Why some World Cup racers are successful and others not.

The first two racers are similar in body angle and hip position. Their ski angles which is what rally counts are also similar.

When you look at the bottom photo you see a different story. The hip is dumped into the hill and the skis are not as angled. Ted's hips are also much further behind his boots.

Ted is struggling these past two seasons in slalom and the reasons are evident. He is behind his skis, not achieving angles with his skis compared to the best slalom skiers. 

Some of Ted's problems are related to his ski boot set up. But this gets complicated and he is not getting the help he needs.

Christian Neureither 

Hirscher has completed more turn at this point than the other two racers. He consistently gets more turn completed than any other racer, because he develops more rebound and ski energy from each turn.

 

                                                    Marcel Hirscher

                                                        Ted Ligety

Baring an injury, Marcel Hirscher is your World Cup overall winner for 2012.

When Hirscher is on his game no one can touch him. His technique and aggression,  are taking ski racing to a new level. The rest of the field has to figure out how to lift their attack and technique. When you think your feet are too close together while skiing, look at the world cup skiers in slalom.

Feet together, narrow up your stance

When you think your feet are too close together, watch the world cup racers.

Technique break downs and poor boot set up, makes it tough for Ted to score on the World Cup.

In this photo, Ted is totally out of balance.

Ted is fighting two battles in slalom this season. One is his back seated position and the other is his boot set up. Ted skis mostly with his hips behind his boots in slalom, which doesn't work when the gates are close and turns are quick. In GS there is more time between gates so he can adjust. 

Schild, makes it 5 in a row, two Austrians on Podium.

Slalom Queen stomps her authority on the world, wins by 1 second. point 4.

Maze 2nd.