Early Pressure In A Ski Turn With Michaela Shiffrin - How Early Is It?

Pressure to the outside ski can be applied at a number of different moments in a ski turn. The desired outcome the skier is after will always effect when the pressure is applied and when the skier is “balanced over the outside ski”. What I wanted to share was a video of Michaela Shiffrin free skiing showing her ski tracks to demonstrate when the pressure would be applied to the edges and the snow. It is not at the moment when many folks think it is.

One thing I have come to appreciate in any elite level skier is an element of “floating” through the transition as opposed to be completely grounded or losing a lot of the contact and sense of the snow. This floating is look shows the skier has a great sense of how much energy is needed to help the centre of mass cross over their skis into the new turn. It also allows them to stay athletic in the transition and initiation giving them better access to using their hip joints, knee joints and feet to fine tune the top of the arc.

I hope this video helps some people that struggle with when and how much to pressure the new outside foot in their turns. It will also probably bring up more questions and possibly make you rethink other things you have taken for granted when being taught or trained by others. My goal is always to help people learn to think for themselves and see things from many perspectives. At the end of the day you are the one skiing and making the ultimate decisions on how to ski the mountain.

[NovaRedBaron]

The main thing that I got from your analysis and watching the video is she is able to ski very relaxed. Many instructors talk about trying to feel like you are floating during the transition. Mikaela is able to do this effortlessly. Thanks for posting this. 👍

[magnificoas]

Thx for the video and comments :)
You pointed out 1 important thing: you transfer weight from outside foot to the next BEFORE transition because you have to start from some ground pressure to do so. It is not just shifting your weight from one side to the other, you go forward at the same time. That is why M shows an orthodox centered position while floating.

[kaischulte]

Cool to watch the transition without her leaving and marks! Surprised to see how much pressure she puts on the inside skinnier the turn! Thanks for the video! Learned something today!

[lynnmiller]

I liked your visual of Michaela pressing forward from the ankle during the turn and the timing of when this happens.

[davidborof]

I really enjoyed this video! I thought it was a really good analysis that I personally found to be helpful. I felt like I had an "aha!" moment - - I love that feeling! Thank you for making this video and sharing it with us! Much success to you in your continued work!

[EstebanNavarro-ocpp]

She is using the rebound from the finishing phase of the turn to float to the next turn. Racers do not start the turn by early engagement of the outside ski; they go deep into the turn, getting into high angles slightly before the fall line. The tracks are not circular; they are parabolic.

[dasalpengluhen]

A really nice analysis again. From my point of view: of course a "negative" starting point for giving pressure too early with the new outside foot is a too pronounced/strong extension. But some skiers give even more pressure in the transition than they are able to give counterpressure at the apex of the turn - and therefore they also push the hip inside too early and too hard. This is one of the main mistakes done by advanced skiers. The result ist, that the COM can´t be moved downhill and in the new turn correctly (toppling) - and the hip is pushed so much inside, that there is no chance to get counterpressure back on the outside ski when we need it. Learning effects are to maintain in a lower position, to be more patient and to let the downhill force work. We do not have to support it by giving pressure and pushing with the new outside foot in the transition already. Gravitation is strong enough 💪😉 I often hear other ski-instructors talk about "pressure" and the guests have wrong connotations. Therefore I prefer the terms "counterpressure" (the power that is needed to control the forces) and "moving the COM" (which may mean to use the forces as well as moving the weight over the feet).

[jurijfranko]

Hi Tom! I beleieve we are missing another movement during transition. The key is to change lean angle (like on bike) from inside of first turn to inside of scond turn. To do that, torque must be applied to the body and inertia of the body should be as small as possible (J). Body in tucked position has lower inertia than extended body for the same torque and torque (axis of rotation is paralel to skis) is generated by edge grip at the very end of a previous turn. Ony when body of a skier is positioned in proper (inside) lean, edges can be applied to provide external force that will change direction of movment. Michaela is just 'bouncing of' snow surface a bit during lean angle change, tucking a bit to reduce inertia and therefore decrease time of transition.

[MrArunasB]

Nice explanation of floating phase in the turn. I also expierienced same thing but couldnt understand that. Now when I know I can practice it to perfect it. Thanks for your videos.

[davidbeazer]

Thanks for your insights Tom. Always good to hear from another legend, Jurij Franco, too!

