 Poster: A snowHead
|
I've been instructing an early intermediate recently who has almost no ankle flex. I've tried a couple of things which seem to be working slowly; wonder what drills others might suggest.
Thanks
A
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
abd, does he have any ankle flex if just sitting on a bench in his socks? Or is it that he doesn't use his ankle flex when skiing?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Good point pam w, but there are no physiological or equipment issues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
abd, the exercises I've been given to try to improve ankle flex mostly involve hopping, two skis together, trying to land softly, doing a gentle traverse. To get complicated, raise front of skis and back of skis alternately. Knackering.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Before a run, ask him to show you how much he will flex his ankles and check the range of movement is what you want. After the run, if it's not enough, ask him if he used as much as he'd shown you at the top. If he says 'Yes' then then you need to correct his perceptions of how much he's using while skiing. If he says 'No' then he'll probably either start telling you why because he'll have figued out what's stopping him (perhaps balance, fear of falling forwards, etc) or ask for another run so that he can increase the amount.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
One that I do as a warm up (and find hard, so might not be suitable for an early intermediate) and is referred to colloquially at our club as "squirters". Basically break forward at the waist and try to keep the upper body still while pushing your skis forward and back underneath you using your whole leg. Do this while skiing either in a straight glide or once you've managed that in some wide gentle turns. It's impossible to do without ankle flex. It's basically simulating get yourself back into a central balanced position after you're thrown fore or aft.
I also think there's a strong element of "feel" involved, and I think that's what simon_bates is getting at above. When flexing their ankle the skier should be able to feel things happening in their boot - perhaps getting them to practice it stationary, feeling it, and then trying to replicate the feeling while skiing would help.
pam w's suggestion makes sense to me too - it's hard to jump and land gently without flexing at the ankle.
I'm guessing this is already something you're thinking about given your other "why" question, but I'd also think about what the outcome you want is. Is it about skiing with a better posture, or more dynamic skiing through movements during the turns, or something else. Some people will learn better when dealing with the outcomes rather than the inputs like ankle flex.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Braquage/pivot slip drills are excellent to promote both ankle flex & steering.
Oversize boots are a big inhibitor of correct ankle flex.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
abd, is the person in rental boots or their own; can they, as simon_bates says actually move them, and then follow what Simon says above; I have used the exact same method and got good results. As spyderjon asks; are the boots the right size?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
