SPORTS
Comparing Golf & Skiing, Part 2
by Chip Dwyer
Golf and skiing compare in numerous ways. This time let us consider how both skiers and golfers try to get ahead of the game.
Going to a new golf course, good players know it is critical to be acquainted with the greens. So they perform on the practice green the long, medium and short putts. Then when they play the course later on, reading the breaks and speed of the greens becomes easier, especially if the starter says the practice green is similar to the greens on the course. The starter might add gems of information like the greens break “away from the mountain” or “towards the nearest water.” On courses you may or may not know there is a good way to get ahead of the course while warming up at the range. Near the end of your bucket of balls, try playing the first four holes right at the range. By this I mean, hit a tee shot at the fourth hole (picturing the hole in your mind) then the approach shot using a spot on the range as the flag stick. Do this for the third, second and first holes before you head to the starter on the first tee. Now mentally you are prepared and have planned ahead for the starting holes where most people struggle. Later in the round you might approach a par 5 that is not reachable in two. To have a good chance at birdie, before you just get up and hit with your driver, plan how to set-up the most important shot on this hole, your shot to the green. This might mean using a 3 wood off the tee and then a 5 iron from the fairway that will leave you the perfect distance for your full wedge swing into the green.
Modern skiing has us skiing on two skis (gone are the days of lifting the inside ski off the snow) with the flow of movements of the body having a profound influence on edge penetration. The turns should be connected to each other seamlessly and the skier must try to be ahead of the chosen path. Versatility comes from being able to change tactics and technique so the skier is not stuck with the one radius that the skis are designed to carve. Stance width, amount of edge angle, vertical motion, and rotating of the legs or the torso all contribute this versatility and effectiveness.
To get ahead of the turn in skiing we are constantly moving to where we are going next, and where we are going next is always changing. An exercise I do to get in shape for ski season is a great example of this phenomenon. It is called “Emily’s.” To do these you lie on your back with your legs straight up. Then you start swinging your legs back and forth, from side to side. To do this well and not hurt yourself, you must control the legs as they near the ground. This is where we get ahead of the movement. Before the legs can be swung the next direction you must slow them down using your core. To me, this is a great example of getting ahead of the movement.
One drill I do for my own skiing that is designed to help me move aggressively into the next turn is sort of a one-ski drill. I finish the turn only on the outside ski and then try to start the next turn still on this ski. To accomplish this you must move your core towards the direction of the next turn while edge change and leg length changes. I place both skis down to control the middle of the turn and then lift the inside ski off at the end of the turn to do the drill in the next direction. To do this drill well, you must get ahead of the edge change and move your center of mass aggressively forward and into the direction of the new turn. There is no getting away with sitting back or being stiff legged in this drill.
Another drill that teaches getting ahead of the movement is the “Javelin Turn.” This is more of a rotational-focused drill then the previous drill. When a good separation of the upper and lower body is needed to prepare (get ahead of) for the need of a dynamic rotation of the legs in the start of the next turn, this drill is dynamite. To start learning javelin turns, do some wedge turns on green or blue terrain with your shoulders and hips trying to stay facing down the hill. Next, to create the javelin turn, lift the inside ski off the snow sometime near the middle of the turn and try to have it crossing over the supporting ski (outside ski) during the finish phase of the turn. Being careful not to place the inside ski down while in this javelin position, you should be able to link javelin turns. With practice, this will teach the outside leg to keep turning in the finish of the turn, while the upper body anticipates the moves needed to be ahead of the next turn.
Do these drills while warming up in the morning and you will know the feeling of being ahead of your turns, whether you are doing short radius turns with a blend of skidding and carving or some medium radius turns taking advantage of your shaped skis design.
By Chip Dwyer: Killington Ski School & Golf School Pro © Chip Dwyer 2009