Mikaela Shiffrin vs Wendy Holdener

[@davidcochrane2739]

Hi, Late to the game but very interesting! When you watch races in real time, it's hard to gauge why some races are better than others - but what I like about your analysis is you can take these comments into your own carve game!

[@bottlebuddy1246]

Good stuff Reilly! It's very clear Wendy's left turns are her main issues from these shots!

[@XPlatinumxXxDesignsX]

Excellent content. As someone who doesn't race, and hasn't received a high level of formal instruction, these videos give a really good insight to some of the more technical aspects of skiing.

[@Dykster]

Do you think Wendy’s right foot release (de angulates too quickly) has anything to do with her instability/initiation of left-footed turns?

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

quite possible, I can definitely see this scenario and a few other too... obviously this is next part is just my speculation but I would like to see a ROM assessment on her left side under load to see if there are some issues going on with her mobility etc, jut to fully take the injury/mobility part out of the equation... generally for me when I look to see if it is a physical thing or just a timing thing is in some part of the race she should show symmetry on both side because the probability of mistiming the other side is also very high... but I looked at all the turns and couldnt see any left footers where her ankle can move laterally freely under her without her hip tilting and rotating slightly. unfortunately this type of thing will take years to get out of her skiing if she really wants to.

[@Dykster]

Regardless of interpretation as it is all subject to eye of the analyst/camera angle, thanks for creating a forum for ski/ski Racing enthusiasts. Keep up the good work!

[@KenpoOjoko]

Thanks for your analysis. It makes sense.

[@henrikholvid9860]

World class! I´m learning a lot. Big thanks!!

[@miked.7722]

Reilly really nice catch with Holdner. Looking at it, it looks like she is actually doing a little initiation with her left shoulder and hand and will never fix it until she stops leading with her upper body. This reminds me of a golfer who hits great iron shots but when he get's a driver in his hand in looking for more power he comes over the top starting his downswing with his right shoulder (for a right handed golfer) rather than starting from the ground up.

[@vincec3590]

Great analysis Reilly. Hope you have the time to do more of these on both the men's and women's races. Your past analysis of Marcel Hirscher GS technique ("Nose Wheelies" etc) was fantastic BTW What has happened to Petra Vlhov's skiing lately? Petra was Shiffrin's equal in the 1st 2 slalom races at Levi and Killington. Now she is skiing Slalom slower than Mikaela and slower than Wendy and Hansdotter too. Thanks

[@sunside79334]

not entirely sure what just about anyone in this universe could do to counter mikas skills in slalom, so i'd recommend to just lean back and enjoy watching the legend of a talent for the ages to unfold.

[@iljas]

Apparently, ​there are at least 3 girls who can outdo her, she was just 4th at Olympics

[@regiment589]

iljas Olympics is just hype nothing more. Its much harder to win small crystal globe (not to mention World Cup).

[@paulroush4056]

@lawomann Her medals (Olympics, World Championships, World Cup wins) are in a box in her closet. Her (11) crystal globes, though, are on display. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap67oYVmrJ6tbNU

[@1969bogdi]

Wow! Great analysis!

[@downunderpar]

Enjoy your vids Reilly! I notice Wendy has a real A-frame when she turns ! Do you think she has alignment issues negating her abilities on one side?? I think this is a problem, however I am with you! Like Hirscher, Shriffron has superior technique and has the ability to apply it under competitive pressure!

[@dj_617]

Hope the Swiss team sends you a big thank you. Great analysis. Is there an alignment problem with her left boot too?

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

it is definitely possible and could do with some tweaking... but usually just an alignment problem will result in later/delayed movements but I havent seen her right side actually move anywhere... looks totally locked up...

[@Skibuff454]

1. What should Wendy do to overcome this asymmetry? Move her pelvis inside of the turn after she changes the edge by her ankles? 2. Can you recommend any exercises that can help? Thank you very much, Alec, your devoted fan.

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

It would be hard to say without doing an assessment on her ROM with her left side... Looks like something is locked...

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

MusikPiratCH, my analysis are for any people interested in skiing. Easy concepts broken down for any level skier to understand. Unfortunately they are not idiot proof which you have just pointed out from your understanding of my analysis. This analysis was particularly based around technique (NOT line or tactics eg Flat Territories), and to help other skiers see causes and correlations to issues they could fix in their own skiing, but by all means you are more than welcome to continue being the ugliest fastest skier on the mountain. If this was actually the case then no one would do drills or exercises to help correct these problems in their skiing. I suggest you watch Mikaelas training, a huge portion is drill based to correct "style"... Please, next time you comment, make sure it is logical and you actually understand the analysis.

