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Alignment, Posture and Skiing
The natural position of the spine, pelvis, hips and legs
From Witherell and Evrard's The
Athletic Skier, Alta Skier Molly
Kissinger in natural alignment
Spine, pelvis and legs from side, with spine naturally curved and deepet
The spine is deepset in the torso, not on its surface.

Efficient movement from a standing position originates with the thigh bones rotating in the hip sockets - not from bending the back, hunching the shoulders and/or jerking parts of your body.

As Witherell and Evrard explain, Molly's natural posture is at ease. Her head, neck, shoulders, torso, hips and legs are not working overtime nor are they overly tense.

She is not "holding" herself in alignment. She is standing in it, in her natural posture.
 
Her poise lets her adapt to the wide variety of postures and the strong G Forces encountered in high level modern skiing. Click on image to see examples.
Grey dots = major joints
Yellow line = line of gravity (added to original))
Click image for explanation
It is better to ski in Molly's position than hunched over, squating and bent forward, and/or with your arms artificially extended. The exception to maintaining linear alignment is when tucking or semi-tucking for aerodynamic purposes in DH, Super G or GS racing.
Click image for explanation
Click image for explanation
Conclusion about Natural Posture
From Maybel Elsworth Todd's book "The Thinking Body," p. 185.

"Analyzed, the pattern of mechanically efficient posture, whether sitting, standing or walking, implies a long spinal axis and a centered control of the weights it carries. The longer the spinal axis and the more shallow the curves, the shorter the distance through which the weights must be moved."

In other words, a naturally aligned body is central to efficient body movement, which means it is a key part of technique in all sports.