Ski Like Marco Odermatt (Upward Release)

[@cswalker21]

It's funny how many absolute top tier skiers have facets of their technique that your coaches always tell you not to do. Lindsey A-frames, Bode skis on his tails, Ted drops his inside hand, etc. It obviously works for them because they have crystal globes, Olympic medals, and the like. and most of us don't. I think it's a great point that there's room within the physical models for different approaches and not everything works the same for everyone.

[@DixJT78]

2yrs after this video is so actual....

[@kountchev1]

yes, BUT: you selected just one turn! in the beginning there were some low releases too! i think it's the right combination as dictated by the terrain/gate positioning. cheers! and thanks for sharing!

[@beattheclock7509]

Yea that´s true, he does use the low release as well, but when there is enough time it seems like he prefers this one

[@JB91710]

0:28 The "Upward Release" is more of a "I want to go Straight Down the Hill Release" that Looks Like an Upward Release. If you Just think of it as an upward release, you won't be putting your upper body in the right position to be over the tips of your skis when they make the next turn. Watch this part in slow motion and fo9cus on the direction his chest goes at the completion of this right turn. As his chest goes down the hill, his skis are still exploding across the slope to the right. Those two things create the new leg angle that rolls the skis over onto the new edges. Not Ankle Rolling of Knee Tipping!!! 0:30 This is the point in the turn where he changes his weight from his right to his left foot. Now LISTEN really careful to what I say now. Both legs are extended. The left leg is extended. Both legs are extended. The right leg is extended and so forth. When he is in the middle of a turn his leg is straight and his entire body is low. As he makes his upper body go down the hill, the legs are still straight but they are now perpendicular to the slope instead of laying down more horizontal to it so it Looks Like he is rising up when he is actually rolling over his feet. At any given time in a series of turns, there is always at least one leg that is extended. There is actually No Up Motion between turns, there is only a complete angle change of the legs caused by the repositioning of the upper body down the hill as the skis cross the hill. It is the pelvis traveling down the hill and the legs rocking over the feet crossing the hill, that creates the Illusion of an up motion. If you only think of the up motion, your skis will disappear out from under you as they want to keep going while the up motion keeps you where you were, not where you are going, down the hill. Think about that for a while. He is skiing down the hill and starting new turns by the positioning of his face, hands and chest, not by thinking about his knees and ankles. His new leg ankle is a direct result of his upper body positioning combined with his weight and balance change to the uphill ski. 0:35 With his upper body facing and leaning down the hill and his skis still crossing the hill, torsion is created throughout his muscles. When he changes from his right to his left foot, the right ski edge is released, and the leg muscles realign the lower legs with the direction of the upper body. 0:40 And there it is! 2:10 Notice the skier on the left is thinking of Up too much and his skis leave the ground while the skier on the right is more focused on Down the Hill which keeps his weight on the skis, so they stay on edge and bent all the time. Go back to the beginning of their run and you will see the skis on the right are much more stable and just roll over from edge to edge while the skis on the left are all over the place. Off the snow, apart and back on the edges. Also, the skier on the right is mostly on his outside ski while the skier on the left goes back and forth between them during a turn. It is very important to ski with an Economy of Motion to limit unbalance and create stability.

[@stevethrendyle8406]

I think you have it nailed.

[@albertmaziarz6739]

nonnsense-for-simple-reasons-turn-for-turn-comes-too-one-and-only-think-skier-on-the-raight-dumps-insaide-hip-down-and-back-with--upper-body-falows-uphill-he-do-not-counter-starting-new-turn-he-retracts-insaide-hip-forwat-and-down-hill-same-taime-dumping-insaide-hip-back-upper-body-upp-hill-again-with-evry-turn--skier-on-the-left-counters-upper-body-pelvis-down-fall-laine-skier-on-the-raight-on-daiagnol-rolling-flexing-lower-legs-upper-body-bended-forwart-skier-on-the-left-unweights-too-flat-skis-durning-transition-on-the-raight-too-early-edge-set-way-odermatt-is-one-step-ehead-is-hys-reverse-pelvis-rotation-less-or-more-for-evry-leading-racers-from-1970-too-today-they-flex-pelvis-too-recenter-they-rotate-pelvis-too-recoil-back-too-neutral-stance-they-upper-body-stable-in-vertical-horizontal-axis.

[@magnificoas388]

I would have call this a "forward" release :) since the intention is going forward (recentering in transition). Intention is not unweighting, it is preparing the inclination when entering in the next turn hips forward (very well explained in your video). It is not old school (flexion/extension) at all. All world cup skiers do these "forward" releases but in a lower stance than Marco. On the other hand, low release (crossunder) is dictated by rebound: intention is to keep contact with the snow by retracting that is why you keep low (loosing the recentering). What is important to notice is that you retract not to unweight but opposite to keep contact :)

[@beattheclock7509]

You are right, the intention is to bring the weight forward.. i called it upward release to imply the opposite (downward release). And i think the point you are making in gerenal about transitions is very true, the intention is not really to "unweight" but to prepare for the next turn.

[@tomigresz2024]

Exactly. In the cross-under scenario, you retract in order to absorb that rebound from the previous turn, and to hinder a trampoline effect. This cross-under scenario, depends also on the transition line i think. The more vertical to the fall line the transition line is (or the tighter your turn) the more "cross-under" you will need to apply. That's why in slalom almost all the skiers are skiing cross-under. Good input for the both of you; keep posting :)

[@laserlars345]

I love beating clocks

[@TD05SSLegacy]

Cool video. Interested in old technique vs new. Would be cool to compare Stenmark or Tomba to modern skiers. Seems like lots more going on back 25 years ago. Up unweighting like this is only one element. There used to be lots of stepping and via unweighting some ‘skating’ within the turn or Jet-turns. Context: I’ve just recently gotten back into skiing after 25 years. Was serious racer. But like Encino Man I woke up and its all changed. No one skis like I do any more. Skis are different, better. But poles aren’t even planted much with strong carving ski technique. So strange. Anyway, back to my idea. I watched a Stenmark video the other day. So much more ‘techniques’ going into what he’s doing in the gates vs today’s great skiers. Don’t you think? Cheers! Keep up the great work!!!

[@beattheclock7509]

Awesome that you are getting back! I ve just watched Stenmark in Alta Badia and yes, it does look like there is much more going on.. Proper poleplant and these awesome looking steps.. I m glad that the skis are what they are today because now we don't usually need to do those steps anymore. What i am absolutely sure of is that you will not have trouble adapting to the new equipment as the fundamentals are still the same.. Stable upper body, more pressure on the outside ski ect.. Thank you for the great idea to compare the Stenmark Era with today!

[@albertmaziarz6739]

nonnsense-marco-dont-stand-up-you-stand-if-you-flexing-ankles-lowerl-legs-forwart-never-laike-marco-who-flexes-pelvis-forwat-down--rebounds-upp-in-horizontal-axis-not-vertical