Proper Stance

[Mike]

Has anyone told you that you need to have a wider stance or a narrower stance?

It is a fact that many ski instructors have a different perspective of what a proper stance is - what is wide and what is narrow.

Stance width is a function of body build, alignment and technique and is natural.

I also believe that stance is a function of your individual anatomical structure. If you have a thin hip, your natural stance is going to be narrower than a person who has a broader hip.

The purpose of having leg separation (as I understand) is to allow for independent leg action, isn't that right?
That being the case, if you are still able to achieve independent leg action, what is the point if your boots are six inches apart or a foot apart. I think the worst thing you can do is try and adopt a stance that is not a function of your natural stance.

"Hip width" (people used to refer to shoulder width as well) is not how wide the hips appear to be, but where the femur connects with the hip. Based on that:
less than hip width = narrow stance
more than hip width = wide stance

One should focus on balance and stance (in general) and focus on comfortable and effective width.

As "Skier" said in previous postings - in powder and moguls, you will get more efficient performance with a narrower stance width than on groomed piste. On steeper terrain and at higher speeds, a wider stance can be helpful. An advanced skier can adjust his stance width to the conditions. Wider stance for racing and higher speed carving, yes. When ones skis/feet are so far away from ones body, one NEEDs to have the feet wider apart.

But how many of us can ski like that. Check our own photos, not the WC photos . The emphasis of wide stance has made a lot of intermediate skiers lean onto the uphill ski, and have problem in powder and moguls.

Also George pointed out that WC skiers are more evenly weighted across both skis because of the speeds they reach. Skier is right in saying that if most recreational skiers try to ski with equal weight on each foot through the turn - you will be leaning into the hill - bad!
To make things more simple:
wide stance - used at high speed for stability
narrower stance - slower speeds, in the moguls, in the powder (to create a bigger platform)
Just don't ski with feet locked together whilst shaking your ass!

http://220.232.208.148:8080/viewtopic.php?t=8004&highlight=stance&sid=348aa5c6d00368f01c9a08755dbfe5e4

[Yogi]

I think stay "Balance" is the key word here.

[eLeung]

I would say that the proper stance provides a reference to skiers how can easily balance and center on their skis in a dynamic situation.

[Mike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OzYQwH4rG4

[Mike]

I would say that the proper stance provides a reference to skiers how can easily balance and center on their skis in a dynamic situation.


Stance width varies with ability. There is no one stance width for all conditions, all terrain, or all skiers.

A wider stance give more stability, but at the expense of leg independence and agility. If your legs are too far apart and it will become difficult to get off of your inside edges and hard to balance on your outside ski, you'll be locked into a position that creates a bunch of problems.

A narrower stance gives more agility, but is less stable. Too close together and you compromise your ability to tip and twist your feet. The more you ski the more comfortable you will be with keeping your skis closer together, conditions and terrain also make a huge difference. There are times when you do want a very close stance (skiing moguls is a good example), but you'll need refined balance skills to be able to ski comfortably with a narrow stance.

As you balance get better you stance will narrow, though hip width is a good starting point for general piste skiing.