Modern Ski Technique
Introductory Conditioning—Equipment—First Skiing Lesson
Foreword by Mr. McCrillis
THE past few years have brought changes in skiing which have revolutionized the sport. But before we describe the modern technique I am going to introduce Coach Schniebs, the man who has done so much to popularize skiing through his teaching.
I had the privilege of being with Otto, as he is called by his pupils, the first time he skied in this country. In January 1929 a group of Appalachian Mountain Club members were looking for a ski instructor. We had already been disappointed in several supposed experts from Europe. So before engaging Otto we wanted to see what he could do. The irony of it—WE took Otto out to look HIM over! But we didn't need to look more than once. The first time we saw that man come down a hill we knew he had something we had never seen in fifteen years of skiing. We had never dreamed of the rhythm and grace with which he so accurately controlled his skis at high speed. And to our amazement he was able to teach his technique so that beginners learned more in a few days than they could have learned in months of hard work trying to master the technique we had formerly known.
This ability to teach skiing and enthuse his pupils so that skiers of all degrees of proficiency are eager for his instruction results from years of experience as a ski teacher in Germany. Otto was head instructor of the Bundesschule in Grohsholzleute im Allgau, a school for the ski teachers of an association of 15,000 skiers. He also had charge of the educational course in skiing for sports directors in Freudenstadt in the Black Forest under supervision of the Wuerttembergische Government.
Soon after we first skied with Otto he began to teach professionally. Then several Dartmouth men who were ski enthusiasts hoped things would work out so that Otto could go to Dartmouth as coach. I was happy to be able to take him from a ski trip on Mt. Washington in April 1930 to Hanover where I introduced him to Dan Hatch, comptroller of the Outing Club. Otto was engaged and is now starting his second year as coach. When he is not engaged in coaching duties he is employed as a highly skilled technician in the department of Physiological Optics of the Dartmouth Medical School.
In Otto's first year as coach lie produced the most successful winter sports team in years. But that the championship team was of minor importance among his accomplishments comes from no less an authority than "Red" Tucker, captain of this year's winter sports team: "Otto has made skiers. There are ten where there was one before Otto came. The total amount of pleasure he has given Dartmouth and Hanover skiers is incomprehensible."
Skiing was once hard to learn. It was mostly trial and error. There was no one to tell the freshman why his Christianias didn't work or how to do a stem turn. Few jump turns were ever seen in Hanover until Charlie Proctor returned from the Olympic Games in 1928. A freshman who never skied before coming to Hanover could seldom compete successfully with his classmate who had been brought up in the North Country.
Now the skiing program is carefully worked out, starting in October and lasting until April. Otto makes expert skiers out of freshmen who have never been on skis. The member of the varsity squad making the best time in one of the Moosilauke races last year was a freshman whom Otto "made." Flint '32, who won the college jumping championship last year, told me he owed it to Otto's coaching. Not only the students, but members of the faculty and their wives are enthusiastic members of Otto's classes. Many people in Hanover ski where there used to be few, and they ski well. The golf links is lighted at night for the enthusiasts for whom the days are too short. The snow on Balch hill is packed by skiers as hard as is the snow on the golf links. Otto and his modern technique have made skiing easy to learn. People know why their Christianias do not work, and can remedy their faults. Everyone can do the stem turns, and the jump turn which was not known a few years ago is taught the freshman in a few days.
It is getting a whole community on skis which has been Otto's big work. He has done it because he has instilled the love of it in his pupils and has made it easy and a pleasure to learn to ski. Now that I have told you of Otto and his work we will describe the modern ski technique.
PURPOSE OF ARTICLE
To explain the modern technique and teach practical skiing to those who ski for the love of the sport and who may wish to learn more about the technique which will enable them to climb mountains and make the descent at high speed with safety and under control at all times is the concern of this article. Jumping and long distance racing will not be dealt with. Nor will we discuss in detail the theories or the pros and cons of the various controversial phases of the subject. Explanation and teaching of practical skiing by the method which years of teaching have shown to be the easiest way possible is our aim.
We will explain the technique as much as possible with the aid of stills from a motion picture made expressly for ski instruction, giving only such suggestions and explanations as are necessary to supplement the pictures.
I. CONDITIONING FOR SKIING
THE importance, not only to the man who skis in competition but to every skier, of getting into condition before snow comes may seem so self-evi-dent as to need no comment. However, the fact is that the early part of every season finds the majority of skiers with muscles which are not only sore but which refuse to do the things they had done so easily before the snow disappeared the previous spring. Proper conditioning will prevent this and make the first part of the winter much more enjoyable. It will also sometimes prevent the enthusiast who otherwise would not have been having regular exercise from actually harming himself by over-exertion, when, with the first snow, he is trying to ski enough to make up for whaf he has been missing all summer. The loosening and stretching exercises here described also put the muscles and ankles into such condition as to greatly lessen the chances of injury.
