This reverse shoulder position helps to "angulate". If you turn your
shoulders out of the turn a bit it gets your weight out over the outside ski
where it will do most good in helping to steer through the turn. It also
moves the hips a bit to the inside of the turn, making the angle of the legs
to the snow slightly more acute. This bit of an angle helps to edge the
outside ski to better hold the snow instead of slipping out. Another
advantage of this technique is that by getting the weight over the outside
ski there is little or no weight on the inside ski, making is it possible to
lift the inside ski in order to do a skate or step turn to increase speed,
avoid an object in the snow or tighten the radius of the turn. The reverse
shoulder position also helps to keep the inside hand and arm well forward.
If they are allowed to drop behind the inside hip it is very difficult to
save yourself if you start to have problems.

This type of turning technique tends to be a little more aggressive than
steering through the turn so it is more useful in tight situations.
Steering through the turn is preferred in less aggressive turns because it
is a more aerodynamic position, especially if you can maintain a tuck. It
is a good idea to master both techniques so you can match your technique to
the course and snow conditions.

If in doubt, it is also a good idea to get out of the tracks before you get
too committed to the turn. As long as you keep in good position and don't
allow yourself to get locked into a snowplough position you have more
options on how to take the turn if you are out of the tracks.

Scott Elliot
http://www3.telus.net/selliot/

wrote in message
. ..
Speaking of downhill and tucks, one great little thing I can remember
out of that book was the "reverse-shoulder" technique for being able
to stay in the set track around corners at higher speeds. Does anybody
besides me still use that in races occasionally? I think maybe it's
considered old fashioned. You end up showing more frontal (or maybe
'sidal') area to the wind, but maybe save time or energy by not
having to take a ski out of the track. That technique had never occurred
to me before reading Marty Hall's description. Is he still skiing
the American Birkie every year? We've missed him at Keski recently.

Best, Peter