Twist and Shout - 2/21/2009
I touched on this concept a bit in my ski log thread last year but I thought it was worth revisiting. In my last post we talked about wake-cross position, so think of this post as the next step.
Counter-rotation is obviously not a new concept and is probably the most commonly discussed slalom topic out there, right up there with "getting those hips up". However, I think the pre-turn is an area where new course skiers really look different from those who are cutting line and running at tournament speeds. 15-offers generally have a hips-back, slouched over, shoulders-to-the-boat posture going from the wake to the turn. The posture just sticks out like a sore thumb, and is something that always jumps out at me when I look at videos of myself and others skiing in the course.
I don't always remember to counter-rotate, but when I do, things start working really well. Counter-rotating your shoulders relative to your hips does a lot of technical things that pros would be far better qualified at explaining but from my perspective the ski turns far better and I think it inadvertently keeps my shoulders and upper body more "quiet" and still throughout the turn.
As they say, a picture is worth 1000 words. This post is really not about me typing about something that basically everybody knows about and has heard about a million times but rather about the story that these pictures tell. Take a look at a freeze-frame of Seth Stisher going into a turn, above. He is so counter-rotated that you can't even see his back shoulder. Then, take a look at me, then Jeff, below. Look familiar?
Comments:
sethro, 2/21/2009: That is a good perspective. One thing to add is that he is countered that far on his "bad side" as a left foot forward skier. For me, counter rotation is much more difficult to accomplish on my bad side, where as the good side it is happening much more often and with less effort.h2odawg79, 2/22/2009: Another thing that Jumps out at me is, Seth's "Head"... Just like in last months topic, -his head is countering the body Angle by staying "LEVEL". The Body Always follows the Head. (try doing a flip w/o tucking your head, it can't be done...) The head literally Dictates your forward momentum or Center of Mass. That is why it is So important to keep your Eyes Up and down course. Watch anyone on tape during an OTF, and watch their head as they come through and out of the corner and towards the wake... Look at all 3 above pic's. ( I think 15/off'ers are normally too consumed with the wakes and the buoys to be able to confidently keep their Eyes Up and LOOK past them...)
This is an "OLD SCHOOL" countering technique that will help to instill the counter rotation in someones technique. But, like a lot of things that "Need" to be implemented on the course, they MUST be practiced diligently AWAY from the wgt. & pressure of the course. While Free Skiing, develop a good rhythm, not Too aggressive, (just a little) then going into a turn, as you begin to reach or extend with one hand, simultaneously let your other hand/arm gracefully Swing Back at shoulder hgt. behind you. (it may look a bit odd but, keep the arm level and at or just below shoulder hgt.) As you continue doing this your timing will improve and your upper body will begin to Gently & Rhythmically follow suit. Once your upper body begins to Swing in unison, begin to "Over Exaggerate" the movement and continue Skiing. You will begin to feel Fluid and very stable going through the turns. I like to incorporate this Technique every time in my warm up... After mastering this, I almost Guarantee you will Never be able to turn hard again Without counter rotating... As not rotating will become more awkward then initially doing this drill... ( did I mention to keep your eyes up??? >there's no buoys!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * You must Practice "Free Skiing" until it becomes natural. * * * * * * * * * * * *
Terry_IN_NC, 2/24/2009: "Counter-rotating your shoulders relative to your hips ...." This is just my opinion but I think they both have to go together. If the objective is to move our center of mass towards the wakes in the turn then the more the hips counter-rotate the easier we can to this. Also, counter-rotating the hips, along with the shoulders allows us to shift our weight to the front foot to keep the tip down which allows us to carry more speed through the turn. At least that is how it appears to me.
h2odawg79, 2/25/2009: Terry, I agree with the hips moving. I don't know if the W/C style would possibly allow someone to rotate the hip region more, in relationship to the shoulders. But, I always "Feel" what I like to call a "Preloaded" Feeling in my hip region when I counter but, I think my hips only move maybe 5 or 10 % of my shoulder turn.
In That particular Still Frame above Seths hips appear to stay fairly stable with his "Belt buckle" pointed straight down the course. I sure can't help noticing how Balanced, Graceful and Powerful he looks going into the Buoy... Like they say in the Medical field, He's; "Staying Ahead of the Pain"!!!
Terry_in_NC, 2/25/2009: Unfortunately, that is his off side turn and it is really hard to get the hips to counter-rotate so it is visually significant. W/C is really about keeping your Center of Mass in the proper place in all aspects of the course to efficiently accelerate and maintain speed. I think we get caught up in the visual aspects and say W/C technique is counter-rotation. Simple experiment. Stand with your feet in your slalom stance, belly button pointing down course. Now, ONLY counter-rotate your shoulders like your off-side turn. What has happened to your CofM? Nothing! It has stayed in the same place and didn't move an inch. Position a chair as if it were between you and the wakes, seat facing towards you. Can you sit in it with only your shoulders rotated? This time do it again but try to counter-rotate your hips like you are trying to point your belly button towards the shore. You should feel your weight, i.e. CofM, move over your front foot. Also, I can sit in the chair, i.e. move my CofM towards the wakes. Think of sitting in the chair as if you were falling off the inside edge of the ski putting it into a great turning attitude. Maybe Seth will chime in with what he is feeling at that point in the picture. At least this is how I understand it.
***Comments cannot be made on archived items. If this is a new post, just go to the home page to comment on it***
