Ski Posture Improvement: Methods For Better Form

Skiers are said to be skiing 'in the back seat' when a line drawn across their hips that is perpendicular to the line meets with their heel lines. To absorb shocks, their knees and hips should be bent and flexible. Managing speed requires a fluid transition of weight from one leg to the other as you finish one turn and start another. The waist is the source of movement.

Position

Any movement on the snow starts with a solid ski stance. A poor posture may be the cause of a fall or simply make you feel uneasy and uneasy. Depending on the circumstances and terrain, there are several appropriate skiing stances. A general stance maintains a proper distribution of weight with a beautiful, even flex in the ankle, hip, and knee. For instance, you need to take a narrower stance on moguls and ice in order to fit your feet in the rutline and prevent tipping. In contrast, a broader stance is needed for carving in order to raise the edge angle and increase grip. One of Maison Sport's best pieces of advice for improving your skiing is to have a firm, balanced stance! Check out the complete catalogue of our Maison Sport ski lessons offered throughout Europe, or watch Jojo's video below.

Bend Forward

The lower body's centre of gravity is the hips, from which all actions are commanded. They must therefore be able to move in any direction and be as loose and flexible as feasible. It is vital to maintain proper body alignment when skiing. It keeps the skier stable on the slopes and enables them to swiftly adjust their technique to any manoeuvre and terrain. The optimal position is aggressive, with the torso leaned forward just enough to place the centre of gravity over the middle of the skis, knees bent to absorb bumps, and skis spaced hip-width apart with equal weight on each. The foundation of every skiing manoeuvre is this. However, the speed, kind, and steepness of the manoeuvre will all affect how much lean forward.

Bend Backward

The front of your skis stop digging into the snow and may even lift into the air when you lean back. This makes it more difficult to turn the skis and restricts your control over them. Although leaning forward is crucial, it will be challenging to shift your weight over the outer ski if that is all you do. You must also make angles with your body and move laterally in order to do this. Because it varies from millisecond to millisecond and depends on all the forces operating at the moment, this movement can be a little unpredictable. Using the pole to push yourself into a different position is a terrific method to assist with this. This gets rid of unnecessary movements and aids in the rhythmic creation.

Knees

A proper skiing stance depends on having strong knees. The most frequent complaint among skiers is knee discomfort, which typically occurs at the front of the knee (patella-femoral joint dysfunction and quadriceps tendon pain). Maintaining proper knee alignment both helps to avoid this and enhances performance. In order to absorb bumps, the proper posture is for the knees to be bent, like in a squat, and the body to have flexibility. It's critical to align the body's position with the skis in order to maintain flexibility and provide quick transitions into various stances as needed for the terrain or technique. Maintaining this proper alignment of the knees also guarantees that the balance is over the inner ski, which is crucial for effective skiing. An excellent, balanced flexion in the ankles, hips, and knees accomplishes this.

Hips

The lower body's movements originate from the hips, which serve as the body's core. Hip flexion activates various muscles that work together to stabilise the pelvis, which is an essential motion in every skiing position. A person is said to be "level" when their shoulders and hips are parallel. It is essential to maintain a level hip to achieve greater edge angles in short and medium turns. The quadriceps and hamstrings are activated to help in knee bending when the hips move forward, creating a slight hinge action. In order to provide the skier with a push to help them keep their balance and direction during the turn, the hamstrings also function to stretch the leg at the top of the turn.