The exercises selected are purposely few in number, so few that everyone should be able to do them regularly twice daily. Each exercise need be done but two or three times at first. The number of times each exercise is done can be increased gradually. Never do them enough to get stiff and lame.
After these exercises it is helpful to thoroughly relax. One simple relaxing exercise is to stand at attention, and with head thrown back, slowly raise the arms above the head as you inhale as deeply as possible. Then lower head to chest as you gradually exhale while lowering arms in front of the body, forcing all the air from the lungs.
Short cross country runs are recommended for those desiring more strenuous conditioning. Never run so long or so fast as to become really fatigued and cause a strain on the heart and lungs. Start with short runs gradually increasing the distance.
Last of all, let us repeat that the important thing about getting in condition is to regularly do the exercises twice daily; but do not do" them so long or so hard as to become stiff and sore.
II. EQUIPMENT
THESE few paragraphs on equipment are intended merely for the guidance of the beginner who may not know what to procure for his first outfit, and who might otherwise buy equipment which would be impracticable or would not suit his needs.
THE SKI
The materials most used for skis are hickory and ash. Hickory is stronger and wears much better than ash. The only advantages of ash over hickory are that it is lighter and less expensive. Wide skis are best for general use and for slalom and downhill racing. The reason for this will be explained later. Narrow skis are used for long distance racing. The usual rule for determining the proper length of the ski is that it should be long enough to reach from the floor to the base of a man's thumb as he stands erect with arm extended above his head. Longer and heavier skis are used for jumping. There should be one groove in skis used for general use, while jumping skis have two or three grooves.
THE BINDING
A good binding, properly fitted to the ski boot and securely fastened to the boot is absolutely essential. Too much attention can not be given to fitting the binding to the boot so that the heel of the boot rests on the middle of the ski and so that the ski moves with the boot. A loose ski is as bad as a loose skate would be. The binding should be so adjusted that the skier can bend his knee forward so that it will touch the ski.
The "lip" bindings where the toe irons screw on the top of the ski and the sole is held down by "lips" on the toe irons, and the foot is held into the toe irons by a single strap around the heel, are good and are very popular. Good bindings of this type include the improved D. O. C., Haug, and Greswig. If these bindings are to be used there should be no slot through the ski, or the slot should be filled with hard wood. Bindings of the Huitfeldt type including the "long thong" are also excellent, and owing to the fact that the strap which holds the heel goes through the slot in the ski under the ball of the foot, this type of binding gives somewhat superior control of the ski.
Bindings for general use having springs, hinges, or other mechanism are apt to get out of order and are not usually satisfactory.
THE BOOTS
The boots should have thick stiff leather soles that will not "buckle" when the straps around the heels are clamped. They should be large enough for at least two heavy pairs of woolen stockings, and should have stiff box toes.
POLES
The length of the poles should usually be such that they come to the skier's armpits. It should not be necessary to say that two poles are needed; but since even in these days people are seen trying to learn to ski with one pole we speak of this. The poles should have wide straps which will not cut the wrists, and should have strong rings to prevent their sinking too far into the snow.
CLOTHING
The matter of clothing is so much of an individual matter and there are so many satisfactory types of clothing that we will make but a few suggestions. First of all, underwear should be woolen. Care should be taken that none of the clothing is too tight, both because a skier needs to be able to move all his muscles freely and because tight clothing impedes the circulation and tends to make the wearer cold. Some protection should
be provided for the ears. For cold weather two pairs of mittens are recommended. The inner mittens or gloves should be woolen, while the outer mittens should be of some wind-proof material. A parka is without equal for use in a hard wind.
Other equipment including ski wax and seal skins for climbing will be mentioned later.
III. FIRST SKIING LESSON
How to hold the poles, turn around, ski on the level, and climb are among the first things taught the skier. These things are simple to learn, but if they are correctly learned the skier is able to go a greater distance with less effort than if bad habits were formed early. Therefore, these few suggestions to the beginner.
HOLDING POLES
The strap of the ski pole should pass over the back of the hand where it will give a good grip, and will leave the inside of the wrist free, not interfering with the circulation. If thumb and fingers are passed through the strap from below and the upper part of the strap is then grasped between the palm of the hand and the pole the skier will have a good grip with the strap correctly over the back of the hand.
