A new look: "How Transitions and High Angles are Developed.
Leaving the last turn, which is ending in this 1st photo. I am looking for a release with a flexing and bending movement of the outside leg. For a faster release and transition, use a retraction or pulling up of the knees.
Looking at this from above the release has begun. The main function in the release is flexing/bending action of the outside leg.
The skis are going flat, because the angles are no longer held, relaxing of the stance leg lets the skis go flat, the legs are moving to the new angles, the movements are generated by tipping the ankles and feet toward the downhill ski or the new edges. The hips and upper body will follow.
The legs move from one set of angles to the other through flexing and tipping. The skis have little or no pressure on the surface during the release. In PMTS Skiing this is called, "The float!" In this phase I also use the PMTS Skiing inside foot pull-back movement of the inside foot.
Angles develop further using increased tipping and flexing of the inside leg. The hips are dropped to the inside following the actions of the tipping leg. This isn't done by pushing, it's done by relaxation/bending and torso counter balance.
The upper body increases counter acting, which means turning the hips toward the outside of the turn. Notice the forward movement of my inside hand and pole, this increases upper body counter acting.
The key to developing angles like this, is the bending/shortening and tipping of the inside ski, boot and leg, but not by pressuring or extending the outside leg. Relaxing at the hip allows the body to drop lower. Don't be concerned about pressuring the outside ski, with angles pressure will be developed, and pressure will come to you. Keep tipping the feet and C.A. the torso to stay balanced.
A few words about selecting and using the boots correctly!
A word about ski boot flex. Many coaches these days think they should cut down boots and advise racers to get boots that are too soft. Here, in this photo, you can see the forward angle of my shins. I weigh 140 lbs, these are Head RD, B2 150 flex boots. It's not the weight or the size of the skier that should determine the boot flex, it's the quality of the coaching. Coaches who don't understand how to get a skier into movements that create forward moving hips in the turn, will try to make up for it by cutting down boots. This approach, makes boots so ridiculously soft, that the kids no longer trust the boots. If you coach properly and teach the kids to pull the feet back in transition; (instead of extending) the boots have plenty of forward angle to accommodate tip pressure. It's the coaching not the boots! I don't bend plastic when I ski. I use the resistance in the plastic at the front of the boot; it gives more than enough tip pressure if my hips are in the correct position to pressure the tips. This, if taught correctly, by pulling the feet back, in turn moves the hips forward, should be the way to achieve tip pressure, not by extending or by cutting down boots to make them bend.
