Rotary & Rotation

 

Rick

I noticed that when i balance on both edges with extra focus on  

balance over outside edge,  especially at and out of the apex it  

seems  that the rotary comes on its own.


am on on or off the right track


David

Ohio

PSIA Instructor

Your Ski Coach Home> Ask The Coach> Rotation> Rotary and Rotation

Hi David,

  

Rotary is a confusing term in skiing because there are so many things it describes.  Active rotary is a force a skier self produces, and uses to turn the skis.  Rotation is an active rotary force in which the skier twists the upper body in the direction of the turn, and that twisting transfers down through the body and turns the skis.  Counter rotation is an active rotary force in which a twisting of the upper body away from the turn allows an equal and opposite simultaneous twisting of the skis into the turn.  Steering is a more refined active rotary force in which the legs do the turning and produce a very smooth and effortless turn.  It's that refined version of active rotary that basic edging focuses on.  And just for you knowledge base, passive rotary are the rotational joint articulations that allow us to assume different functional body positions, but have no actual turning influence on our skis.  


I'm going to answer your question based on what I think you mean by your use of the term rotary, but please let me know if I've misinterpreted you.  I think when you say that "the rotary comes on it's own" you mean that you're feeling your skis turning as if they are powering the turn themselves.  If you're feeling that, then yes, you're on the right track.  When you tip your skis on edge the sidecut engages the snow and acts to help produce the turn.  And because you have them tipped to equal edge angles the both skis are turning the same amount and not working against each other.  This is what happens when carving, and the same thing happens when steering.  Understand that when steering we generally are using lower edge angles, so the skis sidecut will not turn the skis as sharply.  This is where supplementing extra leg steering power can be used to sharpen the turn.  In very large radius turns the steering will seem to happen on it's own, with very little supplementation needed from the skier, just as you are observing.  As you reduce the radius, you add incrementally more self generated leg steering force.  


In working with your students, the biggest challenge you will have will be eliminating the aggressive pivot at the beginning of their turns.  The progressions used in the Basic Edging DVD works very well at doing that.  Once the pivot is gone, they will get to experience the smoothness and effortlessness of high quality skiing, and that "happens on it's own" feeling you've described.  I was working with a student on snow today.  She's recently discovered the joy and confidence that comes with effortless steering, and today she made another big leap and experienced for the first time high speed arc to arc carving on higher edge angles.  You should have seen the smile on her face as she came screeching to a stop after one of her ripping arc to arc runs.  It's moments like those I live for in my coaching.  I hope you get to experience many of these special moments in your teaching career too.  


Rick