|
A two-step taken as the skier enters a dip will speed him through and help him up the other side. Opportunities for such use of the step are frequent. Skating.—A pleasant variation for gradual descents in suitable snow, and most useful for rapid and accurate changes of direction in dense wood-running, is the skat- ing stride. This stride should not be a spasmodic picking up of alternate skis and subsequent struggle for balance. Edge one ski sharply on the inside edge and strike off briskly from that ski at an angle of about 30° on the other ski, first giving a thrust with the edged ski and following through smoothly and immediately with a strong backward thrust with both poles. Strive for a long glide, with the weight well over the gliding ski. Near the end of the glide, slowly edge the gliding ski in preparation for the next stride. The skier will soon learn not to overshift the weight onto the outside edge of the gliding ski, because he will probably fall when he does so; but, on the other hand, he will never know the full effectiveness of the stride if he doesn't shift his weight far enough over the gliding ski. |
|||
|
