Widen your stance!

[klikboom]

Anyone in the same boat as me where you learned to ski with a narrow stance (bump skiing) now having a hard time transitioning to a wide stance with wider skis? How did you force yourself to open up your stance on challenging terrain? I resort back to my old stance when things get tough. I feel like my narrow stance is messing up ability to release my edges cleanly and quickly and tearing the out of my pant cuffs.

[auvgeek]

Ski with some friends who constantly push you over whenever your stance is too narrow. That's honestly how I broke the habit. Once I finally realized just how much more stable a wider stance really is, I naturally started integrating it into my skiing.

Or spend a bunch of time on some skis that are 130+ underfoot. Automatically forces you into a wider stance.

[El Chupacabra]

PM Larry Craig.

[Kim Jong-un]

How about skiing with a Thighmaster?

[klikboom]

This is going to spiral out of control isn't it?

[jfost]

PM Larry Craig.

now THERE is a guy who "skis" with a wide stance!

well played.

[camlax]

repetition.
theres a bunch of stats out there on muscle memory, but most researchers say 1000+ to make something muscle memory and even more if you want to change a habit.
im working on the same thing with my stance and i just try to make a conscious effort as i ski.

[rabbit]

repetition.
theres a bunch of stats out there on muscle memory, but most researchers say 1000+ to make something muscle memory and even more if you want to change a habit.
im working on the same thing with my stance and i just try to make a conscious effort as i ski.

as boring as this answer is, it's the truth. you can, slightly, speed up the process with visualisation and a wider stance as soon as you do anything "skiing-like" aka squats, lunges in the gym or running downhill through a forest (quite popular in places as preseason workout)
"muscle memory" is a bitch.

[oftpiste]

Go to gordycamp and get called 'Stein' for three days of training and especially drunken and public video analysis. It cured me!

[marshalolson]

drills man. break the bad form.

you ski feet locked together because you don't know how to operate your feet independently. feet together is a crutch that simplifies complex independent motion into 1 singular motion. its also super passive, lacks power, and has bad style.

dr marshal proscribes:

ski a run or 3 edging only the downhill ski (i.e. 1 ski on the snow at a time)
ski a run or 3 edging only the uphill ski (i.e. 1 ski on the snow at a time)
ski a run or 3 on only 1 ski, with the other in the air, or even better not even on the foot (more advanced)
ski a run or 3 on only the other foot.

repeat as needed.

[D(C)]

Take a lesson. You're doing it wrong.

[Gone Skiing]

When I think about it, I force my stance to widen while skiing, but mostly I just ski and try to forget about my bump skier/1950s stance. I've never felt like it was a huge detriment to my skiing, just looks a bit funky to people watching. Just have to send it a bit harder so they say "look how hard that dude with the tight bumper stance is crushing it"

[marshalolson]

Just have to send it a bit harder so they say "look how hard that dude with the tight bumper stance is crushing it"

proof or it didn't happen

[stuckathuntermtn]

Well, I noticed as soon as I let my stance drift open the Rubies started floating waaaaaay better. After that, I didn't really need to focus on it.

[hutash]

Smash your balls between two large bricks before getting on the lift. I guarantee you will ski with a wide stance.

[BushwackerinPA]

as long as your stance width allows independent movement of each legs its wide enough.

dare I say most coaches including some high dollar big mountain style on here preach a stance width way to wide.

Go to wide and the problems are just as bad but different as being too narrow.

Most separation people see in pro skiers/FIS racers is actually vertical separation and not a blanket "wide stance" with that said if your legs are locked together then its way to narrow.

Stance width should be functional nothing more and nothing less.

[MakersTeleMark]

dr marshal proscribes:

ski a run or 3 edging only the downhill ski (i.e. 1 ski on the snow at a time)
ski a run or 3 edging only the uphill ski (i.e. 1 ski on the snow at a time)
ski a run or 3 on only 1 ski, with the other in the air, or even better not even on the foot (more advanced)
ski a run or 3 on only the other foot.

repeat as needed.

I tried this and almost killed myself.

[PaSucks]

as long as your stance width allows independent movement of each legs its wide enough.

dare I say most coaches including some high dollar big mountain style on here preach a stance width way to wide.

Go to wide and the problems are just as bad but different as being too narrow.

Most separation people see in pro skiers/FIS racers is actually vertical separation and not a blanket "wide stance" with that said if your legs are locked together then its way to narrow.

Stance width should be functional nothing more and nothing less.

This.

Smash your balls between two large bricks before getting on the lift. I guarantee you will ski with a wide stance.

But definitely this. DO THIS!

[Mofro261]

I kind of like having multiple turn shapes and stances in the arsenal.


wiggle wiggle wiggle


Though some are more aesthetic than others...

[chatton18]

Ski with one of these in

[L7]

Bungee cord around the knees (just above) and keep it place by maintaining tension. Also think of beginning each turn by leading the downhill knee into which helps with independent movement. I agree that you can also go too wide and anyone harping on that one thing may not be paying attention to you. Hip width or thereabouts is generally fine. That being said to encourage the change going too wide can help get you to the right width in the end.

The bungee cord is for easier terrain by the way. As mentioned the repetition with it on easier terrain helps with the muscle memory to take the stance into tougher terrain.

[Driver]

Go to wide and the problems are just as bad but different as being too narrow.

Most separation people see in pro skiers/FIS racers is actually vertical separation

+1 on these points. Too wide and you end up supporting your turn with the inside ski as a function of your stance

[bodywhomper]

ski ballet....

[Mofro261]

Ski with one of these in

Yeah that's not going to work. You'll just feel gripped all of the time and end up gaping more.

[Teh Poacher]

Keep in mind, stance is often the result of canting, or lack there of. What 'feels' natural can feel off if you change cuff angles by <0.5 degrees. Riding inside or outside edges would be the result, unless you widen or narrow your stance to find a 'flat' ski.

Any change to your desired stance should start with your boot-fitter.