Do I over analyze, certainly. But it's fair to argue that in the real world many people "dumb down" complex issues, and, I think it's fair to offer a counter point.
LP:? I'm not sure, did you just refer to me in a dumbing down context?? ?
Anyway, I'm willing to keep on stirring the pot.
I'm not sure what your "counter point" is?? No one is arguing against stronger ankles or the role of the ankle in initiating tipping or the role of tipping in initiating turns.? But notwithstanding my facetious post, I do believe that the real value of the ankle exercises is strengthening the muscles that control the ankle.? I know when they do alignments at HH camps they check for limited range of motion, but as long as you have the minimal range of motion then developing INCREASED range of motion shouldn't have any effect (because inside a boot you can't use it).
Counterpoint:? I noticed last year that, when skiing with my Watea 84's on some really crusty sun-baked snow at SnowBasin, my ankles were really sore by the end of the day.? I assume that this is becxause I didn't have the ankle strength to hold the skis on edge with muscles and so my foot was collapsing my ankle against the side of the boot.? I need more strength to hold the tipping in the boot, not more range of motion so I can tip more?? Tipping more is exerting more force in the tipping movement, not tipping farther.? Tipping with more force implies strength, not range of motion?? Achieving high "snow to ski" edge angles doesn't require greater tipping in the boot, it just requires continued tipping force and corresponding greater angulation?
In fact, range of motion is probably more important with softer boots like Ron uses than with stiffer boots like you use, because softer boots will allow more range of motion inside the boot (like 3mm instead of 2)?
And, just to be clear, I am not at all upset and I think overanalyzing is a good thing.? I too do it all the time. (or at least thats what Lynn tells me)
Hi Jim,
My analytic thinker brother! As my old boss would say, "Let's have a dialogue" which means actively listening and questioning for clarity.
I knew "dumbing down" would get me trouble with someone, and, honestly, no one is the specific subject nor the intent to offend. There is a saying I'm in agreement with 95% of the time: "Simple solutions to complex problems are wrong". ?We all try to make skiing instruction easy and simple; in fact, skiing is a sport of dynamic body positions. I hesitate to use terms like "always" and "never".
Having said that, I'll never cycle just breathing through my eyes. There is not really a "counter point" in my last post, what I'm claiming is a anyone's simple right to challenge what others post. But included in that challenge should be informational material explaining the difference, hence, I tried to explain foot exercises in terms of PMTS fundamentals like tipping.
With respect to your experience with tired ankles last year, that's very similar to what I experience early in the ski year only I would offer my feet are tired. More specifically, the muscles/connection tissue in my feet are tired. This spoke to the thought that we have ski specific muscles that, unexercised, will fatigue. So performing jbotti like exercises should help prevent foot fatigue. Skiing in uneven challenging snow conditions requires constant automatic corrections by the feet and the rest of the body, so all body parts fatigue quicker.
There is no doubt in my mind that the more actively the foot tries to rotate and pushes against the inside liner of your ski boot, your amount of tipping as seen in the knee will increase. Also, the more you try to rotate your locked foot, the more tired you foot becomes. Try a dryland exercise of tipping using your knee only and then do it with a real dynamic rolling of the outside of your foot. In Harb's Essentials, he uses a dryland tipping board to teach getting to bigger angles, but, you need to put more effort into it.
Range of Motion in ski boots is a little more complex, as either internal or external ROM is possible. Ski boots have a forward flex rating system. Harb believes in rigid boots to promote tipping, most in PSIA tout softer boots. Internally, you really don't want a range of motion other than to wiggle your toes, but, most people can compress their liners a little.
So, is "tip more" a dumbing down or is the above over-analysis. We all have the truth. To your own self be true.