[terrybarbour]

When will coaches and instructors stop using the word "pressure"! It's a scientific word that does not describe any actionable movements. We can't push against the clouds ----so there is no such thing as "early pressure" ---There is such thing as early balance over the skis and weight transfer. I hear "early pressure" all the time and the unknowing skiers are trying to press their skis into the snow. This does exactly what you stated---"they push themselves away from their skis" and get very stiff legs.
To me it looks like Michaela is receiving energy "pressure" through edge angle, turn dynamics, and angulation.
One of the reasons everyone loves skiing powder because of the floating feeling you can get between turns. Michaela proves we can get that feeling in any turn! Thank you for posting this video. I love hearing your observations!

[marcosfernandezrapado]

Great explanation. Lots of Coaches insist in pressing as soon as possible the new outside ski and, in my opinion thats a mistake. Skiing is basicaly to place the skis in the position you need and press them. If you put preassure too early, its more difficult to place the ski properly. And its proved that if you do that, its more difficult to make closed carved turns that beeing more patient in the transitions.

[torbengregersen]

Some great comments here and thanks for the analysis, although I find it a bit too lengthy and technical for most people to understand.
However, I would like to add that she is skiing on a very shallow slope with completely fresh snow, that has fallen overnight. This in itself requires a very different approach as if she skied on a hard surface and/or steeper slope.
Where Shiffrin absolutely rocks is her feeling for the snow and how to handle the current conditions, even through a single turn.
What she does here, is to me a very relaxed warm-up run.
How to do the same - go and ski all kinds of snow conditions on and off the groomed runs, and it will sooner or later come naturally. This way it will also be way more fun and a work in progress, instead of trying to focus on small elements of a turn, that is more or less impossible to master for most skiers.
This is just my thoughts, hope somebody finds them useful.

[islandoutpost]

Great video and analysis. Her coaches must have put that patch of corduroy down to specifically work this drill?? The amount Michaela is bending that ski and the energy out of it gives no choice but to float heavily in transition. But...I would have bet she was on her new outside ski much earlier. Another transition technique to play with next time taking laps. Thanks for posting!

[markfrancis]

REally felt this in Breck this year. Keep learning from your vids and improving.

[MrSjGibbs]

It sounds like you are caught up in the put your weight on it to turn it. This is a great example of getting the legs the same length between the turns to reweight the old inside ski. Then the skis are tipped that causes them to bend putting a lateral force against the ski from the snow, and that is pressuring the ski. Tipping it and bending it or pivoting it gets the ski across the direction of travel of the center of mass turns the ski.
If you do a straight run with your weight on the left foot and do a christy onto the hill to the right you will feel more pressure on the ski in the turn than the straight run.

[gallen]

Thanks for your posting and the analysis as well as the many comments by others.Thought that this was a great video and for me a clear demonstration of how pressure can be used judiciously to help with the change in direction if produced at the apex of the turn (closer to being in the fall line rather than after) and not always as a means of decreasing or tightening up the radius (as when applied later in the arc). Also gave food for thought on how early a change needs to occur in terms of when the new edge(s) of the outside ski come into play (too early an edge change not always required or even counterproductive?). Have to remember that free skiing practice for racers should always involve preparation for the event so I believe that her technique here is not something separate from what she would do in competition but just modified by the environment. Sound about right?

[MOWFWDU]

Skiing with that bulky coat makes her look like a crazy lady but the way she leaves the snow between turns without any obvious effort is impressive and those turns are just ankle rolls. She is strong!

[justinrfogarty]

Tom, thank you for your analysis. I am not a fan of the use of the concept of applying pressure . A couple of things to notice. At the transition her skis go flat. We agree on this. However, if you play back your video you will see that she holds her old direction longer and before starting the new turn and before moving inside her inside leg shortens and she moves up and over that Inside ski. What does that do. It causes early edging by causing tips of the the skis to bite and it causes the outside ski to be longer and pressure is thus built up on by her extended outside leg and her shortened inside leg. When she is in the balanced position she is able to move inside quickly at the apex of the turn . Therefore because she is well balanced and thus can resist the mountain’s forces, in so doing, pressure is a result not a consequence of applying force.

[otisregatoni]

Great comments and tip { getting out early } about being patient Tom.