.e. will not allow her to break so much at the waist) and will square up her hips and shoulders. Furthermore, bringing the hands up and forward will allow her to get off her heels and make a faster transition to the next turn.

http://www.modernskiracing.com/evolutionMSRT_Pt2.php

FallenBird

总算闹清楚A Frame 是什么了