In PMTS everything I have written reduces or eliminates the need to extend the legs in a way that creates pressure to the snow surface or to the skis. This is an important awareness in one?s skiing, but few skiers ever discover it or understand it. Ski instruction obviously doesn?t understand the damaging effects of extending and most coaches don?t realize what it does to skiers. Why are we so adamant about ?no extending?, the answer may not be as obvious as we ? the insiders? of PMTS think. So here is a list for those who are not PMTS aware.
-Extending disconnects the CG from the skis
-Extending pushes the CG away from the balancing point
-Extending eliminates the ability to tip the skis
-Extending delays the entry to the next turn
-Extending eliminates the legs from making quick movements
-Extending or pushing against the snow puts skiers out of balance
-Extending is tiring
-Extending interrupts movement to the next turn or downhill
-Bending makes tipping easier
-Bending the legs increases tipping range
-Bending allow for quick edge changes
-Bending increases terrain absorbing ability
-Bending keeps you closer to the snow
-Bending, the inside leg once skis are engaged draws the hip to the snow
-Bending, the inside leg allows higher tipping and lengthening of the outside leg
-Bending allows foot pull back
-Bending allows you to make tighter arcs, shorter turns and therefore gives skiers more control
When extension is used none of the bending benefits are available.
So what?s the most important Essential, Tipping or Flexing / Bending?.