Traditional Technique or Modern Technique

[skiersleft]

How do you prefer to ski? Traditional stance, feet close together moving in tandem or modern stance shoulder width apart carving it up?

 

[wa-loaf]

Unless you are using old gear, Traditional is a waste of expensive equipment ... modern gear (mogul skis excepted) is designed for modern stance.

 

[drjeff]

Unless you are using old gear, Traditional is a waste of expensive equipment ... modern gear (mogul skis excepted) is designed for modern stance.

+1

 

[skiersleft]

+1

+2. I agree. I have modern equipment and use the modern stance.

However, it's surprising the amount of people with modern equipment that still ski with the traditional stance.

 

[BenedictGomez]

it's surprising the amount of people with modern equipment that still ski with the traditional stance.

Old habits die hard. Occasionally I find myself skiing with my feet tight, and then I think to myself that I have no idea why I'm doing that.

 

[Watatic Skier]

I sort of mix both, It really depends on the conditions. If the snow is soft then I'll try and keep my feet a little closer together, but normally I'll have my feet maybe 6 inches appart. Honestly I think feet closer looks a bit more "graceful".

 

[wa-loaf]

I sort of mix both, It really depends on the conditions. If the snow is soft then I'll try and keep my feet a little closer together, but normally I'll have my feet maybe 6 inches appart. Honestly I think feet closer looks a bit more "graceful".

Yes, one size doesn't fit all. My feet get closer together the smaller my turns get and in the bumps and trees my boots are pretty close to touching. But I can get a really wide stance out carving GS turns.

 

[2knees]

Guerilla tuck all the way. its a timeless technique.

 

[deadheadskier]

My preference is to have my feet relatively close together at all times. Meaning, I want to be skiing bumps or in the trees. Not living close enough to destinations where I can ski good bumps and trees frequently has forced me to learn how to carve over the past 10 years.

 

[Smellytele]

Yes, one size doesn't fit all. My feet get closer together the smaller my turns get and in the bumps and trees my boots are pretty close to touching. But I can get a really wide stance out carving GS turns.

from your picture you look Trad

 

[wa-loaf]

from your picture you look Trad

Trying to look good for the camera! :beer:

 

[skiersleft]

Trying to look good for the camera! :beer:

SmellyT is right. Picture looks very trad. :flame:

 

[Black Phantom]

How do you prefer to ski? Traditional stance, feet close together moving in tandem or modern stance shoulder width apart carving it up?

You did not include your method- snowplow.

 

[skiersleft]

You did not include your method- snowplow.

That picture looks old. It must be a picture of you, because I probably wasn't born when that picture was taken and I don't ski that way. Given your advanced age, I take it you use the traditional stance.

 

[Black Phantom]

That picture looks old. It must be a picture of you, because I probably wasn't born when that picture was taken and I don't ski that way. Given your advanced age, I take it you use the traditional stance.

They don't call you "wide stance" for nothin' little fella!!!

Have you taken lift loading instruction yet?

 

[skiersleft]

They don't call you "wide stance" for nothin' little fella!!!

Have you taken lift loading instruction yet?

When are we going to ski together at The Institution? I'll prove that I'm lift loading worthy! :grin:

 

[jaja111]

I prefer old school. I just get more of a kick out of it when its done smoothly.

Modern equipment can be utilized with "Stein Erikson" style paralleling, but you have to space your width for the tails, and less often tips, from catching on each other. They'll still always slap. All of my skis have the top sheets worn out at the tips and tails from the inside edge of the opposing ski, and there's no paint on the ankle hinge points of my boots. I can "carve", but end up doing it as a back up to shitty conditions or a bad situation. If you live in western NY, carving just gets you to the lift quicker on 600-1000ft of hill and destroys the value of a lift ticket. On a real hill, carving is the way to go most of the time as its the more efficient way to get vert and enjoy it. Just my two cents.

 

[ToddW]

There are 'modern' skiers who carve with a lateral stance width much less than shoulder width apart. Reinfried Herbst of the Austrian ski team is a good example of a world-class skier with a narrow (but not feet glued together) stance.

I aim to ski with no more than 4 finger widths of lateral separation between my boots, even when layin 'em over. For me and my body shape, this increases dynamic balance. (Vertical separation is another matter. My inside ski may be up around my outside knee, but the leg shafts are still close together.)

 

[witch hobble]

I prefer old school. I just get more of a kick out of it when its done smoothly.

Modern equipment can be utilized with "Stein Erikson" style paralleling, but you have to space your width for the tails, and less often tips, from catching on each other.

I agree. Telemark style allows you to ski with your skis close and parallel, with legs seperated more front to back than side to side, which offsets your tips and tails.

 

[wa-loaf]

There are 'modern' skiers who carve with a lateral stance width much less than shoulder width apart. Reinfried Herbst of the Austrian ski team is a good example of a world-class skier with a narrow (but not feet glued together) stance.

I aim to ski with no more than 4 finger widths of lateral separation between my boots, even when layin 'em over. For me and my body shape, this increases dynamic balance. (Vertical separation is another matter. My inside ski may be up around my outside knee, but the leg shafts are still close together.)

I think the key is as long as you can get the angulation to take advantage of the modern sidecuts you're good. Noodling around with your heels locked together might be fun sometimes, but it's not the kind of skiing todays equipment is designed for.