Evolution of technique

Science of Skiing: The Evolution of Technique

by Ron Kipp, U.S. Ski Team Alpine Sport Education Manager

Q: What is a Skill?

Q: What is Technique?

Q: What is Skillfulness?

Skill Technique Skillfulness?

Q: What is a Skill?

A skier can only do three things with a ski: 1. Edge

2. Pressure

3. Rotates

Q: What is a Skill?

A: Rotary, Edging, & Pressure

Q: What is Technique?

©1947

Q: What is Technique?

A: A strategy to create a biomechanical advantage for balance

What the body does

What the body does

What the skis do What the skis do

EXPERT?

EXPERT!

Q: What is Skillfulness?

What is Good Skiing?

Technique

Bode Torino SG 2006

Bode: 2nd place SG, -0.30, Val Gardena 12/16/12

Skillful

Technique

WYSIWYG

Skillfulness consists in the ability to bring about some end result with maximum certainty and minimum outlay of energy, or time and energy (Guthrie, 1972)

Skillfulness:

‌is the process of mastering redundant degrees of freedom.

Bode, Kitz 2012

Nikolai Bernstein, (1967)

Internal rotation of the legs is mimicked with internal rotation of the arms

Humans are: BILATERIA animals

• Look at the human wiring

BEGINNER

Separation of body parts Jimmy Rollins 15 Million/yr

He’s static!

He needs more movement!

What does this really mean?

Roger Vidosa, Andorra 33.62 GS points (595) 1st run 1:21.91; 4.64 out DNF 2nd run

Pat your head and rub your stomach.

Rotate your foot clock-wise

Then with your hand in the air, scribe a‌

Skillfulness

Less Skillful

More Skillful

‌is the process of mastering redundant degrees of freedom.

Less separation of body parts

Efficient combinations of body parts

Directional movements = Edge

Pressure Rotates

Forward movement Change of edge Rotate skis

Q: What is Skillfulness?

A: Mastery of redundant degrees-of-freedom

Georges Joubert Š1970

Skillfulness:

‌is the process of mastering redundant degrees of freedom.

Nikolai Bernstein, (1967)

What if we thought of TECHNIQUE not as a way to turn the skis but‌ as a strategy for balance?

Baumann, Alta Badia, 2010

Skillful!

Technique is important but‌

‌it is the ability to manage the skis interaction with the snow that ultimately determines success of the athlete.

Its getting the job done that is most important!

Technique is important…

…it increase the skier’s odds of staying in balance.

Skill, Technique, or Skillfulness?

Essential criteria for great skiing:

SKILL

TECHNIQUE

SKILLFULNESS

Q: What is a Skill?

A: Rotary, Edging, & Pressure Q: What is Technique?

A: A strategy to create a biomechanical advantage for balance

Q: What is Skillfulness?

A: Mastery of redundant degrees-of-freedom

Photo credits:

Questions?

rkipp@ussa.org

Getty Images Ron LeMaster Hüvard Tjørhom Nordica Major League Baseball Diane Bode AllStarPics Gene Kellogg