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

MusikPiratCH.... Unfortunately i think you miss the whole point of ski technique (by the way you said "style", i put style in inverted commas for you so it would be easier for you to understand)... I will ask a few quick questions... If you get a beginner skier and they just learn to make turns, if you taught them the fastest line down the course and they skied that line... would they win the race? If YOU skied the perfect line down the course would you win the race? If not why? Secondly I am not here telling Wendy how to get better, I have just pointed out that she has an asymmetry in her skiing where Mikaela does not. I have not given any drills or technique tips in hope that she is listening to me. I am not pretending to be her coach. Another thing, if you answered no to the first two questions you also contradicted your whole critique of my analysis... Your understanding of skiing is obviously rudimentary at best so please before you make stupid comments next time, understand what you are talking about first.

[@keirfarnum6811]

@@ReillyMcGlashan There’s always some yahoo that’s only gone skiing for vacation a few times that thinks they know more than anyone else. What can ya do?

[@Dykster]

Do you think the release of her right-footed turn (de-angulates too quickly) causes the instability/poor initiation on her left-footed turns?

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

quite possible, I can definitely see this scenario and a few other too... obviously this is next part is just my speculation but I would like to see a ROM assessment on her left side under load to see if there are some issues going on with her mobility etc, jut to fully take the injury/mobility part out of the equation... generally for me when I look to see if it is a physical thing or just a timing thing is in some part of the race she should show symmetry on both side because the probability of mistiming the other side is also very high... but I looked at all the turns and couldnt see any left footers where her ankle can move laterally freely under her without her hip tilting and rotating slightly. unfortunately this type of thing will take years to get out of her skiing if she really wants to.

[@alexbennion9087]

^^^ Shiffrin's former coach.

[@miked.7722]

Really nice as usual Reilly. Personally I believe Mikeala to be the best racer in the world today including Marcel Hirscher. He of course would beat her but that would be due to strength and weight, not ability. If I could ski like anyone in the world today it would be her. Again great job! Thanks!

[@4dogsannacat]

At 2:00 Wendy’s left footer she is at the gate with a much higher edge angle dealing with greater forces, on her right footer she hasn’t really started the initiation phase and is really in transition. ?? I may be wrong obviously. Great MA though thanks

[@TheJeffatan]

Could it be attributed to or as simple as boot alignment/set up issues too? Remember shiffrin had those boot issue pre season.

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

alignment on that side also looks off... but i think the major part is due to her hip mobility.

[@dereknolantan]

Hi Reilly, is it a boot alignment issue? i.e. over canted on the left foot?

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

I dont think so... I think its more motor and physiological, but until you do tests in person it is just speculation.

[@olegsysuev6723]

Mikaela shows how to !!!

[@872521]

Excellent analysis. 1 comment and inquiry - Are you able to do an overlay of the examples to accentuate the differences? Your choice of examples and their exactitude is fine but an overlay of the silhouettes would be stellar.

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

unfortunately i do not have a program that can do that... also time is a limiting factor... havent had a day off work since 1st of december... very hard to get the time to make these more complex... I have many things I would love to be able to do for one of these but time and lack of programs that cost money are things that are hindering this type of thing happening.

[@872521]

Right on. Thanks for your attention. How about comparing Shiffrin to Hirscher or Kristofferson or the female Japanese skier, Asa Ando, who, though slow, does show elements which are admirable. Thanks for your time and I am looking forward to your future installments.

[@ChannelLeusk]

Wendy will not be able to correct that asymmetry. Her left hip is locked.

[@Skibuff454]

Can you, please, elaborate? What does it mean "Her left hip is locked"? Is it a result of a surgery?

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

I think it is locked from either being tight or some kind of trauma... just speculation though without actually talking or skiing with her.

[@ChannelLeusk]

To correct this it would require going back to basics assuming that it is purely neurological and not the result of an impingement. I would guarantee that her knee tends to collapse inward when squatting on the left leg. This inward collapse makes it impossible to create the correct angulation, which Reilly points out. She has to rewire muscle activation for handling load on the left leg. It is very difficult and would take years.

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

correct... my thought process exactly.

[@albertmaziarz6739]

nonnsense she steers with her hands sholders shiffrin pelvis hands fallow pelvis.

[@adrianseligman3450]

She probably needs to stretch that left hip flexor big time

[@ReillyMcGlashan]

Yeah lots of little muscles around that area... needs to release everything.

[@miked.7722]

Oh one additional thing, how about you quit telling Wendy how to beat MIkeala!😄