How to XCD on NNN/SNS?

[CIMA]

Snippet 06: Basics (part 2 of 2)

In the techniques of BC skiing, making turns is not essential. Moving safely and efficiently across the terrains comes first always. For that purpose, you may need to review the basics of XC techniques as described in the basic section of the Australian Nordic Ski Manual.

Direct descent shouldn't be underestimated. That's the basis of all downhill techniques. Always anticipate sudden change of terrain and snow conditions. Right before those changes occur, take a telemark position. The width of the stance and the height of the positions would depend. Keeping your abdominal pressure high is a good way to counter those changes also.

[video][/video]

Look scary?
That would happen to you, also.

[video][/video]

However, you don't have to go overboard like above video.
That would be left for advanced XCD skiers.

[video][/video]

Shuffling your feet during direct descend is a very good practice for getting a sense of flotation on powder.

If you get a knack of riding on skis, that means you have mastered 80% of all the XCD techniques.

[CIMA]

Snippet 07: Turns (1 of )

There is nothing special to make turns on NNN/BC.
If you get accustomed to riding skinny skis by practicing direct descend repeatedly, then next thing you do is just to apply your telemark techniques you've learned already.

[video][/video]

Look easy?

Then, go on to the next video:

[video][/video]

Did you find any differences? If you need another example of his skiing, watch this.

The guy in the second video is making turns beautifully and stably on his 130cm XC ski with no edges and descending rough corn snow slope with an angle of estimated 40 degree or more. He seems relaxed, and his turns look efficient.

There are many telemark theories out there, and those must have been discussed many times in this BBS already. So I'm not going to be critical of each of them. Instead, I'd like to introduce later a method that makes you feel easy and leaves you less stress as a result. However, don't expect much because I'm still a learner.

[Raventele]

Some nice skiing, Cima!

[CIMA]

Snippet 07: Turns (2 of )

You may wonder if there is an edge when you make turns on the XCD gear.
Yes, there definitely is!
The keyword is "ankle." If you didn't make the most use of your ankles, you wouldn't find any goodness in XCD except the lightness of the gear.
Soft XCD boots enable your ankles to move freely. As a result, you'll gain the following three advantages when you make turns:

• low-impact on powder
• quick initiation of turn
• comfort

Before elaborating on each of them, let's check how the "right" movements of ankles would look like by watching the following video:

[video][/video]

This video demonstrates an exercise for increasing the mobility of ankles.
We can see that a "right" direction of shin's movement during dorsiflexion points outside foot (to the fifth toe). If the ankle leans to that direction while skiing, you can make natural turns and feel comfortable with the movement. In that case, you would feel little weight on the ball of the first toe, and instead you would feel as if your weight diminishes along with the direction of the fifth toe.

Unfortunately, there are many who weight on their first toes excessively. As a result, their shins lean to the "wrong" directions (to the first toes). In that case, the stresses concentrate in the balls of the first toes, hence the stresses would put on the brake for their movement. That brake would work negatively when you ski on powder. In addition, those stresses would translate to their knees and may result in knee injuries in the long run.

One of the easiest ways to know your "habit" of ankle movement, check if you feel a sense of "scuffing" shoe insole by your fifth toe at every step while walking. If you feel in that way, your ankles are moving to-and-fro along with the "right" directions. If not, you may be weighting on the first toes too much. Habitual excessive weighting on the first toes is considered a cause of bunion.

[Raventele]

This will never work: he's knee-to-ski!! Old School pinner tele!!

[CIMA]

Ron,

If your intention is one of the followings:

• trolling
• vandalizing
• harassing

please leave this thread. Or I'll conclude the series here.

[Raventele]

How about humour bro ? You sure dishing it in other threads and on other forums so relax and take some!

[MikeK]

Not everyone's sense of humor, just like their choice of binding, is the same.

[CIMA]

The upper level of my patience would be somewhere around silly practical jokes of the Car Talk.


(Dar.fm)

However, I don't how I'll behave if you talk like the Monty Python:

[video][/video]

Anyway, I'll take a break to collect some contents for learners.

[TeleMarcin]

I propose let's keep this thread pertaining to the content, as we have the thread The NNN/BC thruth thread to prove that 3pins sucks and are not "real" XCD