Alpine Coaching Dictionary apex: / - peks/ The point in a ski turn that A coincides with the fall-line. arc: /ɑrk/ The curved track left by a carved ab·sor·bing: / Body əbˈzɔːbɪŋ/ v. turn. movements such as flexing and extending to ath·le·tic stance: /aTHˈletik stans/ A body help reduce, increase, or maintain the posture such that the skier is pressure on the skis base or edges that biomechanically aligned in their joints and results from terrain variations or turn muscle lengths so they can react optimally dynamics. to external forces or respond with agile aero·dy·nam·ics: /ar- -d - nam-iks/ movements as the demand dictates. Refers to how well an athlete moves through the air. The smaller the skier can make themselves usually the more aerodynamic they are. B aft: / aft/ adv. Toward the rear or tail of the banking: The action, or result, of tipping ski(s). the entire body toward the inside of the ski align·ment: /əˈlaɪnmənt/ 1: The positioning turn. Usually has a negative connotation. of the body so that the forces derived from blocking pole plant: The action of the interaction of the skis on the snow pass stabilizing the torso through pole contact through the body's center of mass to produce with the snow in conjunction with the edge the intended movement. 2: The set at turn completion. –Syn. breaking pole interrelationship of the ski boot forward plant. lean, zeppa, canting, and the binding's delta angle on the stance of the skier. an·kle an·gu·la·tion: / a -k l/ Rotation of C the ankle to assist with edging the ski. carving: The skis, traveling along their an·gu·la·tion: Creating lateral angles in the longitudinal axis through the arc of a turn, body for balance while resisting the external where the tails follow as closely as forces from the turn or gravity. This can physically possible the same path as the tips occur with the hip, knee, ankle, or a of the skis. combination of the three. –Syn. comma catching the edge: slang. Establish balance position. and pressure quickly on new outside ski. an·tic·i·pa·tion: /anˌtisəˈpāSHən/ n. 1: A center-of-mass: The point in the skier’s movement in preparation for turning, during body where the skier’s weight is which the upper and lower body are brought concentrated during a specific body posture. into a twisted relationship. The consequently –Syn. CM, CoM, center of gravity. The stretched muscles are quicker and stronger terms "center-of-mass" and "center-of- in contracting and causing movement. The gravity" can be used synonymously. hips play an intermediary role. A skier can cen·trif·u·gal force: /senˈtrif(y)əgəl fɔrs/ A anticipate by twisting the torso in relation to pseudo-force, or effect, that is "felt" when the legs, or the legs in relation to the torso. the skier is attempting to following a curved Usually, both mechanisms interact with one path. being dominant. 2: Mental expectation for cen·trip·e·tal force: /senˈtripətl fɔrs / A any action on skis precedes the physical force that causes a body to follow a curved execution of movements. path; always directed toward the center of the curved path. In skiing centripetal force is Alpine Coaching Dictionary 1 exerted on a turning ski’s edges and bottoms other ski. 2: Type or variety of ski used for by the snow. the downhill ski racing event. clean skis: slang. Ski-snow interaction that drag: The force that opposes an object's has very little friction and braking. motion. In skiing this is usually through the come from behind: slang, archaic. Tactic air and on the snow. where the ski racer performs a large percentage of his or her turn above the gate. co·or·di·na·tion: /kōˌôrdnˈāSHən/ Behavior E of two or more joints in relation to each edge angle: The degree of tilt of the ski other to produce skilled activity. about its longitudinal axis in relation to the coun·ter: /ˈkountər/ To oppose or to go to supporting surface. Skis placed flat on the the opposite way. In skiing, typically snow have an edge angle of 0°. referred to a relationship in which the lower edge change: Tipping a ski from one edge body turns against or opposes the upper or set of edges to a new edge or set of edges. body or vice versa. edge control: The ability to maintain proper countering movements: Movements that adjustment of the angle between the skis’ place the upper and lower body in a twisted running surface and the snow for the ski relationship, for example, allowing the feet maneuver being performed. to continue to turn while stabilizing the edge control movements: Movements that upper body with a pole plant. Skiers increase or decrease edge