Archive: BASS Articles

Balancing on skis is a continuous process of trying to regain the centre of your feet, despite being buffeted by the uneven terrain, the changing snow textures and the turns that you are making.

The trick is to develop the habit of balancing on the whole length of the sole of your foot, with pressure being shared equally between the ball and heel.

We were skinning up to the Col de Beugeant in the Aiguilles Rouges. The world was hot and white and steep. The granular snow, transformed over weeks by the sun, was already softening from the heat of the day, having frozen hard overnight. The rhythmic movements and the rhythmic sounds produced a hypnotic effect, broken only by the rare, softly spoken, exchanges.

Excellent skiing performance is based, not so much on ‘doing a turn correctly’ but on having accurate, well trained balance and movements which you can apply creatively, to resolve the challenges of each turn.

This allows you to perform each turn by feel and to create a unique solution to the challenges presented at each moment.

Great skiers literally have the freedom to make it up as they go along and they earn that freedom by developing accuracy and skill with the elements of skiing

Here we are mainly focusing on the ‘Body Management’ issues that affect the way you balance and steer.

Good luck with your development. We all hope that you continue to enjoy your skiing.

THE WHITE PLANET
The Espace Killy area of Val d'Isere and Tignes has long been known as one of the world's top ski areas and if you believe the local PR; Val claims to be the world's premier resort. Less known about this area is how extensively the off piste opportunities stretch and the wild life they connect us with. There are over 100 kilometers of itinerary runs and tours in the Espace Killy area. These are recommended and well travelled off piste areas. What makes some of them extra special is that they are accessible to even red run skiers with a guide and the proper equipment.

So, just what can Alpine skiers expect from trying out Free heel skiing? Firstly, every technique that you have mastered on Alpine skis can be used on Free heel equipment. Parallel turns, Short swings, compression turns, skating step turns, they're all there to be used. Just stay in balance. Which is the other point.

Alpine kit can mask the issue and allow skiers to use a more upright upper body posture, but, as usual, Free heeling tells it like it is. The cumulative effect of all this is that accurate, flowing turns link together effortlessly, both on the skinny skis and when you switch back to the Alpine gear.