You must ski with your feet together

Ok, I admit it, I just don’t understand but I’m very willing to learn.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who can help me understand if there is a technical advantage to skiing with one’s feet jammed together.

Day after day I see people skiing in this way and I have to confess that it upsets me … To my mind they think they are doing so well and appear to be “posing” which set me to thinking – “Am I missing something here?”

So is there more to this “style” than just old habits refusing to go away? or is there actually some technical benefit to this style of skiing.

I should say that I have tried to ski like this and found it to be both hard work and inherently unstable, I certainly reverted to my normal style as soon as the going got steeper or icier.

For reference I am talking about skiing in perfect conditions on piste. I accept that for mogul skiing a closer foot stance is required but this is not what I’m thinking of.

Any help will me much appreciated.

Jan

I've done the same thing - tried with my legs together because I have seen people poncing around on the slopes doing it.

All it resulted in was me with no balance and a lot less control and thus a drop in speed and enjoyment.

I came to the conclusion that it is for only two purposes:

1, You want to pose in a neon one-piece (an oxymoron in itself)

or

2, You need to go for a wee.

When I was taught to ski (over 30 years ago - in Niederau), the style was that you had to keep your feet together. After an absence of 28 years from skiing, I went to Kranska Gora last year with my partner and found that the feet togther technique is very old-fashioned and frowned upon. As I am (in my mind at least)a youthful 41, I obviously learnt the more modern style (didn't wish to appear 'past it')- which is easier to control and gives much greater stability

Incidentally will be returning to Niederau next month 29 years after my last visit. Thanks for your other posts regarding Niederau. I have found your answers to others' questions really useful.Many Thanks

I think that more than anything it just comes down to when you learned to ski. A few years ago, skiing with the knees together was considered to be good form. These days the thinking has developed somewhat, as has the equipment which now lends itself more to other techniques.

Also, for many people skiing is a one time a year hobby and if they get a lot of enjoyment from skiing with their knees together then fair enough. Learning a new technique in the one week a year they get to hit the slopes may not be the top priority!

Have to agree with you on the one piece lycra suits theough...lets get rid of them for good!

Jan I Stenmark wrote:


Day after day I see people skiing in this way and I have to confess that it upsets me … To my mind they think they are doing so well and appear to be “posing” which set me to thinking – “Am I missing something here?”

Jan you nailed it. I like to ride up on the lift with them and ask why they're using cross country skis (they seldom have carvers). I guess it was an acomplishment when they learned to ski like that and they are not going to give it up.

Trencher

Well,

I can only speak for myself, but I learnt to ski in the 80's and early 90's. After the first few years of group classes where speed was everything and style came second (I would have been about eight), I mostly learnt by watching my brother who spent a season working in Val Thorens and he was of the hankerchief-between-knees school of skiing (this was late 80's).

I have mostly (or actually exclusively) skied on the old fasioned 'skinny' skis, so that explains part of it, but I also think it just feels (and looks!) a lot better. I like skiing off piste, moguls and steep slopes where I find the carving doesn't really work :wink:

Finally, I mostly ski at Christmas when the snow is dodgy and the pistes full. I find this technique allows me the straightest line just on the edge of the piste or just off it, where the snow is best! Perfect way to avoid all the crowds skidding over the icy patches in the middle with their modern, wide legged style...


Arthur

I also learned in the 80's and early to mid 90's. I also learned on skinny skis. After early "foreign ski schools" all of my teachers followed the BASI system. I was taught to keep my feet apart, carving was still "one leg" style though the other foot could be used when needed. I think much of the method stays with me. The focus was skills, never style. It was a very good foundation. But not the "bungee cord round both knees" torture. I escaped that one!! :mrgreen:

Actually, I think the mechanical wrist flicking of the poles which goes that that style of skiing is quite mesmerising. Almost hypnotic.


Trencher