Technique and Mechanics Workshop

Phil McNichol

Ron LeMaster

Format

Participants will divide into groups Different topics will be addressed by each

group Questions are suggested for individual topics

Each group will present its findings to the rest of the participants

Format (cont.)

Discussion questions are provided that apply to all topics

Images of world-class athletes are provided to assist discussions

Some reference terminology is provided to assist discussions

Discussion Questions for All Topics

What do you see in an athlete’s skiing that tells you what is happening? For example, how do you know what the fore/aft pressure distribution is?

What is special about a particular picture that would make you conclude something you see in it might not apply to other situations?

Discussion Questions for All Topics (cont.)

Is there something special about the athlete’s morphology that causes something to be accentuated?

How would you approach developing a specific technical characteristic in an athlete?

Reference Terminology:Turn Phases

Initiation Control Completion

Reference Terminology:Turn Phases (cont.)

Transition Begins with the beginning of the release from

one turn (in the completion phase) Ends with the engagement of the skis in the

control phase of the next turn The period where the completion of one turn

merges with the initiation of the next. What, in mechanical terms, defines the

transition?

Overall Force and Pressure

Map the profile of total force or pressure on the athlete through the phases of the turns.

How does this vary with Pitch? Turn radius? Turn shape?

in itia tion contro l com ple tion in itia tion contro l com ple tion

forc

es/

pre

ssu

rehi

ghfo

rce

s/p

ress

ure

low

Fore/Aft Balance and Pressure

Map the athletes’ fore-aft balance through the phases of the turns.

How does the pressure on the skis vary with the athlete’s fore-aft balance? Are there times where the pressure is low when the balance is extreme to the front or rear?

in itia tion contro l com ple tion in itia tion contro l com ple tion

ba

lanc

e f

orw

ard

ba

lanc

e a

ft

Edge Angle

How does the athlete lateral balance relate to the edge angle?

How does the athlete adjust edge angle through the control phase?

Rotary

Map the amount of initial pivot going into the turn versus Pitch Turn radius

little o r no p ivo t

ste

ep

terr

ain

flat

terr

ain

s ign ificant p ivo t

little o r no p ivo t

tight

turn

big

tun

s ign ificant p ivo t

Vertical Motion

Map the athlete’s overall flexion and extension through the phases of the turns.

in itia tion contro l com ple tion in itia tion contro l com ple tion

exte

nded

flexe

d