Super Athletes Make It Look Easy

[JohnSKepler]

As a relative newb to this sport I don't know if this video is so well-known that it is annoying to see it "posted again," but it's brand new to me. I just don't understand how super athletes are able to do what they do?!?! I watch in envy and admiration and think "How ?"

[DropKneeDiehard]

Great vid thanks for that
Brings back lots of memories.
That was the vid that got me into XC skiing.
The way he does his P turns is interesting
They are as Steve Barnett in His classic book "Cross Country Downhill" describes as Open turns which confused a lot of People so much so he dropped that chapter from the third edition of his book.
Basically a racing scissor turn.
How good is diagonal stride.....I love how he brought skating into the sport.

[CwmRaider]

Check out the "Red Bull Nordix". Crazy what some people manage with skinnies

[lowangle al]

That was a new one for me, thanks for posting it. Yeah, those P turns in the beginning were impressive. It must take a lot of precision to make that gear turn like that.

[fisheater]

I don’t remember seeing it before, the skiing sure was impressive! My feet got cold looking at his shoes! Thanks @JohnSKepler !

[Chisana]

Wow! Thanks for posting this great flick!

[JohnSKepler]

We’ve all seen super athletes. I remember being at Auburn when Bo Jackson was there. He was just on a different level and the things he was able to do made no sense. He once ran 5 yards, horizontally, along the outfield wall, to catch a ball. In the US we tend to group super athletes into appearance. Big football players and tall basketball players. Messi is 5’6” and the best soccer player in the world for a decade. He’s dedicated, yes, but he’s a super athlete, though doesn’t LOOK like one. There are many of these.

Bill Koch is in the same category. I simply don’t understand how he skis like that. And I was quite a good footballer in my day. A ‘decent’ athlete. How does he get the lateral stability he needs with no ankle support? Zero. I try those jump turns like he’s doing and my skis just slip away. It’s something intangible that I don’t think can be easily captured with ‘science.’ But, it is marvelous and fun to watch, and dream about.

[lowangle al]

"How does he get the lateral stability to turn like that?"

It must be precision, because you can't power that gear into doing what you want. When he weights his skis they are already going in the direction THEY want to go. Man he's fast though.

[Stephen]

It must be precision, because you can't power that gear into doing what you want. When he weights his skis they are already going in the direction THEY want to go. Man he's fast though.

Love this move…

[lowangle al]

One other thing the film demonstrates is that no matter how good you are, if you ski aggressively, you will crash on light gear.