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Comparison of Old and New Ski Styles

New Style Parallel Stance w/Equal Edge Angles, Skiing by Tipping & Inclining

Older Style A-Frame Stance w/Unequal Edge Angles, Skiing by Steering & Twisting

The above technique results in skiing like the image below

The above technique results in skiing like both images below

Skiing with Angulation

There is a much more detailed and nuanced discussion on old and new ski techniques, plus "angulation" and "inclination," by Gregory Gurshman and Leonid Feldman on the "Coach's Corner" and "Instructor's Corner" pages at their website, Youcanski.com, a must read for serious skiers. The three adjacent images here are from Lenny's page "Core Concepts of Downhill Skiing" on their site.

Skiing with Inclination

Standing, Alignment and Inclination Notice the similarity between the upright and aligned images of the dancer below and the rotated image of Max Blardone in a GS turn. The postures are not exactly the same, but they do reveal that aligned skiing and the inclination used in turning  - here at the highest level, the World Cup - is predicated on a naturally aligned standing posture, save for the position of the head. When Max inclines, he flexes his inside leg in conjunction with, in this particular turn, a slight flexing of the spine sideways, which creates a very slight angulation between upper and lower body. The amount of inclination or angulation depends, in part, on skier speed and turn shape, as the skier balances his or her torso between gravity and the sideways centrifugal force of the turn. This is not to say that his posture is static, rather it is dynamic.

Click on Images for Larger View

Example of Inclination Greg Gurshmann demonstrates inclination in the modern World Cup turn. Note the adapting skeletal alignment throughout the entire turn. Click here for a real time video example of Greg's masterful ski technique. Click here for a slomo example. Click on the image for a link to Greg's article "Inclined to Win."

Wide Variety of Styles That Are "Normal"

There are a wide array of skiing styles within the realm of the properly aligned and the technically sound. Master basic principles above all else, but never limit yourself. Click on the image to the right to see the variety of skiing that exists at high levels.