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His 'n' Hers Alpine Tip
One
of the nice things about skiing is that
men and women share it.
If
not in equal numbers - yet - women can do everything
on skis that men can. Good skiing is based on technique,
not just strength. Good female skiers can go everywhere,
and just as well as the guys. A well-balanced gal of
110 pounds can easily out-ski a brute of twice her weight.
Here
are some early-season, mostly women, light-skier tips:
'A-frame' so what!
Women skier have long been told to get rid of their
knock-kneed, A-frame stance. Get rid of it? Why? They
generally have wider hips and closer-together knees;
they're made that way. Guys usually show the much-sought-after
parallel legs, whereas women's knees are a bit closer.
But don't let the knees fool you. The real measure
of efficiency is what goes on between the skis and the
snow. Skiers should be balanced on skis that are parallel,
both along their length and in their angle to the snow.
Don't worry about slight differences in stance. Work
both skis together; using the stance that Mama Nature
gave you!
Watch out, Elvis.
Even though women do not have the same muscle strength
as men, putting their hips inside the turn provides
the leverage they need to resist the forces of the turn.
With a bit more strength, men can afford to use a bit
less hip and generally ski a bit 'squarer,'
facing their ski tips a bit more.
Brains, not brawn.
Because
they rely less on muscle strength, good female skiers
show a more subtle approach to the sport. A lot of guys
could learn from this. Good skiing for men or women
is about balance. Stay centered between tip and tail.
Let the skis and legs do the turning, not the pelvis
and upper body. Get the job done with the least amount
of effort. Use finesse , darling, not
brute strength.
From
the beginner slope to the World Cup there is not really
a different technique for male and female skiers - only slight adjustments that occur naturally because
we live in different bodies. Man or woman, the task
is getting the job done efficiently. In a sport ruled
by gravity, good female skiers apply precision and finesse
- a lot of men
would do well to do the same.
BY
JOHN GILLIES
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