I am about to post a series of articles on the forum, topics such as ?Stance width, and ?Inside ski pull-back.? I had them almost completed and then I saw this post from, Ski Synergy about the Stanford research. Found on page 4 in (Pics from June 04 Mt Hood Race Camp) thread.
I am aware of this research and so is Bob Hintermeister. Bob knows Dr. Tom Andriacchi. We have discussed the same topic and come to the same conclusions, on a number of occasions. In fact, my conclusions after studying the biomechanics of the flexed leg, is that the hamstring muscles when the feet are hip width and the knee flexed below fifteen or twenty degrees, contribute to adduction. Bob confirmed that this is a strong possibility. Most biomechanics texts will attest that the hamstrings contribute to internal rotation after a certain point of flexion. What this means is that there is strong rotary force available to twist the skis, but you really have to honker down to get it. If a skier learns that this is an acceptable method he?ll use it, especially when he gets into difficult situations or when in trouble.
The two articles I was working on are now even more relevant given the latest posts on the topics of wide stance and low hips. Before I post them I offer this evaluation.
The following, again, will be conceived by the PSIA gang, as a pat on our backs, but here goes. I have been writing that a wide stance, leg steering, and rotary movements are bad particularly for beginners and learning skiers, for the past ten years.
When in a wide stance and legs flexed, hips low, the skis need that much more leverage to turn; this force is generated from the bigger muscles higher on the body. You can easily see the image of the wedge stance skier that cranks the skis with forceful leg movements against a resisting base. The torque goes directly into the knees.
In my books and courses we call the femur rotation muscles ?the bad-ductors?, as they are the muscles that internally rotate and adduct the femurs creating steering, skidding, rotation and knock-kneed skiers.
Learning with the wide stance and leg steering is not only damaging to your skiing, but to your body. In fact, that?s what began my riff with PSIA. I was adamant that a system directed by leg steering was a bad learning progression, and it was damaging to your knees and other joints.
Also, the wedge and wedge Christie are difficult to accomplish without steering, so they are stuck with the steering dilemma. They would need to revamp their whole certification program to achieve a change in their ski instruction. That won?t happen!
I know PSIA instructors will come out swearing that they do not teach this approach.
I can already see their response to this post, ?It?s just Harald Harb trying to promote himself again.?
The point is, it doesn?t matter what you don?t think you are teaching, the results created by teaching rotary movements and leg steering are flat unnecessary in this modern era, with the understanding and tools we have. In PMTS, we shun rotary movements in favor of foot and ski tipping, even with tipping movements, we often see excessive steering.
This isn?t promotion or marketing it is reality, we are offering skiing fun and efficiency. I know, I won?t change PSIA, that?s evident, but if I can reach and influence even a few thousand skiers, it?s worth the effort.
PSIA will never concede that they are on the wrong track with the wide stance, and steering emphasis.
They are forced to take this position, as at this point they would lose credibility if they reversed themselves. They lost all credibility with me years ago. They are now trying to move away from their teachings by allowing all systems to be taught under the PSIA banner. The problem is that their certification process is based on the steering movement emphasis. All instructors have to study this program and duplicate it to become certified. It has been documented time and time again that what has been studied and certified, will be taught by instructors.
They will resist making these essential changes, as it would force most of their examiners, trainers and instructors to start over and learn a new approach to skiing. To many people, too invested and in decision making positions.