I've seen much about 'driving' edges and getting low etc. in this thread.
That's fine but how to effectively edge and when to 'drive' them is the key.
Same idea with getting low. Some folks can visualize others are better
learning with feeling. The CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors Association) and
CANSI (Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors) generally use five
basic skills to develop and improve skiing:

Stance & Balance
Steering or Pivoting
Edging
Pressure Control
Timing & Coordination

All of these skills are evident in every turn we make, but we need to adjust
or meter their use constantly according to snow conditions and the dynamics
of the turn. Angulation is a key word in edging as described in an earlier
response. This is achieved by bending or articulating all the lower joints
including the hip, while keeping the upper body or center of mass centered
and in balance throughout the turn. Someone also mentioned in an earlier
response to feel the little toe in the rear boot, that's a great 'feel' to
strive for and should help you increase the edge angle of the rear ski.
Conversely, think of pressuring the inside ankle of your leading foot for
increased edge of the forward ski. You need to move your forward knee into
the turn and try to bend the ankle inside the boot to help achieve this.

One of the more important skills, often overlooked, when skiing the harder
conditions (groomers & ice) is Pressure Control. That's where I'm not sure
"driving" the edges is necessarily the best way to proceed. Much also
depends on the radius of turn you wish to make. Racers try to achieve a good
edge angle very early in the turn, then extend the joints (ankles, knees &
hips) laterally through the center of the turn and finish off the turn by
'sucking' back the joints or absorbing the pressure. Ideally you want to
strive for constant/even pressure on both skis throughout the turn in hard
or icy conditions. This way there is less chance of 'losing' one or both
edges and crashing to the inside of the turn, the painful old hip slide. If
you drive the edges too hard near the end of the turn (too much pressure at
once), this is invariably what will happen ... unless you're a slalom racer
and love the bullet proof stuff.

Use of the low stance may or may not be necessary, again depending on
conditions and the dynamics of the turns you wish to make. If you stay low
throughout the turn, it's more difficult to control the pressure on the
edges as described above, since you have no way of regulating by absorbing,
especially if you're skiing at any kind of speed. You've gone as low as you
can go and as more pressure builds at the end of the turn, you have nothing
left to absorb... Therefore, on the groomers, think about initiating the
turn fairly tall, joints almost straight as you make the lead change. Now
steer the skis into the new turn, do the angulation thing to start edging
and as the pressure builds under the skis, gradually suck up the legs to
keep the pressure even through the remainder of the turn. You can finish the
turn as low as you wish depending on your speed and how much you need to
absorb to keep the pressure regulated effectively. In preparation for the
next turn, think tall again, that is, stand up during the lead change which
will ease off the pressure in preparation for the next turn...easier to
steer that way. If you start the turn a little lower, then you may need to
think about extending a little at the beginning of the turn to keep the skis
on the snow.

A good drill to help get the feel of pressure control is to execute a bunch
of turns standing as tall as you can through the whole turn. Then do another
bunch getting as low as possible through the entire turn. Effective edging
can be a challenge in both of these scenarios. Finally, crank another bunch
of turns using your joints to full advantage, tall to initiate and low to
finish.... 'feel' the difference!

Mike


"EdV" wrote in message
ups.com...
I went to practice telmark turns on the green runs at Afton
Alps(Hastings, MN) last Sunday and didn't feel like I had I was
getting enough edge to feel in control. It was around 10 F on fresh
groomed. Last year I felt fine on these runs but the snow was just a
little slushy at 28F.

The question:

Can getting "lower" help. As in bending knees deeper. It seemed like
it was when I tried it but it was hard to tell on such short runs.
Recall being told this but I didn't really understand how that could
help edge control.

Thanks much,
Ed V.