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Time Machine, 1930's - Straight Running
Lastly we explored the techniques for turning the skis in the
1930's, specifically the pure stem, in the family of the "steered turns". Before we move on to the next described technique, the telemark turn, I thought, being familiar with the material, that it would be best to spend a bit of time on the descriptions of the straight running techniques as they seem to relate to the telemark. When straight running, you must hunch the shoulders forward. In this case your weight must be forward, whereas, your hands and knees could be forward and yet your weight still be back. When possible you must increase your speed by heaving your shoulders forward. This method has advantages over crouching to decrease wind resistance, as crouching is an unsteady position, wind resistance makes little difference at low speed, and when upright you are in position to punt or adopt any other tactics which may be necessary. Hands should be held out to the sides, elbows up to keep the shoulders hunched forward. Allow the arms to move up and down to maintain balance. Knees should be locked together, rear knee tucked in back of the front one. In this way both legs can be controlled together, otherwise they would require separate attention. Also, in this way it is easier to fall into the telemark position should the need arise. If the feet can not be held together it is still essential for the knees to be as close together as possible so that the skis are not on their outside edges. In exception to the above rule, in deep snow or breakable crust you must run with the weight back by pulling up on the toe strap. When running in this way you must be alert for a patch of hard snow, and move your weight forward before reaching it or else you may be flung back by the sudden increase in speed. When moving from hard snow to soft snow or crust, lift the tips above the snow by pulling on the toe straps. If the snow is too deep for this, then adopt the telemark position. In varying conditions of hard and soft snow, when you are lurched back and forth, the safest position is the telemark position. To change from normal to telemark, thrust one leg forward, being certain that the knee is forward over the toe. Pull back the shoulders, the body must be erect from the waist upwards. If you feel unsteady, move the front ski farther forward, while still keeping the knee over the toe. Keep the skis dead together by pressing the thighs together. The weight must not be forward or the rear ski will sink, and most probably break the point. The telemark is advantageous when fore and aft stability, not lateral stability is in danger. The telemark position must be abandoned when there is no longer a need for it. If the ground steepens ahead of you, you must lean as forward as possible to force the tips down and keep them in contact with the slope. If you are to land on hard snow you must be careful not to let your weight fall back, and must absorb shock by falling into the telemark position. If landing in soft snow, you must move your weight back by pulling the toe straps up. As you lose speed, you should adopt the telemark postition. |
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