This is excellent discussion and great learning.
I have some, I think, related question I hope people will comment on.
Question 1: Crossover vs. crossunder and how does it relate to primary movements
I am founding a lot of talk about cross-over vs. cross-under techniques.
Some on the internet in different places, some can be found on epic.
These terms, I think, are derived from racing world lingo (see for example
http://www.youcanski.com/english/coachi ... hnique.htm).
Cross-under is defined as skis crossing under CM, cross over is defined as CM crossing over the skis. Notice that the definitions are not very good from the logic standpoint. Since they imply relative movement of CM and skis, by the above definitions of crossunder and crossover are actually the same thing.
I think the intention is to create distinction between forcing body into next turn (crossover) and allowing the skis to do more of the work so that they carve under your body (crossunder).
I never spend much time thinking about this distinction, since I could not see how it relates to primary movements. It may be that aggressive LTE tipping done early in the super-phantom style accelerates CM moving "over" while skiing based more on relaxing and flexing to release is more CM "under". I do not see, however, the term being that important in my skiing.
I would appreciate people comment on this.
Question 2: flexing, fore-aft balance and Sir Isaac Newton
I think that a good way to flex to release is simply to relax quads. This has a tendency of moving fore-aft balance a bit aft, especially if the end of the turn the skier is loading the tails or on Harb Carvers loading the big two wheels in the back of carver.
In many places in the book(s) flexing has also been described as pulling knees toward skiers torso. I would like to focus on this approach as it seems to me that it results in more immediate regaining of fore balance.
Here is my question: If I pull knees up towards my torso, Newton?s 3rd will cause my torso to move down a bit. This is not a full blown good-morning type of down, but a bit of if is there. It is not an active good morning, rather a reactive movement caused by leg flex. Is this something that should be resisted?
If I am countered at the end of the turn and try to pull my legs aggressively up (sideways to the torso) this will (by Newton?s 3rd) move the upper body down (a little good morning facing downhill) forcing CM down the slope in a way similar to described by original jclayton post.
I sense that this may be wrong, but maybe it OK since it is not forced by upperbody, but rather result of leg flexing action. Please help me resolve my confusion.
I hope I made my questions clear.
Thanks,
Robert