Down Under the Sloped Ceiling: Feet, Shins, Knees and Body to Maximize Edge Angle

It all starts with the feet:

• pronation of the outside foot

• supination of the foot that becomes the inside foot

This is the first activation of the edge.

When you are about one-third of the way through the turn and are about to enter the central, steepest section, the shins and knees must take over from the feet:

• shins seeking the inside of the turn

• knees seeking the snow

• shoulders and the body’s mass moving downhill, following the loss of elevation

The image is that of sliding under a ceiling tilted to match the slope: the entire mass of the body must move down as the terrain drops.

The result? After the initial activation of the feet, the skis’ edge angle increases dramatically, the skis come under load, deform more and finish the turn quickly and effectively, with the body always centered and not left behind.

Intention is also essential: already at the turn entry, you must know where you want to exit. As you push through acceleration, your knees point toward that goal, as if they were two pistols aimed at the area where the turn will finish.

Feet that activate, body moving down, edges increasing: this is the path to more powerful, fluid and precise skiing.