FALL LINE
A ball rolling down a hill, or a ski without a skier, will seek the fall line, referring to the path of least resistance down a hill.
APEX
With respect to turn shape, the apex is the place in the turn where the skis point straight down the fall line. Tis is approximately at the midpoint of the turn’s arc. Apex is also used to indicate the peak of forces in a turn.
TURN RADIUS
To understand turn radius, envision a line drawn to match the curvature of the ski when it is placed on edge, weighted, and bowed into an arc. If that line con- tinues around to form a full circle, the turn radius is the distance between the center of the imagined circle and the arc made by the edged ski.
Te curvature of the ski is known as
its sidecut, and when tipped on edge a ski with more sidecut will make a more tightly carved turn than a ski with less sidecut. Te turn radius of a ski is influenced by its sidecut radius and flex characteristics as well as the edge angle and pressure applied by the skier. (See Chapter 5: Ski Equipment.)
SHORT, MEDIUM, AND LONG TURNS
Te terms, short, medium, and long – or small, medium, and large – are comparative descriptions for turn size. In ski racing, short (or slalom) turns have a turn radius of 12 meters (about 39 feet) or less. Medium (or giant slalom) turns have a turn radius between 12 and 35 meters (roughly 39 to 115 feet). Long (or super G and downhill) turns, have a turn radius of 35 meters or more (more than 115 feet).
PHASES OF A TURN
When describing turns, each is divided into three phases: initiation, shaping, and finish. Understanding performance in the different phases provides common ground for communicating the details of ski action and body movements.
FIGURE 2.2: Short, medium, and long turns r r r
INSIDE SKI
TURN RADIUS
APEX OF A TURN
OUTSIDE SKI
FIGURE 2.1: The inside and outside ski of a turn, fall line, apex of a turn, and turn radius are represented in this diagram.
FALL LINE
38 PSIA ALPINE TECHNICAL MANUAL
TheSnowPros.org
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