I’ve got a great exercise for you this week! Bode made
this drill popular in Bormio, Italy after an incident. While traveling at over
60 miles an hour, Bode’s ski popped off and with hardly a flinch he was able to
navigate the remainder of the course on one-ski and safely come to a hault.
Ever since, the US Ski Team and USSA have championed one-ski skiing drills for
all age groups.
One-ski skiing is a wonderful exercise for improving
balance and other skiing skills. A good skier should demonstrate:
• Ability to
adjust balance along the length of the skis
• Ankle
awareness inside the boot
• Engaging and
releasing edges by tipping the feet and legs
• Flexing and
extending legs to control pressure
In this drill, a skier should focus on two tasks. First,
you have to feel the tongues of the boots on your shins. Second, you have to
feel your feet as your skis roll underneath you from your big toe (fully edged
position) to your little toe (fully edged position again). This replicates the
same sensation you will feel while carving.
How to Practice: You can start by simply lifting one ski
in the air while skiing or jump right in and take one ski off. Standing on one
leg and on one ski, make some simple movements to feel front, back and neutral
position in the shaft of the boot. When you are ready and on a green circle
pitch, travel in a straight line and really feel the front of the boot. After
you have played with that drill, stand still and roll your ankle and knee right
and left. Travels once again in a straight line, then apply the slight roll of
the ankle /knee and you will switch directions. Mastering this minor task will
give you a new found awareness of balance. The key is to use your whole foot and
to channel pressure from your big toe side and little toe side of the foot,
this is a precise movement that all good skiers learn to make.
John Pawlak, PSIA-E, USSA, and Director of the Bretton Woods Alpine Club shares a ski tip of the week to help skier's up their game as they swish into the season.
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