by Bluey » Mon Mar 01, 2004 12:26 pm
Hi nick,
I'm not quite sure what your confusion is........ but I think, the answer is that, the knuckles you need to concentrate on most, are the inside hand knuckles.
The inside hand is part of the inside "strong arm" position.
I think what SCSA is referring to when he says he wants to be able to see the first 2 knuckles is that ....during a turn, he's trying to visually see just the first two knuckles of his inside hand ( index & big finger knuckles).
If he can see those than, firstly IMHO, he knows his hand is sufficiently forward enough ( ie don't let it drop behind....keep it in front of you) and secondly, if you can see not only the first knuckle but also the second knuckle of the inside hand then the ski pole SHAFT is probably, approximately, close to the 90 degree angle to the ski angles, ie the ski pole SHAFT should now be pointing away from your body and towards the uphill part of the slope.
SCSA may want to jump in here and correct me but that's what I thought he was trying to say....the knuckles act as a kinda external cue........1 knuckle is too little , 2 knuckles is about right ( near enough to 90 degrees).....3 knuckles is too much, ie the pole basket will be unnecessarily too high....wasted effort and throws out the upper body angle.
As to your last point about upper body movement towards the new turn direction as you cross the fall line.... IMHO, there is no intentional movement in this direction other than anything you need to do, dynamically naturally, to keep your body generally centred fore/aft over the boot and your weight, generally, in a downward vertical alignment towards the the boot..... so as to optiminally bend the stance ski.