Long Turns - Tech Champs Training

The Hokkaido state technical ski championships are on the 1st & 2nd February 2020, here are some training runs from mid Jan. Long turns are a hard turn to train in Japan, the snow is so soft therefore challenging to get much feedback from the snow. My main focus for the comp is speed accross and down the hill, im never quite sure what the judges are looking for when it comes to turn shape, but this is my take on the turn shape.
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[@godin8262]

Hey, Joshua at 0:58 on the video I think you blow the mind of the guy in black! Lolll

[@TheGpatters888]

Nice turns! But what's with the headless monster at 0:58?

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

TheGpatters888 unfortunately just a guy looking down at feet 😂

[@officialJerronymo]

Hey Joshua, what is lenght and radius of your skis in this video?

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

these are a 184 25m GS ski

[@mitchel3392]

Beautiful turns Josh! I've a question regarding your view on the concept of what's generally being know for 'flexing and extending' in the Hokkaido Tech Champs Competitions. In shorter turns the amount of flexion seems to be much more consistent, both between the different competitors itself and the individual runs. However, in long turns there seems to be quite some difference: some flex a lot, some don't (e.g. Yuuki Ozaki kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWLOhWSDedGila8 ). In the competitors that do flex (amongst others you, Reilly and Paul) the amount of flexing seems to be less consistent (in long turns), which makes me believe that the amount of flexion depends on certain circumstances. For example: in the first three turns of this video you seem to flex much less (almost extend a bit) at the release. Then in your 4th and 5th turn there is much more deep flexing. I'm really wondering what could be the difference in terms of ski performance and your view on this / your approach to flexing and extending.

[@JoshuaDuncanSmith]

Hi Mitchel, thank you for your very thought out and well rounded question. I believe that the answer to your flexion question is found in what you said, 'flexion dependos on certain circumstances', speed, slope angle, intention. If you for example are skiing a flatter slope there is not such a need to flex(deep) through transition, using a classical extension movement works great and allows you to work appropriately with the forces acting on you in a flatter/slower scenario(or the first several turns you see on video) It's the same as watching the first couple of turns compaired to some in the middle of a run, at the start you see much less edge angle being used, because they are skiing slower. If you are skiing faster and on steeper terrain then using a greater range of flexion would be benefical as you can transition to the new edges faster...when your knee is in a state of flexion like you see in the transition, the rotation of the femur early in the turn will cause edging which is great for performance skiing. I think ultimetly it's about trying to ski appropriately for the situation and amount of exteranl force you're going to experiance during each turn on any given run. The faster you go when you release the turn you are basically weightless through transition so it doesn't really matter if you are flexed even to 90degrees at the knee because you're not having to hold yourself there, then you extend as your body moves inside the next turn and weight and pressure build on the new outside ski. If you are skiing slow you can't transition low because you'd have to hold yourself in that position which would be crazy backseat and detrimental to skiing efficently in that situation. I hope that helps. Josh

[@mitchel3392]

​@@JoshuaDuncanSmith Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and providing me/us with these insights. Definitely clears things up for me :)