Abstract

Watching the skiers of a busy weekend trail with a professional eye, it is easy to see that as much as 90%-95% of them are sitting back, leaning against the back of their ski boots. Theauthors believe the cause is a hidden, mind-body involuntary defense mechanism. This involuntary mechanism prevents an appropriate ankle flexion, and it even forces an ankle extension. It is manifested through a contraction of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. This contraction is commonly accompanied by a contraction of the toe flexor muscles. They combine for an extension of the ankle joints, and a curling downward of the toes, thus defeating the intention to flex the ankles. This paper presents both the studies and the practical work done in the last few years regarding this important issue. The authors are also suggesting a practical approach to solve the current situation. Another striking observation regarding the large majority of skiers of all levels is their lack of proper edging skills. One of the reasons behind this situation relates to the "edging role and action of the foot inside of the ski boot". This is another important issue, which the authors believe did not get the deserved attention of the ski professionals. This paper also presents the authors' findings on this matter, with a practical approach to address this problem. Aus der Einleitung (geändert)