Pivot Slips

Activity Description

The skier pivots their skis 180 degrees from a sideslip to a sideslip facing the other direction. Skier maintains a consistent path of travel down the fall line. This activity may be modified to use either extension or retraction movements.

Why This Activity Will Be Useful:

This activity develops and refines rotation control skills by focusing on turning the feet and legs accurately and consistently, separate of the upper body. Accurate management of fore/aft and lateral pressure control allows the skier pivot the skis in a narrow corridor while keeping the pivot point of the skis under foot. These skills and movements are very useful for developing the ability to ski moguls, trees, and narrow spaces.

What The Skis Do (EFFECT):

• Skis pivot for roughly the same duration as they slip (sideslip may be slightly longer)
• Pivot points are under center of each ski
• Skis are pivoted at a consistent rate and at a similar time
• Skis are tipped/untipped at similar rate and time
• Skis sideslip at consistent rate, no edge set
• Skis remain parallel and stance width is consistent.
• Tip lead present in sideslipping is a result of hip lead and pitch of the hill

How the Body Moves (CAUSE):

• Flexion and extension movements adjust the fore/aft and lateral relation ship of the center of mass to the base of support.
• Lateral tipping of the feet/ankles releases edges and flattens both skis to allow them to be pivoted.
• Rotating/turning of both legs (femurs in the hip sockets) separate from the upper body control the skis’ rotation
• Extension/flexion movements of the ankles/knees/hips facilitate edge release by directing the Center of Mass down the fall line.
• Steering/pivoting rate is relatively slow and continuous while the sideslip speed is relatively fast
• Maintain a hip width stance with the hips facing predominantly down the hill.
• Tip lead matches hip lead plus pitch of the hill

Where:
• Steep blue, well-groomed pitch with consistent fall line.
• Performed in a corridor determined by each foot staying in the fall line. (Corridor width is approximately ski length +2’).

Learning/Teaching Cues

Specific areas of movement and skill development should be identified based on movement analysis.

Other activities to practice to develop skills and movement blends for this activity: Sideslips, Linked Sideslips.

• Be aware of the tendency to use a step, stem, push-off, or upper body rotation to pivot the skis or change edges. These are usually used to compensate for mismanaged fore/aft or lateral pressure control
• When learning this activity, give consideration to range of motion in the hip socket, core strength, and balance over the whole foot.
• While this activity focuses mainly on rotational and pressure control skills, ineffective edging movements can limit the ability to pivot the skis at the same rate and time, especially in the transition/initiation phase of the turn. If this is a limit, develop these movements and skills through focused practice, and then add into this activity (see railroad track and garland activities.