Stack, Separate and Press

M. Odermatt/L.M.P. Group/Alamy

Overview

  • Movement 5: Stack your outside leg and core keeping your shoulders level to the snow by separating just below the shoulders, and press your foot against the outside ski.

  • This description is the fifth of eight modules included in the Ski Technique module, describing how elite skiers and racers carve turns.

  • The outside leg is bio mechanically strong when the ankle, leg, hips, core and shoulders are stacked on top of each other.

  • John Leffler, the well known U.S.A. race coach, demonstrates how to stack the body and separate just below the shoulders in this video. Watch for about a minute from where this video starts, until Leffler begins talking about gravity.

Video by Deb Armstrong and Ski Strong

Marco Odermatt and Mikaela Shiffrin stack their bodies against their outside skis, keeping their shoulders mostly level with the snow in the following images.

M. Odermatt/Image by /L.M.P. Group/Alamy/Graphics by ARM

Shiffrin/ Image by J. Makovec/Alamy/Graphics by ARM

How to Separate Below the Shoulders

  1. Level the shoulders to prevent the body leaning away from the outside ski. This action will cause the body to “Separate”.

  2. To feel where to Separate, place your hands against your rib cage just below your shoulders. Lower one elbow then the other and you will feel how the shoulders can tip side to side or Separate.

Image by ARM

Press and Resist

  1. When carving a turn an objective is to have all your pressure against the outside ski with no pressure on the inside ski.

  2. The stacked leg presses firmly against the outside ski through the arch of the foot, and by resisting the forces pushing back, causes the ski to bend, carve, and accelerate. Keep your shins flexed forward against the tongues or cuffs of both boots.

  3. It’s essential to avoid pushing too aggressively, as this can release the energy from the ski and reduce the duration of the carving action.

  4. Avoid separating at the waist as this action applies pressure to the inside ski and interrupts the stacking of the core over the stacked outside leg. Words and phrases related to separating at the waist that are not included in the Alpine Race Method: ‘Bend like a banana,’ ‘Make the shape of a C,’ and ‘Feel a pinch at the waist.’

Watch this racer stack his core over his outside leg while keeping his shoulders mostly level, in this video.

Video by Shred.Riders

Coach’s Tip: Avoid trying to make your outside leg long, straight, or extended. Here’s why:

  • When starting a new turn in an athletic stance while maintaining ankle flexion, the outside leg remains the same length.

  • The inside leg shortens naturally due to the slope of the hill or by actively lifting the heel, making the outside leg appear longer.

Key Takeaways

  1. Stacking for Alignment: Strength and stability in skiing are maximized when the ankle, leg, hips, core, and shoulders are stacked in alignment.

  2. Separation for Balance: Separating just below the shoulders helps prevent the upper body from leaning away from the outside ski, maintaining balance and control.

  3. Press and Resist: Applying pressure against the outside ski is critical for carving. A stacked outside leg resists pressures pushing back against the foot, causing the ski to bend, carve and accelerate.

Suggested Learning Modules

Go to Ski Technique 6. Shorten the Inside Leg

Return to Ski Technique

Important Message: Skiing and ski racing involve inherent risks. It’s essential to ski responsibly and stay within your skill level and personal comfort limits.