HUN Miklós Ozsváth: Be cool...
LECTURE
Miklós Ozsváth: Be cool - Counterpoints as focus in the Hungarian ski education
The ski instructor's job is never perfect. While we try to teach the right skiing technique, we often develop also some wrong movements. That is why we are always searching for the more efficient and effective methods. We analyse the typical mistakes and try to find their reason. Based on this, we are changing, developing our methods constantly, we shift the focus.
It exists several, very different ski technique mistake. However, in the past few years we can witness, that vast part of the mistakes has a common feature: the monotony. Monotony in the sense, that the skier is skiing with a relatively permanent strain of muscles. This means, that there is strain also in those areas of the body where it should be relaxed, so there is not enough strain in the muscles where it would be absolutely necessary.
The key of the right ski technique is that the skier has the right position at the beginning of the curve. The right position is developed mainly by the physical powers at the change of edge. That's why it is important to leave physics work.
The unnecessary strain of muscle at the change of edge prohibits the hip to swing over the skies. It is very difficult - almost impossible - to set the hip in a particular position at the change of the edge. However, if we relax at the end of the curve, the hip swings automatically over the skies into the right position thanks to the occurrence of certain powers. Consequently, the unnecessary strain of muscles hinders the right posture. If the right position is not found at the change of edge, it won't be right at the end of the curve either. The wrong steering out endangers the success of the next change of edge.
After the change of edge, in the new curve, the powers arising from the round movement appear again. The strain of the muscles has to orientate to the powers arising in the curve. The skier, who permanently has the same strain, uses a smaller strain than needed in this period, so he most likely gets drifted out.
The contrast of the strain and relaxation has always to be present at skiing. This gives the basis for the right technique, the style, the lightness and the harmony. This way, skiing is less exhausting, as there is a period of relaxation at each curve. Skiing gets safer, the risk of injury gets smaller.
One of the most difficult tasks of the ski instructor is to develop the right strain and relaxation of the muscles. It is very easy to make mistakes on this field. The not correctly chosen location or exercises, not fitting to the level of the student results into a cramped movement. The same result can be experienced, when the student is too eager.
It is a difficult task of the ski instructor to develop the counterpoints of strain and relaxation of the muscles, activity and passivity, work and recreation. It is not enough to choose the exercises according the aim, the level and the personality of the student. You have to create an atmosphere, where the student can be relaxed and trusts his instructor. The instructor has to encounter the student with empathy and self-confidence. Practice has a less important role. At the same time, this means that the right presentation of the exercise has a more important role. At the presentation not only the right technical performing is important, but also the visible showing of the inner picture of movement and strain of muscles.
As a reward we receive a happy, satisfied student and less injury and muscle pain.
