I went to Killington on Friday and watched the WC event. It was great to see to local skiers win the event David Babic and Hanna Kearney each took first place.
I watched the event standing between the 1st and 2nd jumps. I enjoyed watching the women skiers more than the men. The women focus less on speed and more on technique. The most interesting part for me was attempting to further understand shoulder suppression. Some skiers were more active with thier pole plants and moving thier body position and reaching thiers hands for the back side of the bump. However I noticed many skiers using the shoulder suppression technique.
1) It's an ideal posture that keeps the arms and elbows more contained near the body but still allows for driving the hands down the fall line. Think of it more as pinching the lats and triceps together and less as a static, upper arms pinned to the body image.
Jim,
I have a much better understanding of your qoute above after watching the real skiers Friday. I was in awe at how little the arms and elbows move. When I ski I really reach for the lower part of the back side of the bump. These world cup skiers flick thier wrists with hardly any arm movement and just touch the top back side of the bump.
It was an awesome competition, well worth the drive. I think next week I may have to make a trip to Stowe, midweek. The temps are raising and there is a short window for some perfect bump skiing.
