Mechanics and Techniques for Minimum Radius Carved Turns Ron LeMaster USSA Coaches Symposium Copper Mt., Nov. 7, 2015 Ron LeMaster, 2015 1
The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. Friedrich Nietzsche Ron LeMaster, 2015 2
Ski technique is driven by technology Some things we think are new, aren t Some things don t change ü ü Human physiology and physical mechanics The outside ski is the best one to make you turn Ron LeMaster, 2015 3
Some things actually change ü ü Carving in, and sometimes above, the fall line Using the inside ski to make better use of the outside ski Ron LeMaster, 2015 4
How To Carve Tight Turns What determines carving radius How to make it as small as possible ü Things you can do with the inside ski to make the outside ski work better ü This not how all turns should be made Ron LeMaster, 2015 5
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Which Line is Faster? Why? How? Ron LeMaster, 2015 20
Which Line is Faster? Why? ü The traverse is longer and steeper ü Enabled by a tighter turn How? ü Smaller turn radius Ron LeMaster, 2015 21
What Determines Turn Radius? Ron LeMaster, 2015 22
What Determines Turn Radius? Reverse camber Edge angle Ron LeMaster, 2015 23
What Determines Edge Angle? Ron LeMaster, 2015 24
What Determines Edge Angle? Inclination Angulation Ron LeMaster, 2015 25
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On a 35 m GS ski * ü ü 65 edge angle 15 m radius turn 70 edge angle 12 m radius turn On a 13 m SL ski ü ü 65 edge angle 5.5 m radius turn 70 edge angle 4.5 m radius turn Approx. 25% smaller turn radius * Using Howe s approximation Ron LeMaster, 2015 31
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Establishing Early Edge Angle Use the inside ski as an in- rigger ü Provides support while the outside ski goes out to a higher edge angle ü Does not make the skier turn Ron LeMaster, 2015 33
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Characteristics Inside ski steers into the turn Downhill leg flexes Outside leg extends Pressure moves forward on both skis Tips usually diverge a bit Ron LeMaster, 2015 35
Characteristics Most likely to be used in ü Widely set gates ü Big direction changes ü Swing gates The outside ski is made to steer itself into the fall line The outside ski is not thrust out sideways into a skid Ron LeMaster, 2015 36
This should only be attempted by skiers who have solid outside ski skills!!!! Ron LeMaster, 2015 37
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What About Early Pressure? Aren t we trying to get as much pressure on the ski as early as possible? What sort of pressure do we need? Ron LeMaster, 2015 39
What Sort of Pressure? Pressure to make the ski penetrate the snow Pressure to make the ski bend Pressure to make us turn ü Pressure coming from the side Ron LeMaster, 2015 40
What is Turning? The bending of the center of mass path is what matters The outside ski engages the snow to extract force that makes this happen Ron LeMaster, 2015 41
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Where Does Turning Start? Ron LeMaster, 2015 43
Steering and Carving The real turning happens in and after the fall line Ron LeMaster, 2015 44
Pressure We need pressure on the outside ski to ü Penetrate the snow so the ski holds ü Bend the ski into reverse camber Any pressure beyond that is ü Unnecessary ü Possibly counter- productive Ron LeMaster, 2015 45
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What an In-rigger Gives You Higher edge angle with the outside ski A good way to drift An inside ski stivot Radius adjustment Ron LeMaster, 2015 49
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Summary The outside ski makes the turn ü There must be enough pressure on it to penetrate the snow, hold, and bend The tightest turn radius requires the highest outside ski edge angle Outside ski edge angle is greater when some weight is on the inside ski Ron LeMaster, 2015 51
Exercises Reuel christies White Pass turns Tuck turns Inside ski stivots Uphill leg extension Slow speed in- riggers Ron LeMaster, 2015 52
Upcoming Publication Ron LeMaster, 2015 53
William Nealy Ron LeMaster, 2015 54