GOING ON THE LEVEL
The simplest method of skiing on the level is somewhat similar to walking, in that the left foot is advanced as the right arm is swung forward, and the right foot is advanced as the left arm is swung forward. But the skiing motion is more rhythmical than walking. This is largely because the knees are bent more and because of the long sliding steps. As the arms go backward they push on the poles, which increases the sliding motion. The weight is largely carried on the advanced ski and the body leans forward as the thrust is given to the pole. The accompanying picture shows the body leaning forward and the weight carried by the advanced left leg, which is bent. The skier is about to push with the right pole which has just been inserted a little farther to the rear than his left heel. The right hand is in front of the skier's chest, making possible a more powerful thrust than if the hand were swung out at the side. After holding this position of the feet until the momentum of the long gliding motion is almost gone, the right foot will be advanced and the left pole inserted. Keep relaxed and take long rhythmical strides.
TWO-STEP THREE-STEP FOUR-STEP
One method used for speed for skiing on the level or on gentle slopes is by taking two or more steps and then pushing with both poles simultaneously. The series of pictures describes what is known as the "Two-Step." This name comes because the skier counts "one"as he is bringing his poles forward (Fig. 1 to 3), and then counts "two" as he is pushing on his poles and sliding forward (Fig. 4 to 6). The "Three-Step" is similar to the two-step except that three steps are taken between each thrust on the poles. In the three-step, first one foot is advanced after the thrust, then the other. It receives its name because the skier counts "one" each time he advances a foot between the thrusts. The push is given on the count of "Three."
The "Four-Step" is similar to the preceding except that the skier takes four steps between the simultaneous thrust on the poles. The push is given on the count of "Four."
"PASSGANG" OR AMBLING PACE
The "passgang" is another manner of skiing on the level or more especially down gentle slopes, but is not useful in heavy snow. The accompanying picture shows the long gliding stride with the right pole advanced beyond the right ski point. The weight is well forward with right shoulder swung forward. When the skier's pole is inserted, he will start to bring his left ski forward. When his body has come forward to the point where the right pole was inserted, he will give a powerful thrust on this pole as he swings his left ski, left shoulder, and left pole forward. He will then be in a similar position to that shown, except that the other ski will be advanced.
CLIMBING: ZIGZAG OR SWITCH-BACK
When a slope becomes too steep to ascend straight with skis parallel the easiest way on an open hill is to zigzag, going obliquely up the hill first in one direction and then turning by stepping around or by a kick-turn and going obliquely in the other direction.
SIDE-STEP
The side-step is used on the steepest slopes. Stand with skis at right angles to the slope so that they will slide neither forward nor backward. The illustration shows the skier's weight on his left foot as he lifts the right ski and moves it to the right and up the slope. With ski edged uphill he will stamp it firmly into the snow. When he is standing securely on his right foot he will bring the left ski up parallel to it and, edging the left ski, firmly stamp it into the snow. He will then again raise right ski and repeat.
HERRING-BONE
The accompanying picture shows how this method of climbing gets its name from the tracks made in the snow. The skier's weight is on his right foot as he lifts the left ski and brings it forward and up the slope. The weight is well forward and the skis are edged as they are stamped into the snow. The poles are of great assistance, and the beginner soon learns better than to have both poles out of the snow at the same time. When the left foot is securely placed in the snow, the right foot will be lifted and brought forward.
STEPPING AROUND TURN
This is the first way of turning around which is taught. To turn to the left, lift left ski. Put it down with the feet separated a convenient distance with the point turned out, and the rear ends of the skis near each other. Lift right ski and put it down parallel to left ski, and repeat.
KICK-TURN
A quicker method of turning around is the kick-turn. The accompanying series of illustrations shows a kickturn to the right.
This turn can be used on a slope as well as on the level. The skis should be at right angles to the slope so they will not slide either forward or backward. If the slope is not too steep the uphill ski can be kicked first, thereby gaining elevation. However, if the slope is very steep the downhill ski is turned first.
On very steep slopes the poles are inserted differently from the manner shown in the explanation. As the skier swings his body so that he faces downhill he inserts his poles behind him, so that both poles are uphill from his skis. He can then lean on them and stand securely braced as he makes the kick.
In this article we have told of the conditioning, going on the level, and uphill—the "work" in skiing. The next subjects will deal with the more interesting and thrilling phases, including downhill running and turns, showing how the new technique enables the skier to keep control at high speeds. Future chapters will describe practical applications of the various methods of control.
(To be continued next month.)
