Dynamic Control

What

Developing the control phase solidifies a skier’s ability to demonstrate performance skiing. Utilising ski design through a predominantly carved turn creates an emphatic direction change through the middle of the turn, within a 12 to 15 metre corridor (three to four groomer widths).

Why

Performance skiing is the highest level of skiing, it is the most exhilarating and satisfying feeling a skier can have. Developing the control phase will give the skier the ability to create dramatic edge angles within the turn.

How

Develop inclination of the CoG inside the turn, creating high edge angles while managing the flexion of the inside leg and extension of the outside leg to maintain balance through the centre of the outside ski.

Skills

Situational Understanding

• Increase the speed of travel, allowing performance skiing to take place
• Use steep blue, red or easy black groomed slopes
• If using a wider ski, edging will become harder, resulting in inefficient movements to edge the ski
• Develop awareness of how ski design can shape the turn
• Develop awareness of how moving the COG inside the turn is a necessity in order to stay balanced in a turn while travelling at high speeds

Active Stance & Balance

• Maintain an athletic stance and some flexion in the outside leg while moving the COG inside of the BoS
• Move the COG forward and in on a diagonal path to stay centred while moving through the create phase

Outside Ski Balance

• Use extension of the outside leg to manage the greater force acting on the skier
• Control flexion of the inside leg to allow balance to be maintained on the outside ski while allowing the COG to move inside the BOS

Edging

• Increase the range of inclination of the COG inside the turn
• Create high degrees of edge angle to create emphatic direction change during the control phase

Steering

• Manage leg steering to minimise ski rotation throughout the turn
• Align the body to the direction of the skis during the control phase, staying square, helping to manage the force acting on the ski

Ski Snow Interaction

• The steering angle will be minimal throughout the turn and begin to be created by utilising ski design
• Increase edge angle during the control phase to manage the size and shape of the turn
• The platform angle will reach 90 degrees in the create phase, establishing grip and a groove for the ski to travel forward in

Terrain

Steeper blue/red groomed terrain or easy black groomed terrain.

Class Handling

One area that you are encouraging is a little more speed, so make sure that where you do this on the mountain is suitable. If it is too busy, or too bumpy, you might need to rethink and try this on another day. Once your students start to become more successful, they will start to get more energy out of the skis, and this energy will take them further across the hill as they exit the control phase. Make sure they are aware of this and able to anticipate. Encourage students to space out when performance skiing.