angles. generally use countering movements to put edge lock: A situation where the ski is the body into an anticipated position. aggressively edged with the intent of staying counter position: A body position in which on the edge. the chest does not face the direction of edge release: Flattening the skis by travel. In a traverse the chest faces downhill, changing the angle of the edge relative to the in a turn it faces the outside of the turn. slope. counter-rotation: Movement of the upper edge set: A purposeful edge engagement and lower body about the vertical axis in that provides a platform for the next turn. opposite directions. edging: The interaction of the ski with the cross-over: Moving the body’s center-of- supporting surface (snow) and, more mass (CoM) forward and across the skis. specifically, relates to the angle between the The CoM moves from the inside of one turn running surface of the ski and the snow. to the inside of the next turn. edging movements: Movements that increase or decrease edge angle. e·qui·lib·ri·um: /ˌēkwəˈlibrēəm,/ n. A state D of equal internal and external forces to deep: slang. A tactic where the ski racer create balance. gives lateral distance to the gate. Not to be ex·ten·sion: /ikˈstenSHən/ n. 1: An confused with vertical distance. unbending of a joint between the bones of a de·lib·er·ate prac·tice: limb by which the angle between the bones /diˈlibərit ˈpraktəs/ adj. v. Repetitious is increased. 2: Lengthening or training that has a specific focus. straightening of the muscle; any movement DIRT: Acronym for Duration, Intensity, resulting in an increase of a joint angle. Rate, and Timing. Used in ski instruction ex·ten·sors: n. Muscles that enable and coaching when talking about ski extension at a joint. technique. external forces: An outside force affecting dirty: slang. The result of a stivot, redirect, performance. or skid at turn initiation. downhill ski: 1: The ski which is most down the hill or lower in elevation than the Alpine Coaching Dictionary 2 gliding: Forward sliding of the skis, either in a direct line down the hill or through a F turn. glisse·ment: /glees-mahn/ French Referring fall-line: The imaginary path, through any to optimizing the actions of the skier and ski single point on the slope, that follows the in which there is limited distraction from steepest descent. The fall-line is the trail on achieving the goal of the turn or run. A which a ball would roll if it were released carved turn has more glissement than a down the slope. skidded turn. A damped ski has more FIS: Acronym for Fédération Internationale glissement than a vibrating ski. A tuck has de Ski (International Ski Federation). The more glissement than a standing position. governing body for international ski racing. grounded: slang. Keeping the ski on the flex·ion: /ˈflekSHən/ n. A bending of the snow. joint between the bones of a limb that diminishes the angle between the bones. flex·ors: /ˈflekˌsər,-ˌsôr / n. Any muscle which creates flexion. H flipping the ski: slang. In slalom, it refers hip angulation: Internal rotation of the to the rapid rotation of the ski from its uphill femur, with slight adduction and flexion of edge to its new downhill edge very rapidly, the hip of the outside turning leg along with as opposed to "rolling the ski" which is external rotation of the inside leg's femur slower. It is intended to offer the skier early and hip flexion. edge and allow for early pressure. hip ro·ta·tion: /hip rōˈtāSHən/ n. Turning force: An agent or action that produces a the hips, usually in the direction of the change in the speed and/or direction of a intended turn, for positive or negative body's motion. External forces include effects. gravity, air resistance, and ski-to-snow and hor·i·zon·tal depth: /ˌhôrəˈzän(t)l/ /depTH/ pole-to-snow interactions. Internal force is The horizontal distance the ski racer is from generated by muscle contractions. from gate. fore: Toward the tips of the skis. In front of hor·i·zon·tal dis·tance: /ˌhôrəˈzän(t)l the bindings. //ˈdistəns/ The length (usually in meters) fric·tion: /ˈfrikSHən/ n. Resistance to an across the hill in which the turning gate is object sliding across a surface. A ski sliding set. on ice experiences less friction than a ski hor·i·zon·tal plane: sliding through wet snow. /ˌhôrəˈzän(t)l// plān / n. fron·tal plane: /ˈfrəntl plān/ adj. A vertical A horizontal plane or plane or any plane parallel to it that passes any plane parallel to it through the body from side to side, dividing which passes through it into anterior and posterior halves.