Skating Aid To New Ski-ing Technique

Press, Volume C, Issue 29599, 23 August 1961, Page 13

Skating Aid To New Ski-ing Technique

LSpcciollv written for “The Press” by

PETER HUBRICH

npHER® has been an interesting development in ski technique since the introduction of Kruckenhausers “New Official Austrian Ski System.” with its reverse wedeln. The trademark of this development is the lifted shoulder, heel thrust and inside, or uphill ski, with the tip of the ski riding on the snow. This simple movement is the basis for a series of ski-ing manoeuvres which are in the repertoire of every top-ranked skier. The system was first used in 1953 by such outstanding skiers as Stein Eriksen and Toni Spiss. but it did not become popular until the last few seasons. It has been named “Schrittbogen," which means step and turn. It is really nothing more than a short parallel turn executed mainly on one leg. The turn can be used to best advantage on packed icy snow, in bumpy terrain and in deep ruts which are very often found in a slalom course where each racer turns on exactly the same spot. The skier merely switches feet and actually steps off in a new direction. This stepping action effectively supports three vital movements in modem skiing. It starts automatically counter-rotation, results in a complete weight shift and puts the ski on the right edge. It cannot be emphasised enough how important this weight shift is, since most of the mistakes of intermediate and expert skiers can be traced directly to failure to shift weight fully to the outside ski and to keep it there throughout the turn.

The Schrittbogen has several advantages over the conventional parallel turn. It uses a body movement which is natural to everyone—walking or stepping. It is faster to execute and less tiring. Especially for the expert skier, it is a very fast, slideless way of turning, and as

the inside leg is tucked out of the way, it enables the racer to cut closer to a gate. The new technique is undoubtedly too acrobatic to be taught to beginners or older persons, but it should be impressed that step turning is not one-legged ski-ing. The amount of time the ski’s end is off the snow is relatively short—only one or two seconds—and it comes at that moment when it is most natural. That is when the skier is trying to put the maximum weight on the downhill ski. People With a good sense of balance, such as skaters, will be able to do it much easier. Everyone can balance, but after developing the sense to a certain point during childhood, it is taken for granted. Over the years it is lost through disuse and only through prolonged practice can it be retained. Skating probably helps the skier more than any other sport to preserve his sense of balance. Ski-ing and skating are very closely related. Some of the movements of both sports are so similar that skating can be of great value to the skier—beginner and expert alike. The first things a skater learns are balance.

timing, how to push from the inside edge of the blade, how to shift his weight from one foot to the other and a controlled sinking and rising of the knees. This rhythmic down-up-down motion of the knees is essential for ski-tog. A beginner who has mastered these skating fundamentals will approach his first day on skis more relaxed than with the usual tenseness. The down-up-down motion and the weight shift will feel as familiar to him as walking.

Even for advanced skiers and racers, skating is an excellent training method. In the mastery of skating turns and movements He the secrets of perfect body co-ordination. Many of the top ski racers have recognised this fact and practise skating before the beginning of the snow season. The lifting motion of a “three turn" on ice is identical to the unweighting of skis in a turn. The uphill turn to a stop is like the edge biting, skidding stop on skates. And a skater's flexibility and sure control of his body are most valuable tor a skier—particularly when making use of the new acrobatics way of turning, the schrittbogen. - •»■*’