TWO-STEP
KICK-TURN
OTTO SCHNIEBS —Is coach of the Dartmouth winter sportsteam. During his one winter in Hanover hehas developed widespread interest in thesport he excels in—skiing. He makes iteasy and pleasant to learn to ski. Scores ofenthusiastic pupils of both sexes and ofvarying ages give good evidence of this.In collaboration with an ardent skier,John W. McCrillis, Dartmouth 1919, Mr.Schniebs presents this month the first ofthree articles on the revolutionary skiingmethod of which he is the master and ableteacher. "Modern Ski Technique'''' is theirfirst published work. Much of the materialwas orginally written by Mr. Schniebs inGerman. The articles will be continued inthe January and February issues of the MAGAZINE and will later appear in bookletform.
HAND ROLL (FIG. l) Stand erect. With elbows at side, grasp one forearm above the wrist firmly with the other hand. Bend wrist so that hand and straightened fingers point as far down as possible. Holding the forearm tightly, roll the wrist so it bends as far as possi- ble to the left, then up, then to the right, then down. Repeat, rolling hand in other direction. Do the same with other hand.
FOOT BOLL (FIG. z) Standing on one foot with hands on hips roll the foot in a manner similar to that in which the hand was rolled in the pre- ceding exercise. Repeat with other foot. If the muscles of the ankle are put in good condition by exercises there is much less danger of injury and the same is true when the wrist muscles are well loosened.
BODY ROLL (FIG. 3) With feet as far apart as possi- ble, bend body forward so that hands touch the floor. Roll body to side with hands stretched above head, then roll body backward with arms straight, then roll body to other side, then back to original posi- tion. Toes should not point out. This exercise is more valuable if the toes point in. Do not try to point toes in much at first, but from day to day gradually increase the pointing in of the toes. This exercise is very im- portant as it loosens the spine and stretches the muscles so that the skier is better able to do the all-important stem turns which require the feet kept apart with toes pointing in.
BODY LIFT (FIG. i) Stand erect with feet separated a foot or two with toes turning out. Keeping the body straight, fall forward until the hands touch the floor, absorbing the shock by bending the elbows. Lower self slowly until chest touches floor. Then raise self by straightening arms very slowly. Then lower until chest touches floor and repeat. Toes should be pointing out so that the in- side of each foot touches the floor. This exercise stretches and strengthens the arms, wrists and shoulders so that they are better able to do the work required of them in the use of the ski poles. It also stretches and strengthens the ankles.
THE STANDING BALANCE(FIG. 5) Raise arms above head. Stand- ing on one foot bend body for- ward with arms extended for- ward and other leg extended backward, assuming position shown. Slowly bend knee of leg on which you are standing as much as possible. Then slowly straighten knee until resum- ing original position. Repeat, standing on other foot. This ex- ercise is excellent for keeping balance on one foot, which is often very important in skiing.
THE KNEE KISS(FIG. 6) Stand at attention. Put hands on front of legs, slowly bring them down to the ankles. Grasp ankles firmly and pull body down until face touches knees. Gradually straighten until re- suming original position. This exercise is for- the general stretching and limbering of muscles and tendons. At first it will be hard to bring the face to the knees. Do not try hard enough so that you will become stiff and sore.
Left ski is advanced with. 1 long sliding step. Arms are starting to swing poles forward.
Skier is starting to bring 2 right foot forward and bend body forward. Poles are swung farther forward.
Bight foot is brought nearly to left foot. Poles 3 are swung forward with outstretched arms and are about to be inserted in the snow.
Right foot is advanced and skier leans forward 4 as he pushes simultaneously on both poles. The body is leaning further forward.
Sliding position is maintained with both knees 5 well bent. The body leans further forward as the thrust on both poles is completed.
Poles have just left snow. The body is beginning to straighten. 9 The skier will next straighten his body and advance his left foot, assuming position shown in Fig. 1.
GOING ON THE LEVEL
PASSGANG
SIDE-STEP
HERRING-BONE
The body is turned to the right. The left pole 1 is about to be inserted beside the left ski point, and the right pole at the rear of the skis.
Right foot is kicked to 2 lift the ski point high as the ankle turns the ski tip toward the right.
Lifted ski is turned further 3 to right. This picture shows how the poles are used to steady the skier when on one foot.
Bight ski is brought 4 down in the place where it was before making the kick, with the front end where the rear end was.
All weight is shifted to 5 right foot. Then left ski and pole are lifted and turned.
The left ski has been 6 brought further around and is about to be placed beside the right, completing the turn.
KICK-TURN TO LEFT
