Being Fast and Efficient on Downhills

By Andrew Hall

Downhills can be an area that many master skiers neglect working on specifically, many hours are spent doing intervals or flat and uphill technique drills, but downhills tend to be forgotten.

Being confident and strong on downhill’s will add to your enjoyment of racing, can be used to make up time and allow better recovery after big efforts on the climb.

This is the first of a couple of articles that relate to skiing faster and easier on downhills, today I will look at tucking, next issue, how to step turn all but the tightest corners.

When the grooming is good and the trail is not too demanding there are several different tuck positions you can use for maximum speed and or maximum recovery.

A deep tuck with a flat back, hands in front of your face and elbows in front of your knees is the fastest but also least stable, and least efficient in allowing recovery. Rolling your weight onto your heels is less stable again and is more physically demanding but is faster. Use this position if confident in the snow and your physical condition, if it is a long descent, whilst in this tuck try shuffling your feet forward and back or rising up and down slightly.

This works your quads and will help move lactic acid out, holding a deep tuck for a long time is hard and lactic acid will build up; train this position.

A more restful and more stable position is to be slightly higher with elbows or forearms resting on your quads. This is a more stable position than the deep tuck but care must be taken not to get stuck in this position and not be ready to pick up your arms and be ready to respond to changes in terrain, snow conditions or grooming. Resting your elbows on your knees is restful but care must be taken in conditions with poor snow or grooming. Bumps and dips are relayed directly to your upper body with possible balance problems. By resting your forearms on you knees most bumps and dips are absorbed by a flexing elbow.

Standing more upright, with hands well forward, knees and ankles flexed but still bent at the waist   is the most stable and restful position but is the least aerodynamically efficient. Use this position when tired or the circumstances demand your attention and if you may be required to respond quickly.

Tucking in a track.

If there is something more fun on xc skis than blasting down a trail in a deep tuck with your skis glued in the tracks as you sweep through a few turns I haven’t experienced it.

Tucking while in the tracks is often faster than out but it is more stable if you can learn to relax and is consequently more restful.

All it takes is confidence, a few technique tips and a deep trust in the groomer.

On the straights utilize the techniques above while emphasizing strong but relaxed ankles that flow with the tracks.

As you approach a bend while in the tracks make sure you are in a good body position, keep your ankles flexed, relaxed and strong. Counter rotate your upper body to the turn, so that more of your weight is on the outside ski, assume a slight telemark position, with the ski on outside of the turn somewhat forward, all the time consciously steering your feet around the bend.

There is a lot happening this whole time so practice is vital, learning to judge when to be in the tracks and when to step out takes experience and practice. Obviously it is better to step out of the tracks a little early rather than a little too late.

Some skis are better at staying in tracks than others, a shorter pair of skis with a torsionally softer tip will stay in the tracks easier than a pair of long stiff skis, old school 195cm skating skis are always going to be harder to keep in the tracks than a new pair of 195 classic skis.

For more fun on your skis and better race results don’t just cruise the downhill’s, work them to gain time, experiment with lines, body positions, and push your comfort level a bit each time.