 Poster: A snowHead
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Recently I have been wearing my new boots in the house and realized my flexing technique is pretty bad, I have been searching the net and have found little in terms of the right way to hip, ankle and knee flex. 
Have you guys come across anything?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Bit confused by your question, but don't you just bend the relevant joints?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| Bit confused by your question, but don't you just bend the relevant joints? |
Hmmm yes, though I have been reading that the technique for all the joints is required for good steering power and improving your flex.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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If you can walk up and down stairs then you are perfectly capable of flexing all the joints that you need to when skiing. If you flex one of the three main joints disproportionately you are likely to find yourself out of balance (e.g. flex your knees significantly more than your ankles and your hips and your centre of mass will drop backwards and down, leaving you skiing in the "back seat"). I can't think of any special technique for flexing your joints, other than just doing it, so perhaps better to focus on skiing in balance...?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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rob@rar,
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If you can walk up and down stairs
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just at the moment, I can't very well. Much looking forward to tomorrow's clinic... 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| If you can walk up and down stairs then you are perfectly capable of flexing all the joints that you need to when skiing. If you flex one of the three main joints disproportionately you are likely to find yourself out of balance (e.g. flex your knees significantly more than your ankles and your hips and your centre of mass will drop backwards and down, leaving you skiing in the "back seat"). I can't think of any special technique for flexing your joints, other than just doing it, so perhaps better to focus on skiing in balance...? |
Rob, don't totally disagree with you, but the ability to mobilise / stretch one of those joints can make huge difference to one's mobility, and hence ski performance.
Wen I had my Achilles pro a good few years back, the first physio I saw could not believe how little flex I had in my ankes. He had me walking along the corridor and back loads of times, and walking up and down stairs to work out how I was obviously making compensations. But even so at that point I was a pretty competent sportsman in a variety of sports, and a reasonable skier.
However, once the physio period of stretching and mobilisation over circa 3 months, I had loads more movement in the ankles, my skiing was hugely improved.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| If you can walk up and down stairs then you are perfectly capable of flexing all the joints that you need to when skiing. If you flex one of the three main joints disproportionately you are likely to find yourself out of balance (e.g. flex your knees significantly more than your ankles and your hips and your centre of mass will drop backwards and down, leaving you skiing in the "back seat"). I can't think of any special technique for flexing your joints, other than just doing it, so perhaps better to focus on skiing in balance...? |
I flex disproportionately, with far more emphasis of my knees then I should. Balance isn't good right now hence the post.
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sev112, i think you make a good point.
It is inherent to become a good skier, that particular joints have full FLEXIBILITY with enough muscle strength. It's called/ termed 'FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT'.
I'm reading and doing the exercises in a book called 'TOTAL SKIING' by Chris Fellows.
For about 10 ~ £12 it's the cheapest skiing advice to guarantee improvement there is. Surely, watching youtube you can gain advice and you could take an instruction lesson for technique guidance which i strongly and repeatedly advise.
However, if you want to acquire a high skill and you just can't get in the correct bodily position, then it will prohibit / frustrate all your efforts and you'll end up asking why, why, why and go looking in all directions for pointers / tips / trainings / new equipment etc. etc - give yourself an even chance. You have to be in the right or best shape possible to acquire that skill and even a small flexing improvement in any of the exercises will enhance your skiing skill / lesson the chance of injury (by possible fall prevention) and ultimately you'll enjoy skiing more.
If you know you can't do that stretch, then at least its the right one to practice AND you know your problem. I do it all at home. It's a no-brainer for me. I wish i'd paid attention to this decades ago. Obviously this is not an alternative to taking ski instruction. However, if you want to get the most out of any instruction / holiday ( it's all quite expensive really) , then this is a must.
Have also a read of 'ULTIMATE SKIING' by Ron LeMaster. Again, it's pretty cheap and it clearly tells you what shapes your body has to be able to acquire a full range of mountain skiing skills.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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sev112, all in favour of stretching to increase flexibility. To my shame I don't do anywhere near enough of it.
flyingsquirrel, OK, I understand. Very common issue. I think most instructors would describe it as "fore/aft balance" rather than flexing technique, which is why I was a bit confused. Just as an aside, it can be very difficult to flex some boots when you are stationary, such as walking around the house wearing them, and that won't give a proper reflection of how they move when you are actually skiing.
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if as an individual you have a bit of you that doesn't flex properly then there are targeted exercises... I have (as I discovered after my boot fitting / balance session) reduced flex of the toes, so now have some tennis balls under my desk and work them...
Alasdair
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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akirk, I too play with my balls under my desk 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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However, if you want to acquire a high skill and you just can't get in the correct bodily position, then it will prohibit / frustrate all your efforts and you'll end up asking why, why, why and go looking in all directions for pointers / tips / trainings / new equipment etc. etc - give yourself an even chance.
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you don't need any special fitness to get in the correct posture, as long as your not crippled you can do it, maintaining it through your skiing is another matter and fitness is only a part of that
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