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Show Ski Tip of the Week Hand Positioning: A Basic to Sound, Steady Skiing ant aspects of skiing like just the turn itsol''. They don't seem to realize that proper hand and pole positioning is basic to all techniques in skiing. "Correct hand positioning in relation to the body is important for four aspects of skiing: the pole slant, keeping forward or weight distribution, rythm and balance. bal-ance. ''The pole plant is important mostly for timing and stability in turning. It's the "ignition" of the turn and is planted duringthe down motion wh'ch is the first part of the turn. Hand position actually helps "turn on" the initial motion of the turn. "In keeping forward good hand positioning also helps maintain correct body position in relation tothe terrain. It keeps you on the balls of your feet. When This week's ski tip, proper hand positioning, is brought forth by Julie Murphy, a certified 'white pin" instructor who's been with Park City Resort for five years. Julie favors what might be termed a "vocally aggressive" technique of instruction; whenever when-ever she's instructing "the hills are alive with the sound of Julie." She also tries to pinpoint problems her pupils as individuals seem to have and stress things that will help with specific pointers. "Proper hand positioning is important to all levels of skiers and is an area often overlooked when practicing prac-ticing for improvement. It's usually the case that beginners be-ginners just don't really know where ?nd how to hold their hands while intermediate and ad"anced skiers usually concentrate on other seemingly more import- your hands start to drop back, you naturally tend to follow and lean back. 'Skiing is rythm, rythm, rythm, and proper hand positioning helps coordinate the entire technique of skiing and helps initiate and maintain rhythm. "In terms of balance, good hand positioning helps maintain forward balance as well as side-to side or lateral balance. Incorrect hand positioning makes for and unstable positions and more difficulty in maintaining maintain-ing control. The following photos show b??'c good hand positioning and the action of a pole plant from such a position. The last photo is a "no no" and shows what usually happens as a result of poor hand positioning and the resulting action of overturning. - , 'tit ... V It. . . 4 , ,rv- v ' rmr---' ; l r7m ' ' III o 4 f "1 f !K ; "Here I kept my hands back and had to sweep them forward to get a good pole plant. This action throws you into a bad overall position and just about cancels the possibility of a good turn." "While maintaining good hand positioning I'm keeping my upper body facing downhill in a quiet, , stable position. As my skis traverse the hill, my hands help keep my weight on the downhill ski and for- "In the pole plant from proper hand and body positioning, the pole is simply brought forward by the lower arm and wrist then planted with the down motion in the knees and ankles. I V Ik) ' - " ; , The photo's not upside-down, the skier is. Park West photographer Bert Fox caught this action, a "spread-eagle forward layout flip", at last weekend's hot dog contest at Park West. Wish this spaceman happy landings. |