FOLLOW THE FUNNEL
The following concept can be utilized by intermediate recreational skiers or introductory ski racing athletes. The concept deals with introducing the skier to turn entry by following the funnel. The funnel is formed by the skier, moving through a transition (traverse) area in a centered, balanced stance. The skier holds the ski poles at the basket end and in front of the body to form a funnel, which is narrowest at the basket end and widest at the usual handle-grip end. (The weight of the pole handles forward encourages a wider funnel.)
The object of this drill is for the skier to link turns following the funnel. This allows the skier to keep the shoulders square to the skis. It encourages the skier to finish each turn and establish a platform prior to the next turn entry. From this platform the funnel will move into the fall line. The skier’s body should move down the fall line and inside the turn arc. The ski tips should enter the turn as parallel tips, skis at natural hip width.
As the skier moves into and through the turn arc, the inside ski leg will be retracting as the outside ski leg is extending. (New inside ski is active--new outside ski is dominant.) Both skis will be carving an arc through the turn following the funnel. This will continue as turn arcs are linked.
The method to the madness is that the skier will form the habit of finishing each turn and establishing a platform prior to turn entry. Through following the steps of this drill progression, the skier will also develop rhythm and timing (delay) in moving from turn to turn. The steps to introduce the funnel are as follows: In all three drills the skiers will link turns over intermediate rolling terrain, following the funnel.
DRILL # 1: Grip the poles at the basket end. The hands and arms have a natural relaxed attitude in front of the body. The ski poles become an extension of the arms to form a funnel. The wide end of the funnel is at the ski pole hand-grip end.
DRILL # 2: Grip the poles half-way between the baskets and the handles. The arms have a natural, relaxed attitude in front of the body. (The wide end of the funnel is at the pole handles while the basket half of the ski poles form the narrow end of the funnel, resting against the body slightly below hip level).